or


[04/18/03 - 12:00 AM]
Pilot Update: April 18
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- The latest development news, culled from various wire reports each morning:

The Family Friendly Programming Forum is considering 15 scripts from four of the major broadcast networks for funding through its Family Friendly Script Development Fund. The Forum, which consists of 40 major national advertisers, is designed to encourage the broadcast networks to, as you might have guessed, develop more family friendly programming. Previous recipients include the WB's "Gilmore Girls" and "Family Affair," NBC's "American Dreams," as well as ABC's "Eight Simple Rules" and "Veritas: The Quest."

The fund works by giving seed money to the broadcast networks to purchase family friendly scripts deemed worthy by the Programming Forum. Those scripts that get pilot orders then return the money to the fund for the following development season. Those that then make it to series then have the group's seal of approval of being "safe" for viewers to watch with their families. The idea is that since the Programming Fund eats the cost of any failed family-friendly scripts, networks are more likely to develop programming that fits the group's profile.

Among the submitted scripts:

The WB: "Immediate Family" (Spelling TV), "Eddie's Father" (Warner Bros. TV/Pariah), "Run of the House" (Warner Bros. TV/The Tannenbaum Co.), "Exit 9" (Warner Bros. TV) and "Like Family" (Warner Bros. TV), all of which have pilot orders for fall 2003 consideration. Also submitted was "Mr. Logan" (Paramount Pictures TV), starring Bow Wow, which has been pushed back to midseason.

CBS: "Family Show" (Sony) and "Untitled Rob Long/Dan Staley Project," about a widower with two kids who works at the family bar (Paramount). Both are cast-contigent pilot orders.

NBC: "Untitled Tracy Morgan Project" (Carsey-Werner-Mandabach/NBC Studios/SNL Studios), which has received a pilot order.

While there is no limit to the number of scripts the group would deem family friendly, the amount of reimbursement money is limited to how many advertisers participate in the Fund. This year, 16 companies are participating. Previous contributors include AT&T, FedEX, Ford, Johnson & Johnson, Kellogg, PepsiCo., Sears, Sprint and Verizon.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters




  [april 2003]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· AMERICAN DREAMS (NBC)
· EDDIE'S FATHER (WB)
· EIGHT SIMPLE RULES (ABC)
· EXIT 9 (WB)
· FAMILY AFFAIR (WB)
· FAMILY SHOW (CBS)
· GILMORE GIRLS (CW)
· LIKE FAMILY (WB)
· RUN OF THE HOUSE (WB)
· SAVING JASON (WB)
· SUMMERLAND (WB)
· TRACY MORGAN SHOW, THE (NBC)
· UNTITLED LONG & STALEY PROJECT (CBS)
· VERITAS: THE QUEST (ABC)




[02/04/26 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "War Machine" - Official Trailer - Netflix
On one last grueling mission during Army Ranger training, a combat engineer must lead his unit in a fight against a giant otherworldly killing machine.
[02/04/26 - 09:04 AM]
"The Bachelorette: Before the First Rose" to Air on ABC and Hulu Following "The Oscars"
Ahead of the new season, 18 former Bachelorettes look back on their unforgettable journeys, share juicy behind-the-scenes stories, and offer heartfelt advice to the franchise's newest leading lady, Taylor Frankie Paul.
[02/04/26 - 09:00 AM]
Alfie Allen Joins MGM+'s Thriller Horror Series "The Institute" for Season Two
He'll play Nolan Reeves, an eccentric European tech billionaire and one of the Institute's financial backers with an ambitious agenda all his own.

[02/04/26 - 08:31 AM]
Video: NBC Unveils Official Trailer and Megan Thee Stallion Guest Appearance for New Comedy Series "The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins"
Megan will play Denise, a recently divorced mom who strikes up a flirtation with Arthur Tobin (Daniel Radcliffe).
[02/04/26 - 08:31 AM]
Video: MGM+ Debuts Terrifying Teaser and Premiere Date for Highly Anticipated "From" Season 4
The new season will premiere Sunday, April 19 on MGM+.
[02/04/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "BAKI-DOU: The Invincible Samurai" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Musashi Miyamoto - the ultimate symbol of strength - descends into an underground fighting arena where the use of weapons is permitted.
[02/04/26 - 08:01 AM]
Drew and Jonathan Scott Help Wary Buyers Find the Right Home in New HGTV Series "Property Brothers: Under Pressure"
In the 14-episode season, which premieres Sunday, March 15, the Scott Brothers will guide clients through the ups and downs of the home buying process when their emotional and financial stakes are at an all-time high.
[02/04/26 - 08:00 AM]
ESPN Delivers Most-Viewed Australian Open in Six Years
The men's championship, featuring No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz defeating No. 4 Novak Djokovic in four sets, delivered 730K viewers and was up 57% YoY, ranking as most-viewed since 2017.
[02/04/26 - 08:00 AM]
Fan-Favorite Period Crime Drama, "Murdoch Mysteries," Returns to Acorn TV Monday, March 2
Season 19 of the top-rated and internationally acclaimed series continues to delight with a host of puzzling mysteries, surprising guest stars, and the comic moments that make the show so beloved.
[02/04/26 - 07:01 AM]
Netflix Premieres "The TikTok Killer" on March 6
In 2023, Esther Estepa, a 42-year-old woman, disappears in Spain after a trip during which she crossed paths with a social media content creator.

[02/04/26 - 07:00 AM]
FOX Celebrates Three Breakout Debuts, Each Delivering Over 11 Million Multiplatform Viewers, Driving +21% Year-Over-Year Growth in Total Minutes Watched
"Best Medicine," "Fear Factor: House of Fear" and "Memory of a Killer" drive FOX's strongest midseason performance in 14 years.
[02/04/26 - 07:00 AM]
Action-Comedy Anime "Rooster Fighter" to Draw Blood and Ruffle Feathers on Adult Swim March 14
The adaptation of Shu Sakuratani's manga "Rooster Fighter" follows "cock-about town" Keiji.
[02/04/26 - 06:00 AM]
ESPN's Studio Show Lineup Scores Record Highs, Double-Digit Growth & More Big Viewership Wins in Jan.
On Monday, January 19, following the NFL Divisional Round and ahead of the College Football Playoff National Championship, fans fueled milestone episodes for "Get Up," "First Take" and "The Pat McAfee Show," with the 7 a.m. ET edition of "SportsCenter" delivering its best episode of the month the following morning.
[02/04/26 - 03:01 AM]
Video: Netflix Shares Teaser of the Third and Final Season of "High Tides"
The third season will be available worldwide on Netflix from April 3, with the exception of Belgium.
[02/03/26 - 05:01 PM]
Apple TV Debuts First-Look Image for the Highly Anticipated Feature "Mayday"
The film, starring Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh, will premiere globally on Apple TV on Friday, September 4, 2026.