Spot producer developing home makeover comedy TV pilot

Glencoe commercial and corporate video company Production House is developing a comedy home makeover TV series that producer Mark Tulloss describes as “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” meets “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

Tulloss crafted the concept with Jane Laser of interior design company Paint the Town. “We asked ourselves, ‘what would be hot, what would be a great formula to fill what’s missing in the market?'” Tulloss said. “We came up with the concept of ‘Urban Palette.’ We want something that really shows the flavor of Chicago and what it has to offer as a city as far as urban living.”

Tulloss is casting for actors and comedians to play the roles of contractors, interacting with homeowners and improvising based on roughly outlined comic scenarios that lead to actual home makeovers courtesy of Laser. “The show is really based on the talent,” Tulloss said. “It’s the talent that takes the audience through the adventure.”

With homeowners already in place, Production House will shoot the “Urban Palette” pilot as soon as casting is locked, then shop the show to cable outlets with existing makeover programs, like Bravo, Home and Garden or The Learning Channel.

Tulloss recently completed spots for the Chicago Chiropractic and Sports Injury Clinic, and for paternity rights attorney Jeffrey Leving. He produced director Sky’s short film “Kid Proof,” which won the Image Union Award at the Chicago “Really” Short Film Festival in April. “Kid Proof” plays Friday, June 4 at 10:30 p.m. on Ch. 11’s “Image Union.”

Tulloss has been Production House managing producer since 1988. Owner and legendary activist Howie Samuelson founded the company to produce his ’70s Ch. 26 series “Underground News.”

Production House is at 395 Jefferson Ave., Glencoe. Call 847/433-3172 or see www.production-house.com.

? by Ed M. Koziarski, edk@homesickblues.com