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ABC options two series to US

By Brendan Swift

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s commercial arm has optioned the classic comedy series Mother and Son and recent black comedy Review.

The sales have been made in the lead up to global TV sales event MIPTV 09, which begins on March 30 in Cannes France.

Review, which featured fictional critic Myles Barlow reviewing everyday life experiences, has been optioned to US-based Pangea Studios.

“Its irreverent, dark humour pushes the boundaries in a way that’s different from what we’ve seen in the States,” said Pangea senior vice president Karrie Wolfe.

Meanwhile, Mother and Son has been sold as a format to US-based Alchemy Television. Local versions of the show have already been made in UK, Chile, Sweden, Denmark, Turkey and Greece.

The show filmed the first of its 42 episodes in 1984 and featured Ruth Cracknell as Maggie and Garry McDonald as her long suffering son Arthur.

Mother and Son has an enormous following in Australia and we’re delighted this classic show will hit the US,” said ABC Commercial sales manager, formats, Katherine McMillan.