or


[08/18/05 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: August 17-18
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!

BARBERSHOP (Showtime) - A modest 515,000 viewers tuned into Sunday's launch of Showtime's latest comedy series. Said number was off slightly from the last week's debut of "Weeds" (540,000) not to mention the series finale of "Queer as Folk" (547,000) that same night. Nevertheless like "Weeds," "Barbershop" topped the November premiere of the Emmy-nominated "Huff" (456,000) and fell short of "Fat Actress's" free preview-driven debut earlier this year (924,000).

C.S.I.: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (CBS) - Executive producer Naren Shankar has been upped to co-showrunner of the flagship member of the "C.S.I." franchise as part of a new three-year, mid-seven-figure overall deal with Paramount Network Television. The pact replaces Shankar's previous deal with the studio, which now includes a development component. As for his work on "C.S.I.," he'll share showrunning duties with Carol Mendelsohn.

THE CLOSER (TNT) - The cable drama remained cable's top draw for the week of August 8-14, where it drew 5.4 million viewers for its August 8 broadcast.

COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF (ABC) - Natasha Henstridge, who's recurring on the newcomer as Nathan Templeton's (Donald Sutherland) Chief of Staff, has signed a one-year talent holding deal with Touchstone Television. The pact calls for the studio to cast the actress in one of its upcoming pilots or develop a project around her. Henstridge spent the past development season as the female lead on the failed ABC/Touchstone drama pilot "Pros & Cons."

ENTOURAGE/SIX FEET UNDER (HBO) - Both "Entourage" and "Six Feet Under" hit season hights for their respective broadcasts on Sunday. The former actually hit a series high of 2.6 million viewers while "Six Feet Under's" penultimate episode drew a final season best 3.2 million viewers.

ER (NBC) - Scott Grimes ("Party of Five") has been upped to series regular on the veteran drama, which returns for its 12th season this fall. He'll continue in his role of Dr. Archie Morris on the series.

HEAD CASES (FOX) - Caroline Aaron ("Just Like Heaven") has scored a recurring role on the freshman drama, which bows on Wednesday, September 14 at 9:00/8:00c. She'll continue in her role from the pilot as the sympathetic mother of Adam Goldberg's character.

THE HUNT FOR THE BTK STRANGLER (CBS) - Robert Forster ("Karen Sisco"), Michael Michele ("Kevin Hill") and Gregg Henry ("Eyes") have all been cast in the Eye's upcoming docudrama about the search for convicted serial killer Dennis Rader. Henry will portray Rader, who was arrested this year after a 31-year killing spree in Wichita, Kansas, with Forster and Michele as local detectives who work to solve the case. Frank Von Zerneck and Robert Sertner are behind the project, which is set to air on Sunday, October 9 at 9:00/8:00c.

FOR THE LOVE A CHILD (Lifetime, New!) - Teri Polo ("I'm With Her") and Peri Gilpin ("Frasier") have been tapped to star in one of Lifetime's upcoming originals, about the true story of Nobel Peace Prize nominees Yvonne Fedderson and Sara O'Meara who together founded the nonprofit organization Childhelp U.S.A., a refuge for abandoned and abused kids. The project, which is based on their book "Silence Broken," tracks their experiences as young actresses entertaining American troops in 1959 Japan where they befriended 11 homeless orphans and found their calling. Doug Barr ("Confessions of an American Bride") is on board to direct the telefilm from an adaptation by Duane Poole ("Angel in the Family"). O'Meara and Fedderson are also executive producing through their Dog Run Productions along with Craig Anderson and Jill Canaparo of First Light Productions. Lifetime is targeting a January bow for the project.

HUFF (Showtime) - Christopher Marquette ("Joan of Arcadia") is set to appear in two upcoming episodes of the Showtime series. He'll play a mysterious teenage friend of Anton Yelchin's character.

A MAN WHO BECAME POPE (Hallmark) - 1.4 million viewers on averaged tuned into the U.S. premiere of the four-hour mini-series on Monday, a weeknight record for the cable channel.

MY SUPER SWEET 16 (MTV) - Season two of the popular MTV series opened to 3.59 million viewers on Monday, including a 4.0 rating among viewers 12-34 and a whopping 30 share among female teens. Said demo numbers were the best among all networks - broadcast and cable - in the Monday, 10:30/9:30c half hour.

OVER THERE (FX) - 2.50 million viewers tuned into the show's August 10 broadcast, on par with its numbers from the previous week (2.56 million). Nevertheless, said viewership remains 38.42% down from its July 27 premiere (4.06 million).

PROJECT RUNWAY (Bravo) - The show's second season reportedly is set to launch on Wednesday, December 7 (exact time TBA).

THE REAL WORLD (MTV) - The cable channel's signature reality series continued to impress last week, scoring 3.98 million viewers for its August 9 episode including a 1.9 rating/5 share among adults 18-49. Overall, "The Real World" finished the week of August 8-14 as the 10th most-watched program on cable.

SOUTH BEACH (UPN) - Michael Pare ("Starhunter") has joined the cast of the midseason drama. It's understood that he'll play the father of one of the male leads (Marcus Coloma, Chris Johnson).

USA ORIGINAL SERIES (USA) - "Monk's" August 12 and "The 4,400's" August 14 broadcasts finished among the top 15 of all cable series for the week of August 8-14. The former drew 4.4 million viewers (fourth overall) while the latter saw 3.4 million (14th overall) tuning in.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [august 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· 4400, THE (USA)
· ANGEL IN THE FAMILY (HALLMARK)
· BARBERSHOP (SHOWTIME)
· CLOSER, THE (TNT)
· COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF (ABC)
· CONFESSIONS OF AN AMERICAN BRIDE (LIFETIME)
· CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (CBS)
· ENTOURAGE (HBO)
· ER (NBC)
· EYES (ABC)
· FAT ACTRESS (SHOWTIME)
· FOR THE LOVE OF A CHILD (LIFETIME)
· FRASIER (NBC)
· HEAD CASES (FOX)
· HUFF (SHOWTIME)
· HUNT FOR THE BTK KILLER, THE (CBS)
· I'M WITH HER (ABC)
· JOAN OF ARCADIA (CBS)
· KAREN SISCO (ABC)
· KAROL: A MAN WHO BECAME POPE (HALLMARK)
· KEVIN HILL (UPN)
· MONK (USA)
· MY SUPER SWEET 16 (MTV)
· OVER THERE (FX)
· PARTY OF FIVE (FOX)
· PROJECT RUNWAY (FREEFORM)
· PROS & CONS (ABC)
· QUEER AS FOLK (SHOWTIME)
· REAL WORLD, THE (FACEBOOK)
· SIX FEET UNDER (HBO)
· SOUTH BEACH (UPN)
· STARHUNTER (SYNDICATION)
· WEEDS (SHOWTIME)





[05/28/25 - 01:01 PM]
Peacock Unveils Cunning, Cutthroat and Chaotic New Cast of "House of Villains" Season Three, Premiering Early 2026
Production begins this week as the villains return to the iconic house from seasons one and two.

[05/28/25 - 12:04 PM]
Garcelle Beauvais Extends Partnership with Lifetime to Executive Produce and Star in Two New Original Movies
On tap are "Taken at a Truck Stop: A Black Girl Missing Movie," an emotionally charged thriller and continuation of the "Black Girl Missing" franchise, and "Terry McMillan Presents: Tempted 2 Love," the highly anticipated sequel to the hit romance that captivated viewers last year.

[05/28/25 - 11:35 AM]
"The American Music Awards" Hosted by Jennifer Lopez Posts Largest Audience Since 2019
The live broadcast delivered 4.73 million viewers, up +34% from its last live broadcast in 2022 (airing November 20, 2022, on ABC).

[05/28/25 - 10:19 AM]
ESPN's "Sunday Night Baseball" Averaged 1.7 Million Viewers for NLCS Rematch Featuring Los Angeles Dodgers vs New York Mets
Said telecast was up 11% versus last year's "Sunday Night Baseball" average.

[05/28/25 - 09:06 AM]
Apple's "The Morning Show" Returns for Season Four on Wednesday, September 17
Season four of "The Morning Show" opens in spring 2024, almost two years after the events of season three.

[05/28/25 - 09:03 AM]
FX's "Welcome to Wrexham" Scores Season Five Order
Also revealed today were new details about FX and Disney+ Latin America's "Necaxa," a new docuseries from Eva Longoria in partnership with Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, the three of whom are all investors in Aguascalientes, Mexico-based Club Necaxa.

[05/28/25 - 09:01 AM]
Netflix's "Leanne" Starring Leanne Morgan and from Co-Creator Chuck Lorre - First Look & Date Announcement
All 16 episodes will premiere globally on July 31.

[05/28/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Trailer & Key Art Debut - "The Kollective" (Only on Hulu)
Taking audiences around the world from Budapest to St. Petersburg to London, "The Kollective" is a gripping thriller about a group of intrepid young citizen journalists who, after a sudden tragedy, find themselves sucked into a globe-spanning web of government lies and corruption.

[05/28/25 - 09:00 AM]
First-Time Tony Nominee Darren Criss and Tony Award Winner Renee Elise Goldsberry to Host "The Tony Awards: Act One"
The live pre-show with exclusive content is available to viewers for free on Pluto TV - the leading free streaming television service - beginning Sunday, June 8 at 6:40-8:00 PM, ET/3:40-5:00 PM, PT.

[05/28/25 - 09:00 AM]
Video: Prime Video Drops a Gripping Trailer and Official Key Art for "Countdown," Starring Jensen Ackles, Eric Dane & Jessica Camacho
The pulse-pounding series will debut exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide on Wednesday, June 25, with a three-episode premiere.

[05/28/25 - 08:11 AM]
TLC's "Match Me Abroad" Returns for a Second Season Beginning June 22
The series returns for a second season, following six American singles who take a bold step to find love across international borders.

[05/28/25 - 08:01 AM]
"The Gentlemen" Season 2 Announces Cast as Filming Begins
Joining the cast for season two will be Hugh Bonneville, Benjamin Clementine, Benedetta Porcaroli, Michele Morrone, Sergio Castellito, Amra Mallassi, Tyler Conti, British professional boxer Chris Eubank Jr and TV host, DJ and entrepreneur Maya Jama.

[05/28/25 - 08:01 AM]
Nicole Curtis Rescues Neglected Historic Homes In Detroit and Wyoming in a New Season of HGTV's "Rehab Addict" Premiering Tuesday, June 24, at 9 p.m. ET/PT
Across the fresh four episodes, she will embark on one of her biggest challenges yet - fighting to save two derelict properties that are 1,500 miles apart.

[05/28/25 - 07:52 AM]
Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix Telecast on ABC Attracts Largest Live Audience Ever for Iconic Event
The audience broke the event's record viewership of 2.0 million that watched last year's race, with viewership peaking at 2.6 million during the 10:30-10:45 a.m. quarter hour.

[05/28/25 - 07:10 AM]
Video: Apple TV+ Unveils Trailer for "Smoke," Gripping New Crime Drama from Creator Dennis Lehane Debuting June 27, 2025
"Smoke" follows an arson investigator who begrudgingly teams up with a police detective as their race to stop two arsonists ignites a twisted game of secrets and suspicions.