or


[10/15/08 - 06:10 PM]
Development Update: Wednesday, October 15
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 signature "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!


THE AMAZING MRS. NOVAK (Lifetime) - Amy Pietz ("Aliens in America"), Tom Verica ("American Dreams") and Kristen Dattilo ("The Chris Isaak Show") are the first to be cast in the drama pilot, about a supermarket manager who unexpectedly becomes the governor of New Jersey. Pietz will play the title role of Trish Novak with Verica as her husband Frank and Dattilo as her sister-in-law Goldie. Vanessa Taylor is behind the hour, which comes from Warner Horizon Television and Kudos Film & Television. Carolyn Bernstein, Jane Featherstone and Stephen Garrett also serve as executive producers.


ELI STONE/THE GOODE FAMILY (ABC) - The Alphabet has asked for four more scripts of "Eli Stone," which returned for its second season last night. It's understood the network is pleased with the episodes filmed to date and gave the actual go ahead shortly before yesterday's premiere. Meanwhile, midseason entry "The Goode Family" has likewise been asked for seven additional scripts. The early request is a result of the lead time needed to potentially produce additional episodes the series, an animated comedy from "King of the Hill" co-creator Mike Judge.


THE IRENA SENDLER STORY (CBS, New!) - Anna Paquin ("True Blood") is set to topline a new Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation about Irena Sendler, a Polish woman credited with saving the lives of thousands of Jewish children during World War II. Paquin will play the Nobel Peace Prize nominee, who died at age 98 earlier this year. Production on the telefilm is set to begin next month in Riga, Latvia, for an April premiere. John Kent Harrison is directing from his own script, based on Anna Mieszkowska's book "Mother of the Children of the Holocaust: The Irena Sendler Story," with Brent Shields and Jeff Most executive producing.


JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS (NBC, New!) - Josh and Jonas Pate ("Surface") have scored a script commitment from the Peacock for a new drama based on the famed Greek myth following a bidding war with at least one other network. The project, which has a penalty attached should it not move forward to pilot, is expected to be shot entirely on green screen, a la the recently launched Sci Fi series "Sanctuary." The Pates then are penning the pilot and will executive produce for Media Rights Capital. NBC previously aired an "Argonauts" mini-series (from Hallmark Entertainment) back in May of 2000.


MADE OVER (ABC, New!) - "Miss/Guided" co-creator Caroline Williams has landed a put pilot order from the Alphabet for a new comedy about a shallow, image-obsessed cosmetics executive who has a crisis of conscience and quits her job. She subsequently joins a younger woman with completely different values to start a unique consulting company. The project, which Williams will write and executive produce, is set up at Warner Bros. Television.


MEDIUM (NBC) - The Peacock has asked for three more scripts of the drama, which is set to return at midseason on the network. Thus far NBC has only ordered 13 episodes for the show's fifth season. The additional scripts however suggest that number may increase in the coming months.


RITA ROCKS (Lifetime) - The Nicole Sullivan-led comedy, which bows with a weeklong stunt next week, has gotten an order for three additional scripts. Following the aforementioned stunt, "Rita" will air Tuesdays at 8:30/7:30c starting October 28.


UNTITLED DAVID E. KELLEY PROJECT (NBC, New!) - David E. Kelley's latest legal drama has received a series commitment from the Peacock, home to his 1986-1994 drama "L.A. Law." The newcomer, which Kelley wrote on spec, is set in a Chicago law firm and revolves around an aging partner and his daughter who works with him as well as a host of eccentric characters around them. The news marks Kelley's first new project since moving to Warner Bros. Television earlier this year. Kelley will then executive produce the pilot, which has a multimillion-dollar penalty if it doesn't go to series.


UNTITLED TRIBECA PROJECTS (CBS, New!) - Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal have inked a three-for-one pilot deal with CBS. The pact calls for the pair's Tribeca Productions to develop three projects for the network, one of which is ultimately guaranteed a pilot order. Already in the works: an untitled hour set in New York from Oscar-winner William Monahan ( "The Departed"). No other specifics about the project were released.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [october 2008]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· ALIENS IN AMERICA (CW)
· AMAZING MRS. NOVAK, THE (LIFETIME)
· AMERICAN DREAMS (NBC)
· CHRIS ISAAK SHOW, THE (SHOWTIME)
· COURAGEOUS HEART OF IRENA SENDLER, THE (CBS)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· ELI STONE (ABC)
· GOODE FAMILY, THE (ABC)
· JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS (NBC)
· KING OF THE HILL (FOX)
· LEGALLY MAD (NBC)
· MADE OVER (ABC)
· MEDIUM (CBS)
· MISS/GUIDED (ABC)
· RITA ROCKS (LIFETIME)
· SURFACE (NBC)
· TRUE BLOOD (HBO)
· UNTITLED TRIBECA PROJECT (CBS)





[06/06/24 - 09:14 AM]
Prime Video Orders "Countdown" Starring Jensen Ackles, from Derek Haas
The 13-episode series was developed for Jensen Ackles, who is also under a first-look television deal with Amazon MGM Studios.

[06/06/24 - 09:01 AM]
Peacock Announces Fourth Season of Kevin Hart's Talk Show, "Hart to Heart," with New Batch of Celebrity Guests
This season's guests include industry powerhouses Ben Affleck, George Lopez, Cynthia Erivo, Andy Samberg, Judd Apatow and Niecy Nash.

[06/06/24 - 09:01 AM]
AMC Networks Announces September 29 Premiere for "The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon - The Book of Carol" and Debuts New Photos from the Highly Anticipated Second Season
New images of the highly anticipated six-episode second season of the series, which stars fan-favorites Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride, were also released.

[06/06/24 - 09:00 AM]
Video: Trailer and Key Art Debut - Hulu Original "Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini"
Keith and Sherri Papini's seemingly idyllic family life is shattered when Sherri vanishes from their northern California neighborhood, triggering a frenzied search that becomes news around the world.

[06/06/24 - 09:00 AM]
Showstopping Performances Announced for "The 77th Annual Tony Awards," Airing Live Sunday, June 16, on CBS and Paramount+
Academy Award winner and Tony Award nominee Ariana DeBose hosts said event at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City.

[06/06/24 - 08:33 AM]
HGTV Greenlights New Series "Izzy Does It" Starring "Flip or Flop" Contractor Izzy Battres
The renovation/occu-series will follow Izzy and his family across eight hour-long episodes as they grow their home renovation and design business and navigate working together in his hometown of Santa Ana, California.

[06/06/24 - 08:02 AM]
Peacock to Exclusively Stream DreamWorks' "Kung Fu Panda 4" Beginning June 21
In celebration of the franchise's 16th anniversary, Peacock will also exclusively stream "Kung Fu Panda" beginning June 6 and "Kung Fu Panda 3" beginning June 26.

[06/06/24 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Bel-Air" Season 3 - Official Teaser - Peacock Original
This summer's about to be all gas, no breaks. Season 3 is streaming August 15 on Peacock.

[06/06/24 - 08:01 AM]
National Geographic's Most Anticipated Annual Summer Shark-Tastic Fest Will Make a Splash Beginning June 30
Summer's iconic four-weeklong event will debut 26 hours of shark-infested original and enhanced programming across Nat Geo, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo Mundo and ESPN2; and all Sharkfest shows will stream July 1 on Disney+ and Hulu.

[06/06/24 - 07:03 AM]
Elmo Goes to Paris! Muppets of Sesame Street Join NBCUniversal's Coverage of Olympic Games Paris 2024
"Elmo is very excited to go to Paris to cheer on all the athletes at the Olympics," said Elmo.

[06/06/24 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Goyo" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A young autistic museum guide lives by a strict routine - until he falls in love with his coworker and must confront a whirlwind of new, intense emotions.

[06/06/24 - 07:00 AM]
Prime Video Secures Global Exclusive for Feel-Good Detective Series "The Mallorca Files" with All-New Season Three Premiering August 8
The first two seasons are currently available to watch in the U.S. on the free streaming service Amazon Freevee.

[06/06/24 - 06:57 AM]
Prime Video Brings the Intensity and Action of Life On-and-Off the Ice with Premium Behind-the-Scenes NHL Docuseries
The action-packed docuseries will focus on the NHL's biggest teams and most compelling characters, all at different stages of their careers, as they embark throughout the season on the ultimate pursuit of glory - winning the coveted Stanley Cup.

[06/06/24 - 06:54 AM]
Apple TV+ Announces "Omnivore," Created and Narrated by Chef Rene Redzepi
Each episode celebrates the cultivation, transformation and consumption of eight of the world's most essential ingredients, including bananas, chilies, coffee, corn, pork, rice, salt and tuna, revealing how they serve as the cornerstones of global cultural heritage.

[06/05/24 - 08:31 PM]
"Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE" - Netflix Announces Title for Their Upcoming Summer Music Docseries Following Global Girl Group, KATSEYE
The series will be released this summer.