Trey Roski, son of billionaire developer Ed Roski Jr., is focused on building a television hit rather than following his father into real estate.
He’s executive producer of “Battlebots,” a fighting contest featuring homemade robots, which will return to ABC for a special episode May 10 ahead of its second season this summer.
“My dad are I are different, and while he’d like his only son to be a little more like him he’s always supported me in this and loves the series – it’s the only TV show he watches,” said Trey, 51.
While his father focuses on his Majestic Realty real estate empire and sports interests – Roski is a minority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Kings and currently trying to bring the National Football League to Las Vegas – his son is looking to build audiences nationally and internationally for the series he co-created and which averaged 5 million viewers last year.
“We now have three offers to take the show international, and that’s no surprise as this is a sport that translates in every language across every level,” said Trey Roski, who has an impressive team helping him realize his ambitions.
Veteran TV executive Lloyd Braun, who helped bring a string of hits such as “Lost” and “Desperate Housewives” to the screen, is a fellow executive producer; acclaimed movie director James Cameron is an unofficial consultant.
“James is not interested in a title, but just loves the show and Lloyd is another absolute genius who really knows the industry,” said Roski. “It’s a great help to have such supporters get your ideas out to the world and not have them stolen or mistreated. You need to be careful as there are bigger sharks in the TV industry than any other industry I know.”
No Strings
Santa Monica’s Amazon Studios is aiming for young audiences by rebooting a popular British children’s show from 50 years ago.
Amazon’s focus had previously been on adult shows such as “Transparent,” “Mozart in the Jungle,” and “Man in the High Castle.” But now “Thunderbirds,” a family action series about an international rescue team, has joined the streaming line up.
Originally a puppet series, the new version has no strings attached as it has been remade using computer animation.
Head writer Rob Hoegee said updating the show for modern audiences also required other changes than just a switch to CGI.
“Now the characters don’t smoke or drink martinis – back in the ’60s it was like ‘Mad Men’ with rescue ships,” he said.
The new version has retained one link with the past by hiring original cast member David Graham, 90, to again voice the character of chauffeur Parker.
“I am delighted to be behind the wheel again,” he said.
Hollywood Hybrid
In one of the most surprising sequel ideas ever, Culver City’s Sony Pictures Entertainment has now given a green light to a long-rumored mashup of its “Men in Black” and “22 Jump Street” franchises.
Titled “MIB 23,” the film will see Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill’s bumbling cops from Jump Street joining the MIB to defend the Earth from alien invaders.
No release date or additional casting details have been announced.
Food Bowl
Hollywood Bowl bosses are hoping the food served up there this summer will be as good as the music now that they have brought in a pair of popular restaurateurs to run the culinary operations.
Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne, whose Lucques Group comprises local eateries Lucques, A.O.C., Tavern, and the Larder, are overseeing a reimagining of the food and wine offerings at the iconic venue.
The duo will be cooking up everything from box-seat suppers and preshow dining at one of the Bowl’s restaurants to picnics for the knoll.
Short Takes
Popular Spanish-language radio host Eddie “Piolin” Sotelo has been named National Radio Personality of the Year at the 2016 Hispanic Radio Conference. Produced by Calabasas company Alliance Radio Networks, “El Show di Piolin” is broadcast to 54 stations across the United States on weekday mornings from the Entravision Communications Corp. studios on the Miracle Mile. …
Hollywood executive John Maatta has been named chief executive of pop culture convention company Wizard World Inc. “Wizard events are the sweet spot where the entertainment industry interacts one on one with its audience,” said Maatta, whose experience includes six years as co-head of the CW network. … Creative Artists Agency has established a new leadership structure for its marketing services operations by promoting four experienced executives, Jay Brooker, Tony Fur, Todd Hunter, and Lori Tabb to oversee the marketing teams.
Managing editor Sandro Monetti can be reached at [email protected] or (323) 549- 5225, ext. 200.
