• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, August 10, 2011

Perhaps because it isn't involved much with the Big Four broadcasters and so fails to gain much attention during the development season when a studio's bona fides are evaluated, Lionsgate seems to get short shrift as a top-notch TV production house breaking ground. It deserves better.

Yet, that may just be what happens when you play mostly in cable and don't have the bulk or budgets the studios run by the networks do.

From "Mad Men" to Showtime's "Weeds" and "Nurse Jackie," Lionsgate has valuable established successes. Plus, there's a promising crop of newcomers and some new distribution avenues.

Top of the list there is the gamble on "Anger Management," the coming comedy starring Charlie Sheen that has some connection to the eponymous 2003 movie. Once the show finds a network -- pay cable? -- it's a good bet tune-in for at least opening night will be up there. Respected producer Joe Roth, who was behind the film, is involved.

In the broadcast area, Lionsgate is prepping another TV adaptation of a film -- a version of "Lincoln Lawyer" for ABC. And this fall, Kelsey Grammer stars as the mayor of Chicago in "Boss" for Starz. Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer called it an "edgy political drama."

Meanwhile, Feltheimer virtually confirmed on Wednesday a Deadline.com report that a series from "Weeds" creator Jenji Kohan is in the works exclusively for Netflix.

"This is certainly the kind of premium content we're looking to generate for the expanding array of digital distribution platforms shaping the global marketplace," Feltheimer said.

Over the next year, Lionsgate -- which of course has a standout film business -- plans to boost its TV investment from $175 million to $215 million, accodring to the company. Of course, much of that will go towards season five of "Mad Men," where episode one is being shot with series star Jon Hamm as director.

And then, who knows what kind of hits could come if Lionsgate links with Tyler Perry on a network (first reported by the New York Times)?

Perry has shown he can deliver on just about everything he does.