LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess) – MGM Television has announced that it is teaming with Universal Music Publishing Group to bring Billy Joel’s music to life as a scripted “arc-thology” entitled, Scenes From an Italian Restaurant.
The show, which takes its title from Joel’s favorite self-penned song, will see each episode based around lyrics and characters (including the Stranger, the Piano Man, Mamma Leone and Sgt. O’Leary) from his sizeable catalog of hits. The tracks will be reimagined and rearranged by Joel’s music team, with input from the famed New York singer/songwriter and acclaimed storyteller himself.
Helmed by Kevin Fox (Law & Order: SVU) and executive produced alongside Joel and his longtime producing partner, Steve Cohen (with whom he collaborated on Billy Joel: New York State of Mind), the show represents the first time Joel’s entire body of work will be licensed for a series. Universal Music Publishing Group’s Jody Gerson and Marc Cimino will also serve as associate producers.
Joel, who is the sixth best-selling artist in the world, has sold over 84.5 million records to date.
