19-06-2011

FNE at DISCOP Budpest 2011: TVP Picks up Argentine Format

By Katarzyna Grynienko
    WARSAW: TVP 2 has commissioned the first season of a sitcom about the media world, Wiadomości z drugiej ręki (Second-hand news). The series, based on the popular Argentinian format Los exitosos Pells, introduces viewers to the world of media, news, stars and celebrities.

    In a false mirror style, the show follows the reality of media creation with all its intrigues and sudden twists of action. The main characters of the show are Marcin Wilk and Agata Rusek, the most popular media couple in the country. Together they host a news show aired by a private station and are considered to have an ideal marriage. Everything changes when Marcin suddenly falls into a coma, and the owner of the station hires a look-alike to save the show.

    The series has aired since 2008 on the Argentine station Telefe (www.telefe.com) and was broadcast by TVN International (www.e.itvn.pl), a channel for Poles living abroad. The executive producer is Endemol Polska (www.endemol.pl), the Polish unit of the international television production company. The producer of Wiadomości z drugiej ręki points out that the Polish version is very different from the original, modified to fit the local market. The series is directed by Robert Wichrowski, an experienced Polish television professional who directed several popular series including Common Street and the Polish version of Ugly Betty. The cast includes Wojciech Mecwaldowski, Magdalena Łaska, Maria Pakulnis, Marek Barbasiewicz, Maja Hirsch, Waldemar Błaszczyk and Marcin Kwaśny.

    The shoot for the series started at the beginning of June and will last till the end of September 2011. TVP 2 (www.tvp.pl) has commissioned 48 episodes, which will start airing in the fall. The series will probably fill the 7:00 pm weeknight timeslot, replacing License to Parent, a show produced for TVP from a Canadian license which failed to attract Polish viewers.

    Production information:

    Endemol Polska Sp. z o. o.

    02-738 Warsaw

    Dominikańska 29

    tel.: 22 847 45 05

    email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

    www.endemol.pl