or


[06/27/03 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: June 27
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

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

THE BIG HOUSE (ABC) - The Kevin Hart-led comedy pilot has officially been given a midseason order of 13 episodes. ABC had previously planned to pick up the series at its upfront presentation (even flying out the cast to New York) however backed out at the last minute for undisclosed reasons. The sitcom, which comes from 20th Century Fox Television and Imagine Television, centers on a wealthy, pampered guy from Malibu (Hart) who moves to Philadelphia to live with his blue-collar relatives after his father loses all of his money. Stephen Engel, Brian Grazer and David Nevins are the executive producers on the project, ABC's only midseason comedy order thus far.

THE BROTHERHOOD OF POLAND, N.H. (CBS) - Actor Chris Penn ("Reservoir Dogs") is in final talks to join the cast of the David E. Kelley drama, where he would replace Brian Haley on the project. The series stars Randy Quaid and John Carroll Lynch as two of three brothers who face midlife challenges in the small town of Poland. Penn would then play the unemployed, youngest brother Waylon Shaw, a lovable optimist who is married and has a teen daughter. Ann Cusack and Angela Goethals play his wife and daughter, respectively.

GAME OVER (UPN) - The netlet has given the CGI-animated comedy pilot a midseason order of six episodes. The project, which comes from the Carsey-Werner-Mandabach studio, centers on the Smashenburns, an ordinary suburban family who live in an alternate video game universe inhabited by action heroes, monsters and cartoon characters. Marisa Tomei and Patrick Warburton voice the heads of the Smashenburn clan on the series, which is executive produced by David Sacks, David Goestch, Jason Venokur and Ross Venokur.

JOAN OF ARCADIA (CBS) - Hart Hanson ("Judging Amy") has been named a consulting producer on the series. The news comes as the producer has inked a new two-year, seven-figure overall development deal with 20th Century Fox Television. As part of the pact he'll develop new projects for the studio, one of which has been given a put pilot commitment from CBS, as well as work on its existing properties. As for "Joan," Hanson's services on the Sony Pictures Television series is for the initial batch of 13 episodes of the drama. 20th TV struck a deal with CBS to loan the producer out to the upcoming series, which airs Fridays at 8:00/7:00c this fall, to land the blind put pilot commitment from the network, which is being targeted for fall 2004.

LAW & ORDER (NBC) - Wolf Films and Universal Network Television have picked up actor Sam Waterston's option to stick with the long-running series through at least the 2004-05 season (the current length of NBC's deal for the show). Waterson is the third-longest-serving actor currently on the show (behind only Jerry Orbach and S. Epatha Merkerson) where he has earned three lead actor Emmy nominations (in 1997, 1999 and 2000).

NAVY N.C.I.S. (A.K.A. N.C.I.S.) (CBS) - The Eye network has changed the title for its upcoming "J.A.G." spin-off yet again. Originally "N.C.I.S.," the series has been retitled "Navy C.I.S.," then "Naval C.I.S.," then reverted back to "N.C.I.S." and now has apparently settled on "Navy N.C.I.S."

TWELVE DAYS OF TERROR (Discovery) - The cable channel has wrapped production on its first original movie in its 18-year history. Scheduled to air in early 2004, the telefilm chronicles the series of real-life shark attacks in 1916 that later inspired the Peter Benchley novel "Jaws." Shot in Cape Town, South Africa, "Terror" features John Ryhs-Davies ("The Lord of the Rings") and newcomers Colin Egglesfield and Jenna Harrison among the cast. Jack Sholder ("The Hidden") directed the project from a script by Jeffrey Reiner, J.T. Allen and Tommy Lee Wallace.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [june 2003]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· BIG HOUSE, THE (ABC)
· BROTHERHOOD OF POLAND, NH, THE (CBS)
· GAME OVER (UPN)
· JAG (CBS)
· JOAN OF ARCADIA (CBS)
· JUDGING AMY (CBS)
· LAW & ORDER (NBC)
· NCIS (CBS)





[07/18/25 - 09:09 AM]
"Bobby's Triple Threat" Is Back With Brand-New Addition to Bobby Flay's Hand-Picked Trio of Culinary Titans
The 10-episode season premieres Tuesday, September 2 at 8pm ET/PT on Food Network and streaming the next day on HBO Max.

[07/18/25 - 08:06 AM]
Jaw-Dropping Custom Builds and Outrageous Family Antics Collide in "Truck Dynasty" Premiering Tuesday, August 12 at 9PM ET/PT on Discovery Channel
Florida's Apocalypse Manufacturing owner Joe Ghattas is a self-made boss in the custom truck industry, known for his bold designs and loyal following that includes hardcore enthusiasts, world-famous rappers, sports superstars, and elite supermodels.

[07/18/25 - 08:01 AM]
Hallmark Channel Adds Hit Series "Gilmore Girls" to Its Lineup Beginning August 25
Just in time for the fall, the Gilmore family and the beloved residents of Stars Hollow will add twice the warmth and joy to Hallmark Channel's widely adored slate of heartfelt programming.

[07/18/25 - 07:36 AM]
Peacock Exclusively Streams Wes Anderson's "The Phoenician Scheme" Beginning July 25
From Oscar-nominated writer and director Wes Anderson, the film stars Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton and Michael Cera.

[07/18/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford - Official Teaser Trailer - Netflix
Two of boxing's most dominant forces, Saul "Canelo" Álvarez and Terence Crawford will face off in a once in a lifetime fight for the unified Super Middleweight championship on Saturday, September 13 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.

[07/17/25 - 10:01 PM]
Video: "Final Draft" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Twenty-five athletes, most retired, compete to win 30M yen to launch their second career. Can they overcome tough physical and psychological challenges?

[07/17/25 - 07:04 PM]
Video: Preview - Summer Nights 2025 - Coming in August
Tune in for all-new movie premieres this August on Hallmark Channel Saturday nights at 8/7c!

[07/17/25 - 04:15 PM]
"The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" to End After 2025-26 Broadcast Season
Colbert announced the news during tonight's taping at the Ed Sullivan Theater.

[07/17/25 - 02:17 PM]
Thrilling True Crime Docu-Series, "True Crime Story: Smugshot," Returns to SundanceTV Thursday, August 14
Created and executive produced by award-winning documentary filmmakers Amy Bandlien Storkel and Bryan Storkel, the six-episode series spotlights entitled individuals involved in elaborate criminal behavior.

[07/17/25 - 01:31 PM]
Netflix: What We Watched the First Half of 2025
This report, which captures ~99% of all viewing in the first half of 2025, shows that people watched a lot of Netflix - over 95B hours - spanning a wide range of genres and languages.

[07/17/25 - 01:16 PM]
Freida Pinto to Star in Netflix's "Unaccustomed Earth"
Inspired by the internationally beloved Jhumpa Lahiri short story collection of the same name, "Unaccustomed Earth" is an epic, soapy, and culturally vibrant drama about a tight-knit Indian American community navigating love, desire, and belonging.

[07/17/25 - 01:06 PM]
Samuel L. Jackson to Headline His First TV Series As Paramount+ Greenlights "NOLA King," The First Spinoff of the Hit Series "Tulsa King"
Jackson's character, Russell Lee Washington Jr., will be introduced in the upcoming, highly anticipated third season of "Tulsa King," slated to premiere in September.

[07/17/25 - 12:53 PM]
New Series "The Mother Flip" Premieres Saturday, August 16 at 12pm ET/PT on A&E's HomeMadeNation
Best friends and savvy flippers Kristy Etheredge and Rebecca Franchione, along with contractor Roy Salinas, transform the worst homes in Texas' Hill Country into big profits.

[07/17/25 - 12:11 PM]
AMC Networks' August Highlights Include "Nautilus," "Irish Blood," "Kidnapped," "The Furry Detectives" and More!
The month also features new seasons of Sundance TV's "True Crime Story: Smugshot," and We TV's fan-favorite series "Life After Lockup."

[07/17/25 - 11:35 AM]
ESPN "Sunday Night Baseball Presented by Capital One" Schedule Update: Division Leaders Collide as Detroit Tigers Visit Philadelphia Phillies on August 3
This marks the third "Sunday Night Baseball" appearance of the 2025 regular season for the Tigers and the fourth appearance for the Phillies.