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)





[08/13/25 - 04:01 PM]
It's Almost Time for Life's Sweetest Romance: "Romantics Anonymous" Debuts October 16
How can a love story blossom between a man afraid of physical contact and a woman who's terrified of eye contact?

[08/13/25 - 02:17 PM]
Paramount+ Announces "Landman" Season Two Will Premiere on November 16
Season one ranked as a top 10 SVOD original series across all SVODs for Q4 in 2024.

[08/13/25 - 01:31 PM]
"The Beast in Me" - Official First Look & Date Announcement
Starring Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys, the series is coming to Netflix on November 13.

[08/13/25 - 12:00 PM]
FOX Entertainment Studios Gets Unfiltered with First-Look Deal with Comedian Bill Burr's North Hill Productions
Under this partnership, Burr and Mike Bertolina will serve as executive producers and content originators for scripted and unscripted television for which FES will have first-look.

[08/13/25 - 11:02 AM]
TNT Sports Announces Commentator Teams for Inaugural Big 12 Football Season
TNT Sports will kick off its inaugural year of Big 12 football with the Arizona Wildcats hosting the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors on Saturday, August 30, at 10:30 p.m. ET on TNT, truTV and HBO Max.

[08/13/25 - 10:04 AM]
ABC News Announces "Emma and Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey - A Diane Sawyer Special," Airing Tuesday, Aug. 26, at 8 P.M. on ABC, Streaming Next Day on Disney+ and Hulu
The special takes viewers inside the love story of Bruce Willis and Emma Heming Willis and the new reality this beloved family faces since Bruce was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2022.

[08/13/25 - 10:01 AM]
Netflix's "Big Mistakes" from Showrunner and Star Dan Levy, Announces Title and Rounds Out Cast
The comedy series, also starring previously-announced cast members Taylor Ortega and Laurie Metcalf, has started production.

[08/13/25 - 10:01 AM]
Paramount+ to Exclusively Debut "Stans" on August 26
More than just an exploration of fandom, the film examines the complicated relationship between one of the world's most private artists and his massive public persona.

[08/13/25 - 09:44 AM]
TLC Announces Return of "Seeking Sister Wife" with New Season Premiering This September
All new episodes premiere Monday, September 22 at 9PM ET/PT on TLC.

[08/13/25 - 09:00 AM]
Video: Paramount+ Releases Official Trailer and Premiere Date for New Documentary "Bodyguard of Lies"
The film, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, will open with a limited theatrical run in New York beginning September 12, followed by an exclusive streaming premiere September 23 on Paramount+.

[08/13/25 - 08:59 AM]
HBO Max and GKIDS Strike Exclusive Licensing Deal for 20 Adult Animated and Live Action Films
On September 1, the first batch of titles included in the new agreement will drop on HBO Max for all subscribers.

[08/13/25 - 08:50 AM]
Food Network Cooks up Halloween Thrills and Chills This Fall with New Seasons of "Halloween Baking Championship" and "Halloween Wars"
Fans can get into the Halloween spirit beginning Monday, September 15 at 9pm ET/PT with the return of "Halloween Baking Championship."

[08/13/25 - 08:31 AM]
Video: "Katrina: Come Hell and High Water" - Official Trailer - Netflix
This is the story of a brutal coastal hurricane turned cataclysmic through human error and neglect.

[08/13/25 - 07:31 AM]
Video: "Love Is Blind: Brazil" Season 5 - Official Trailer - Netflix
This season welcomes a new batch of hopeful participants over the age of 50 who are ready to find true love and prove that the heart never ages.

[08/13/25 - 07:11 AM]
Emmy Award-Winning Entertainer Derek Hough Tapped to Host Season 32 of "Extra," Marking a New Chapter for the Iconic Entertainment News Magazine
With Hough as host, the show enters an exciting new chapter with continued dynamic storytelling and deeper connections with global audiences across all platforms.