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)





[08/12/25 - 11:01 AM]
Netflix and Kevin Hart Team Up to Find America's Next Funniest Comedian in New Comedy Competition Coming in 2026
Guided by Kevin Hart and a crew of comedy titans (TBA at a later date), this unfiltered, uncensored and unapologetic competition will pull back the curtain on the gritty, hilarious and often unpredictable path of a stand-up career.

[08/12/25 - 10:02 AM]
Video: Official "Karen Pirie" Season Two Trailer Reveals October 2 Premiere on BritBox
The series returns Thursday, October 2 to the streaming service.

[08/12/25 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "With Love, Meghan" - Season 2 Official Trailer - Netflix
From the kitchen to the garden, discover new cooking, hosting and DIY craft ideas as Meghan welcomes friends and famous guests in stunning California.

[08/12/25 - 09:36 AM]
USA Network and Golf Channel to Present USGA Championships Through 2032
As part of the agreement, USA Network will present roughly 35 hours of live U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open coverage each year.

[08/12/25 - 09:31 AM]
NBCUniversal, USGA Extend Media Rights Agreement Through 2032
NBC will be the exclusive broadcast home of the U.S. Open, U.S. Women's Open and U.S. Senior Open.

[08/12/25 - 09:03 AM]
Video: Trailer & Key Art Debut - Hulu's "Only Murders in the Building" Season Five
The Emmy Award-nominated series returns Tuesday, September 9 with three episodes.

[08/12/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Unknown Number: The High School Catfish" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Vulgar, taunting texts blow up the phones of a teen and her boyfriend. Who's sending them - and why? This twisty documentary reveals the shocking answer.

[08/12/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Lego Disney Princess: Villains Unite" - Official Trailer - Available on Disney+ August 25
After Ariel, Moana, Tiana, Rapunzel, and Snow White thwarted Gaston's plan to take over all of their kingdoms, he calls upon Ursula, Jafar, and the Evil Queen to help take the Princesses down once and for all.

[08/12/25 - 09:00 AM]
Sink Your Teeth Into the Series Premiere of "Vampirina: Teenage Vampire," Debuting Sept. 12 on Disney Channel; All Episodes Streaming Oct. 15 on Disney+
"Vampirina: Teenage Vampire" tells the story of a tween vampire girl who leaves the safety of Transylvania to attend a performing arts boarding school.

[08/12/25 - 08:59 AM]
Nickelodeon Celebrates 25 Years of Beloved Explorer Dora This Week
Nickelodeon and Paramount+ are celebrating 25 years of their globally beloved Dora franchise with a special birthday-themed episode of "Dora" set to premiere on Friday, August 15.

[08/12/25 - 08:31 AM]
Video: "The Home Team: NY Jets" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
The six-part series premieres August 21 on Prime Video.

[08/12/25 - 08:23 AM]
Hosted by NFL Network's Kyle Brandt, "NFL Classics: After Further Review" Premieres Sept. 3 on Vice TV
In each hour-long episode, the series reexamines one of the NFL's most unforgettable games - this time through the eyes of the players who lived it and the die-hard celebrity fans who can't forget it.

[08/12/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: BET+ Original Series - "Zatima" Season 4 Trailer
The new season premieres Thursday, September 11 on the streaming service.

[08/12/25 - 08:00 AM]
HBO Original Drama Series "Task" Debuts September 7
Set in the working-class suburbs of Philadelphia, an FBI agent (Mark Ruffalo) heads a Task Force to put an end to a string of violent robberies led by an unsuspecting family man (Tom Pelphrey).

[08/12/25 - 07:44 AM]
August 10 Edition of ESPN "Sunday Night Baseball Presented by Capital One" Draws Nearly Two Million Viewers for Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals Game
The audience peaked with 2,115,000 viewers at 9:15 p.m. ET.