or


[03/24/05 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: March 24
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!

3 LBS. (CBS) - Mary Lou ("Unfabulous") has joined the cast of the pilot, a medical drama revolving around a group of brain surgeons in Los Angeles. She'll play Charlotte Hanson, the daughter of Dylan McDermott's character in the Paramount Network Television-based project, which also stars Mark Feuerstein and Reiko Aylesworth. Barry Levinson is directing the pilot from a script by Peter Ocko with the pair also executive producing alongside Paul Stupin and Tom Fontana.

ALL IN (NBC) - Geoff Pierson ("24") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about a single mother (Janeane Garofalo) of three in Las Vegas who earns a living as a professional poker player. He'll play the father of Garofalo's character in the project, which comes from creator Jack Burditt, Lisa Kudrow & Dan Bucatinsky's Is or Isn't Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television.

DA VINCI'S INQUEST (Syndication) - Program Partners has cleared the veteran Canadian drama on stations covering 70% of the U.S. for a fall 2005 debut. Among those stations signing on (each for two years, for no cash in exchange for seven minutes of ad time for national sales by Program Partners) are WCBS New York, KCBS Los Angeles, KYW Philadelphia, KPIX San Francisco, WBZ Boston, WSB Atlanta, WWJ Detroit, KOMO Seattle, WFOR Miami and WCCO Minneapolis. It's understood two episodes will run each weekend, with many pairing the series with "C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation's" syndicated run after the late news on Saturday and Sunday nights. Once full clearance is secured, the company plans to pitch a weekday run to various cable channels, including Spike TV, USA, A&E and TNT.

DON'T ASK (FOX) - Tim Doyle ("Jake in Progress") has joined the comedy pilot, about a married father (Alan Ruck) of two teenage sons who announces he's gay and in love with his wife's (Kristen Johnston) shrink, as an executive producer. He'll serve alongside fellow executive producers Nicky Silver, Sandy Grushow and Paul Shapiro. Lev Spiro is directing the pilot, which is set up at 20th Century Fox Television and Grushow's Phase Two banner.

JOINT CUSTODY (ABC) - Kurt Fuller ("Alias") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, where he'll play Walter, the husband of Marilu Henner's character. The 20th Century Fox Television-based project revolves around a recent college graduate (Nick D'Agosto) who returns home and find his parents (Henner, Fuller) divorced and must now take care of his eccentric family. Will McCormack also stars in the pilot, which comes from executive producers Joel Stein, Regina Stewart and Shawn Levy.

LOST (ABC) - Emmy-nominated writer/producer Craig Wright ("Six Feet Under") has inked a two-year overall deal with Touchstone Television. The seven-figure pact calls for him to serve as a supervising producer on "Lost" next season as well as develop new drama projects for the studio. In addition to his TV work, Wright was nominated for the 2005 Helen Hayes/Charles MacArthur Best New Play Awards for his two plays, "Grace" and "Melissa Arctic."

NEIGHBORS (A.K.A. UNTITLED MICHAEL CALEO PROJECT) (ABC) - Melinda McGraw ("Center of the Universe") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, which apparently has reverted back to its original title of "Neighbors." She'll reportedly play the wife of Brian Benben's character in the project, about dueling neighbors (Lenny Clarke, Benben) who have to contend with one another when their wives (Ann Cusack, McGraw) and kids become friends. Sarah Steele also stars in the Touchstone Television-based project, which comes from executive producers Michael Caleo and Matt Gross.

THICK & THIN (NBC) - Martin Mull ("The Ellen Show") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about a former fat woman (Jessica Capshaw) who struggles with her new image. No details were given about Mull's character in the project, which comes from creator Paula Pell, Lorne Michaels & Joann Alfano's Broadway Video and NBC Universal Television.

UNTITLED DAVID DIAMOND/DAVID WEISSMAN PROJECT (CBS) - John Leguizamo ("Assault on Precinct 13") has been tapped to star in the drama pilot, about the lives of a sports agent (Leguizamo) and his wife, a magazine editor, as they juggle parenthood. In addition, he (along with his manager, Jeff Golenberg) will serve as producers on the project, which comes from 20th Century Fox Television, Paramount Network Television and Ratner Entertainment. Brett Ratner is directing the pilot from a script by creators/executive producers David Diamond and David Weissman ("The Family Man").

UNTITLED JERRY BRUCKHEIMER/MARSH MCCALL PROJECT (CBS) - Jonathan Silverman ("The Single Guy") has been cast in one of the lead roles in the comedy pilot, about three adult siblings who rally to support their eccentric professor father. He'll play one of said siblings in the project, which comes from creator/executive producer Marsh McCall ("Just Shoot Me") and is set up at Warner Bros. Television and Jerry Bruckheimer and Jonathan Littman's Bruckheimer Television.

UNTITLED JOSH GOLDSMITH/CATHY YUSPA PROJECT (CBS) - Newcomer Darren Ritchie has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about a young New York couple (Tiffani Thiessen, Ritchie) adjusting to life as new parents. No other details were given about his character in the project, which comes from Sony Pictures Television, Paramount Network Television and creators Josh Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa ("The King of Queens").

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [march 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· 24 (FOX)
· 3 LBS. (CBS)
· ALIAS (ABC)
· CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE (CBS)
· DEAL (NBC)
· DON'T ASK (FOX)
· ELLEN SHOW, THE (CBS)
· JAKE IN PROGRESS (ABC)
· JOINT CUSTODY (ABC)
· JUST SHOOT ME (NBC)
· KING OF QUEENS, THE (CBS)
· LOST (ABC)
· NEIGHBORS (ABC)
· SIX FEET UNDER (HBO)
· STROLLER WARS (CBS)
· THICK & THIN (NBC)
· UNTITLED BRUCKHEIMER & MCCALL PROJECT (CBS)
· UNTITLED DIAMOND & WEISSMAN PROJECT (CBS)





[01/08/26 - 02:00 PM]
ESPN Networks Deliver Record-Breaking Viewership for 2025-26 FCS Playoffs and Championship
The 2026 FCS Championship Game averaged 2.3 million viewers on ESPN, ranking as the third-best FCS Championship audience ever.

[01/08/26 - 01:17 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 in All Key Demos
In fact, "Nightline" is ranking No. 1 in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 for the 3rd straight year.

[01/08/26 - 01:16 PM]
ABC News' Primetime Special "The Year: 2025" Earns Nearly 4 Million Total Viewers - Growing by Double Digits Over Last Year in Multiplatform Viewing
The 15th annual year-end special earned 3.857 million Total Viewers, growing impressively over last year's performance by +37% (vs. 2.818 million), after three days of viewing on ABC, Disney+, Hulu and digital platforms.

[01/08/26 - 01:15 PM]
"Dirty Talk: When Daytime Talk Shows Ruled TV" Premieres Wednesday, Jan. 14, on ABC and Streams Next Day on Disney+ and Hulu
By exploring the psychological forces that shaped the talk TV genre, the series reveals how these shows transformed from trusted confessional spaces into lightning rods of controversy, leaving a lasting impact on culture, media and the people caught in the chaos.

[01/08/26 - 12:01 PM]
Video: Paramount+ Releases Official Trailer for New Docuseries "Handsome Devil: Charming Killer"
The three-part docuseries premieres Tuesday, January 20, exclusively on Paramount+.

[01/08/26 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "School Spirits" - Season 3 Official Trailer - Paramount+
Maddie Nears and her friends dive into a deeper, darker mystery as the veil between worlds grows dangerously thin, delivering twists that challenge everything they thought they knew.

[01/08/26 - 09:35 AM]
ESPN NBA Schedule Update: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Philadelphia 76ers Added on January 16; Detroit Pistons vs. Golden State Warriors Added on January 30
These matchups replace the previously scheduled Chicago Bulls vs. Brooklyn Nets game and LA Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets game, respectively.

[01/08/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "What Drives You with John Cena" Season 2 - Official Trailer - The Roku Channel
Find out what fuels Mookie Betts, Kane Brown, Charlotte Flair and Saweetie to succeed in an all new season.

[01/08/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Finding Her Edge" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A former ice dancer returns to the rink with an exciting new partner while holding onto feelings for her old one - her first love.

[01/08/26 - 09:00 AM]
HBO Original Two-Part Documentary "Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!" Debuts January 22
One of Hollywood's most daring satirists from the early years of television sketch comedy through his film and stage hits, Brooks has held a funhouse mirror up to the human condition and used laughter as a path to resilience, connection, and joy for nearly a century.

[01/08/26 - 08:31 AM]
Video: "It's Not Like That" - Official Trailer - Wonder Project
From the writers of "Life As We Know It" and "Parenthood," comes a story of two families who find the courage to begin again.

[01/08/26 - 08:11 AM]
Video: "Like Water For Chocolate" - Official Teaser - HBO Max
A kiss says more than a thousand words...

[01/08/26 - 08:02 AM]
Video: MGM+ Unveils "The Hillside Strangler" Official Trailer
The series premieres Sunday, January 18 at 9:00/8:00c on MGM+.

[01/08/26 - 08:01 AM]
The History Channel to Premiere New Series "History's Greatest Picks with Mike Wolfe" Celebrating Rare Collectibles on Sunday, February 22
Produced by Cineflix, the eight one-hour episode series will follow Mike as he dives into the intriguing stories and astonishing values behind legendary treasures, relics, and artifacts from history.

[01/08/26 - 08:00 AM]
Video: Prime Video Reveals Official Trailer and Key Art for Season Two of Hit Crime Thriller, "Cross"
From Paramount Television Studios starring and executive produced by Aldis Hodge, the new season will premiere February 11, 2026 on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.