or


[12/17/03 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: December 17
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

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

AFFAIRS TO REMEMBER (USA, New!) - Craig Anderson ("Wilder Days") has pacted with the cable channel to executive produce a new six-hour limited series about infidelity from the perspectives of several interweaving couples. Cynthia Saunders ("Sisters," "thirtysomething") is on board to write the project, which will look at the subject matter from several points of view, along the lines of the network's upcoming "Traffic" mini-series remake. Anderson will executive produce through his Craig Anderson Productions banner.

THE EX-MEN (UPN, New!) - Mort Nathan ("The Golden Girls") is writing and executive producing a new comedy at the network about an ex-husband, an ex-straight man, an ex-rich guy and an ex-sitcom star who are all friends. Grammnet Productions's Kelsey Grammer and Steve Stark ("Girlfriends") will also executive produce the project, which comes from Paramount Network Television.

FIVE DAYS TO MIDNIGHT (Sci Fi) - Timothy Hutton, Hamish Linklater and newcomer Gage Golightly have all signed on for the lead roles in the network's upcoming limited series. Hutton will play J.T. Neumeyer, a physics professor who receives a police file from the future, with explicit details of his own gruesome murder, just five days away. Golightly will play J.T.'s 9-year-old daughter with Linklater as an obsessed student who idolizes Hutton's character. Michael Watkins previously signed on to direct the project, which is set to begin production shortly in Vancouver. Sci Fi plans to air the project over five consecutive nights, each a one-hour installment, in June.

THE HOUSE (FOX, New!) - Ashton Kutcher and his production partner Jason Goldberg are developing a new college-based drama at the network from writers J. Mackeye Gruber and Eric Bress ("The Butterfly Effect," "Final Destination 2"). Kutcher and Goldberg's Katalyst Productions along with 20th Century Fox Television are producing the project, which has a script commitment at FOX. "The House" tracks the lives of several students who live in a frat house and will take a frank look at the good and bad aspects of said lifestyle.

JOEY PIGZA (CBS, New!) - The Eye is developing a telefilm based on Jack Gantos' award-winning book of the same name, which revolves around a recovering alcoholic trying to deal with her 11-year-old child, who has attention-deficit disorder. Nick Castle ("Hook") is adapating the book while Craig Anderson Productions' Beth Grossbard will executive produce.

KEEPING WATCH (CBS, New!) - Craig Andersons Productions is developing a new telefilm at the Eye about a war veteran who deals with the ghosts of his past by treating abused children, until he meets one who may not be as innocent as he seems. Wesley Bishop ("The Christmas Shoes") is writing the script to the project, which is still in the early stages of development.

THE SAINT (ABC) - Some additional details have emerged about the Alphabet's remake of the classic 1960s series, which comes from Craig Anderson Productions and FremantleMedia. Stephen Nathan ("Joan of Arcadia") is writing the pilot script with CAP's Craig Anderson and Fremantle's Marla Ginsburg executive producing.

SIX FEET UNDER (HBO) - Mena Suvari ("American Beauty") has signed on to appear in six episodes of the show's upcoming fourth season. She'll play an art school pal of Lauren Ambrose's character, a role originally held by Zooey Deschanel ("Elf") who exited for unspecified reasons.

THE SKETCH SHOW (FOX, New!) - FOX is getting back into the primetime sketch comedy business as the network has greenlighted production on a pilot presentation for a new half-hour comedy series, titled simply "The Sketch Show." Kelsey Grammer's Paramount-based Grammnet Productions is behind the project, which is based on the British series of the same name. Avalon Entertainment, the company behind the original, is also producing the U.S. version. The series is best known for its rapid-fire nature, in which 30 or so brief sketches are crammed into a half-hour show (a la "Laugh-In"). The U.S. version will follow the same format and use existing scripts from the show, performed by American actors. Should it go to series, Grammnet has the rights to use some 450 existing sketches from the U.K. version but will also hire a writing staff to produce original bits. Dan Patterson ("Whose Line Is It Anyway?") is on board to executive produce the project, as are Gramment's Steve Stark and Avalon's John Thorday.

THIN AIR (WB, New!) - Paramount Network Television is developing a new comedy at the Frog about a Colorado mom who reunites with her son following the death of her ex-husband, the boy's father. Mark Steilen is behind the project and will executive produce along with Grammnet Productions' Kelsey Grammer and Steve Stark ("Girlfriends").

TOAST (UPN, New!) - The netlet is developing a new comedy from writers Nick LeRose ("Whoopi") and Kathy Green ("The Drew Carey Show") about a famous married couple who find themselves dealing with life after their careers fall apart. The duo will executive produce the Paramount-based project, along with Grammnet Productions' Kelsey Grammer and Steve Stark ("Girlfriends").

UNTITLED SOLANGE KNOWLES PROJECT (UPN, New!) - The netlet has signed a talent holding deal with the actress, the younger sister of popular singer/actress Beyonce Knowles. The pact calls UPN to place her in one of its existing sitcom pilots being targeted for fall 2004. Knowles can next been seen in the upcoming feature "Johnson Family Vacation."

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [december 2003]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· AFFAIRS TO REMEMBER (USA)
· CHRISTMAS SHOES, THE (CBS)
· DREW CAREY SHOW, THE (ABC)
· EX-MEN, THE (UPN)
· FIVE DAYS TO MIDNIGHT (SCI FI)
· GIRLFRIENDS (CW)
· HOUSE, THE (FOX)
· JOAN OF ARCADIA (CBS)
· JOEY PIGZA (NBC)
· KEEPING WATCH (CBS)
· KELSEY GRAMMER PRESENTS: THE SKETCH SHOW (FOX)
· SAINT, THE (ABC)
· SIX FEET UNDER (HBO)
· THIN AIR (WB)
· TOAST (UPN)
· TRAFFIC (USA)
· UNTITLED SOLANGE KNOWLES PROJECT (UPN)
· WHOOPI (NBC)
· WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY? (CW)
· WILDER DAYS (TNT)





[03/18/24 - 01:59 PM]
Chrissy Metz, Jaime Ray Newman, Katie Lowes, and George Ferrier Join as Series Regulars for Starz's New Drama "The Hunting Wives"
Production on the thrilling new series has started in Charlotte, North Carolina.

[03/18/24 - 11:30 AM]
Video: ALLBLK Releases Trailer for the World Premiere of New Thriller, "The Influencer" Premiering Thursday, April 4
The original film stars Christina Cooper as Niecy Fields, a social media influencer on the cusp of stardom.

[03/18/24 - 10:06 AM]
E! Announces Trendsetting Guest Judges and Pioneering Disruptors for New Cutting-Edge Design Competition Series "OMG Fashun" with Julia Fox
Handcrafted is the new haute couture on "OMG Fashun" as Julia inspires pioneering fashion disruptors to upend traditional style convention, break the rules and redefine cool.

[03/18/24 - 10:00 AM]
Video: Peacock Debuts Trailer For New Original Documentary "Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal" Premiering April 1
The documentary looks at the remarkable career of the late Windham Rotunda also known as Bray Wyatt, one of the most skillful, tenacious, and creative WWE Superstars of all-time.

[03/18/24 - 10:00 AM]
NBC Is the Official Home of Competition and Games This Summer with a Slate of Powerhouse Hit Series
NBC is the summer home for both the Paris Olympic Games and high-stakes competition with a robust lineup of returning powerhouse favorites, including "America's Got Talent," "American Ninja Warrior," "Password," "The Wall" and "Weakest Link."

[03/18/24 - 09:02 AM]
Netflix Announces News About 26 Upcoming Nordic Titles - Including 12 Brand New Titles
Plus: the streamer offers new looks at "Deliver Me," "The Helicopter Heist," "Ronja the Robber's Daughter," "Billionaire Island" and season two of "Baby Fever."

[03/18/24 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver" - Official Trailer - Netflix
The rebels gear up for battle against the ruthless forces of the Motherworld as unbreakable bonds are forged, heroes emerge - and legends are made.

[03/18/24 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Disney's "Wish" - Streaming April 3rd - Disney+
Walt Disney Animation Studios' "Wish" is an all-new musical-comedy welcoming audiences to the magical kingdom of Rosas, where Asha, a sharp-witted idealist, makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force - a little ball of boundless energy called Star.

[03/18/24 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Our Living World" - Cate Blanchett - Official Trailer - Netflix
This stunning nature series narrated by Cate Blanchett explores the intelligence, resourcefulness and interconnectedness of life on our planet.

[03/18/24 - 08:00 AM]
Acorn TV Fan-Favorite "Harry Wild" Returns Monday, May 13
Season three consists of six episodes and will be available on Acorn TV in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

[03/18/24 - 08:00 AM]
Prime Video Orders "Beast Games" from MrBeast and Amazon MGM Studios
Based on his already successful YouTube show, "Beast Games" is set to become the biggest reality competition series ever with 1000 contestants competing for a $5 million dollar cash prize which will be the biggest single prize in the history of television and streaming.

[03/18/24 - 07:14 AM]
ESPN+ Original Series "Full Court Press" Presented by State Farm Featuring Caitlin Clark, Kamilla Cardoso and Kiki Rice to Premiere May 11 & 12 on ABC and ESPN+
From Iowa's historic preseason game that broke attendance records all the way through the WNBA draft in April, the series uses unparalleled access, exclusive interviews, and unique game footage, to transport audiences into the lives of these exceptional athletes.

[03/18/24 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Scoop" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Inspired by real events, this fictional dramatization gives an insider account of how the women of Newsnight secured Prince Andrew's infamous interview.

[03/18/24 - 06:01 AM]
Video: Apple TV+ Debuts Trailer for Season Two of Iconic Emmy Award-Winning Series "Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock," Premiering Globally March 29
Award-winning season two cast includes the return of Daveed Diggs alongside Ariana DeBose, Brett Goldstein, Catherine O'Hara, Adam Lambert and K-pop group aespa in guest star roles.

[03/18/24 - 04:01 AM]
Video: "Joy" - First Look Teaser - Netflix
Starring Thomasin McKenzie, James Norton and Bill Nighy, the new film based on the story of the birth of IVF.