Minute Man: Neil Patrick Harris has found his calling — hosting a game show. CBS will premiere Minute to Win It on March 14 with NPH handling hosting duties. The show is based on a successful British show called The Cube, which places contestants in a chamber designed to induce stress where they’re challenged to complete tasks for money. When they leave the chamber, NPH will promptly make fun of them. [Wrap]
Sexpatriates: Maria Bello is set to star in the upcoming HBO series Emergency Sex, based on the book Emergency Sex and Other Desperate Measures: A True Story From Hell on Earth. The show will revolve around the exploits of NGO workers living abroad as they attempt to deal with atrocities, loneliness, and “primal desires.†Slumdog Millionaire scribe Simon Beaufoy is set to write. Bello and Beaufoy will produce along with Russell Crowe, who has some experience with “primal desires.†[HR]
Dirt-y: TBS and David Spade are teaming up to turn Joe Dirt into a cartoon. The pilot calls for a “mullet-sporting, muscle-car-loving loser with a heart of gold.†Very funny indeed. [HR]
Music Men: South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker are teaming with Tony award–winning composer Robert Lopez to bring a musical to the New York stage. Avenue Q director Jason Stone will direct. Little is known about the Off Broadway production, but Variety guesses it might be a long-in-the-works project about Mormons. We’re hoping it’s about Cartman’s mom. [Variety]
The Bad Son: John C.
Reilly has joined Tilda Swinton in the cast of We Need to Talk About Kevin. The film is an adaptation of a Lionel Shriver novel about an estranged couple that must come together and deal with their mass-murdering son, Kevin. Lynne Ramsay, who was originally slated to direct The Lovely Bones, will handle directing duties while Reilly will handle comic-relief duties. [Movieline]