NBC has a series adaptation of Liza Palmer's novel Family Reservations in development

Universal TV has acquired the rights to Liza Palmer's latest book Family Reservations, which it will develop at NBC. The book, which was published on April 1, follows culinary pioneer and world-famous restaurateur Maren Winter, who is about to retire. Each of her three daughters is eager to take the reins of her restaurant empire, the Winter Group. Dominated by her deep insecurities about becoming irrelevant, Maren turns her three daughters against each other, beginning her own dangerous descent into madness and the Winter sisters beginning their journey to freedom.

Universal TV will develop the series with writer/executive producer Ilene Chaiken and Keshet Studios.



Palmer (pictured, right) will co-produce the project with Chaiken (pictured, left), along with Avi Nir of Keshet Media Group, Keren Shahar of Keshet International, Lisa Roos of Keshet Studios and Peter Traugott of Keshet Studios. Heather Brewster of Keshet Studios is co-executive producer.

Universal Studio Group's Creative Acquisitions and IP Management team, led by Jordan Moblo, was instrumental in securing the rights to the novel. Keshet Studios has a first-look deal with Universal Television.

“Liza Palmer’s delicious book brings together the very things I love most in the world – food and family drama!” said Chaiken. “I’m thrilled and grateful that she has entrusted us with the television adaptation.”

“Family Reservations is a labor of love that was written every morning from 5:30 to 8:30 during cancer surgeries and day-job headaches,” said Palmer. “Over those long months and years, the Winters became family to me. I’ve ugly cried more times than I’d like to admit because I now know my little complicated family are in the best of hands with the brilliant, creative teams at Universal Television, Keshet Studios and NBC. Having these precious, complex women in the capable hands of Ilene Chaiken is truly a dream come true.”

Chaiken is best known for the Showtime series The L Word and received an Emmy for Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale. She was the showrunner of the Fox series Empire and executive producer of The L Word: Generation Q for Showtime.

Palmer has written eleven novels and is best known for Nowhere But Home, winner of the Willie Morris Prize for Southern Fiction.