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[07/15/03 - 12:00 AM] Development Update: July 15 By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC) |
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CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- The latest development news, culled from recent wire reports:
AMBUSH MAKEOVER (Syndication) - 20th Century Fox Television is testing the series for 13 weeks in 20 markets across the country. The results have been less than stellar as initial numbers have the series averaging a 1.7 rating and 5 share, down 22% from lead-ins and down 26% from time periods a year ago.
CLASSMATES (Syndication) - A test run of 13 weeks for the new syndicated series hosted by Ian Ziering ("Beverly Hills, 90210") is underway in 25 markets. Initial numbers indicate a rough start for the 20th Century Fox Television series as it has averaged a 2.0 rating and 5 share in the metered markets, down 20% from the same time period a year ago. Even worse, the series lost 29% on average of its lead-in audience.
EMPIRE FALLS (HBO) - Oscar-winning actress Joanne Woodward ("The Three Faces of Eve") is expected to co-star opposite husband Paul Newman in the pay channel's upcoming adaptation of the best-selling novel. The project, a blue-collar comedy, stars Newman as Miles Roby, a fortysomething decent guy stuck running Empire Grill, the town's most popular eatery, for 20 years. Woodward would play Francine Whiting, a controlling and manipulative widow who owns Empire Grill as well as almost everything else in the dead-end town. Fred Schepisi ("The In-Laws") is attached to direct the telefilm from an adaptation by "Falls'" author Richard Russo.
THE JANE PAULEY SHOW (Syndication) - While the former "Dateline NBC" anchor's new talk show has been cleared in New York, Los Angeles and San Diego (for a stellar license fee of $125,000 or so a week in each market), they've ruffled a few feathers in the process. "Pauley" is set to air on the NBC-owned WNBC New York and KNBC Los Angeles in the early fringe daypart (3-5 p.m. eastern) beginning in fall 2004. The problem is that's supposed to be home to Paramount's "Judge Joe Brown" and "Judge Judy" on WNBC through the end of the 2005-06 season according to a long-term deal signed in August 2002. And on KNBC, Telepictures has taken offense to "Pauley" airing in the daypart as it's already home to "Oprah" and its forthcoming "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." That means come fall 2004, "Ellen" could be shuffled away in favor of "Pauley." Reps from Pauley's show and both stations did not comment to the media about the news.
RACE TO THE ALTAR (NBC) - The Peacock will debut its latest reality series on Wednesday, July 30 at 8:00/7:00c. "Altar" takes over for "Fame," which wraps its run on July 23. The series "features eight engaged couples competing in a series of mental and physical challenges designed to test the strength of their relationships," according to NBC's press release. Renowned event designer Colin Cowie will plan the fantasy wedding that will be awarded as the grand prize to the winning couple in the final episode. Broadcaster and model Lisa Dergan hosts the show, which has an eight episode order.
24 (FOX) - James Badge Dale ("Hack," "Law & Order: S.V.U.") has joined the cast for the drama's third season. He's set to play Chase, a young C.T.U. agent who ends up working side-by-side with Kiefer Sutherland's character. Specific details about his character however were not released as producers hope to keep a tight lid on the new season.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[06/06/25 - 12:56 PM] Saddle Up! "The McBee Dynasty: Bravoleb Watch Party" Begins Monday, June 9 at 9PM ET/PT on Bravo and Streams Next Day On Peacock Join fan-favorite Bravolebs Craig Conover & Austen Kroll, Kristen Doute & Brittany Cartwright, and Kate Chastain & Fraser Olender as they giddy up for season 2 by diving into all the family and farmhand drama from season 1.
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[06/06/25 - 12:31 PM] Video: Paramount+ with Showtime Unveils Trailer and Additional Cast for "Noah's Arc: The Movie" Premiering Friday, June 20 Michael M. Jones, Tory Devon Smith, Cocoa Brown, Novi Brown, Angela Beyince, Josca, Evari Pickett, Tjay Williams and Robb Sherman will join the previously announced cast in the movie.
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[06/06/25 - 10:42 AM] "Live with Kelly and Mark" Soars with Star-Studded Week "Live" ranked as the No. 1 talk show in syndication for 121 consecutive weeks across all key measures.
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[06/06/25 - 10:03 AM] Video: Peacock Releases Trailer for True Crime Documentary "The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets" Premiering Tuesday, June 10 After the arrest of the alleged Gilgo Beach killer, this documentary goes inside the suspects home for the first time, where exclusive commentary from his own family unravels a chilling portrait of a man accused of living a double life and hiding dark secrets under their own roof.
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[06/06/25 - 07:30 AM] Following +30% Surge in Viewership for the Season 4B Premiere, Showtime Renews "Couples Therapy" The series follows world-renowned psychologist and psychoanalyst Dr. Orna Guralnik as she deftly guides couples through real-life therapy sessions.
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[06/05/25 - 11:06 PM] Max Original Documentary Series "Most Wanted: Teen Hacker" Debuts This September The series follows the illegal exploits of Finnish hacker Julius Kivimäki, known as Aleksanteri Kivimäki, who rose to infamy after forcing a U.S. passenger plane to make an emergency landing, shutting down PlayStation globally and orchestrating several dangerous SWAT attacks - including one targeting the family of an FBI agent.
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[06/05/25 - 08:01 PM] A Tender Tale Unfolds: "The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity" Premieres July 6 Serialized on the official Weekly Shonen Magazine app, Magazine Pocket, the manga has distinguished itself in the shonen genre, selling over five million copies as of June 2025.
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[06/05/25 - 12:30 PM] Shocking Limited True Crime Docu-Series, "Butchers of L.A.," Premieres Thursday, June 26 on SundanceTV, Sundance Now and AMC+ Airing weekly, the three-part series sheds new light on the horrifying crimes of the "Freeway Killers" who terrorized Southern California over two decades.
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[06/05/25 - 11:01 AM] ESPN Events Announces 17-Game College Football Bowl Schedule for 2025-26 Season Bowl Season will begin Saturday, December 13, with the 10th edition of the ESPN Events' Cricket Celebration Bowl.
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[06/05/25 - 11:01 AM] Truths and Rumors Come to a Boiling Point When Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Orange County" Returns for a New Season on Thursday, July 10 at 9 P.M. ET/PT Housewives Shannon Storms Beador, Heather Dubrow, Tamra Judge, Gina Kirschenheiter, Emily Simpson, Jennifer Pedranti and Katie Ginella return for an unforgettable season as the ladies set out to uncover the truth, restore trust, heal broken bonds and everything that lies between.
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[06/05/25 - 11:01 AM] BET Announces the Highly Anticipated Return of "Ms. Pat Settles It" for a Third Season As previously announced, BET Media Group extended its multi-year overall deal with Patricia "Ms. Pat" Williams under which she will produce and perform in new series and other projects across BET.
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[06/05/25 - 11:00 AM] Prime Video Reveals Premiere Date, First Look Images, and Teaser Art for "Butterfly," Starring and Executive Produced by Daniel Dae Kim The spy-thriller series will premiere all episodes on August 13 and also stars Reina Hardesty, Piper Perabo, and Louis Landau.
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[06/05/25 - 10:32 AM] ESPN Reveals 33-Game College Football Bowl Season Slate for 2025-26 The postseason slate, including 17 ESPN Events' owned-and-operated bowls, starts Saturday, December 13, and runs through Friday, January 2.
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[06/05/25 - 10:04 AM] "My Big Fat Fabulous Life," "90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After?" and "Welcome to Plathville" Return This July This July, TLC expands its summer slate with the return of three hit series - each offering new beginnings, evolving relationships, and unforgettable personalities navigating love, family, and personal growth.
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[06/05/25 - 10:01 AM] Starz Renews "The BMF Documentary: Blowing Money Fast" for Season Two The docuseries, which dives deeper into the real stories of the Black Mafia Family figures who inspired the "BMF" scripted series, will also serve as a complement to the fourth season of "BMF," premiering Friday, June 6.
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