LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- The latest development news, culled from recent wire reports:
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(Note: Today's Development Update includes notes on previously unannounced cast members outlined in yesterday's story Previewing FOX's 2005-06 Season Pilots.)
AMERICAN DAD (FOX) - Co-creators Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman have inked a two-year, seven-figure overall deal with 20th Century Fox Television. The pact calls for the pair to continue in their duties on "Dad" as well as develop original animated and live-action projects for the studio. FOX so far has committed to 19 installments of "Dad" as well as eight backup scripts.
AMY COYNE (FOX) - Nicole Vicius ("All My Children") has been confirmed as a cast member of the drama pilot, about a woman (Ashley Williams) who inherits her father's sports agency following his death. She plays Liz in the project, which also stars Tom Berenger (as Mac), Kate Jennings Grant (as Kristen), Matt Bomer (as Case), Bill Bellamy (as Barry) and Phillip C. Vaden (as Dante).
BONES (FOX) - T.J. Thyne ("24"), Eric Millegan ("Law & Order: Criminal Intent") and Jonathan Adams ("American Dreams") have all been confirmed as cast members of the drama pilot, about a team of scientists that assists with murder investigations. The trio plays Dr. Hodgins, Zack and Dr. Goodman respectively. They join the previously cast Emily Deschanel as Dr. Temperance Brennan, David Boreanaz as Special Agent Seeley Booth and Michaela Conlin as Angela.
In terms of character details, Dr. Daniel Goodman is described in the casting notice as: "The head of the Smithsonian's Medico-Legal Lab, he's a daunting man who is used to getting difficult people to do precisely what he wants. He considers Brennan one of his most valuable "assets," but she is a bit rankled when he loans her out to the FBI like a piece of property. When it comes to investigations, he doesn't talk to anyone who has less than a doctorate. He has a towering intellect - but he and Brennan are evenly matched, as he soon realizes. Though neither one of them is aware of it consciously, Goodman is actually somewhat of a father-figure for Brennan, who lost her parents when she was 15 year old." No other character details were specified.
DEVIANT BEHAVIOR (FOX) - FOX has released the names of the principal characters in the drama pilot, about two detectives (Johnny Messner, Marguerite Moreau) responsible for solving San Francisco's most bizarre and twisted crimes. The pair play Detectives Graham Hale and Rachel Lyford respectively while Chi McBride is set as Lieutenant Matt Cavanaugh.
DIRTBAGS (FOX) - Balthazar Getty ("Pasadena"), Laura Bell Bundy ("Guiding Light"), Michael Mantenuto ("Miracle") and Ian Reed Kessler ("The O'Keefes") have all been cast in the Melissa Joan Hart-led comedy pilot, while Brooke D'Orsay has left the project for unspecified reasons. "Dirtbags" revolves around Kate Garabino (Hart), a suburban Boston girl who must contend with her old rival Meg (Laura Bell Bundy) when she moves back into town. Getty plays Scott, the boyfriend of Hart's character while Mantenuto is set as Shafe with Kessler as Garrigan and the previously cast Stephanie Lemelin as Missy.
DON'T ASK (FOX) - Gage Golightly ("Five Days to Midnight") and Kenny Baumann ("Consideration") have been revealed to be cast members on the single-camera comedy pilot, about a married father (Alan Ruck) of two teenage kids who announces he's gay and in love with his wife's (Kristen Johnston) shrink (Harry Van Gorkum). Golightly and Baumann will play said children, Ivy and Calvin Collins. They join the previously cast Van Gorkum (as Dr. Garret Hobart), Ruck (as Howard) and Kristen Johnston (as Suzanne).
FERTILE GROUND (A.K.A. BORN & BRED) (FOX) - The drama pilot, about the cutting-edge world of a fertility clinic, now features the title "Fertile Ground." In addition, Amanda Loncar ("Law & Order: Criminal Intent") has been cast as Whitney in the project, which also stars Joely Fisher (as Dr. Jamie Novak), Nestor Carbonell (as Gavin), Phillip Rhys (as Sunil) and Matt Letscher (as Dr. Mark Bloom).
HEAD CASES (FOX) - The network has confirmed some additional character details about the drama pilot, which revolves around superstar attorney Jason Payne (Chris O'Donnell) who has a nervous breakdown and is fired from his prestigious job. He then finds himself forming an alliance with fellow troubled lawyer Schultz (Adam Goldberg), and the unlikely duo sets out to take on the establishment. Also starring are Krista Allen as Laurie Payne, Jake Cherry as Ryan, Rachel Leigh Cook as Kate and Rockmond Dunbar as Dr. Robinson.
HITCHED (FOX) - Tommy Ford ("New York Undercover"), Rik Young ("Children of Dune") and Christopher Thornton ("Alias") have all been cast in the drama pilot, about a brother and sister Michael (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) and Emily (Leslie Bibb) run a busy 24-hour wedding emporium in the heart of Las Vegas. Dagmara Dominczyk also stars as Amber with Megalyn Echikunwoke as Christina and Tara Reid as Theresa. Ford, Young and Thornton play Gideon, Feifer and Gary respectively.
THE KING OF QUEENS (CBS) - Star Kevin James has signed a lucrative deal with CBS Productions and Sony Pictures Television to continue in his role of Doug Heffernan next season. It's understood said pact is valued at north of $500,000 per episode as well as includes a substantial commitment on the feature side from Sony. While CBS has yet to formally pick up "Queens" for the 2005-06 season, this development all but assures the show will continue to its eighth season.
KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL (FOX) - Frank Langella ("Unscripted") and John Cho ("Off Centre") have been confirmed as the remaining cast members of the single-camera comedy pilot, about once-celebrated chef Jack Bourdain (Bradley Cooper), who was exiled from the prestigious restaurant business, and is offered an opportunity to get back in the game as a head chef at a top New York restaurant. Langella plays Pino Lugeria, who's described in the cast notice as: "Late 40s-50s. An effusive, gregarious Italian man swathed in Armani, he is the owner of Bistro Pino - and he's in a bind. He's just lost his whole staff and his restaurant is booked for three hundred patrons on Friday night. Impressed with Jack's resume, he takes a gamble on the young chef, even though he knows all about Jack's less than savory past."
Cho meanwhile is set as Teddy Wong: "20s, hip, Asian, seafood chef, is lured to Bistro Pino by Jack, who promises his entire staff unlimited visas. He, too, enjoys taunting poor Jim who is just a little too upbeat." Bonnie Somerville (as Mimi), Jaime King (as Tanya), Nicholas Brendon (as Seth), Owain Yeoman (as Steven) and John F. Daley (as Jim) also star.
THE LOOP (FOX) - Eric Christian Olsen ("Tru Calling") and Joy Osmanski have both been cast in the comedy pilot, about a guy right out of college (Bret Harrison) who becomes the first among his friends to get a real job (as a Chicago-based airline's youngest executive). Olsen and Osmanski play Sully and Darcy respectively. They join the previously cast Harrison (as Sam), Phillip Baker Hall (as Russ) and Mimi Rogers (as Meryl).
MURDER BOOK (FOX) - Gina Motegna ("13 Going On 30") has been confirmed as a cast member in the drama pilot, about a team of L.A.-based cops and the beat-by-beat way they go about their business, including compiling reams of info about a case in one giant book. She plays Claire, the daughter of Josh Brolin's character (Det. Gilroy). Nester Serrano (as Lt. Reyes) and Paula Patton (as Det. Kellogg) also star.
NEW CAR SMELL (FOX) - David Walton ("Cracking Up") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about the employees of the Las Vegas Auto Square car dealership. He plays Dave in the project, which also stars Dana Daurey (as Holly), Brooke Shields (as April), Chris McDonald (as Mac), Victor Togunde (as Jamal) and David Attell (as Harry).
PEEP SHOW (FOX) - FOX has confirmed the central quartet's character names in the comedy pilot, about the disturbing minds of two roommates Mark (Johnny Galecki) and Jeremy (Josh Meyers) who form a modern-day "Odd Couple." Rachel Boston then also stars as Marsha while Alexandra Holden plays Sophie.
PRISON BREAK (FOX) - Some additional character details have emerged about the drama pilot, about a man (Wentworth Miller) who attempts to break his brother (Dominic Purcell) out of prison following his death-row conviction. Miller and Purcell play Michael and Lincoln respectively while the rest of the cast includes Amaury Nolasco as Sucre, Robin Tunney as Veronica, Sarah Wayne Callies as Dr. Tancredi, Stacey Keech as Warden Pope and Marshall Allman as L.J.
QUEEN B (FOX) - Jennifer Carpenter ("White Chicks"), Rand Holdren ("The O.C.") and Lauren Hodges ("My Guide to Becoming a Rock Star") have all been identified as cast members of the comedy pilot, while Danny DeVito (the pilot's director) will also make a cameo appearance. Alicia Silverstone stars as Bea in the project, about a girl who's always had it all and now realizes her perception of herself is not reality. Scott Holroyd (as Josh) also stars in the pilot with Carpenter as Kristen, Holdren as Patrick and Hodges as Bob.
REUNION (FOX) - The network has released the names of the central six characters of the drama pilot, which chronicles the lives of a group of friends over the course of 20 years. Alexa Davalos is set as Samantha, Sean Faris as Craig, Amanda Righetti as Jenna, Dave Annable as Aaron, Chyler Leigh as Carla and Will Estes as Will.
THE SHIELD (FX) - 3.22 million viewers watched the show's most recent original broadcast last week. Among adults 18-49, "The Shield" earned a 1.6 rating/4 share making it the most-watched scripted program on basic cable last week in both categories.
THE WAR AT HOME (FOX) - Kaylee Defer ("The Mountain"), Dean Collins ("Jack & Bobby") and Kyle Sullivan ("Malcolm in the Middle") have all been revealed as cast members of the comedy pilot, about hypocritical parents (Michael Rapaport, Anita Barone) who have lost control at home and try to regain the high ground. The trio play Dave (Rapaport) and Vicky's (Barone) children: Mike (Collins), Larry (Sullivan) and Hillary (Defer).
WINDFALL (FOX) - Jon Foster ("life as we know it"), Alice Greczyn ("Quintuplets"), Lana Parrilla ("24"), Sarah Jane Morris ("Felicity"), D.J. Cotrona ("Skin"), Jaclyn Desantis ("Luis") and Malinda Williams ("Soul Food") have all been confirmed as members of the drama pilot's ensemble cast. "Windfall" chronicles the lives of about 20 people who share a winning $386 million lottery ticket. Said cast includes Jon Foster as Damien, Alice Greczyn as Frankie, Lana Parrilla as Nina Schaefer, Luke Perry as Peter Schaefer, Jason Gedrick as Cameron Walsh, Sarah Wynter as Beth Walsh, Sarah Jane Morris as Zoe, D.J. Cotrona as Sean, Jaclyn DeSantis as Maggie, Tembi Locke as Addie and Malinda Williams as Kimberly.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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