EMPORIA UPDATE

CBS has jumped ahead of NBC and ABC in the great race to get those steamy Emporia, Kan., murders on the tube (Calendar reported Aug. 10 on 36 producers originally scrambling for the rights in the true-life story of a small-town minister and his mistress involved in the murders of their spouses). CBS has green-lighted a script by Mike Robe (who’ll also direct) for producer Zev Braun and Interscope Communications. Title: “Kansas Gothic.”

Braun wouldn’t comment on casting but said “we expect to be in production (in Emporia) by the end of this month.” An agent at William Morris said that negotiations “look very good” for Keith Carradine to portray state trooper John Rule, a key investigator in the case and the focus of the CBS pic.

Meanwhile, NBC’s project--told from the viewpoint of the minister’s murdered wife and family--is still in the writing stage, according to Dan Paulson, co-exec producer and veep at Dick Clark Productions. “We will make ours when it’s right,” he said. “We’re committed to getting ours on the air.”

The ABC version, from exec producer Henry Winkler, is likewise in development. But Winkler’s project--told from the convicted lovers’ point-of-view--may be held up by the appeals process.

Still, producer Andrew Sugerman insisted, “We’re very happy with the material and with ABC’s support. We hope to proceed into production in the very near future.”