or


[05/17/05 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: May 16-17
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!

CELEBRITY JUSTICE (Syndication) - Telepictures has reportedly pulled the plug on the half-hour syndicated newsmagazine, which focuses on the legal troubles of celebrities. The show averaged a paltry 0.9 household rating for the week ending on April 24, a dip of 31% in year-to-year comparisons. The news comes in spite of executive producer Harvey Levin's various cable appearances as part of Michael Jackson trial coverage. Production however is expected to continue through the end of the 2004-05 season.

E! SUMMER ORIGINAL SERIES (E!) - The cable channel has announced it plans to debut five new original series this summer as well as a revival of its one-time late-night staple "Wild On!" Two newcomers will launch next month: "Fight for Fame" (Sundays at 10:00/9:00c beginning June 5), in which five aspiring actors compete for the chance to sign with a major talent agency, and "Party at The Palms" (Wednesdays at 10:00/9:00c starting June 15), a weekly look at the nightlife at the famed Las Vegas casino. In July, look for "Kill Reality," a behind-the-scenes look at New Line Cinema's upcoming horror film "The Scorned," the cast of which includes several former reality TV stars. And in August, E! will launch "Cattle Drive," a "Simple Life"-esque series in which the children of the rich and famous (including the kids of Yahoo! CEO Terry Semel and rocker Pat Benatar) are sent to work a cattle drive and "The Girls Next Door," an eight-part series chronicling the lives of Hugh Hefner's girlfriends at the Playboy Mansion. As for "Wild On," Tara Reid is in negotiations to host the 13-episode revival however no firm premiere date has been set.

RUN'S HOUSE (MTV) - The cable channel is moving forward with its latest "follow the celebrity" reality series, this time focusing on former Run-DMC member Reverend Run. Said project, which will bow in the fourth quarter of this year, will track Run (real name: Joey Simmons) as he juggles family life and records his first solo album. Sean "P. Diddy" Combs and his Bad Boys Entertainment banner is behind the project, which was originally announced back in March (read the story). It's not clear how many episodes will be shot.

SCARLETT (Lifetime) - Executive producers Robert Hewitt Wolfe and Hans Beimler confirmed to TrekToday.com that Lifetime has given a cast-contingent pilot order to the drama project, about an Anne Rice-esque gothic horror writer who after moving into an old mansion in New Orleans finds her fictional characters are starting to come to life. "What this means is that as soon as we find ourselves an amazing female lead, we'll officially be in pre-production," Wolfe told TrekToday. "Shooting will follow in ten or so weeks from then. So if you know any terrific late-20s, early-30s actresses who want to move to New Orleans for a five year run on a super cool gothic/romance/thriller, let us know." To read the original report, click here.

UNSCRIPTED (HBO) - A spokesperson for the pay channel confirmed to Mediaweek on Monday the series will not return for a second season. "It was a fun, experimental show that ran its course," said the source. The news marks Section Eight's (Steven Soderbergh and George Clooney's production company) second cancellation by HBO in as many years ("K Street" being the other). The series wrapped its 10-episode run in February. Click here to read the original report.

VENUS & SERENA: FOR REAL (ABC Family) - The cable channel's reality entry about the everyday lives of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams has been slated to premiere Thursday, July 21 at 10:00/9:00c. ABC Family has committed to six half-hour episodes of the series.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [may 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· CELEBRITY JUSTICE (SYNDICATION)
· FIGHT FOR FAME (E)
· FILTY RICH: CATTLE DRIVE (E)
· GIRLS NEXT DOOR, THE (E)
· K STREET (HBO)
· KILL REALITY (E)
· PARTY AT THE PALMS (E)
· RUN'S HOUSE (MTV)
· SCARLETT (LIFETIME)
· SIMPLE LIFE, THE (E)
· UNSCRIPTED (HBO)
· VENUS & SERENA: FOR REAL (ABC FAMILY)





[07/22/25 - 09:09 AM]
Bravo's "The Valley" Three-Part Reunion Begins Tuesday, July 29 at 8 P.M. ET/PT
Andy Cohen hosts the inaugural sit down with former couples, current frenemies and potential future friends attempt to put the past behind them for the sake of their longstanding relationships.

[07/22/25 - 09:00 AM]
Video: Trailer & Key Art - "Ted Bundy: Dialogue with The Devil"
The A+E Factual Studios Group series debuts on August 7 with all episodes available at launch, streaming only on Hulu.

[07/22/25 - 08:31 AM]
Video: "Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Former contestants and producers reveal the intense, damaging reality behind the success of "The Biggest Loser" in this provocative documentary series.

[07/22/25 - 08:29 AM]
Video: Prime Video Unveils the Trailer, Key Art, and Premiere Date for "Betty la Fea: La Historia Continua" Season 2
With the stellar return of Ana María Orozco and Jorge Enrique Abello alongside much of the original cast, the second season will unfold across 10 episodes, released two episodes per week.

[07/22/25 - 08:04 AM]
ESPN, ABC and Disney+ Score Historic Viewership for 2025 WNBA All-Star Events
The Skills Challenge & 3-Point Contest and the WNBA All-Star Game averaged 1.3 million viewers and 2.2 million viewers, respectively.

[07/22/25 - 08:01 AM]
Apple's Acclaimed Comedy "Loot" to Return for Season Three on October 15, 2025
The 10-episode third season of "Loot" will debut globally with the first two episodes on Wednesday, October 15 on Apple TV+, followed by one new episode every Wednesday through December 10.

[07/22/25 - 08:00 AM]
Video: Trailer and Key Art Debut - "Dope Girls"
The six-part period drama premieres Tuesday, July 29, streaming exclusively in the U.S. on Hulu.

[07/22/25 - 07:15 AM]
The King Rules on AXS TV in the Elvis Week Tribute, Airing All Week Starting Monday, August 11, Daily at 4P ET
Elvis Week swings into action on August 11, with Elvis Presley as a young serviceman who wagers he can woo a hard-to-get dancer in the 1960 favorite "G.I. Blues."

[07/22/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Rivers of Fate" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When a teen is kidnapped by a sex trafficking ring, a river pirate and a fierce mother embark on separate quests to find her - until their paths cross.

[07/22/25 - 06:31 AM]
Video: Stop-Motion Series "Pokemon Concierge" Unveils Heartwarming Trailer for New Episodes Returning September 4
Welcome back to Pokémon Resort! Join Haru as she pampers more guests, mentors new staff and grows as a reliable concierge with Psyduck by her side.

[07/22/25 - 01:01 AM]
Video: "Fatal Seduction" Season 2 - Official Trailer - Netflix
Vilakazi's desire to keep his sinister secrets hidden forces Nandi to reunite with old foes and spurned lovers - all to shield her daughter from danger.

[07/21/25 - 04:00 PM]
Video: First Look at "Doc" Season 2 Premiering Sept. 23 on FOX!
The second season of Doc follows powerhouse physician Dr. Amy Larsen (Molly Parker) as she continues to rebuild her life after a car crash erased eight years of her memory.

[07/21/25 - 12:05 PM]
Video: ESPN, Disney+, and Skydance Sports Announce Premiere Date and Unveil New Trailer for "The Kingdom," Debuting August 14 on ESPN, ESPN+ and Disney+
The six-episode docuseries on the Kansas City Chiefs will explore the franchise's indelible and distinctive place in the NFL's landscape for more than six decades of history while offering an exclusive, revealing chronicle of the team's extraordinary 2024 season.

[07/21/25 - 10:30 AM]
Tatiana Maslany and Jake Johnson Star in "Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed," A New Dark Comedic Thriller from David J. Rosen Coming to Apple TV+
Blackmail, murder, and youth soccer.

[07/21/25 - 10:09 AM]
ESPN's Outstanding Nielsen Viewership for First Six Months of 2025: At the Halfway Mark, ESPN has Achieved Multiple Successes Across the Board
ESPN on its own is up 4% year-over-year across the entire day (24 hours of programming) and up 9% when isolating the primetime hours (8-11 p.m. ET).