FX's boxing series "LIGHTS OUT," a "critically acclaimed ratings underperformer," concluded its 13-episode run on the network Tuesday, and Exec Producer WARREN LEIGHT talked about "interest from other networks" in a Q&A with Lesley Goldberg of the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Leight said, "My sense is it's unlikely Showtime would pick up a show that had been on basic cable. There were feelers put out to them." He added DirecTV is "not as keen on this as they may have once been." Leight: "I don't mean on 'Lights Out,' I mean saving shows." Leight said FX "marketed the show to their core audience, and their core audience is young male, sports-oriented." Leight: "If you can't get your core audience to watch the show, it's very hard to pull in enough people outside of your fan base to your network. The networks are just so branded now; USA can't really do a dark depressing drama and FX can't do a blue-sky show." Leight said he considered the show a "strong family drama with boxing as a backdrop." He added, "I would not singularly emphasize the boxing if I could go again somewhere. I don't see how FX could have sold a family drama to their audience" (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 4/7).
NATURAL CHOICE: In L.A., Steven Zeitchik reported actor ROBERT REDFORD "is on board to play" Baseball HOFer BRANCH RICKEY "in a long-gestating, recently jump-started version of a historical drama involving the Brooklyn Dodgers executive and JACKIE ROBINSON, the black player he famously signed." The "as-yet-untitled film will be financed by THOMAS TULL's Legendary Pictures" (LATIMES.com, 4/6).
