or


[08/05/05 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: August 4-5
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!

BETHESDA (New!) - Writer/producers Patrick Massett and John Zinman ("Veritas: The Quest") have pacted with Imagine Television ("24") for a new medical drama set at the famed naval hospital. While firm details weren't released, it's understood the series will explore the lives of doctors as they deal with fallout from political and military actions. Imagine most likely will begin pitching the various broadcast networks in the coming weeks.

FREDDIE (ABC) - Madchen Amick ("Jake in Progress") has joined the cast of the Alphabet's freshman comedy. She'll take over for Megyn Price in the role of Allison, the sister-in-law of Freddie Prinze Jr.'s character. No reason was given for Price's recasting. "Freddie" premieres Wednesday, October 5 at 8:30/7:30c on ABC.

KIDNAPPED (NBC) - "Karen Sisco" alums Jason Smilovic and Michael Dinner are set to team with Sarah Timberman's Sony Pictures Television-based 25C Productions (CBS's "Conviction") for a new serialized drama at NBC, which will track the story of a kidnapping over the course of an entire season (a la "24"). The project, which was previously in the works at FOX (read the story), has been given a put pilot commitment by the Peacock. Smilovic will write the pilot script with Dinner most likely directing and the pair executive producing with 25C's Timberman and Carl Beverly.

THE LAST GENERATION (NBC, New!) - Steffan Postaer's book of the same name is on track to be the focus of a new drama series at NBC from Touchstone Television and Mike Medavoy's Phoenix Pictures. The project, which screenwriter Mikko Alanne will adapt for the small screen, revolves around a vision of the near future in which humans can no longer reproduce. Should it go forward, the series would mark Medavoy's first foray into television. He'll most likely executive produce alongside Brad Fischer, also of Phoenix Pictures.

NOTORIOUS (NBC) - Tori Spelling's failed NBC comedy pilot is reportedly close to a revival at VH1. It's understood the cable channel is in talks to order eight episodes of the series, a comedic take on Spelling's real-life experiences as a privileged Hollywood daughter trying to lead a normal life. Spelling herself co-created and executive produced the pilot with writer/producers Chris Alberghini and Mike Chessler ("Whoopi"). VH1 will produce the series - marking its first scripted effort since the short-lived 2001 anthology series "Strange Frequency" - where it will take over for NBC Universal Television. "noTORIous," which is set to begin production in Los Angeles shortly for an early 2006 premiere, also stars Loni Anderson, Zachary Quinto, Danielle Nicolet and James Carpinello.

NUMB3RS (CBS) - Diane Farr ("Rescue Me") has joined the cast of the drama series, which returns for its second season this fall. She'll play Special Agent Megan Reeves, a Quantico grad assigned to Don Eppes's (Rob Morrow) unit in the Los Angeles F.B.I. office. It's understood she'll initially be listed as a guest star before becoming a permanent fixture on the show. Farr's casting undoubtedly is meant to fill the void left by Sabrina Lloyd, who exited the series shortly before its freshman run concluded. As for Farr's duties on "Rescue Me," it's not clear how her character will be written out of the series following her duties on its second season.

OVER THERE (FX) - The second week of the military drama was seen by 2.56 million viewers, a surprising 37% dip from its stellar premiere numbers last week (4.06 million). Among adults 18-49, "Over There" fell a similar 33% from its debut (1.2/3 vs. 1.8/5). Nevertheless, said numbers in the key demographic were the best of all basic cable series on the night.

THAT '70S SHOW (FOX) - Carsey-Werner Co.'s Tom Werner and Mosaic Media Group's Eric Gold and Jimmy Miller have banded together to form Werner-Gold-Miller, signing a two-year development and production deal with Warner Bros. Television in the process. The news comes within months of Carsey-Werner's decision to withdraw from active TV development. In addition, writer/producers Jeff and Jackie Filgo ("That '70s Show") will go with Werner to the new banner, having previously been set up at Carsey-Werner, while the WB's Mike Clements has been brought in to run the new company's day-to-day operations. As for Gold and Miller, the pair will continue to manage their impressive client list - which includes Will Ferrell, Judd Apatow, Ellen DeGeneres, Chris Rock, Judd Apatow, Jay Roach and Sacha Baron Cohen.

UNTITLED JON FAVREAU/FAISON LOVE PROJECT (FOX, New!) - Actor-turned-director Jon Favreau ("Elf") has booked a new comedy at FOX starring "Elf's" Faison Love. The project, which is in talks to be set at 20th Century Fox Television, features Love as a New York-based subway token collector in the newly gentrified Harlem neighborhood. Favreau will co-write the pilot script and possibly direct should his schedule permit. While not yet greenlighted, FOX has given the project a script order with a small penalty attached if it doesn't go to pilot.

UNTITLED RICHARD LAGRAVANESE/MARIE WEISS PROJECT (NBC, New!) - Feature writers Richard LaGravanese ("Living Out Loud") and Marie Weiss ("The Ref") are reportedly close to landing an untitled project at the Peacock. No details were given about the project other than it is set up at Sarah Timberman's Sony Pictures Television-based 25C Productions.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [august 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· 24 (FOX)
· CONVICTION (CBS)
· FREDDIE (ABC)
· JAKE IN PROGRESS (ABC)
· KAREN SISCO (ABC)
· KIDNAPPED (NBC)
· LAST GENERATION, THE (NBC)
· NUMB3RS (CBS)
· OVER THERE (FX)
· RESCUE ME (FX)
· SO NOTORIOUS (VH1)
· STRANGE FREQUENCY (VH1)
· THAT '70S SHOW (FOX)
· UNTITLED FAVREAU & LOVE PROJECT (FOX)
· UNTITLED LAGRAVANESE & WEISS PROJECT (NBC)
· VERITAS: THE QUEST (ABC)
· WHOOPI (NBC)





[05/22/13 - 05:08 PM]
Tuesday's Cable Ratings: NBA Draft Lottery, Playoffs Keep ESPN on Top
Plus: numbers for CNBC's "Crowd Rules," VH1's "I'm Married to a..." and Syfy's "Weird or What?"

[05/22/13 - 04:58 PM]
Oxygen Delivers Best Night In Network History Among All Key Demos
Oxygen spins the numbers for Tuesday, May 21.

[05/22/13 - 04:57 PM]
Exclusive: USA to Open "Summer Camp" on Thursday, July 11
The new reality series will air at 8:00/7:00c followed by "Burn Notice" and "Graceland."

[05/22/13 - 02:29 PM]
BBC America Summer Preview - "Copper," "Luther," "Broadchurch," "In the Flesh," "Bang Goes The Theory," "Top Gear," "Being Human," "Dangerman: The Incredible Mr. Goodwin"
Newly announced dates include "Broadchurch" (August 7) and "Luther" (September 3).

[05/22/13 - 02:18 PM]
Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch" Is the #1 Tuesday Primetime Program in Cable for Men 25-54 for Six Consecutive Weeks
Discovery spins the numbers for Tuesday, May 21.

[05/22/13 - 02:15 PM]
Video: CBS News Reveals Opening Sequence for New Six-Part Documentary Series "Brooklyn DA"
The summer entry will premiere Tuesday, May 28 at 10:00/9:00c on the network.

[05/22/13 - 01:17 PM]
Showtime(R) Confirms Guest Stars for Upcoming Third Season of "Homeland"
Joanna Merlin, Nazanin Boniadi, Nazanin Boniadi, Gary Wilmes and Gary Wilmes are among those on tap.

[05/22/13 - 01:17 PM]
Chiller Presents First-Ever Anthology Film - "Chilling Visions: 5 Senses of Fear" Premieres Friday, May 31 at 9 PM
Nick Everhart, Miko Hughes, Miko Hughes, Eric England, Jesse Holland and Andy Mitton are among the directors.

[05/22/13 - 01:11 PM]
David Janollari Signs First-Look Development Deal with NBC Entertainment
Janollari was most recently Head of Programming at MTV and prior to that was President of the WB Network.

[05/22/13 - 01:00 PM]
CBS Orders Single-Camera Comedy "Bad Teacher" for 2013-2014 Season
Based on the hit feature film, Ari Graynor stars as "an always inappropriate, fearless and unapologetic former trophy wife who masquerades as a teacher in order to find a new man."

[05/22/13 - 12:34 PM]
CMT to Debut Special Fan Edition Episodes of "Dog and Beth: On the Hunt" Beginning Sunday, May 26
The "Dog-a-thon" of specially-created fan edition episodes will air on Sunday, May 26 from 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. ET/PT.

[05/22/13 - 12:27 PM]
"Style Pop" Premieres Live Thursday, June 6 at 8PM ET on Style
Each week, a rotating panel of fashion experts will join hosts Jeannie Mai and Louise Roe to dish on all things buzzworthy.

[05/22/13 - 12:16 PM]
ABC Family Launches User-Generated Campaign You Should Know This About Me to Capture the Authentic Voices of the Millenial Generation
The top two winners will each be awarded a $10,000 cash prize.

[05/22/13 - 12:00 PM]
William Baldwin Joins BBC America's "Copper"
Also joining Baldwin at the end of the season is Lindy Booth.

[05/22/13 - 11:15 AM]
Lifetime Original Movie "Anna Nicole" to Premiere June 29
Agnes Bruckner, Martin Landau, Virginia Madsen, Adam Goldberg and Cary Elwes star in the project.