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[02/23/09 - 06:55 PM]
Development Update: Monday, February 23
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!
2009-10 SEASON PILOTS (Various) - The CBS drama "Confessions of a Contractor" and ABC single-camera comedies "Funny in Farsi" and "Planet Lucy" have been pushed to the next development cycle. The trio had been operating under various contingencies - cast-contingent in the case of "Contractor" and "Lucy" and director- and showrunner-contingent for "Farsi" - all of which were not met by the networks' respective deadlines on Friday. Richard Murphy's "Contractor," based on his novel of the same name, was dubbed as "an insider's look at the sexy and provocative world of L.A. seen through the eyes of a successful contractor." Jeff Okin and Shawn Ryan also served as executive producers for 20th Century Fox Television. "Farsi" and "Lucy" were likewise based on books - the former a memoir by Firoozeh Dumas about an Iranian-born girl's experiences growing up in Newport Beach in the 1970s; and the latter Fiona Neill's book "Slummy Mummy" about "an endearing, disaster-prone everywoman who gives up an impressive professional career to be a stay-at-home mom raising three kids." Jeffrey Hodes and Nastaran Dibai penned the "Farsi" adaptation while Gabrielle Allan was behind "Lucy." ABC Studios was behind both half-hours with Sony Pictures Television co-producing the latter.
ACE IN THE HOLE (CBS, New!) - Adam Carolla is set to topline and co-write a new comedy pilot for the network about a husband and father (Carolla) who works as a driving instructor. Carolla penned the pilot alongside his "The Hammer" partner Kevin Hench. The pair are also executive producing alongside Jackhole Productions principals Jimmy Kimmel and Daniel Kellison. CBS Paramount Network Television is the studio attached while James Dixon, Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun are also on board as executive producers.
BROTHERS & DETECTIVES (ABC) - Jimmy Wolk ("Front of the Class") has been tapped for the lead role on the drama pilot, about a low-level detective (Wolk) whose genius 11-year-old brother helps him solve crimes. Daniel Cerone is behind the ABC Studios-produced hour, which is based on the Argentinean format.
COMMUNITY (NBC) - "The Soup" host Joel McHale is the first to be cast on the comedy pilot, described as "Stripes" in a community college. He'll play Jeff, "a lawyer who is back at school after his college degree is deemed invalid." Anthony and Joe Russo ("Carpoolers") have also signed on to direct the pilot, which comes from creator Dan Harmon and Sony Pictures Television.
GLEE (FOX) - Jennifer Aspen ("Rodney") has scored a role on the drama, due later this year. She'll play Kendra, additional details of which weren't specified. Dianna Agron, Chris Colfer, Jessalyn Gilsig, Jayma Mays, Kevin McHale, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Matthew Morrison, Amber Riley, Mark Salling and Jenna Ushkowitz also star in the hour, which comes from co-creators Brad Falchuk, Ian Brennan and Ryan Murphy.
HAPPY TOWN (ABC) - Dean Winters ("Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles") has joined the cast of the two-hour drama pilot, about a small town rattled by the return of a serial kidnapper. He'll play a man whose daughter was kidnapped years ago. Andre Nemec, Josh Applebaum and Scott Rosenberg are behind the ABC Studios-based project, to be helmed by Gary Fleder.
SCAR TISSUE (HBO) - John Sayles ("Honeydripper") has signed on to pen the drama pilot, about the childhood of Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis. Said hour will center on "the rocker's early years living in West Hollywood with his father, who, at that time, sold drugs and mingled with rock stars on the Sunset Strip, all while aspiring to get into showbiz." Sayles will also executive produce the project alongside Jason Weinberg, Catapult 360 partners Marc Abrams and Michael Benson as well as Kiedis himself.
SEE CATE RUN (ABC) - Liza Lapira ("Dexter") and Marc Blucas ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer") have joined the cast of the Amy Smart-led drama pilot, about a young prosecuting attorney who one day is going to be a serious contender for president. Blucas will play a legendary campaign guru who sees the girl's potential while Lapira is set as an attorney who works and lives with her. ABC Studios and director Dean Parisot are behind the project, which comes from creator John Scott Shepherd.
TRAUMA (NBC) - Aimee Garcia has joined the cast of the pilot, a drama set in the high-energy world of medical emergencies out in the field. She'll play the newest member of an EMT team. Dario Scardapane is behind the hour, which comes from Universal Media Studios and Film 44. Jeffrey Reiner is directing.
WASHINGTON FIELD (CBS) - Matthew Yang King ("NUMB3RS") has booked a role on the drama pilot, about the FBI's National Capital Response Squad. He's set as the team's bomb expert. Jon Cassar is helming the CBS Paramount Network Television-based hour, which comes from co-creators Edward Allen Bernero, Jim Clemente and Tim Clemente.
THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK (ABC) - Jaime Ray Newman and Veronica Cartwright have both landed roles on the drama pilot, about three young witches who come into their powers. Newman will play one of them, Kat, a good-natured nurse and a mom of five kids, while Cartwright's role wasn't specified. Maggie Friedman penned the Warner Bros. Television-based hour, which David Nutter is directing.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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