FOX goes 'Mental' this summer

Chris Vance of 'Prison Break'

Credit: Michael Lavine/FOX

FOX has picked up the internationally produced "Mental" for a 13-episode summer run.

"Mental," the first of three Fox TV Studios international co-productions, was made in association with Fox Internat ional Channels and shot at Fox TeleColombia in Bogata, Colombia.

The series stars Chris Vance ("Prison Break") and Annabella Sciorra ("The Sopranos") and focuses on the new Director of Mental Health Services at a Los Angeles hospital. 

"We are thrilled that 'Mental' has found a home on FOX," says Emiliano Calemzuk, president, Fox Television Studios. "As a co-production, 'Mental' tapped into the development talent within the international broadcaster community, as well as its financial resources, to create an international production team that included U.S. showrunners, writers and talent, all of whose work ultimately was responsible for the high quality of the show. Additionally, because of the co-financing with FIC, and the cost savings associated with shooting at Fox TeleColombia, we were able to put together an unusually attractive financial deal for everyone involved, something that all studios, networks and companies are considering in this unprecedented economic climate. We are hopeful that 'Mental' is the first of many such co-production deals for FtvS and FOX."

"Mental" is executive produced by Deborah Joy LeVine ("Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman") and Dan Levine ("The Division") and will air in 35 territories through Fox International Channels after its summer 2009 premiere. The series shot its 13 episode run in Colombia in 2008.

"Fox Television Studios presented us with an interesting opportunity," says FOX Chairman Peter Liguori in a statement. "One of our goals has been to get original scripted programming on our air during the summer and they created a model that will allow us to do it."

FtvS is utilizing a similar formula on "Persons Unknown," from Oscar-winning scribe Christopher McQuarrie, as well as "Defying Gravity," which stars Ron Livingston. "Persons Unknown" is currently shooting in Mexico, while "Defying Gravity" is being shot in Vancouver. Neither show has a domestic broadcast home.

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