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 (NETFLIX)
· 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)




[09/21/18 - 11:59 AM]
FX Networks Bringing "What We Do in the Shadows" and "Archer" to New York Comic Con
FX will present an exclusive screening of its new vampire comedy "What We Do in the Shadows," followed by a spirited discussion with Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi and Paul Simms.
[09/21/18 - 11:15 AM]
Josh Segarra, Michael-Leon Wooley, Katerina Tannenbaum, and Tia Carrere Join RuPaul Charles in Netflix Comedy Series "AJ and the Queen"
The series is written by Michael Patrick King and RuPaul Charles who will both serve as executive producers.
[09/21/18 - 11:12 AM]
Video: Sony Crackle Releases Season Three Trailer and Key Art for Original Drama Series, "StartUp," Set to Debut with All 10 Episodes on Thursday, November 1
Joining the talented ensemble this season are Academy Award-winner and guest star Mira Sorvino, as NSA Agent Rebecca Stroud who has come to investigate ArakNet.
[09/21/18 - 10:04 AM]
"Mysteries of the Abandoned" Returning for Season Three Tuesday, October 2nd at 9PM on Science Channel
The series features stories behind some of the world's most amazing engineering marvels, why they were built, and why they were eventually no longer of use.
[09/21/18 - 10:03 AM]
"Saturday Night Live" Adds Ego Nwodim as Featured Player
"SNL" also added Alan Linic, Alison Gates, Eli Mandel and Bowen Yang as writers.

[09/21/18 - 09:12 AM]
Video: YouTube Original Series "Wayne" Debuts Teaser Trailer for New Action Comedy Series
The series will launch on YouTube Premium in January 2019.
[09/21/18 - 09:12 AM]
"Queen of the World," Landmark Documentary on Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Debuts Oct. 1, Exclusively on HBO in the U.S.
The documentary tells the story of how the Commonwealth and its growth have been a central focus and passion throughout Her Majesty's life.
[09/21/18 - 09:04 AM]
Video: "Battlefish" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Off the coast of Oregon, fishermen are taking to the high seas to cash in on the world's most valuable fishery: albacore tuna.
[09/21/18 - 09:01 AM]
Melissa Joan Hart & Sean Astin to Star in "No Good Nick," A New Live Action Comedy Series for Netflix
The series revolves around a family that welcomes a 13-year-old into their family before realizing she is a street-smart con artist with a secret agenda.
[09/21/18 - 09:00 AM]
A&E Network Orders 450 Additional Hours of "Live PD" - #1 Series on Cable Friday and Saturday Nights - From MGM's Big Fish Entertainment
Totaling 450 hours, the deal extends the series' run into 2019, with the new order bringing the number of commissioned episodes to 293 to date.
[09/21/18 - 08:27 AM]
Thursday's Broadcast Ratings: CBS, "Big Brother" Top All-Repeat Competition
The Eye's summer mainstay is the only original last night.
[09/21/18 - 08:04 AM]
Video: "Adam Sandler: 100% Fresh" - Date Announcement - Netflix
Adam Sandler's new comedy special comes to Netflix on October 23.
[09/21/18 - 08:00 AM]
Disney Channel Hatches a Third Season of Emmy(R) Award-Nominated "DuckTales" Prior to Its Season Two Premiere
Guest stars this season include Julie Bowen, Edgar Wright, Jack McBrayer, John Hodgman and Jameela Jamil.
[09/21/18 - 07:58 AM]
Ina Garten and "Barefoot Contessa: Cook Like a Pro" Return for a Third Season Sunday, October 21st at 12:30PM ET/PT on Food Network
Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Rob Marshall, and John DeLuca are among those slated to drop by the new season.
[09/21/18 - 07:05 AM]
"Yankee," Latest Netflix Original, Starts Production in Mexico City
"Yankee" is the story of Malcolm Moriarty (Pablo Lyle), a young entrepreneur from the United States who, to protect his family, crossed the border into Mexico and became a drug lord.