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[05/10/11 - 11:26 PM]
Development Update: Tuesday, May 10
Updates include: Remi Aubuchon to take over TNT's "Falling Skies"; Ryan Reynolds, Allan Loeb team for TV banner; and Michael Seitzman lands overall deal with ABC Studios.

[08/19/09 - 06:41 PM]
Development Update: Wednesday, August 19
Updates include: John Hawkes set for "Lost's" final season; Showtime to air "Full Color Football"; and Jenna Dewan to visit The CW's "Melrose Place."

[08/10/09 - 06:01 PM]
Development Update: Monday, August 10
Updates include: Hilary Duff to star in an ABC Family original; Mike Vogel joins "Miami Trauma" on CBS; and Shawn Ryan books a "Ride Along" at FOX.

[03/31/09 - 04:09 PM]
2009 ABC Program Development Guide - Drama Series
ABC details its 12 drama pilots under consideration for next season.

[03/27/09 - 06:24 PM]
Development Update: Friday, March 27
Updates include: Tiffany "New York" Pollard lands a third series at VH1; ABC to remake "Ben Hur" as a mini-series; and FOX sets "Masterwork" leads.

[03/18/09 - 06:45 PM]
Development Update: Wednesday, March 18
Updates include: NBC orders "The Sing Off"; Kyle Bornheimer gets a "Threesome" at ABC; and Alfre Woodard joins FOX's "Maggie Hill."

[03/16/09 - 06:28 PM]
Development Update: Monday, March 16
Updates include: Richard Dreyfuss to do "Everything" for CBS; Chevy Chase reports to NBC's "Community"; and Paul Campbell to topline ABC's "No Heroics."

[03/09/09 - 06:11 PM]
Development Update: Monday, March 9
Updates include: Ashlee Simpson-Wentz reports to The CW's "Melrose Place"; A&E orders "Runaway Squad" to series; and the latest wave of casting news.

[02/27/09 - 06:56 PM]
Development Update: Friday, February 27
Updates include: David Morse moves to "Empire State" on ABC; Steven R. McQueen joins The CW's "Vampire Diaries"; and Rebecca Rand Kirshner Sinclair to run "90210."

[02/26/09 - 06:24 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, February 26
Updates include: Brittany Snow to headline the "Gossip Girl" spin-off; Christina Cole is "Maggie Hill" for FOX; and Derek Luke reports for "Trauma" at NBC.

[02/04/09 - 06:48 PM]
Development Update: Wednesday, February 4
Updates include: Steve Zahn and Stephen Graham head to HBO; Yves Simoneau to helm ABC's "V" revival; and more casting news for pilot season.

[02/02/09 - 06:26 PM]
Development Update: Monday, February 2
Updates include: ABC Family axes "Kyle XY"; ABC, CBS order new reality projects; and directors line up for pilots.

[01/30/09 - 06:46 PM]
Development Update: Friday, January 30
Updates include: Mark Gordon's "Empire State," McG's "Limelight" and Jerry Bruckheimer's "The Unknown" land pilot orders at ABC.







EMPIRE STATE (ABC)
DEVELOPMENT HISTORY:
1/30/09 - 5/10/11
STATUS:
previously in development (2009-2010 season)
DEVELOPMENT STAGE:
ordered to pilot
DESCRIPTION:
(from ABC's web site, March 2009) The rich and powerful Maddox family practically owns New York City. But the Cochrane family has built it with their blood, sweat and tears. As they've literally changed the shape of the Manhattan skyline, these two families have become intricately and intimately intertwined. The three Cochrane brothers, responsible eldest brother Jimmy, screw-up Davis and motivated Sam, have steel in their blood. Their father James runs the local steel worker's union and pulled all three of his boys into the family trade. James couldn't be prouder that Sam also put himself through college and is headed to Columbia Law School. But when James includes him in union negotiations with the powerful Maddox family, the wall between the blue-collar Cochranes and the elite Maddox' starts to crumble. The family patriarchs share a grudging respect for one another and a serious grudge. Despite the families' long-standing feud, Sam is quite taken with Victor Maddox's beautiful and sharp daughter Annabelle. Corporate greed and the union negotiations are already causing animosity. What makes things worse, an 'accident' at one of the Maddox' building sites kills Jimmy Cochrane, leaving his young, pregnant wife a widow. Now, old wounds are reopened, passions are reignited, secrets are exposed and all bets are off. Caught in the middle, star-crossed lovers Sam and Annabelle struggle to find their place... both in their own lives and within their opposing families. But together, they might transform the city they love forever. From executive producer Mark Gordon (Grey's Anatomy) and acclaimed writer Michael Seitzman (North Country) comes a modern Romeo and Juliet family drama about love, power and betrayal.
PRINCIPAL CAST INFORMATION:
· Ana de la Reguera as Ellen Cochrane
· Beau Garrett as Annabelle Maddox
· David Call as Davis Cochrane
· David Morse as James Cochrane
· Gail O'Grady as Laurel Cochrane
· Kathleen Quinlan as Colleen Cochrane
· Mel Raido as Wesley Maddox
· Michael Nouri as Victor Maddox
· Michael Vogel as Sam Cochrane
· Tammy Blanchard as Beth Cochrane
CREW INFORMATION:
· Deborah Spera as EP
· Henry Brommell as EP
· Jeffrey Reiner as CRTR
· Jeremy Podeswa as DIR (Pilot)
· Mark Gordon as EP
· Michael Seitzman as CRTR/EP
GENRE(S):
· drama
STUDIO INFORMATION:
· ABC Studios
· Mark Gordon Company, The