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[02/01/08 - 06:16 PM]
Development Update: Week of January 28-February 1
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC) |
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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!
ABC FAMILY ORIGINAL SERIES (ABC Family) - The cable channel has firmed up its original series plans for 2008 and beyond. It's understood recently completed pilots "The Middleman" and "Roomies" have been ordered to series as has a new untitled hour from "7th Heaven" creator Brenda Hampton. "Middleman," from writer-producer Javier Grillo-Marxuach, stars Natalie Morales as a twentysomething struggling artist who's recruited by a secret agency to fight comic book-type villains alongside the title character (Matt Keeslar), a sci-fi superhero who serves as her guide. Jeremiah Chechik directed the pilot, which also stars Britt Morgan and Mary Pat Gleason. As for "Roomies," the multi-camera comedy stars Tyler Francavilla and David Weidoff as, you guessed it, roommates. Kieron Quirke and Robin French created the project, which is also executive produced by Michael Hanel and Mindy Schultheis of Acme Productions. Andy Cadiff directed the pilot. And finally, the Hampton hour is described as a teen relationship series similar in sensibility to "Juno." All three newcomers are said to have commitments of at least six episodes. "Middleman" and "Roomies" were part of a quartet of pilots ordered last year, the others being "Samurai Girl" and "Happy Campers." Hampton's project is believed to be a straight series commitment, contingent on casting the lead role.
Meanwhile in related ABC Family news, the network is in talks with Canadian broadcaster CBC to import the comedy "Sophie," about a young woman (Natalie Brown) whose picture-perfect life comes crashing down. 13 episodes have been completed of the half-hour, which bowed on January 9 on the network. Sebastian Spence, Amy Lalonde, Jeff Geddis, Mimi Kuzyk, Sara Botsford, Chantelle Chung and Catherine B�rub� also star in the project, which comes from Jocelyn Deschenes of Sphere Media Plus. The show itself is based on a French-language series that aired in Quebec before it was transplanted to the CBC. Lastly, ABC Family also confirmed a decision is expected soon on the fate of "Lincoln Heights" while "Wildfire," currently in its fourth season, won't be renewed for a fifth season.
DIRT (FX) - FX has confirmed Danny Comden ("I'm With Her") has completed a three-episode arc on the show's upcoming second season. He plays Ted Rothman, an almost-divorced president of a major TV studio who wants to rekindle a romance with Courtney Cox's character. The new season bows Sunday, March 2.
FRINGE (FOX) - Australian actress Anna Torv has scored the lead role on the two-hour drama pilot, about a young, tough FBI agent who is forced to confront the spread of unexplained phenomena and work with an institutionalized scientist whose work might be at the center of a coming storm. She'll play Olivia Warren, the agent in question. Also signing on are Blair Brown and Jasika Nicole. The former will play Nina Cord, a 16-year veteran at Prometheus Corp., a cutting-edge research facility, while Jasika Nicole is playing the recurring role of Astrid Farnsworth, a stunning federal assistant. They join the previously cast John Noble, Kirk Acevedo, Lance Reddick and Mark Valley. Alex Graves is helming the Warner Bros. Television/Bad Robot-based drama, which comes from co-creators Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and J.J. Abrams. The group also executive produces alongside Bad Robot's Bryan Burk.
UNTITLED FASHION MAGAZINE ASSISTANT PROJECT (The CW, New!) - "America's Next Top Model's" Tyra Banks and Ken Mok have scored a series commitment from the netlet for a new reality series in which aspiring assistants compete to become assistant editors at a fashion magazine. The project, which has an eight-episode commitment, is expected to begin production in April for a launch in late spring or summer. As for specifics, each episode will feature two different challenges - an individual one and a team one with the winner of the former making the pairings for the latter. Each team challenge then will focus on submitting a page for "The Book," a mock edition of the magazine, with the loser's page going in the trash and one of its members being sent home. Banks and Mok will executive produce the project via their respective banners, Bankable Productions and 10x10 Entertainment, alongside Eli Holzman, who developed "Project Runway" at Miramax Television, and Full Picture's Jane Cha and Desiree Gruber, fashion experts and managers of "Runway" host Heidi Klum. It's understood the "Runway" team came up the initial idea for the series and pitched it to the CW, who in turn paired them with Banks and Mok. Talks are underway with various magazines to sponsor the show with the editors themselves likely appearing as judges. It's not clear if Banks herself will appear on camera.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[05/04/24 - 08:30 AM]
NBC Sports and Churchill Downs Extend Historic Partnership, Kentucky Derby to Be Presented on NBC and Peacock Through 2032
This year's 150th "Run for the Roses" is today at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
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[05/04/24 - 08:00 AM]
Video: Disney+ Celebrates Star Wars Day With Debut of New Trailer & Poster for Upcoming Star Wars Series "The Acolyte"
The thrilling, suspenseful live-action series launches on Tuesday, June 4, with the first two episodes, exclusively on Disney+.
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[05/03/24 - 07:41 PM]
Video: "The Boys" Explosive Season Four Official Trailer Revealed at CCXP Mexico
The fourth season will premiere on June 13 with three episodes, followed by a new episode each week, ending with the epic season finale on Thursday, July 18.
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[05/03/24 - 12:02 PM]
ABC Announces Summer 2024 Premiere Dates as the Network Leads the Season as No. 1 in Entertainment for the Fifth Consecutive Year
Highlights include: "Celebrity Family Feud" celebrates 100 episodes and its 10th anniversary, beginning Tuesday, July 9.
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[05/03/24 - 11:01 AM]
NBC Renews Comedy Series "Night Court" for a Third Season
The second season, executive produced by Dan Rubin, Melissa Rauch, Winston Rauch and John Larroquette, has reached 24 million total viewers across linear and digital platforms to date.
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[05/03/24 - 10:29 AM]
TLC's Teen Pregnancy Series "Unexpected" Returns on Monday, June 3 at 9PM ET/PT
This season features three new couples and two returning that each have unique experiences and obstacles as young, expecting parents.
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[05/03/24 - 09:56 AM]
New Season of "Gold Rush: Parker's Trail" Premieres on Discovery Channel on May 31
After becoming the biggest landowner in the Yukon, Parker no longer needs to focus on finding ground urgently, but his pioneering spirit remains and he has set his eyes on Brazil: the biggest gold frontier on earth and the center of a raging modern battle between government forces and miners.
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[05/03/24 - 09:32 AM]
Paramount+ Reveals First Look at New Season of "Criminal Minds: Evolution," Premiering with Two Episodes on Thursday, June 6
The first two episodes will be available to stream at launch with subsequent new episodes dropping weekly on Thursdays.
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[05/03/24 - 07:23 AM]
Video: "Raising Voices" - Official Trailer - Netflix Spain
When a 17-year-old reports a sexual assault at her high school, an investigation upends her life and tests her relationships.
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[05/03/24 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Emily in Paris" Season 4 - Official Announcement - Netflix
Season 4 will be split into two 5-episode parts, with Part 1 premiering on August 15, followed by Part 2 on September 12.
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[05/03/24 - 12:01 AM]
Video: "Thank You, Next" - Official Trailer - Netflix
After a painful breakup, a young lawyer dives head first into the confusing world of modern dating, with the unwavering support of her best friends.
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[05/02/24 - 03:49 PM]
Captain Lee Rosbach Reveals Calm Waters Can Turn Deceptively Sinister with New Oxygen Series "Deadly Waters with Captain Lee," Premiering Saturday, June 1 at 9 P.M. ET/PT
The series exposes the wicked intentions of those who thought committing crimes on the water would shield them from justice.
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[05/02/24 - 03:45 PM]
"American Idol" Is the No. 1 Entertainment Program of the Night in Adults 18-49 for Second Week of Live Coast-to-Coast Telecasts
The show reached season highs in week 2 of live, coast-to-coast telecasts in Total Viewers (5.31 million) and Adults 18-49 (0.64 rating) on Sunday night with its strongest numbers since last season's finale.
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[05/02/24 - 02:11 PM]
Video: "Uncle Samsik" - Official Trailer - Hulu
Uncle Samsik introduces himself to Kim San as the one who can turn his world around - promising that he can make any dream a reality.
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[05/02/24 - 12:45 PM]
CBS Announces Its 2024-2025 Primetime Schedule
New scripted series "Matlock," "Poppa's House," "NCIS: Origins" and "Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage" join 18 returning shows.
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