The Publishing Industry Gets a New Sitcom

As reported in Reuters and elsewhere, CBS has acquired the script for a situational comedy tentatively titled Open Books and has committed to produce a pilot. Written by Will & Grace alumna Gail Lerner, Open Books features a book editor and her circle of friends. Lerner decided to focus the show on publishing, she states, because "I like the frustrations, the collaborative process. ... Publishing is a lot like sitcoms. Although both are supposedly dying, that only makes people more passionate about creating the next great novel or show."

At Entertainment Weekly's Shelf Life, Kate Ward is "optimistic about Open Books, providing it stays away from sappy romantic storylines."