LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- The latest development news, culled from recent wire reports:
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AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL (The CW) - Executive producer Anthony Dominici has inked an overall development deal with Fox Television Studios. The pact calls for Dominici to create, develop and produce shows for the studio. Said development also means Dominici will exit his role on "Model," one he's had since its fourth season, after its upcoming cycle.
THE BIONIC WOMAN (NBC) - Laeta Kalogridis and David Eick's revival of the 1970s series about a woman whose body is mechanically enhanced to save her life has been given a cast-contingent pilot order. It's understood the concept will be re-imagined as a commentary on the role of professional women in contemporary society and how they juggle their various roles.
Commitment: Cast-contingent pilot order (previously script)
Cast: TBA
Writer: Laeta Kalogridis
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: David Eick, Laeta Kalogridis
Studio: NBC Universal Television
CHUCK (NBC, New!) - "The O.C." creator Josh Schwartz and newcomer Chris Fedak have booked a pilot commitment from the Peacock for a new drama about spies and twentysomethings in the vein of "Grosse Pointe Blank."
Commitment: Ordered to pilot (previously put pilot)
Cast: TBA
Writers: Chris Fedak, Josh Schwartz
Director: TBA
Executive Producer: Josh Schwartz (College Hill Pictures)
Co-Executive Producer: Chris Fedak
Studio: Warner Bros. Television
FORT PIT (NBC, New!) - "Rescue Me" creators Denis Leary and Peter Tolan are set to team with "Law & Order" veteran Michael Chernuchin for a new drama about one of the worst NYPD police precincts in Brooklyn with rampant crime where bad cops are sent to live out their careers and rookie cops with no connections are stationed. The New York-based project is based on the real-life experiences of former NYPD cop Robert Cea with Chernuchin penning the original pilot script via his blind script deal with the studio. Tolan, who will direct the pilot and also has a script deal at the studio, has since taken a second pass on the script.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: TBA
Writers: Michael Chernuchin, Peter Tolan
Director: Peter Tolan
Executive Producers: Denis Leary (Apostle Productions), Jim Serpico (Apostle Productions), Michael Chernuchin, Peter Tolan
Producers: Lou DiGiamo, Robert Cea
Studio: Sony Pictures Television
JUDGE DAVID YOUNG (Syndication) - Sony Pictures Television's syndie newcomer has upped its clearance rate to 75% of the country. The additional stations come from such groups as Lin, Pegasus, Meredith, Raycom and Grant. Young, who will step down from his bench on the Circuit Court of Miami-Dade County to be part of the series, is best known for his 2002 sentencing of a pair of intoxicated America West pilots to jail as well as sentencing a remorseless 87-year-old woman to 30 years in jail for murder and dismissing disorderly conduct charges against an opera singer after she agreed to sing in court.
Commitment: Cleared in 75% of the country for a fall 2007 launch (previously 55%)
Cast: David Young
Writer: TBA
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: TBA
Studio: Sony Pictures Television
MARY SUNSHINE (A.K.A. IN PLAIN SIGHT) (USA) - The Mary McCormack-led drama pilot, about a U.S. Marshal who tries to balance her intense job at the witness-protection program with her equally intense and amusingly dysfunctional personal life, has been ordered to series. The project, from creator David Maples, has been picked up for 11 additional episodes. Production on the series is slated to begin in the summer, to accommodate star McCormack's pregnancy, for a launch in the fourth quarter of 2007 or the first quarter of 2008.
Commitment: Ordered to series (12 episodes, including the pilot)
Cast: Fred Weller (Marshall), Lesley Ann Warren (Jinx), Mary McCormack (Mary Shannon), Nichole Hiltz (Brandi), Todd Williams (Bobby)
Writer: David Maples
Director: Mark Piznarski
Executive Producers: David Maples, Paul Stupin
Studio: NBC Universal Television Studio
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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