10 August 2007
Football Wives Episode Stills / Photoshoot
Added
high resolution images of Lucy from Football Wives.
Many thanks to LB for the images.
14 Episode Stills
4 Official Photos
29 May 2007
In a
recent interview Lucy said the following about why
Football Wives was not picked up
Weren’t you supposed to be
playing Tanya Turner in the US version of Footballers’
Wives?
Yes but we called her Tanya Austin. We were supposed to
follow Grey’s Anatomy, which is a huge hit, on the
autumn schedule. Then we were told that the show had
been cancelled because the National Football League
weren’t happy about it. Our show was just entertainment,
a spoof, but they were very concerned about keeping up
appearances and pretending they aren’t real people like
the rest of us. I had so much Machiavellian stuff to do,
I wanted to make her seem real – I was going to play her
like Tony Soprano. I talked to a shrink to help me
figure the character out. I wanted her to be rock-solid
believable so I’m very disappointed it’s not happening
now.
16 May 2007
Football Wives Fallout...
The outcry of
ABC's decision not to pick up Football Wives has been
met with disbelief (and not just from fans). There are
also some suggestions/rumours/chat that TPTB may be
trying to find a new home...keep your fingers crossed.
Lucy's
conspiracy theory isn't so out there since many people
are now voicing those same concerns. If ABC knew that
having this show would annoy the heck out of the NFL
(and it seems they have the NFL contract and the little
darlings are so thin skinned that they find a campy
drama too much for them...give me a break. Soccer didn't
have a problem with Footballer Wives)..why did it give
it a go ahead to film the pilot?
Something is
not quite right here. Either someone at ABC is beyond
dumb and heads will roll over this wastage OR someone at
ABC decided to nab the show before anyone else got it
and thus they would have lost control...it just seems so
very very odd. I have zero knowledge of how it works in
Hollywood but to someone living on the other side of the
planet...it's just plain obscene about wasting so much
money. Spending millions on a pilot, hiring some great
actors and all that talent only to shelve it because
they got weak at the knees when the NFL got all uppity?
Didn't they know they had the NFL contract?
Check out the
following news sites:
-
Cyber Hermit ABC, NFL End FOOTBALL WIVES Season
Before It Begins
...Various sources are indicating that word
began filtering down to ABC
from the gods at the NFL that they were not pleased.
No, not pleased
at all. They did not think that a fictional
television show would
create a good image for the league. Yeah, forget the
fact that they
have non-fictional players getting busted for drug
use, spouse abuse,
assault, weapons charges and DUIs. No, the NFL
apparently was more
concerned about the fictional acts of fictional
characters in a
fictional television show. Word came from the gods
that they were
displeased enough that their displeasure might
influence future
football contracts for ABC and ESPN, the sports
sister of ABC. So, the
mere mortals of ABC grabbed their balls, tucked them
neatly into their
bags, broke their date with "Football Wives" and
cowered away....
-
Did NFL lean on ABC to scrub football soap?
USA Today - USA
We know that the cast included Ving Rhames, Lucy
Lawless, James Van Der Beek and a real football
wife, Holly Robinson Peete. ...
-
Wives Drop-Kicked Out of ABC
Stage - London,London,UK
... British indie producer Shed, who were in the
throes of birthing Footballers’ Wives for the Disney
owned ABC network across the pond as Football Wives.
...
-
AOL Sports - Disney Backs Down to NFL, Won't Show
'Football Wives'
14 May 2007
The Jeers of the Week goes to ABC for not picking up
Football Wives. Normally I wouldn't care if a soap got
picked up or not (I don't watch them - soaps and reality
TV - ick!) but this was Lucy in the lead role so I
cared. Ah well what can you say. It was just not meant
to be. We don't know what's in store for Lucy but we
sure as heck will watch and follow her to find out.
Upward and onward Lucy!
Check out
Lucy's site
for a message from Lucy about ABC not picking up FW.
IGN also can't believe it -
click here to read their article
13 May 2007
Rumours, rumours and then some more rumours...don't
you just love this waiting around for news if FW will be
picked up? The lastest rumour is from the
Television Without Pity forums.
"Football Wives tested very highly, but it
seems it's suffering the same fate as Secrets Of A
Small Town, another high testing drama with a great
cast from the last season that wasn't picked up
mainly due to costs.
ABC was discouraged by the high costs, and decided
to pick some worser testing, but cheaper pilots
(Cashemere Mafia and Woman's Murder Club), instead
of Football Wives and Marlowe, another high testing
and buzzed pilot.
Since midseason shows are usually cheaper and
low-budget as they usually fail, I think it's safe
to say the American remake is dead."
11 May 2007
Rumours....
There has been some speculation on what the ABC fall
schedule will look like over on the TV Guide site. If
the rumours are correct, Football Wives will be
following that powerhouse show Grey's Anatomy.
From the
TV Guide site
Many thanks to Noa for the news
ABC's (Rumored) New Fall Schedule
ABC doesn't officially unveil its fall sked until
Tuesday, but here's one version making the rounds...
THURSDAY
8 - Ugly Betty
9 - Grey's Anatomy
10 - Football Wives
7 May 2007
The following is from
AfterEllen.com
Football Wives (ABC) — This
trashy, campy British dramedy is finally making its way
over to American shores. There's no guarantee it'll get
lesbian on us, but you can all take heart: Lucy
Lawless plays the series' ruthless diva, Tanya
Austin.
Hollywood Reporter - 7 May 2007 -- ABC, which is
rumored to pick up four to six one-hour pilots, is
said to be proceeding with high-level staffing on
two dramas, "Pushing Daisies" and the untitled Jon
Feldman project -- a sign that the shows might be
joining the "Grey's Anatomy" spinoff on the schedule
next season. Also hot is drama "Marlowe," which
recently received an order for two additional
scripts and is now lining up series directors, as
well as "Dirty Sexy Money." "Cashmere Mafia," "Eli
Stone" and "Football Wives" also are believed to be
in contention. "Sam I Am," "Nice Girls Don't Get the
Corner Office," "The Thick of It" and "The Middle"
are getting buzz on the comedy side.
Read more...
Many thanks to LB for the news
3 May 2007
Episode News
2 May 2007
ABC will announce the new fall schedule on 15 May.
That's when we will find out if officially when/if FW
has been picked up. - Many thanks to LB for the news
The following was posted on the Zap2It forum. Don't
know who the person is but it sounds quite promising for
the show - Many thanks to
Jenn for the news
- Posted by
ProudBoy - Zap2It Forum
"I've just received word that the edit of Football
Wives went well, and that ABC execs think they have
a hit on their hands. Of course, more market
research will help to determine that -- but usually
if the execs at ABC like it, it is a go."
1 May 2007
Cast Update
20 April 2007
Lucy Pic update
Lucy's site has been updated with a new pic from the
set of Football Wives. There is also an update about the
Roxy DVD with some additional news of the extras on the
DVD.
Click
here for more info
FW Articles
I'm not quite sure by this article if this means they
have picked up Football Wives as a series but that's how
it reads to me (and with the recent new pic of Lucy on
the set of Football Wives being an indication since they
finished filming the pilot around 29 March)
27 March 2007
New Section - Spoilers
- Added a new section - Spoilers. For those that
don't want to be spoilt..don't read.
Spoilers
26 March 2007
First Pic of Lucy as Tanya Austin
Lucy has sent in the first of her as Tanya Austin -
the photo was taken in her trailer. This reminds me of
the time Lucy guest starred on the X-files and how she
went into the wrong trailer thinking it was hers.
Click here to read about that (the quote is on page 2)...wonder
what this trailer is like...Click
here to view the larger scan on Lucy's site
Casting News
24 March 2007
Casting News
-
In Soap Opera Digest this week it says the Kelly
Monaco(currently Sam on General Hospital) will have
a guest starring role in the pilot.
many thanks to LB for the news
21 March 2007
Zap2It reports that Spencer Garrett has been cast in
the show. Role not known at this time.
19 March 2007
New Lucy Blog Entry about Football Wives:
...I am just so thrilled to be working with
this amazing director (Bryan Singer) and cast. I really
dig working with Bryan, what a pleasure. I will be
forever grateful to Marco Pennette for kicking my arse
into gear. Thank God that ABC had the foresight to pick
up on this sensational British series. We are all hoping
to make good on its promise so that the network will see
fit to take it to series.
Click
here to read more
12 March 2007
Holly Robinson Peete will be on Oprah
tomorrow (and she may talk about Football Wives)
- the following was posted on her
blog
8 March 2007
The following is from Holly Robinson
Peete who has been cast in FW. Holly wrote the following
in her
MySpace Blog:
I've begun filming on a new pilot
for ABC which is a US version of the UK hit series,
Footballers' Wives! A subject I know all too well!!!
:-) Below is the press spot on the new show and the
cast. I play the mother of Brian J White's character
and mother in law to the beautiful Gabrielle Union's
character!! Stay Tuned for more info to come!
many thanks to Barbara Davies for the news
7 March 2007
Cast Update
New cast member Holly Robinson Peete
Reuters: Wed Mar 7, 2007 3:48AM EST
- Holly Robinson Peete has joined ABC's drama pilot
"Football Wives," which follows the wives of
professional football players. Robinson Peete will play
the mother of the star wide receiver (Brian White).
Click here for
more casting news
6 March 2007
Cast Update
Van Der Beek playing ABC "Football" rookie
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Former "Dawson's
Creek" star James Van Der Beek has joined ABC's drama
pilot "Football Wives," which revolves around women
whose lives are transformed when they marry NFL
superstars. Van Der Beek will play a rookie; he recently
did a two-episode arc on CBS' "Criminal Minds."
Click here for
more casting news
1 March 2007
Cast Update
The
Hollywood Reporter & Reuters reports that Kebbel takes
field in "Football Wives" Wed Feb 28, 2007
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Arielle Kebbel has
joined the starting lineup of ABC's one-hour pilot
"Football Wives," which revolves around women whose
lives are transformed when they marry NFL superstars.
Kebbel will play the younger sister of one of the wives
("Lost" co-star Kiele Sanchez) who adapts quickly to her
sister's new lifestyle. Kebbel's feature credits include
"John Tucker Must Die" and "The Grudge 2."
Click here to see
the rest of the cast
28 February 2007
I received the following note from David
Fuller from Hollywood Minute:
Hello from Hollywood!
Thought you and your site’s readers might like to know
that Lucy Lawless is being mentioned on tomorrow’s
edition (Wednesday the 28th) of Dave’s Hollywood Minute.
There’s a quick story about the new show Football Wives
and a mention that Lucy’s set to star in it. You can
visit
http://www.hollywoodminute.us/podcast to hear the
show.
Hope you’re having a fantastic day.
All the best!
David Fuller
26 February 2007
Casting News
The following is from
the Hollywood Reporter:
Eddie Cibrian landed a role in ABC's drama pilot "Football
Wives,"
"Wives," from ABC TV Studio, revolves around the wives
of professional football players. Cibrian, who most
recently starred on Fox's "Vanished," will play a
quarterback who cheats on his wife (Lucy Lawless).
Click here to see
the rest of the cast
24 February 2007
Articles
-
The New York Blade - 23 February 2007
Gay men and lesbians both have reason to rejoice
with ABC’s upcoming casting moves. ABC is planning a
remake of the campy British soap “Footballers
Wive$,” a gay cult hit on BBC America and DVD about
professional athletes and their devious women. The
network just announced that the role of lead diva
will be played by none other than Xena herself,
lesbian icon Lucy Lawless, who will portray Tanya
Turner, the coke-snorting, bed-hopping, man-eating
ringleader.
Read more
Many thanks to Jock for the news
22 February 2007
Cast Update
21 February 2007
Articles
Lucy's Role
Character Info update
20 February 2007
Lucy's Blog - FootBall Wives excerpt:
Lucy's latest blog on her official site has a
little about Football Wives:
"Also I am in a rigorous training
schedule for Football Wives. Mama Rose* has signed me
up for ballet! Believe it or not, she has. And my
calves are killing me! I am also working with a
trainer. I can't believe it myself. Funny that the week
my youngest child gets accepted into school, this job
moves into my life like a freight train. Next week I am
supposed to be doing “chemistry reads” to find the right
guy to play my husband. My colleagues so far are
Gabrielle Union and newly cast Kellie Sanchez, who I
hear are wonderful women so I'm looking forward to
meeting them."
*[Mama Rose is Lucy's nickname for
her friend Marissa Jaret Winokur]
Click here
to read the rest of Lucy's blog
Lucy Radio Interview - Football Wives mention
Lucy was on Bob Guiney On the Radio 19
February 2007 - Lucy discussed about various topics and
Football Wives was discussed:
download mp3 - 6.1 mb | download wma - 3.2 mb
Football Wives - Lucy said she
turned down the role for weeks. She doesn't play wives.
Lucy knew it's going to be a hit and she didn't want to
go long term so she kept turning it down. She said she
usually chose roles that she knew wouldn't be
successful. She knows Football Wives will successful.
They chased her so hard and Lucy liked
the people and she decided to say yes. She is playing an
extremely hard, tough woman and she pushes her husband
to be a big football star. The characters do everything
that is repugnent to Lucy and finds she finds the women
repellent. it was another reason she turned it down
because the women were so bitchy but in the end she had
to do it.
14 February 2007
Casting News
- "Lost" co-star Kiele Sanchez is in final
negotiations to join ABC's drama pilot "Football
Wives," which revolves around women whose lives are
transformed when they marry NFL superstars. Sanchez
will play the pregnant wife of a rising football
star, a good-natured woman with a secret. The
casting is in second position to her role on "Lost,"
which she joined this season in the recurring role
of Nikki.
Click here for more about the casting of Football
Wives
Articles
13 February 2007
Background Information on
Tanya Turner (Lucy's Role)
- Added some
background info on Lucy's role as Tanya Turner -
now this may or may not apply in the US version of
the show. The info is from the official footballers
Wives site for the UK version.
More news reports of Lucy's new role as Tanya
Turner in Football Wives
-
AfterEllen.com - Best. Lesbianish. Day. Ever. Blog
Lucy Lawless Now a Footballers Wife. Hot off the
presses: the former Warrior Princess has just been
cast as the scheming, bitchy Tanya in the ABC drama
series pilot Footballers Wives. In the hit British
series of the same name, Tanya is the alpha wife who
terrorizes everyone - the Joan Collins character, in
Dynasty-speak. The press release describes her
character simply as sexy "but not as sophisticated
as she thinks she is." So like Victoria Beckham. But
sexy.
-
Lawless and Singer team up for Brit adaptation
The Advocate - Los Angeles,CA,USA
Lucy Lawless is slated to play an athlete's spouse
in an upcoming ABC series from out director Brian
Singer. According to Variety, Lawless will play
Tanya, ...
-
'King,' 'Queen,' Win Big at BAFTAs
Entertainment Weekly - USA
Former Xena: Warrior Princess star Lucy Lawless has
been cast in the pilot for Football Wives, ABC's
version of the hit British series Footballers Wive$.
...
12 February 2007
News of Lucy's role as Tanya Turner
-
Variety Magazine - 11 February 2007
ABC: Casting -- Lucy Lawless has been
cast in one of the lead roles for Bryan Singer's
Touchstone-produced "Football Wives." She'll play
Tanya, who in the original Blighty skein was the
ruthless, bitchy spouse of bad boy Jason Turner.
Lawless, who broke through in the States as the star
of "Xena: Warrior Princess," more recently has had a
recurring role on Sci Fi Channel's "Battlestar
Galactica."
- Reuters 12 February 2007 Lawless in a
sporting mood for ABC pilot - Mon Feb 12, 2007
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Lucy Lawless,
also known as "Xena: Warrior Princess," has been
tapped for one of the leads in ABC's drama pilot
"Football Wives." Her character, who's married to a
professional football player, is sexy but not as
sophisticated as she thinks she is. Lawless recently
appeared on the Sci Fi Channel's "Battlestar
Galactica."
Cast Update
-
FOOTBALL WIVES (ABC) - Brian White
("Stomp the Yard") is the latest addition to the
drama pilot, a U.S. version of the famed U.K. soap.
He'll play Kyle, the wide receiver fiance of
Gabrielle Union's character.
-
FOOTBALL WIVES (ABC) - "Night
Stalker" alum Gabrielle Union has joined the cast of
the drama pilot, a U.S. version of the popular
British soap about three ordinary women's lives as
they are transformed by the celebrity and fortune
that come with marriage to sports superstars. She'll
play Chardonnay Lane, a rich Park Avenue
model-turned-recording artist who is engaged to a
star wide receiver. Union's casting stems from a
talent holding deal the actress signed with ABC and
producer Touchstone Television earlier this year.
9 February 2007
Welcome to the new subsite for Lucy's
new tv series "Football Wives"
Lucy has posted a note about her latest
show on her own site:
"I am playing a lead role in a new ABC
show called Footballers' Wives....Their other best
friend, Marco Penette, the show's producer, and Mike
McDonald, show executive and Rob's colleague from Herc
and Xena, days both rang me and demanded I come in and
at least try the role on for size. I did and I guess it
fit pretty good because five minutes after leavng the
Network, I had the job. I hadn't even fired up up the
P-Bird in the parking lot...Click
here to read more of Lucy's message on her official site
The following was posted on
Sharon's Official Xena Fan Club Page:
Lucy just signed on to star in an ABC-TV series
called Footballers Wives! Directing the pilot will be
Bryan Singer. It is based on the British series of the
same name. She plays the head wife who, as she just
told me, is the brains behind the brawn.
Some articles about this show
It appears the American version will be
called FOOTBALL WIVES instead of Footballers Wives which
is the British version.
