[05/10/08 - 08:15 AM] DEVELOPMENT UPDATE: SATURDAY, MAY 10 By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)
LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- The latest development news, culled from recent wire reports:
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90210 (The CW) - Jennie Garth is officially returning to the famed zip code on a recurring basis. She'll reprise her role as Kelly Taylor, who's now a guidance counselor at her alma mater, West Beverly Hills High. Early drafts by Rob Thomas had her playing the school's fashion design teacher. Incoming executive producers Jeff Judah and Gabe Sachs have subsequently rewritten the script. She joins the previously cast AnnaLynne McCord, Dustin Milligan, Jessica Stroup, Jessica Walter, Lori Loughlin, Michael Steger, Ryan Eggold, Shenae Grimes and Tristan Wilds. Still to be cast are Harrison "Harry" Mills, the new principal of West Beverly Hills High, and Max Silver, the older brother of Jessica Stroup's character. CBS Paramount Network Television is producing.
BACK TO YOU/'TIL DEATH (FOX) - Industry insiders are reporting that FOX has pulled the plug on its freshman comedy "Back to You" while "'Til Death" is set to return for a third season. The latter's return is believed to be on the condition producer Sony Pictures Television find a new showrunner with a background particularly suited to the show. As for "Back to You," said development comes as a major surprise. Production had already been underway on episodes for next season, including installments set to film on May 13 and May 20. Two others - #BTY-109 (1ANX08) and #BTY-112 (1ANX11) - have also been completed but have yet to air. Nevertheless, it's believed the show's expense due to the talent involved - and limited results - ultimately did it in.
THE INN/SIT DOWN, SHUT UP (FOX) - The network reportedly has issued pick-ups to both comedies as it preps for its upfront presentation on Thursday. They'll join the previously ordered "Family Guy" spin-off "Cleveland" as well as "blind" commitments "Fringe," "Dollhouse" and "Starting Under." "The Inn," from creator Abraham Higginbotham, is a multi-camera comedy revolving around the less-than-glamorous staffers at a glamorous New York City hotel. The show's ensemble cast includes Brando Eaton, Jerry O'Connell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Jolene Purdy, Molly Stanton and Niecy Nash. Jason Bateman helmed the pilot, which was filmed on April 23. Higginbotham, Peter Principato, Paul Young, Brian Dobbins, Carolyn Bernstein and Howard T. Owens are the executive producers for 20th Century Fox Television, Principato-Young Entertainment and Reveille. As for "Sit Down," the animated comedy chronicles the lives of seven staff members at a high school in a small northeastern fishing town who are preoccupied with their own needs and agendas. Mitch Hurwitz penned the pilot script and is executive producing alongside Bill Oakley, Eric Tannenbaum, Josh Weinstein and Kim Tannenbaum. 20th Century Fox Television, Granada USA and Sony Pictures Television are behind the project, which is based on the live-action Australian series of the same name. Among the show's voice cast: Cheri Oteri, Henry Winkler, Jason Bateman, Maria Bamford, Nick Kroll, Regina King, Tom Kenny, Will Arnett and Will Forte.
