[11/20/12 - 11:02 PM] Development Update: Tuesday, November 20 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!
BIG CHILDREN (ABC, New!) - Comedian Rory Scovel is set to star in a new multi-camera comedy at the Alphabet about "a thirtysomething 'only child' who must move home and parent his parents after they retire and revert to acting like children with too much time on their hands." Scott Marder ("It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia") is on board to pen and executive produce the half-hour for ABC Studios. (Deadline.com)CROSSBONES (NBC) - Six-time Emmy nominee Hugh Laurie ("House") is in talks to topline the upcoming period drama, about diabolical pirate Edward Teach - better known as Blackbeard - who reigns over a rogue nation of thieves, outlaws and miscreant sailors on the Bahamian island of New Providence. He'd play said role in the project, a co-production of Georgeville Television and Motion Picture Capital, Parkes-MacDonald Productions, Reliance Entertainment, Universal Television. 10 episodes have been ordered from creator Neil Cross. (Deadline.com)HAPPY TREE, THE (FOX, New!) - "Entourage" alums Rob Weiss, Mark Wahlberg and Steve Levinson are set to re-team for a potential comedy at the network about "a brilliant young corporate attorney who, after a nervous breakdown, quits his job and seeks a life of peace and serenity on Venice Beach only to find himself the unlikely voice for the marijuana 'legalize it' movement." Weiss co-wrote the half-hour alongside Jay Leggett and Blake Leibel with the latter duo serving as co-executive producers alongside Lawrence Longo. Weiss, Wahlberg and Levinson then will executive produce via their respective banners, Closest to the Hole Productions and Leverage Management, for 20th Century Fox Television. (Deadline.com)UNTITLED LARRY STUCKEY PROJECT (ABC, New!) - Feature writer Larry Stuckey ("Little Fockers") has booked a semi-autobiographical comedy at the Alphabet about Gary Stuckey, "for whom sibling rivalry takes on a whole new meaning when his charismatic, athletic 'little brother' opens a restaurant in their hometown and his golden boy lifestyle starts to impact Gary's wife and kids." Meghan Lyvers of Television 360 is also on board to executive produce the single-camera project for ABC Studios. (Deadline.com)AND IN OTHER NEWS... - Amanda Setton's Shauna is being written out of "The Mindy Project" while Anna Camp's Gwen is being downgraded to a recurring role (TVLine.com); "How I Met Your Mother" will air a special one-hour holiday installment on Monday, December 17 (@HimymCraig); Tony Sirico will recur on "Family Guy" as "a pooch with attitude and possible criminal ties that the Griffins buy from a pet shop" (Deadline.com); Bess Armstrong has scored an arc on "House of Lies" as "a Meg Whitman-type character" (Deadline.com); Mia Kirshner will guest on USA's "Graceland" as "a California medical marijuana farmer who, despite her penchant for new-age trendiness, isn't afraid to get her hands dirty" (TVGuide.com); and Camille Guaty and Charlie Bewley will both guest on "The Vampire Diaries" in the show's 13th episode this season (TVGuide.com).
