or


[03/21/05 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: March 21
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

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

Looking to keep track of all the various projects in development? Click here to visit our newly revamped "Series in Development" charts. Visitors can now filter our listings by network, genre and even development stage (ordered to pilot, cast-contingent, script, etc.). It's updated every day!

ALL IN (NBC) - Janeane Garofalo ("The Larry Sanders Show") has been cast in the lead role of the comedy pilot, about a single mother of three (Garofalo) who's a whiz around the poker table, but who could use some of those same smarts in raising her kids. Garofalo's involvement lifts the cast-contingency off the pilot, which is based on the life of real-life poker champ Annie Duke. In addition, Garofalo and her managers David Rath and Kara Welker will receive a producing credit on the project, which comes from Warner Bros. Television, Lisa Kudrow and Dan Bucatinsky's Is or Isn't Entertainment and Jack Burditt ("I'm With Her").

AMERICAN CRIME (CBS) - Jennifer Finnigan ("Committed") has been cast in the lead role of the drama pilot, about a female prosecutor who juggles the world of suburban crime with the challenges of being a new mom. She'll play Annabeth, said prosecutor, in the project, which also stars John Carroll Lynch. Finnigan's involvement is apparently in second position to "Committed" should that series return for a second season. Simon West is directing the Warner Bros. Television/Bruckheimer Television-based project, from a script by creator Jim Leonard. Leonard then also serves as an executive producer along with Jerry Bruckheimer and Jonathan Littman.

THE DIVE FROM CLAUSEN'S PIER (Lifetime) - Michelle Trachtenberg ("Ice Princess") is set to topline the original movie for the cable channel, about a small-town woman's journey of self-discovery after her fiance suffers a serious accident. The project, which is based on Ann Packer's best-selling novel of the same name, will be directed by Harry Winer from an adaptation by John Wierick ("The Matthew Shepard Story"). Mel Gibon's Con Artists Productions and Fox TV Studios are producing "Dive" with Brenda Friend ("Joan of Arc"), Con Artists's Bruce Davey and Nancy Cotton and Fox TV Studios' David Madden and Lisa Demberg executive producing.

FATHOM (NBC) - Carter Jenkins ("Unfabulous") has been cast as Miles in the drama pilot, about a group of naval officers, oceanographers and fishermen from around the world who encounter a group of mysterious sea creatures. His character is described in the casting notice as: "13. Out wakeboarding with his friends, this kid has a terrifying experience after he dumps in the ocean and spots a bizarre sea creature nearby. The son of affluent parents who are usually too busy to pay attention to him, Miles enlists his friend Phil's help in investigating the situation. Already in trouble for his wakeboarding stunt, Miles defies his parents, "borrows" their boat, and ends up harvesting an egg from the monster in question. He takes the strange egg home and is delighted when his new and apparently voracious "pet" hatches out, unbeknownst to the rest of his family." Lake Bell (as Daughtery Carstarphen), Rade Serbedzija (as Dr. Clay Ling) and Leighton Meester (as Savannah, the sister of Miles), Jay Ferguson (as Richard Owen) also star in the NBC Universal Television-based project, which comes from creators Josh Pate and Jonas Pate.

MEET THE BARKERS (MTV) - The cable channel has confirmed the new reality series "Meet the Barkers" - about the life of the mohawked drummer of blink-182 and his wife, a former Miss USA turned TV actress - will premiere Wednesday, April 6 at 10:00/9:00c. "The Nick Lachey Project" is expected to follow that same night at 10:30/9:30c, however MTV has yet to confirm the show's launch date and time.

THE OFFICE (NBC) - Viewers looking to check out the Peacock's take on "The Office" will have more than one opportunity this month as cable siblings Bravo, CNBC and USA will all rebroadcast the show's first two installments shortly after their premiere on NBC. USA will encore said episodes on Thursday, March 31 at 6:00/5:00c and 6:30/5:30c; Bravo that same night at 11:00/10:00c and 11:30/10:30c; and CNBC on Friday, April 1 at 10:00/9:00c and 10:30/9:30c with additional encores later that night at 1:00 and 1:30 a.m. eastern.

OLD CHRISTINE (CBS) - Clark Gregg ("In Good Company"), Hamash Linklatter ("Gideon's Crossing") and Trevor Gagnon ("Big Fish") have all joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about a divorced mom (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) who tries to keep pace with everyone around her. The trio will play the woman's ex-husband, brother and son respectively. Warner Bros. Television is behind the project, which comes from creator/executive producer Kari Lizer ("Will & Grace").

UNTITLED DEBORAH KAPLAN/HARRY ELFONT PROJECT (ABC) - Sophina Brown ("Chappelle's Show") has been cast as the final principal cast member of the single-camera comedy pilot, about the dating lives of a group of thirtysomething singles in Philadelphia. She'll play Wendy in the Touchstone Television-based project. Her character is described as: "30's, any ethnicity. Feminine lesbian, a bit dissatisfied with her life, speaks her mind, she works for Jane [Julie Bowen] at the bakery. Although she dates women, Wendy has the same type relationship dilemmas as the rest of the gang. Claims her life would be much simpler if she was interested in men - but she's not." Michael Landes (as Todd), Alan Tudyk (as Oakes), Lucy Davis (as Paige) and Mark Umbers (as Sam) also star in the project, which will be both written and directed by Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont. The pair also serve as executive producers along with Jamie Tarses and Karey Burke.

UNTILTED MICHAEL CALEO PROJECT (ABC) - Ann Cusack ("The Brotherhood of Poland, N.H.") and Sarah Steele ("Spanglish") have both joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about dueling neighbors (Lenny Clarke, Brian Benben) who have to contend with one another when their wives and kids become friends. Cusack will play the wife of Clarke's character while Steele is set as their daughter. Touchstone Television is behind the project, which comes from executive producers Michael Caleo and Matt Gross.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [march 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· BROTHERHOOD OF POLAND, NH, THE (CBS)
· CHAPPELLE'S SHOW (COMEDY CENTRAL)
· CLOSE TO HOME (CBS)
· COMMITTED (NBC)
· DEAL (NBC)
· DIVE FROM CLAUSEN'S PIER, THE (LIFETIME)
· GIDEON'S CROSSING (ABC)
· I'M WITH HER (ABC)
· LOVE LIFE (ABC)
· MATTHEW SHEPARD STORY, THE (NBC)
· MEET THE BARKERS (MTV)
· NEIGHBORS (ABC)
· NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE, THE (CBS)
· NICK LACHEY PROJECT, THE (MTV)
· OFFICE, THE (NBC)
· SURFACE (NBC)
· WILL & GRACE (NBC)





[01/13/26 - 10:40 AM]
New Episodes of TLC's "Unexpected" Premiere Monday, February 16 at 9PM ET/PT
The new season follows eight teens who are navigating pregnancy, parenthood, and the realities that come far sooner than expected.

[01/13/26 - 10:00 AM]
HBO Original Documentary "33 Photos from the Ghetto" Debuts January 27
The film tells the story of the only known photographs from inside the Warsaw Ghetto during the April 1943 uprising and its brutal repression that were not taken by German forces.

[01/13/26 - 09:03 AM]
Video: MGM+ Unveils Official Trailer for New Mystery Thriller Series "Vanished"
When a couple's trip to Paris takes a dark turn with the sudden disappearance of her boyfriend Tom (Sam Claflin) aboard a train to the south of France, Alice (Kaley Cuoco) is plunged into a web of intrigue and danger, uncovering shocking secrets about the man she thought she knew.

[01/13/26 - 09:00 AM]
"The Great American Road Rally: Celebrity Edition" to Debut on The CW Network
The series is hosted by Ian Ziering, whose four-decade television career, cultural resonance, and deep connection to automotive culture make him a natural guide for this journey.

[01/13/26 - 08:21 AM]
Video: "The Great American Baking Show: Big Game" (Season 2) - Official Trailer - The Roku Channel
In this Big Game special, sports analyst Mina Kimes and NFL legends Antonio Gates, Von Miller, and Julian Edelman take on three gridiron-themed challenges as they vie for the coveted Star Baker crown.

[01/13/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Queer Eye" Season 10 - Official Trailer - Netflix
In this final season, the Fab Five help Washington, D.C. heroes live their fullest lives through stunning makeovers and emotional transformations.

[01/13/26 - 08:00 AM]
Trevor Noah Returns to Host "The 68th Annual Grammy Awards," Sunday, Feb. 1
This will be Noah's sixth time as host of the Grammy Awards and he will also serve as an executive producer.

[01/13/26 - 07:05 AM]
Apple TV Announces Upcoming Docuseries Featuring Tennis Icon Andre Agassi
The series, which will tell the thrilling, complex and inspiring story of an American legend, will be directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Chris Smith, produced by Smith's Library Films, and executive produced by Stacy Smith and Justin Gimelstob.

[01/13/26 - 07:03 AM]
Video: Brand-New Titan Unveiled in Teaser for Apple TV's "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters"
The 10-episode second season will premiere globally on Friday, February 27, 2026 with the first episode, followed by one episode every Friday until May 1, 2026.

[01/13/26 - 06:36 AM]
Great American Media Announces New Original Movie for Easter
Shae Robins and Casey Elliott star in "Blessings in Disguise."

[01/13/26 - 06:31 AM]
Sky Commissions Original Drama Series "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," Based on Stieg Larsson's Globally Bestselling Millennium Novels
Sony Pictures Television will handle international distribution with pre-sale efforts already underway in the United States.

[01/13/26 - 06:31 AM]
Video: "Skyscraper Live" - Official Trailer - Netflix
World-famous free solo climber Alex Honnold attempts to ascend one of the planet's tallest skyscrapers in a high-stakes live event from Taipei, Taiwan.

[01/13/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Tyler Perry's Joe's College Road Trip" - Official Trailer - Netflix
In an effort to teach him about the real world, Joe takes B.J. on a cross-country college road trip where tensions get high but life-changing lessons are learned.

[01/13/26 - 01:01 AM]
Video: "Yoh! Bestie" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Thando is perpetually unlucky in love, but when her bestie returns from his travels with a fiancée in tow, she's forced to face a new emotion - jealousy.

[01/12/26 - 08:21 PM]
NFL Announces Final Divisional Weekend Schedule
The NFL tonight announced the final schedule of sites, dates and times for Divisional Weekend, presented by Intuit TurboTax, January 17-18 (all times ET).