or


[04/13/04 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: April 13
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

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

Looking to keep track of all the various pilots and other projects in development? Be sure to check out our detailed production chart listings by clicking here.

Note: As we approach the end of pilot season, our "Development Updates" may not appear every day due to a lack of news.

AFI'S 100 YEARS... 100 SONGS: AMERICA�S GREATEST MUSIC IN THE MOVIES (CBS, New!) - The Eye has scheduled a new special from the American Film Institute, hosted by John Travolta ("Grease," "Saturday Night Fever," "Pulp Fiction"). The three-hour presentation, which spotlights the 100 greatest songs in American movies, is scheduled for Tuesday, June 22 at 8:00/7:00c. Among those scheduled to appear are Clay Aiken, Debbie Allen, Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, Peter Boyle, Keith Carradine, Cyd Charisse, Betty Comden, Bill Conti, Celine Dion, Michael Feinstein, Art Garfunkel, Barry Gibb, Marvin Hamlisch, Isaac Hayes, Angela Lansbury, Baz Luhrmann, Brian McKnight, Rob Marshall, Bill Medley, Rita Moreno, Rosie Perez, Debbie Reynolds, Paul Simon, Barbra Streisand, Jennifer Warrens, Andy Williams and Hans Zimmer.

BAND OF BROTHERS (History Channel) - 4.6 million viewers (3.7 household rating) tuned into the HBO mini-series' debut installment on the History Channel on Sunday, the network's largest audience in its history. "Brothers" also topped all ad-supported cable networks for the night.

THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW: LET'S BUMP UP THE LIGHTS (CBS) - The Eye has rescheduled the special from Wednesday, May 5 to Wednesday, May 12 at 10:00/9:00c. In the special, "the illustrious cast comes together before an audience to introduce never-before-seen clips from the spontaneous and hilarious moments that were seen at the beginning of every 'The Carol Burnett Show' -- where Carol and the gang answered questions from the studio audience," according to a network press release.

ONTOURAGE (New!) - A six-episode reality series that would follow Britney Spears and her fellow dancers on the European leg of her steamy Onyx Hotel Tour is reportedly being shopped around the broadcast and cable networks. Spears herself is executive producing the project through her Fairy Zone banner in association with manager Larry Rudolph's Diamond Park Entertainment and Lisa Falcone. With the European segment of the tour scheduled to begin on April 27, a network commitment would have to come in the next two weeks. Spears and company are said to have budgeted "OnTourage" at $1 million per episode, a rather high fee for a new unscripted reality series. Foxlab, 20th Century Fox Television's alternative division, and Zoo Productions are also behind the project.

THE PRACTICE (ABC) - Longtime David E. Kelley collaborator Bill D'Elia has been named executive producer/showrunner of the forthcoming spin-off series. The project centers on James Spader's character as he makes the transition to Crane, Poole & Schmidt, the rival law firm that represented him in his wrongful-termination lawsuit against Young, Frutt & Berluti. Rhona Mitra, Fay Masterson and Lake Bell also star in the spin-off, while options exist for William Shatner, Vincent Pastore and Rebecca De Mornay to make the transition.

TALK TO ME (USA, New!) - Dean Devlin ("Independence Day") is developing a new drama series about the professional and personal lives of the New York Police Department's hostage-negotiation unit. Lions Gate Television is behind the project, which is set to be written by Jan Skrentny and Neal Tabachnick ("Driven"). Devlin will executive produce via his Electric Entertainment banner.

THE TRIANGLE (Sci Fi) - Rockne O'Bannon ("Farscape") has been tapped to script the eight-hour mini-series, currently in development at the cable channel. Dean Devlin ("Independence Day") and Bryan Singer ("X-Men") are executive producing the project, which takes on the myth of the Bermuda Triangle.

UNTITLED MO'NIQUE PROJECT (Syndication, New!) - Mo'Nique ("The Parkers") has pacted with Telepictures to develop a new syndicated talk show for the 2005-06 season. The actress/comedian, who was previously attached to talk show from Big Ticket Television this past development season, recently subbed in as host of fellow Telepictures' series "The Sharon Osbourne Show."

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [april 2004]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
    


· BAND OF BROTHERS (HBO)
· BOSTON LEGAL (ABC)
· FARSCAPE (SCI FI)
· PARKERS, THE (UPN)
· PRACTICE, THE (ABC)
· SHARON OSBOURNE SHOW, THE (SYNDICATION)
· TALK TO ME (TNT)
· TRIANGLE, THE (SCI FI)
· UNTITLED MO'NIQUE PROJECT (SYNDICATION)





[02/06/26 - 08:00 AM]
All Six Seasons of "Schitt's Creek" Arrive on HBO Max Tomorrow in the U.S.
The beloved comedy follows rich video-store magnate Johnny Rose, his soap-star wife Moira, and their two kids, son David and socialite daughter Alexis.

[02/06/26 - 07:36 AM]
Peacock Exclusively Streams "Wicked: For Good" Beginning March 20
The feature's Peacock debut will be accompanied by a sing-along version of the film and a full collection of bonus content.

[02/06/26 - 07:01 AM]
NHL on ESPN Networks: Viewership Up Nearly 40% Year-Over-Year Through First Four Months
Through 22 games, the NHL on ESPN networks is averaging 795K viewers, +39% YoY.

[02/06/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Strangers in the Park" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A former communist militant and a "live and let live" man form an unlikely friendship on a park bench, sharing their life stories with humor and heart.

[02/06/26 - 12:31 AM]
Next on Netflix Thailand 2026: The Widest Variety of Thai Stories, All in One Place
Netflix is deepening its commitment to Thai storytelling with its most ambitious slate to date: three new series, four films, and Netflix's first local documentary feature.

[02/05/26 - 04:01 PM]
Video: "Pavane" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Three lonely strangers meet at their department store jobs and find solace in each other's company while they explore connection and the nature of love.

[02/05/26 - 02:03 PM]
Great American Media Signs Exclusive Multi-Picture Deal with Fan-Favorite Actress, Merritt Patterson
The company also announces the first film of the new deal is "Meet Me in the Margins," adapted from bestselling author Melissa Ferguson's novel of the same name.

[02/05/26 - 12:42 PM]
"20/20" Ranks No. 1 in the Two-Hour Time Period Across the Board
Hitting new season highs on January 30, "20/20" grew from the previous week in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49.

[02/05/26 - 11:31 AM]
Apple Original Films Lands Global Rights to Sundance Film Festival Selection "The Last First: Winter K2"
Director Amir Bar-Lev tells a complex, harrowing and moving story that unpacks the industry of extreme mountain climbing and its changing culture.

[02/05/26 - 11:01 AM]
HBO Original "Murder in Glitterball City," A Two-Part Documentary, Debuts February 19
Inspired by the non-fiction book "A Dark Room in Glitter Ball City" by David Dominé, the film chronicles a 2010 murder case that starts with a 911 phone call that leads police to the gruesome discovery of a body buried in the basement of a Victorian mansion.

[02/05/26 - 11:01 AM]
Video: ALLBLK Releases Trailer and Key Art for New Original Feature Film, "Deb Is Boss" Premiering Thursday, March 5
Before becoming a powerhouse music executive who launched Gucci Mane, Nicki Minaj, and French Montana, Deb Antney (Lil Mama) was a street-smart survivor navigating the dangerous underworlds of Queens, NY and Boston, MA.

[02/05/26 - 10:31 AM]
Nicolette van Dam and Bas Smit Present the Dutch Version of "Love Is Blind"
"Love Is Blind: Netherlands" arrives on Netflix in 2026.

[02/05/26 - 10:12 AM]
"Martha Graham Dance Company: We Are Our Time" Premieres March 27, 2026 on PBS
As the Graham Company nears its landmark 100th anniversary, "We Are Our Time" offers a rare behind-the-scenes portrait of the company, exploring Graham's legacy through the dancers who embody her work today.

[02/05/26 - 10:03 AM]
ABC's Juggernaut Tuesday Scores More Wins
"High Potential's" January 20 episode jumped to 12.98 million Total Viewers and a 2.17 rating among Adults 18-49 after seven days of viewing on ABC, Hulu, Hulu on Disney+ and digital platforms, scoring a series high among Total Viewers.

[02/05/26 - 10:01 AM]
HBO Original Comedy Series "Rooster," Starring Steve Carell, From Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses, Debuts March 8
A comedy set on a college campus centering on an author's (Carell) complicated relationship with his daughter (Charly Clive).