Recent deals are aligning that will have two WB stars returning to HBO in the next year or so. Since it is ladies’ first, we look at a series quickly forming with Kaley Cuoco. No disrespect to her, but the word is that the project she is linked with is one of the highest-profile comedy packages to hit the marketplace in a while. It hails from Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky, the creators and executive producers of Max’s HACKS.
The hot project these behind-the-scenes and onscreen talents are a part of? It is called KANSAS CITY STAR with Cuoco front and center as the title character. Details about the show are light but evidently, a 
bidding war was in play on which outlet was going to snag it. It is described as a comedy with heart starring Cuoco as a semi-famous actress who returns to her hometown to work with a regional theater troupe.
HBO has not officially commented yet, but it seems likely that the half-hour show will land at HBO/Max. After all, the production team is right there with their award-winning Jean Smart comedy and Cuoco, don’t forget, is no stranger at WBD. She was the lead character in the 16-episode run of THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT over two seasons as Cassie Bowden, the voice actor behind the latest animated iteration of DC’s Harley Quinn in Max’s HARLEY QUINN and a CURB…episode.
We will talk this up as we move along. Look for KANSAS CITY STAR.
(Deadline)
Also look for Jason Bateman to return, alongside David Harbour for a limited drama series. We know Bateman, of course, from a long career in film & TV including his time with the HBO limited series THE OUTSIDER, a Stephen King adaptation from 2020. His filmography is pretty lengthy as well, but we draw attention to his HBO contributions like the beloved THE NEWSROOM, as important news anchor Elliot Hirsch, a couple of episodes of BANSHEE, and voice work on the animated ANIMALS. and the upcoming DC’s CREATURE COMMANDOS. Writer/director and showrunner Steven Conrad is noted for the shows Patriot and Ultra City Smiths for other outlets, making this work his first for HBO.
HBO has greenlit their title DTF ST. LOUIS. The brief details on this work come straight from a WBD Press Release:
- HBO has given a seven-episode series order for DTF ST. LOUIS from showrunner, writer, director and executive producer Steven Conrad (“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” “Patriot”). The limited series stars and is executive produced by Jason Bateman and David Harbour.
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- Logline: A darkly comedic limited series about a love triangle between three adults experiencing middle-age malaise, that leads to one of them ending up dead.
- Francesca Orsi, Executive Vice President, HBO Programming, Head of HBO Drama Series and Films, quote: “We are tremendously excited to work with the brilliant auteur Steve Conrad, whose singularity of vision lies central to all his work as a storyteller. With David Harbour and Jason Bateman at series center, two masterful titans in their own right, we couldn’t be more emboldened by the journey ahead and look forward to sharing this special, emotionally provocative piece with the world come time.”
We officially put DTF ST. LOUIS on our radar. Oh, and what is it with Missouri all of a sudden?
