Hulu Orders J.J. Abrams-led “11/22/63” thriller from Stephen King

Hulu has placed a direct-to-series order for “11/22/63,” a nine-hour adaptation of Stephen King’s time-travel novel about the Kennedy assassination, from J.J. Abrams and Warner Bros. Television.

The miniseries, based on King’s best-selling 2011 novel published by Simon & Schuster imprint Scribner, follows high school English teacher Jake Epping, who travels back in time to try to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas on the fateful date in American history.

A premiere date for “11/22/63,” to be released as nine hour-long episodes, has not been set. Meanwhile, Hulu has not determined whether it will make the full series available exclusively to Hulu Plus subscribers, or whether some episodes will be free on Hulu.com.

Executive producers are King, Abrams through his Bad Robot Prods. (“Person of Interest,” “Fringe,” “Lost”), Bridget Carpenter and Bryan Burk. Carpenter will write the teleplay. Bad Robot’s Kathy Lingg is co-executive producer, and Athena Wickham is producer.

In announcing the pact, Stephen King said: “If I ever wrote a book that cries out for long-form, event-TV programming, ‘11/22/63’ is it. I’m excited that it’s going to happen, and am looking forward to working with J.J. Abrams and the whole Bad Robot team.”

The deal marks first original programming collaboration between Hulu and WBTV. Hulu will be the U.S. home for “11/22/63,” and Warner Bros. Worldwide Television Distribution will distribute “11/22/63″ for the rest of the world.

The “11/22/63″ project for Hulu is a limited “event series,” but there will be opportunities for future subsequent seasons based on the story. Hulu’s pickup of “11/22/63″ stands to be a critical component in the streaming service’s ability to attract subscribers with high-profile originals, as it vies with the likes of Netflix and Amazon.com.

“J.J. Abrams and Stephen King are two of the most celebrated storytellers of our time, and we are excited to be working with them and Warner Bros. Television to bring this unique take on one of the most seminal historic events of the 20th century to Hulu,” Craig Erwich, Hulu’s SVP and head of content, said in a statement. “’11/22/63′ already resonated with audiences as a best-selling novel, and we are looking forward to bringing the riveting story to the screen.”

Erwich, prior to joining Hulu in April 2014, had overseen Warner Horizon Television development, production and business operations.

Stephen King has published more than 50 books over a career spanning four decades, which have been adapted for movies and TV series more than 50 times. Repped by Paradigm, King is currently an executive producer of CBS series “Under the Dome,” based on his novel of the same name.

Filmmaker and producer J.J. Abrams is currently writing, producing and directing Disney’s “Star Wars: Episode VII,” slated for 2015 release, as well as producing the next installments of the “Mission: Impossible” and “Star Trek” movie franchises. “I’ve been a fan of Stephen King since I was in junior high school,” Abrams said in a statement. “The chance to work with him at all, let alone on a story so compelling, emotional and imaginative, is a dream.”

Carpenter’s TV credits include writing/executive producing Sundance Channel’s “The Red Road,” writing/co-executive producing NBC’s “Parenthood” and “Friday Night Lights,” and writing/co-producing Showtime’s “Dead Like Me.”  She called Stephen King “one of my literary heroes” and said creating the miniseries is “a dream come true. My dad, a lifelong Stephen King fanatic, still cannot believe it.”

Hulu is owned by 21st Century Fox, Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Disney.

SOURCE: Variety.com

Wife Says Columbus Short Threatened Murder/Suicide

“Scandal” star Columbus Short has been thrown out of his house and his wife has filed for divorce … after he allegedly put a knife to her throat last week and threatened to kill her and himself.

According to a new restraining order — obtained by TMZ — Short got into it with his wife April 7 at their Chatsworth home, where she claims he came into her room intoxicated with a wine bottle in hand, acted like he was going to hit her with the bottle and then unloaded the wine on her.

Tuere Short claims Columbus then ran to the kitchen for a knife, pinned her to the couch and began choking her. She says he then demanded they play a game he called “Truth or Truth.” He allegedly said if she lied he would stab her in the leg.

She says he then started naming men he believed she was having affairs with. She denied them all but he allegedly then put the knife to her throat and threatened murder/suicide. As she tried escaping she says he slashed her tire.

The restraining order requires Columbus to move out of the house. We’ve learned cops were there today to ensure the peace as he moved out.

Tuere also filed for divorce Tuesday, citing irreconcilable differences and asking for sole custody of their 2-year-old daughter.

In addition to the incident April 7th, Short has been charged with criminal domestic violence and child abuse for allegedly abusing Tuere while their child and his son were in the house. He pled not guilty. And he was arrested for yet another alleged domestic violence incident a few weeks earlier.

It’s interesting … just last month — after the first 2 domestic violence arrests — Columbus and his wife put on a united front at The Grove in L.A.

Weird Holiday of the Day – Innovation Day

TODAY’S “HOLIDAY” – FEBRUARY 16TH
Innovation Day

Spot a problem, think of a solution, and before you know it you’re innovating! Innovation Day is all about imagining new, better ways of doing things. 

Innovation is awesome! If people didn’t come up with new and innovative things, we’d all be stuck doing clothes by hand, drinking warm milk straight from the udder, and walking to work barefoot. Of course, those were also all new innovations at one point, too, so life has gotten better. Think of how much better life will be after your awesome invention!

What problem will you solve today? Let us know in the comments below!

“If there was a problem. Yo, I’ll solve it” ~ Vanilla Ice

Weird Holiday of the Day – Gumdrop Day

TODAY’S “HOLIDAY” – FEBRUARY 15TH
Gumdrop Day

Gummy, chewy, tasty sweets are the theme of Gumdrop Day, which presents you the opportunity (or the excuse) to eat as many gumdrops as possible (within reason, with consideration for your teeth, sugar levels and general health)!

Gumdrops are great! Although, I prefer to stick with the Sour Patch Kids variety of gumdrops, which are essentially the same thing, but in kid shape. However, typing that out makes it sound like I prefer to eat things that are kid shaped, which is not my preference at all. It’s more about the taste. Damn, now it sounds like I like the taste of kids more than regular gumdrops. Forget it! This holiday is over! Moving on…

What’s your favorite gumdrop inspired candy? Let us know in the comments below!

“Not the buttons! Not my gumdrop buttons!” ~ Gingerbread Man from Shrek

Weird Holiday of the Day – Ferris Wheel Day

TODAY’S “HOLIDAY” – FEBRUARY 14TH
Ferris Wheel Day

Ride high, high in the sky (within the constraints of a Perspex box attached to a giant wheel); what better way to celebrate Ferris Wheel Day?

If you decide to celebrate today with your special someone in a ferris wheel, they’re probably planning on pushing you out when you get to the top. While it’s not a super-romantic way to spend today’s OTHER HOLIDAY, it’s a great way to pass the time at amusement parks and circuses around the world! My favorite is when you get a group of people inside a single car, and there’s always that one jerk who like to rock the car back and forth as much as they can because they know it will freak out at least one other person in the group. That person is the one who should get thrown out at the top!

What’s your favorite ferris wheel memory? How will you celebrate today’s holiday? Let us know in the comments below!

“I see nothing in space as promising as the view from a ferris wheel.” ~ E B White

Weird Holiday of the Day – Get A Different Name Day

TODAY’S “HOLIDAY” – FEBRUARY 13TH
Get A Different Name Day

Whether you’re having a bit of an identity crisis, or simply fancy confusing your friends, Get A Different Name Day is a chance to throw off the shackles of the norm and adopt a new name!

When I was younger, I wanted to change my name to Steve. I’m not sure why I picked that name, but I thought Steve Sherman had a nice sound to it. Turns out, my dad wanted to name me Steve when I was born, and my mom overruled him and picked Sheldon, based on a name she read in a romance novel. I had never heard that story until years later, but it must have been fate, since I picked that as my fake name for a while. So, for this day only, I shall be known as Steve!

What’s your new name? Let us know below!

“I used to think feminism was a liberating force – now I see many of those people are just censors under a different name.” ~  Lydia Lunch

Weird Holiday of the Day – Plum Pudding Day

TODAY’S “HOLIDAY” – FEBRUARY 12TH
Plum Pudding Day

Plum Pudding Day is dedicated to a mouthwatering treat that, surprisingly enough, contains no plums! In the 17th century when it was first created, plums were referred to as raisins or any other type of dried fruits. Plum pudding (aka Christmas pudding) is a steamed or boiled pudding usually served during the holiday season. Plum pudding is composed of nutmeg, raisins, nuts, apples, cinnamon, dates, and many other ingredients. In England, it is tradition to have every person a household simultaneously hold onto the wooden spoon together to help stir the batter. As they stir it they also have to make a wish!

I’ve never had Plum Pudding, but I’ve heard it’s good. The ingredients in the holiday dish sound like they might be quite good together, so maybe today is the day to try it for the first time! Plum Pudding Day would be the best time to figure out if this will be a holiday I should participate in every year or not. Also, if I hate it, then I only have to eat it once a year! Yes, I would still eat it! You have to celebrate the holiday after all!!! Have you had Plum Pudding? Do you have a family recipe you want to share? Let us know in the comments below!

“’Make a remark,’ said the Red Queen; ‘it’s ridiculous to leave all the conversation to the pudding!’” ~  Lewis Carroll

Weird Holiday of the Day – Satisfied Staying Single Day

TODAY’S “HOLIDAY” – FEBRUARY 11TH
Satisfied Staying Single Day

“No one to walk with, but I’m happy on the shelf”, sang Fats Waller. If that’s you, there’s a perfect day to celebrate. And you don’t have to be “through with flirting”, either…

Seen by many as the antidote to Valentine’s Day, the international day of the singleton may be a strange occasion to mark. But Satisfied Staying Single Day, or S3, is less about chasing a dream of happily-ever-after, and more about living life in the moment – a cause that even couples can embrace. And unlike St Valentine, with his cutesy satin hearts and overpriced roses, S3 remains reassuringly un-commercial.

Above all, S3 is an excuse for a good party. People around the world celebrate their freedom by meeting up with friends for an evening in or out. However, you have to wonder about the logic behind “Satisfied Staying Single Speed-Dating Night”…

Being single three days before Valentine’s Day is not a problem. If you’re happy being single, then this is the holiday for you! My good friend and I enjoy spending Valentine’s Day together where we can relax at home, not worrying about getting a restaurant reservation, spending way too much money on extravagant gifts for each other, or the awkward (and sometimes forced) way to “end the evening.” Are you single? Loving it? Share your story below!

“All sincere boys fall in love with stupid girls, all sincere girls fall in love with stupid boys, I am neither stupid nor sincere, that’s why I am ‘single’.” ~  Abhishek Tiwari

Weird Holiday of the Day – Umbrella Day

TODAY’S “HOLIDAY” – FEBRUARY 10TH
Umbrella Day

Umbrellas are a remarkably effective accessory for protecting yourself from wind, rain and sun. Whatever the weather, Umbrella Day is a great excuse to sport a fetching brolly when you’re out and about!

Umbrellas are quite popular in our society! You have Mary Poppins, who uses it as her main form of transportation. There’s Rihanna, who made a hit song about it. In numerous cartoons, it’s used to stop people from dying during a fall from tall heights. How will you celebrate Umbrella Day? Comment below to let us know!

“You said when the storm came that you would be there with your umbrella to block the rain.” ~ Jennifer Hudson