Fox planning HBO-like ‘big event’ series

PASADENA, Calif. — Fox is taking a page from HBO and scheduling some “big event” series.

The network’s entertainment chief, Kevin Reilly, said Tuesday that Fox wants to order some short series of around a dozen episodes or less, much like the cable network does. But don’t call it a miniseries; the name seems to have a negative connotation in TV now.

Fox announced a development deal with producer M. Night Shyamalan for “Wayward Pines,” a thriller Reilly compares to “Twin Peaks.” Based on the Blake Crouch novel, “Pines,” it involves a Secret Service agent going to an Idaho town to investigate two missing federal agents.

The second deal is to develop “Blood Brothers,” about the West Point Class of 1861, with members who fought on both sides of the Civil War yet didn’t lose their regard for each other.

Reilly said he hoped the special series would attract famous actors who would normally be reluctant to be involved in television because they don’t want to commit to a project that could stretch for several years.

The series are expected to air in 2014.