Cher, the iconic singer, actress, writer and producer, has inked a development deal with television network Logo, according to Gossip Cop yesterday. The announcement came at the LGBT skewed network’s presentation Saturday at the winter Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena. Details so far are limited, but Logo indicated Cher is working on a pilot script that’s set in early 1960s Hollywood. Cher would know much about that, since she and future and former husband Sonny Bono were aspiring performers in early ‘60s Hollywood. Cher’s career took off after appearing as half of “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour” variety show in the first half of 1970s. She also headed her own variety show “Cher” after that show ended, and then re-teamed with her ex-husband Sonny for the reboot “The Sonny and Cher Show”.
Though details will be forthcoming, senior vice president for original programming Brent Zacky said that Cher is collaborating with comedian Ron Zimmerman for the pilot script. Whether that’s an indication that the show will be a sit-com remains to be seen.
Cher, you recall, regularly acted out sketches and comedy bits on her variety shows. Cher has been linked romantically to Zimmerman in recent years. According to the Hollywood Reporter, his most recent TV writing credits include “Shake it Up” and “Til Death”.
“We read some of the stuff that Cher and Ron had written and it was really terrific”, Zacky said, noting it hasn’t yet been determined whether Cher will have an on-camera roll in the developing project. That would seem a no-brainer though.
Leaving Cher behind the scenes writing, and not capitalizing on her charisma and star power in front of the camera, would be akin to putting Baby in the corner a la “Dirty Dancing”.
The Cher scripted development project comes as the Logo network is making a push into original scripted efforts. Should the Cher project move to series, it would join other Logo originals that have included “Exes and Ohs”, “Noah’s Arc” and “Sordid Lives”.
“We're very carefully and hopefully diligently taking a few shots in this arena and we'll see how it pans out. We're certainly excited to be in business with an icon like Cher and Ron, who is a terrific writer”, said Zacky.
He added that the network is open to doing more with Cher, including unscripted. Although he didn’t elaborate, the specter of a Cher reality series is certainly intriguing to say the least.
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