or


[01/31/06 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: January 31
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

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

Looking to keep track of all the various projects in development? Click here to visit our newly branded "Devwatch" section. There visitors can view our listings by network, genre, studio and even development stage (ordered to pilot, cast-contingent, script, etc.). It's updated every day!

COMMUNITY SERVICE (NBC, New!) - David Israel and Jim O'Doherty, the pair behind the Greg Grunberg-led comedy pilot "Grand Union," have landed a new comedy project at the network and NBC Universal Television. The single-camera project, which has a pilot order from the network, revolves around a big-time real estate developer who loses everything after a legal skirmish and winds up having to perform 500 hours of community service back in his small hometown, where he pursues a lost love. Israel and O'Doherty will write the pilot script and executive produce.

CULT (The CW) - Rockne S. O'Bannon's drama pilot, about a man's (Matthew Bomer) investigation of a string of mysterious deaths and disappearances surrounding a TV series named "Cult," has been terminated following last week's announcement of the merger between The WB and UPN. The new network's limited real estate was cited as the reason by industry insiders. Warner Bros. Television was behind "Cult," which was to be directed by Yves Simoneau from a script by O'Bannon.

MR. & MRS. SMITH (ABC, New!) - A small screen version of the recent Angelina Jolie/Brad Pitt-led feature, about a suburban couple secretly working as competing assassins, is being developed by its director, Doug Liman. ABC has given a pilot order to the project, which is being targeted for midseason 2007 at the earliest. Simon Kinberg, who penned the feature script, is on board to write the pilot with Liman likely directing should his schedule permit. Regency Television and Fox TV Studios are behind the hour, which will be executive produced by Kinberg, Liman and Doug Bartis via the latter two's Dutch Oven (previously Hypnotic) banner.

MORE, PATIENCE (FOX) - FOX is taking a third stab at developing Jed Seidel's ("Veronica Mars") comedy-turned-drama-turned-comedy project, about a quirky 30-year-old New York therapist named Patience More who has difficulty navigating her personal life. Mary McCormack ("The West Wing") starred in and Jon Turteltaub directed the original single-camera comedy pilot, which was shot back in 2001. The following season a one-hour version was developed but never made it to pilot. The 2006 edition, which has a cast-contigent pilot order, will revert back to the single-camera format with Gavin Polone's Pariah returning to produce along with Sony Pictures Television. Seidel, Polone and Jamie Tarses then will serve as executive producers.

UNTITLED JOE PORT/JOE WISEMAN PROJECT (CBS, New!) - Joe Port and Joe Wiseman (NBC's "The Men's Room") have landed a pilot order from CBS and NBC Universal Television for a new comedy about a young couple who must deal with the wife's large extended family. The pair will pen the pilot script and serve as co-executive producers on the project with Moses Port and David Guarascio (NBC's "Lies and the Wives We Tell Them To") executive producing.

UNTITLED TOM HERTZ PROJECT (CBS, New!) - Tom Hertz ("The King of Queens") has scored a pilot order from the Eye and Sony Pictures Television for a new comedy about a married couple, an engaged duo and a single guy. Adam Sandler's Happy Madison banner is behind the half-hour, which will be executive produced by Hertz, Sandler and fellow Madison principals Jack Giarraputo and Doug Robinson. No other details were given.

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE GYM (A.K.A. UNTITLED GABRIELLE ALLAN PROJECT) (CBS) - Gabrielle Allan's ("Scrubs") comedy project for the Eye and Warner Bros. Television has received a cast-contingent pilot order from the network. The project, which Allan will write and executive produce, revolves around about three best friends with young kids - all with very different attitudes toward marriage, motherhood and their careers. The contingency is tied to casting the lead role, a woman who cuts back her workload to focus on motherhood.

WILL & GRACE (NBC) - Writer/producer Abraham Higginbotham (also of "Arrested Development" fame) has inked a seven-figure, multi-year overall deal with 20th Century Fox Television. The pact, which begins in June, calls for Higginbotham to develop original projects for the studio.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [january 2006]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (NETFLIX)
· COMMUNITY SERVICE (NBC)
· CULT (CW)
· GRAND UNION (NBC)
· INSEPARABLE (CBS)
· KING OF QUEENS, THE (CBS)
· LIES AND THE WIVES WE TELL THEM TO (NBC)
· MEN'S ROOM, THE (NBC)
· MORE, PATIENCE (FOX)
· MR. AND MRS. SMITH (ABC)
· RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (CBS)
· SCRUBS (ABC)
· VERONICA MARS (HULU)
· WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE GYM (CBS)
· WEST WING, THE (NBC)
· WILL & GRACE (NBC)





[05/23/24 - 10:43 AM]
Discovery Channel June Programming Highlights
In "Six Schizophrenic Brothers," an all-American family is torn apart when six of 12 siblings develop schizophrenia.

[05/23/24 - 10:31 AM]
What's New on Max This June
"House of the Dragon," "Fantasmas" "Hannah Einbinder: Everything Must Go," "Ren Faire," "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple" and "Am I OK?" are among the featured titles.

[05/23/24 - 10:17 AM]
Video: AMC Networks Releases Behind-the-Scenes Look at Season Two Production of "The Walking Dead: Dead City"
The hit series in the Walking Dead Universe stars Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Lauren Cohan as the fan-favorite characters Negan and Maggie.

[05/23/24 - 10:11 AM]
New Season of "Hoffman Family Gold" Premieres on Discovery Channel on June 14
As three generations of Todd Hoffman's family arrive in Alaska to mine the most promising claim they've ever held, tensions rise when Todd's father, Jack, announces his final season.

[05/23/24 - 10:03 AM]
Video: "Trixie Motel: Drag Me Home" - Official Trailer - Max
It's a homecoming, Queen! "Trixie Motel: Drag Me Home" premieres June 1 on Max.

[05/23/24 - 10:01 AM]
Netflix: What We Watched the Second Half of 2023
Today the streamer published its second edition of "What We Watched: A Netflix Engagement Report," capturing Netflix viewership from July to December 2023.

[05/23/24 - 10:00 AM]
Kevin Frazier & Nischelle Turner Return as Hosts for "The 51st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards," June 7 on CBS
In addition, NATAS has announced the 2024 Gold and Silver Circle Honorees, recognizing admired individuals who have made enduring contributions to daytime television.

[05/23/24 - 09:47 AM]
OWN's New Series "Family Empire: Houston" Introduces the Bradens, A Multi-Generational Family with Tight-Knit Bonds and a Legacy in Question
Exploring complex themes of generational wealth and the building of a family legacy, the eight-episode unscripted series follows the Bradens across four generations of Black excellence.

[05/23/24 - 09:04 AM]
Video: National Geographic and Hulu Debut Trailer and Announce Premiere Dates for "Cult Massacre: One Day in Jonestown"
The three-part series will premiere June 17 on Hulu and will air on National Geographic on August 14.

[05/23/24 - 09:00 AM]
HBO Original Comedy Series "Fantasmas" Debuts June 7
Writer, director, and comedian Julio Torres spins a fantastical six-part tale of when he lost a gold oyster earring.

[05/23/24 - 08:56 AM]
Academy-Award-Nominated Actress Danielle Brooks to Host the 2024 "Black Girls Rock! Awards" as the Televised Special Makes a Triumphant Return
The show will be taped at the Fox Theatre on June 27 and will air August 1, on Lifetime.

[05/23/24 - 08:26 AM]
The CW Network Renews Hit Series "Wild Cards" for a Second Season
The procedural starring Vanessa Morgan and Giacomo Gianniotti is the network's #1 new series in 2024 in total audience viewing, according to Nielsen.

[05/23/24 - 07:01 AM]
"Dexter: Original Sin" Sets Cast with Golden Globe Winner Christian Slater, Patrick Gibson and Molly Brown for Paramount+ with Showtime
Taking place 15 years before viewers first met Dexter in the hit Showtime series "Dexter," this new 10-episode thriller will chronicle America's favorite serial killer...in training.

[05/23/24 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "I Am: Celine Dion" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
Directed by Academy Award nominee Irene Taylor, the film gives us a raw and honest behind-the-scenes look at the iconic superstar's struggle with a life-altering illness.

[05/23/24 - 06:31 AM]
Netflix Renews "Barbecue Showdown" for Season 3, Sets Premiere for July 4th
Michelle Buteau returns to host with Melissa Cookston and Kevin Bludso serving as judges.