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)





[01/30/26 - 01:01 PM]
Lifetime Sets Seven All-New Thrillers Premiering Saturdays, Beginning Valentine's Day Featuring All Star Casts
Kicking off on Valentine's Day and based on a true story, is "The Dating App Killer: The Monica White Story" executive produced and directed by Elisabeth Rohm and starring NAACP Image Award winner Lela Rochon and Jarod Joseph.

[01/30/26 - 11:06 AM]
Top-Tier Pastry Chefs from Across the Country Battle for Elite Title in "The Ultimate Baking Championship" on Food Network
In each episode, host Jesse Palmer tests the competitors on the core techniques that outstanding pastry chefs must master, from laminated dough and pâte à choux to chocolate work and sugar artistry.

[01/30/26 - 10:12 AM]
Prime Video's "God of War" from Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios Announces Three New Cast Members
Alastair Duncan, Jeff Gulka, and Danny Woodburn are among the latest additions.

[01/30/26 - 10:11 AM]
HBO Renews Original Late-Night Comedy Series "It's Florida, Man." for a Third Season
From Rough House Pictures, this outrageous late-night comedy series brings to life unbelievable ripped-from-the-headlines tales of the Sunshine State - straight from the people who live there.

[01/30/26 - 10:11 AM]
"20/20" Ranks No. 1 in the Two-Hour Time Period Across the Board Versus CBS and NBC
"20/20" posted across-the-board gains week to week: Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49, hitting 9-week highs in both key Adult demos.

[01/30/26 - 10:03 AM]
Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Potomac" Three-Part Reunion Begins Sunday, Feb. 15 at 8 P.M. ET/PT
Host Andy Cohen sits down with Gizelle Bryant, Ashley Darby, Wendy Osefo, Stacey Rusch, Keiarna Stewart, Tia Glover, Angel Massie and friends Monique Samuels and Jassi Rideaux to discuss the biggest moments of their milestone season 10.

[01/30/26 - 07:01 AM]
Apple's Neo-Noir Detective Story "Sugar" Set to Return for Season Two on June 19
The eight-episode second season of "Sugar" will make its global return on Friday, June 19 on Apple TV with one episode, followed by one new episode weekly, every Friday through August 7.

[01/30/26 - 06:20 AM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 in Total Viewers
"Nightline" was also up year to year in Total Viewers for the week of January 19.

[01/30/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "In the Mud" Season 2 - Official Trailer - Netflix
Five female prisoners forge a unique bond after a deadly accident... until corruption and turf wars within a ruthless prison threaten to destroy them.

[01/30/26 - 12:16 AM]
The Danish Crime Series "The Asset" Returns for a Second Season
The second season brings back returning cast members Clara Dessau, Maria Cordsen, Afshin Firouzi, and Nicolas Bro, among others, who will encounter their greatest challenges yet in the fight for survival and justice.

[01/30/26 - 12:01 AM]
Video: "The Museum of Innocence" - Official Trailer - Netflix
In 1970s Istanbul, a man's forbidden love for a shop-girl evolves into a lifelong journey of obsession and longing. Based on Orhan Pamuk's iconic novel.

[01/29/26 - 07:02 PM]
NBC Comedy Pilot Orders: "Newlyweds" & "Untitled Lizer, Lynch and Sagal Pilot"
Gail Lerner is behind the former; while Kari Lizer is behind the latter, which stars Jane Lynch and Katey Sagal.

[01/29/26 - 12:56 PM]
"Dirty Rotten Scandals" Premieres Wednesday, March 4 at 9PM ET/PT on E!
This season explores the darker side of some of America's most beloved television shows by delivering untold stories from past participants and new original reporting.

[01/29/26 - 12:19 PM]
Helena Bonham Carter, Steve Coogan, Caleb Jonte Edwards, Marissa Long, Alexander Ludwig, Chris Messina, and AJ Michalka Are Headed to "The White Lotus"
Reservations confirmed.

[01/29/26 - 12:11 PM]
Mandy Patinkin Signs on to Play Odin in Prime Video's "God of War" from Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios
Based on PlayStation's massively popular ancient mythology-themed video game, the series has received a two-season order, with pre-production underway in Vancouver, and casting has begun.