 |
 |
[12/10/09 - 06:13 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, December 10
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!
AMERICA: THE STORY OF US (History) - Meryl Streep, Michael Douglas, Colin Powell, Brian Williams, Buzz Aldrin, Tommy Franks, Donald Trump, John Lasseter and Stevie Wonder have all been tapped to participate in the upcoming 12-part event, which will "focus on the elements that distinguish American democracy, the conflicts that shaped it and the myriad social and industrial innovations that have fueled the country's prosperity." Said talent will serve as on-camera commentators with Jane Root executive producing via her Nutopia production banner. "America" is due sometime in 2010.
DELTA BLUES (TNT) - Alfre Woodard ("Three Rivers") has joined the cast of the drama pilot, about Dwight Hendricks (Jason Lee), "a Memphis police officer who lives with his mother (Celia Weston) and moonlights as a tribute artist." She'll play "the formidable new lieutenant who tries to exercise her power over Dwight," a role presumably in second position to the hiatused "Rivers." Warner Horizon Television and Smokehouse Productions are behind the hour, which also stars Abraham Benrubi, DJ Qualls, Leonard Howz, Robyn Lively and Sam Hennings. Clark Johnson is directing from a script by Joshua Harto and Liz Garcia.
FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS (HBO) - Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement have announced via their web site their pay channel series won't be returning for a third season. "We've noticed the less we say about the future of the show, the more people want to talk about it, so in an effort to reverse this trend we are today announcing that we won't be returning for a 3rd season," said the statement. "We're very proud of the two seasons we made and we like the way the show ended. We'd like to thank everyone who helped make the show and also everyone who watched it. While the characters Bret and Jemaine will no longer be around, the real Bret and Jemaine will continue to exist." The show wrapped its second season back in March.
GLEE (FOX) - Tony-winning actress Idina Menzel ("Wicked") is reportedly in talks to recur on the back half of the show's freshman season. She would play the coach to glee club "Vocal Adrenaline," the McKinley High glee club's main competition. Menzel had already been the focus of a fan campaign to cast her as Rachel Berry's (Lea Michele) biological mother. Also signing on for a five to six episode arc is Jonathan Groff. He'll play the lead male vocalist of "Vocal Adrenaline" and a potential love interest for Rachel Berry. Groff co-starred opposite Michele in the Broadway production of "Spring Awakening."
KEEP HOPE ALIVE (FOX) - Kate Micucci ("Scrubs") has landed a role on the comedy pilot, about Jimmy (Lucas Neff), "a 25-year-old single parent raising an infant with the help of his quirky family after the mother of the baby -- with whom he had a one-night stand -- ends up on death row." She'll play Mike, "an unkempt, fairly oblivious cousin of Jimmy living in a tent in the laundry room of their great-grandmother's house." Said role was originally envisioned a male. Garrett Dillahunt, Kate Micucci, Martha Plimpton and Olesya Rulin also star in the 20th Century Fox Television-based half-hour, which Michael Fresco is directing from a script by Greg Garcia.
THE SIX (ABC, New!) - Merv Griffin Entertainment has landed a presentation order from the Alphabet for a new game show based on the Russian format "What? Where? When?" Said project, which has been running for 35 years in its home country, is being redubbed "The Six," after the number of contestants on the show. The late Vladimir Voroshilov created (and hosted) the series, which pits a panel of six knowledgeable persons against the viewing audience. Said experts are tasked with answering audience-submitted questions listed on a spinning horizontal wheel divided into segments. If the experts answer correctly in the allotted 60 seconds they receive a point, if they don't the audience receives a point with question's author also earning a prize. (Sample question: "They first appeared in 1908 in Mexico. There were two of them. Over time, they came closer and closer together, like wings of a black raven. Name them." Answer: "Frida Kahlo's eyebrows.") Exact format details however are still being worked out. Merv Griffin's Roy Bank is executive producing the project alongside Ukranian-born actor Alex Reznik, Jonathan Barry and Ron Ward. Dwight Smith and Michael Agbabian are the showrunners with Brian Veskosky serving as a co-executive producer.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
|
|
|
 [december 2009]  |
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
[05/23/24 - 01:50 PM]
"Survivor" Is #1 Entertainment Show in 2023/24 Season Among Adults 18-34, A18-49 and A25-54
This marks the first time it has won all three demos in a season since its second season in 2000-2001.
|
[05/23/24 - 01:46 PM]
Production Begins on Season Two of Paramount+'s Original Series "Lioness"
Season one set a new record as the service's most-watched worldwide series premiere on launch day, at that time, with nearly six million total viewers in its first week across Paramount+ globally and a linear preview on the Paramount Network.
|
[05/23/24 - 12:21 PM]
The CW to Pull "Lovers and Liars" from Thursday Lineup
Repeats of "Police 24/7" will fill the 9:00/8:00c hour beginning next Thursday, May 30.
|
[05/23/24 - 12:05 PM]
"The Great Food Truck Race: Games on the Gulf" Premieres Sunday, June 30th at 8pm ET/PT on Food Network
Host Tyler Florence kicks off the season welcoming nine teams to NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston for the start of the race.
|
[05/23/24 - 11:24 AM]
"American Idol" Wraps Season 22 Delivering Season Highs in Both Total Viewers and Adults 18-49
The season finale delivered season highs in Total Viewers (5.64 million) and Adults 18-49 (0.65 rating).
|
[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.
|
|
|
|
