or


[01/26/05 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: January 24-26
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- The latest development news, culled from recent wire reports:

CANDID CAMERA (PAX) - Tribune Entertainment has purchased the off-network rights to all 137 episodes (plus three one-hour specials) of the "Camera" revival, which ran on CBS from 1998-2000 and has been on PAX from 2001 onward. The company plans to pitch the series to local stations across the country beginning this week at the annual NATPE convention. As for cable, ABC Family, TBS and Comedy Central are understood to be among Tribune's target channels.

DRAWN TOGETHER (Comedy Central) - The cable channel has quietly announced season two of the animated comedy will premiere Wednesday, October 19 at 10:30/9:30c. The second half of "South Park's" ninth season will also resume that same night at 10:00/9:00c.

FARSCAPE (Syndication) - Debmar Studios has sold repeats of the show's four season run to local stations in eight of the top 10 markets bringing its overall clearance rate to 50% of the country. Among those signing on were the Fox owned-and-operated stations in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago as well as Viacom stations in Philadelphia and Seattle. Said stations, each of which signed two-year deals, will begin airing episodes on weekends beginning this fall. The pacts however weren't for cash, but rather seven minutes of ad time per hour for national ad sales by Debmar.

INSIDE EDITION (Syndication) - Deborah Norville has signed on to continue hosting the syndicated newsmagazine for two more years. The news was announced by distributor King World Productions at the industry's annual NATPE convention in Las Vegas this week.

MONK (USA) - 5.51 million viewers tuned into the show's first new episode of 2005. Among adults 18-49, "Monk" earned a solid 1.7 rating/5 share. Said numbers were on par with its average from its nine-episode run this past summer (5.1 million).

NATPE 2005 OFF-NETWORK ROUNDUP - For those interested, here's a breakdown of this year's off-network offerings at the 2005 NATPE convention, which began this week - Fall 2005: "24" (Twentieth), "Alias" (Buena Vista), "The Bernie Mac Show" (Twentieth), "Candid Camera" (Tribune Entertainment), "Da Vinci's Inquest" (Program Partners), "Farscape" (Debmar), "Girls Behaving Badly" (Sony), "My Wife and Kids" (Buena Vista), "One on One" (Paramount), "Sex and the City" (Warner Bros.), "Smallville" (Warner Bros.), "South Park" (Debmar), "Star Trek: Enterprise" (Paramount) and "Stargate Atlantis" (MGM); Fall 2006: "According to Jim" (Buena Vista), "CSI: Miami" (King World), "Everwood" (Warner Bros.), "The George Lopez Show" (Warner Bros.), "Reba" (Twentieth) and "Scrubs" (Buena Vista); Fall 2007: "Cold Case" (Warner Bros.) and "Eight Simple Rules" (Buena Vista); Fall 2008: "CSI: NY" (King World) and "Two and a Half Men" (Warner Bros.). Note that this list does not mean each series will be sold into syndication, it just means their respective distributors are looking to sell it for the targeted dates.

PEEP SHOW (FOX) - Johnny Galecki ("Roseanne"), Josh Meyers ("MADtv") and Amanda Holden ("Mad About Alice") have joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about two average guys who form a modern day "Odd Couple." Meyers, who had a talent holding deal at the network, will play one of the lead roles, an aspiring musician, as will Galecki. Holden then will play a co-worker of Galecki's character. Jeff and Jackie Filgo ("That '70s Show") are behind "Peep," which comes from the Carsey-Werner studio.

THE SHIELD (FX) - Michael Pena ("Million Dollar Baby") is the latest addition to the cable drama's fourth season, which launches Tuesday, March 15 at 10:00/9:00c. Pena, who's signed to appear in at least 12 episodes, will play a former Marine reservist who is pursuing a career in law enforcement. He'll be partnered with Walton Goggins' character following the disbanding of the Strike Team.

THE TONY DANZA SHOW (Syndication) - The show's second season has now been cleared by Buena Vista Television on almost 100 stations, bringing its national clearance rate from 60% to 70% for the 2005-06 season. The company however has yet to firmly commit to a sophomore year for the talk show.

THE TWILIGHT ZONE (Syndication) - New Line Television has cleared repeats of the short-lived UPN series in four key markets - Boston, Cleveland, Phoenix and Nashville - for the 2005-06 season.

THE TYRA BANKS SHOW (Syndication) - 19 of the 25 FOX owned-and-operated stations have cleared the freshman talk show for a fall 2005 launch. The news means the series, which comes from Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, is a go in more than 70% of the country including stations in the New York; Los Angeles; Chicago; Boston; Dallas; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta; Detroit; Houston; Minneapolis; Phoenix; St. Louis; Cleveland; Orlando, Fla.; Baltimore; Birmingham, Ala.; Memphis, Tenn.; Greensboro, N.C.; and Austin, Texas markets. Additional clearances, which would likely push it up to 90% of the country, are expected to come during the 2005 NATPE convention, which began on Tuesday.

THE WAR AT HOME (FOX) - Michael Rapaport ("Boston Public") has been cast in the Warner Bros. Television/Acme Productions comedy pilot, about hypocritical parents who struggle to maintain dominance over their kids. He'll play the father of a dysfunctional brood in the project, which comes from writer Rob Lotterstein, who will executive produce alongside Acme principals Mindy Schultheis and Michael Hanel. Rapaport's involvement lifts the cast-contigency on the pilot's production. The actor previously had a talent holding deal at the network.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [january 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· 24 (FOX)
· ACCORDING TO JIM (ABC)
· ALIAS (ABC)
· BERNIE MAC SHOW, THE (FOX)
· BOSTON PUBLIC (FOX)
· CANDID CAMERA (PAX)
· COLD CASE (CBS)
· CSI: MIAMI (CBS)
· CSI: NEW YORK (CBS)
· DRAWN TOGETHER (COMEDY CENTRAL)
· EIGHT SIMPLE RULES (ABC)
· EVERWOOD (WB)
· FARSCAPE (SCI FI)
· GEORGE LOPEZ SHOW, THE (ABC)
· INSIDE EDITION (SYNDICATION)
· MONK (USA)
· MY WIFE & KIDS (ABC)
· ONE ON ONE (UPN)
· PEEP SHOW (FOX)
· REBA (CW)
· SCRUBS (ABC)
· SEX AND THE CITY (HBO)
· SHIELD, THE (FX)
· SMALLVILLE (CW)
· SOUTH PARK (COMEDY CENTRAL)
· STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE (UPN)
· STARGATE ATLANTIS (SCI FI)
· THAT '70S SHOW (FOX)
· TONY DANZA SHOW, THE (SYNDICATION)
· TWILIGHT ZONE, THE (UPN)
· TWO AND A HALF MEN (CBS)
· TYRA BANKS SHOW, THE (SYNDICATION)
· WAR AT HOME, THE (FOX)





[05/21/24 - 11:00 AM]
HBO Original Documentary Series "Ren Faire" Debuts June 2
For half a century, 86-year-old George Coulam, known to his employees as King George, has reigned with an iron fist over the Texas Renaissance Festival, the largest such "faire" in the world.

[05/21/24 - 10:32 AM]
Video: "Worst Roommate Ever" Season 2 - Sneak Peek - Netflix
Roommate wanted? Desperation leads to danger - and even death - in one's own home as real-life nightmares of con artists, criminals and killers unfold.

[05/21/24 - 10:31 AM]
Netflix Renews Shane Gillis Scripted Comedy "Tires" for Season 2 Ahead of Series Premiere on May 23
As previously announced, Netflix has also ordered a new standup special from Gillis, to premiere in 2025.

[05/21/24 - 10:24 AM]
"60 Minutes" Makes Television History - The CBS Newsmagazine Is America's #1 News Show for the 50th Straight Season
This is the first time any program on television has reigned as #1 for five decades.

[05/21/24 - 10:03 AM]
Academy Award Winner Holly Hunter to Star in the Paramount+ Original Series "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy"
The series will follow the adventures of a new class of Starfleet cadets as they come of age in one of the most legendary places in the galaxy.

[05/21/24 - 10:00 AM]
BBC America Sets Premiere Date for Sir David Attenborough's Major New Natural History Series, "Mammals"
Renowned naturalist and three-time Emmy Award-winner Sir David Attenborough presents the series, which reveals how mammals have conquered the Earth, uncovering the secrets to their success with their winning design, incredible adaptability, unrivalled intelligence, and unique sociability.

[05/21/24 - 09:04 AM]
HGTV Renews Hit Series "Ugliest House in America" and Greenlights Four-Episode Spin-Off Series "Scariest House in America" Both Starring Actress and Comedian Retta
"Not sure how I got roped into this," said Retta. "I don't do scary. I don't like to be scared. I don't like scary movies. Halloween is my least favorite holiday but here we are."

[05/21/24 - 09:02 AM]
BritBox Unveils Compelling Programming Slate with Premiere Date Announcements and First Looks for Exciting New and Celebrated Returning Series
Summer will see the powerful return of gritty, impactful crime dramas, starting with the June 13 return of "Blue Lights."

[05/21/24 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Sweet Tooth" - Final Season Official Trailer - Netflix
In this final chapter, Gus and his friends embark on a harrowing journey in hopes of curing the Sick - and finally discovering the truth about hybrids.

[05/21/24 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Shoresy" Season 3 - Official Trailer - Hulu
Foul-mouthed, chirp-serving, mother-loving, fan favorite "Letterkenny" character, "Shoresy" (Jared Keeso) joins the Sudbury Bulldogs of the Northern Ontario Senior Hockey Organization (aka The NOSHO) on a quest to never lose again.

[05/21/24 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Marlon Wayans: Good Grief" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
They say comedy is the best therapy. "Marlon Wayans: Good Grief" premieres June 4.

[05/21/24 - 09:00 AM]
Season Three of the HBO Original Drama Series "Industry" Debuts August 11
The series gives an insider's view of the blackbox of high finance following a group of young bankers as they forge their identities within the pressure cooker environment and sex and drug fueled blitz of international bank Pierpoint & Co's London office.

[05/21/24 - 08:06 AM]
Paramount+ Announces New Docuseries "How Music Got Free" to Premiere June 11
Directed by Alexandria Stapleton, the series made its world premiere at the 2024 SXSW Film & TV Festival.

[05/21/24 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Trigger Warning" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A Special Forces commando uncovers a dangerous conspiracy when she returns to her hometown looking for answers into her beloved father's death.

[05/21/24 - 08:01 AM]
Apple TV+ Announces Season Two of Hit Drama "Drops of God" Starring Fleur Geffrier and Tomohisa Yamashita
In season two of "Drops of God," Camille (Geffrier) and Issei (Yamashita) once again face a nearly impossible challenge: to uncover the origin of the world's most wonderful wine, a secret that even Alexandre Léger failed to unlock.