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[04/25/05 - 12:00 AM] Development Update: April 25 By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC) |
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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!
GIVING HOPE (New!) - Reality guru Mark Burnett ("Survivor," "The Apprentice") is developing a new project loosely inspired by the 1994-2003 CBS series "Touched by an Angel." "It's an unscripted show that will be about bringing hope to people," Burnett told The Hollywood Reporter. "It will be about people in Kansas who have lost their farm and helping get them back on their feet. We might profile people under a mountain of medical bills and finding ways to get them out from under it. That's what we'll be looking at -- providing hope and changing lives." "Angel" stars Roma Downey and Della Reese are said to be eyed as potential hosts for the series, which is expected to be pitched to the broadcast networks as early as next week.
NBC UNIVERSAL TELEVISION OVERALL/TALENT DEALS (New!) - NBC Universal Television has signed a handful of up-and-coming writers and producers to two-year, seven-figure overall deals at the studio. Among those scooped up: Jason Cahill (writer, "The Sopranos"); the duo of Russel Friend and Garrett Lerner (co-executive producers, "LAX"); and Jennifer Celotta (co-executive producer, "Malcolm in the Middle"). In addition, playwright-performer Julianne Grossman has pacted with the studio to develop a comedy series based on her one-woman show "From Bonkers to Botox." The dark comedy chronicles a young woman's three suicide attempts and as many hospitalizations in various psychiatric wards. Diana Stein will produce the project along with Grossman.
RESCUE ME (FX) - The cable channel has quietly announced the second season of the critically-acclaimed drama will premiere on Tuesday, June 21 at 10:00/9:00c. In addition, Lee Tergesen ("Oz") has been confirmed as a new recurring cast member while Diane Farr has been upgraded to series regular. As for specifics about the new season (highlight the following text to read), Leary told USA Today: "If last season was about sorrow and the grieving process, this season's probably more about salvation and redemption. But that doesn't mean it's necessarily better or happier." It's understood Leary's character will begin the season having transferred to a Staten Island firehouse (following the events of the season finale), where he's trying to stop drinking and find a way to get his children back.
UNTITLED GREG GIRALDO PROJECT (Comedy Central, New!) - "Tough Crowd With Colin Quinn" producers Ken Ober and Liz Stanton along with frequent guest Greg Giraldo are developing a pseudo-revival of the one-time Comedy Central mainstay. Production was completed last month on a pilot for the untitled project, which features Giraldo as host of a roundtable talk show (a la "Tough Crowd") as well as conducting man-on-the-street-style field segments. No other details were available about the project, one of four under consideration for the post-"The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" time period. The others being eyed: Giraldo's "Gone Hollywood," a satirical showbiz newsmagazine; and untitled talk shows from "The Man Show's" Adam Corolla and comedian D.L. Hughley.
WILL & GRACE (NBC) - The Peacock is expected to announce later this week it has officially renewed the veteran comedy for an eighth (and possibly) final season following lengthy renewal negotiations with the producers and cast. It's understood NBC will pay roughly $4 million per episode for a fresh batch of at least 24 episodes as well as a clip show (a la "Everybody Loves Raymond's" May 16 pre-finale "The Last Laugh" special) next season, down from its current license fee of about $5 million per episode. In addition, principal cast members Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally have all reportedly received one-year pay bumps to $600,000 per episode (up from their current estimated $400,000 per episode). The news comes in spite of rumblings the cast would have to take a pay cut in order to come under the expected reduced license fee. It's not clear how the show's producer, NBC Universal Television, will offset the extra cost on top of its $1 million per episode fee cut.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters and USA Today
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[10/24/25 - 02:30 PM] Video: First Look at Upcoming New Drama "Memory of a Killer" Starring Patrick Dempsey and Michael Imperioli - Premiering This January on FOX Dempsey stars as a hitman, Angelo Doyle, leading a dangerous double life while hiding an even deadlier personal secret - he has developed early onset Alzheimer's.
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[10/24/25 - 02:02 PM] "20/20" Is Friday's Most-Watched Newsmagazine Across the Board In addition, "20/20" posted its best Adults 25-54 in more than four months.
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[10/24/25 - 02:01 PM] ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 Across the Board, Leading NBC in All Key Demos for the 4th Straight Week "Nightline" grew year to year across the board: Total Viewers, Adults 25-54, and Adults 18-49.
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[10/24/25 - 01:05 PM] "Dancing with the Stars" Makes Television History - Rising for Fifth Straight Week The October 21 episode scored 6.63 million Total Viewers and a 1.38 rating among Adults 18-49, hitting new season highs in both demographics.
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[10/24/25 - 08:01 AM] Netflix Announces "Hollywood Arts," A Brand-New Spinoff of Hit Live-Action, "Victorious," with Daniella Monet Returning as Star and Executive Producer The series is set to debut on Netflix in 2026, followed by releases on Nickelodeon and Paramount+.
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[10/24/25 - 07:14 AM] FOX Sports Readies for Major League Baseball's 121st World Series Presented by Capital One Action leads off Friday, October 24, between the National League and current reigning World champion Los Angeles Dodgers and American League champion Toronto Blue Jays from Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, on FOX, FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports App and FOX One.
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[10/24/25 - 07:01 AM] Video: "Love Is Blind" Season 9: The Reunion - Official Trailer - Netflix Denver singles shake up their search for "the one" and step into the pods, braving twists, turns and love triangles to find their soulmate sight unseen.
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[10/24/25 - 07:01 AM] Experience the Family, the Fun, and the Fantastic! Marvel Studios' "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" Lands Exclusively on Disney+ November 5 Continuing the celebration of Marvel's First Family, the announcement was made live from SpaceCon 2025 in San Antonio, where The Fantastic Four: First Steps Immersive Pop-Up Experience invites attendees to step inside the iconic Baxter Building.
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[10/24/25 - 06:00 AM] The CW Network and Xfinity Celebrate 11 Years of the NASCAR Xfinity Series by Presenting the Third Stage of the Championship Race Commercial-Free Taking place in Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday, November 1, the commercial-free stage presented by Xfinity was created to thank the loyal race fans who have supported the NASCAR Xfinity Series for more than a decade - helping the series grow through their unwavering enthusiasm, increased viewership, and continued trackside attendance.
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[10/23/25 - 05:01 PM] Video: "As You Stood By" - Official Trailer - Netflix When two women plot to end an abusive marriage through murder, an unexpected visitor arrives - threatening to shatter everything they've carefully planned.
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[10/23/25 - 02:33 PM] Largest Audience for "NBA Tip-Off" Doubleheader Since 2010 as NBA Returned to NBC and Debuted on Peacock Tuesday night's audience across NBC and Peacock peaked at 7.1 million viewers from 10:45-11 p.m. ET as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder to a one-point win over the Houston Rockets in double overtime.
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[10/23/25 - 02:28 PM] The 305 Just Got Hotter: "Love & Hip Hop: Miami" Moves to BET Season 7 Premieres Tuesday, November 4 at 8 PM ET/PT The upcoming seventh season dives deeper than ever into Miami's thriving entertainment scene, following a cast of stars who are rebuilding, rebranding, and redefining success in real time.
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[10/23/25 - 01:30 PM] Critically Acclaimed Noir Thriller, "Dark Winds," to Return to AMC and AMC+ Sunday, February 15 The series' gripping fourth season focuses on the search for a missing Navajo girl, which takes Leaphorn, Chee and Manuelito from the safety of Navajo Nation to the gritty terrain of 1970s Los Angeles in a race against the clock to save her from an obsessive killer with ties to organized crime.
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[10/23/25 - 12:01 PM] Video: BET+ Releases Trailer for Horror Film "A Demon's Revenge" In the film, following the bloodshed in Belize, Peaches, played by Jhoné Lucas, delves deeper into Caribbean folklore and the terrifying truth that lurks beneath.
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[10/23/25 - 12:00 PM] FOX Entertainment Acquires Equity Stake in Chain, Forging Strategic Partnership with Experiential Food Phenomenon Co-Founded by B.J. Novak Included in the investment is a first look development deal through Chain Media.
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