or


[12/09/05 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: December 8-9
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!

BECOMING GLEN (FOX) - Ricky Blitt's failed 2002 FOX single-camera comedy pilot is on track for a resurrection as CBS, NBC and FOX are said to be bidding on a reworked version of the project, about a successful fortysomething man who looks back at 1994, when he was a 32-year-old slacker (Johnny Galecki) living with his parents and spending all his time lying on the couch watching TV. Said development is said to be the result of the addition of "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane to the project, which will be reworked as a multi-camera version. Original producer 20th Century Fox Television will remain on board the new version, which is expected to fetch a pilot order with a series penalty.

BLACK, WHITE (A.K.A. UNTITLED R.J. CULTER PROJECT)/THIEF (FX) - The cable channel has confirmed both series are on track for a March launch. The former is a six-part documentary series about two families - the Sparkses, a black family from Atlanta, and the Wurgels, a Caucasian family from Santa Monica, California - who share a home in Tarzana, California, during which Oscar-nominated makeup effects artist Keith VanderLaan makes the Sparks family appear white and the Wurgels appear black. R.J. Cutler ("30 Days") produces the series along with Ice Cube's Cube Vision Productions. As for "Thief," the six-part drama focuses on a team of robbers during a period of dangerous personal and professional crisis. The ensemble cast includes Yancey Arias, Andre Braugher, Clifton Collins Jr., Linda Hamilton, Dina Meyer, Michael Rooker, Mae Whitman and Malik Yoba. Norman Morrill ("The Visitor") is behind the series, a co-production of Fox Television Studios, Regency TV and Pariah Television.

THE BOGEYMAN (NBC, New!) - The Peacock has given a script order to a new drama about an expert in "deprogramming" people. Said project, which would track said expert as he/she works to help people who have been brainwashed - such as victims of cults posing as religious organizations, members of terrorist organizations and women abused by their husbands, is set up at NBC Universal Television and Tony Krantz's Flame Television, with Erik Jendresen attached to write the pilot script. Rick Ross, who has worked as a deprogrammer since 1982, is on board as a consultant.

BOSTON LEGAL (ABC) - Lisa Vidal ("The Division") is set to appear in a multi-episode arc on the sophomore drama. She'll play a woman running a women's shelter who gets involved with James Spader's character. It's not clear when her first episode will air.

C.S.I.: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (CBS) - Franchise creator Anthony Zuiker has inked a massive three-year, eight-figure overall production deal with Paramount Network Television. The pact calls for Zuiker to continue in his executive producer role on all three "C.S.I." series, including showrunner of the "New York" edition. Zuiker's current deal was set to expire in February. Alliance Atlantis, which produces the "C.S.I." franchise with Paramount, however won't be involved with Zuiker's new deal.

CHEYENNE/THERE & BACK (MTV) - The cable channel is moving forward with two of its projects originally announced over the summer (read the story): "There & Back," about former O-Town member Ashley Parker Angel as he attempts to make it as a solo act while broke and anticipating the birth of his first child; and "Cheyenne," about newcomer Cheyenne Kimball, winner of NBC's short-lived "America's Most Talented Kid" series, as she sets out to produce her first album and her family's move from Frisco, Texas, to Hollywood. The former project will premiere Monday, January 9 at 10:30/9:30c with Lois Curren, Matt Anderson, Melanie Graham and Larry Rudolph executive producing along with creator Rod Aissa. No launch date and producing details however were given for "Cheyenne."

THE DRESDEN FILES (Sci Fi) - Valerie Cruz ("Nip/Tuck") has been cast in the two-hour backdoor pilot movie, about occult investigator Harry Dresden (Paul Blackthorne). She'll play a hard-nosed Chicago police detective who handles violent crimes and works side by side with Dresden.

FREE BIRDS/THAT '70S SHOW (FOX) - Lara Everly ("Tenacious D in: The Pick of Destiny") has booked recurring roles on both FOX series. In the latter she'll play the girlfriend of Wilmer Valderrama's Fez character who who moves in with him and Jackie. As for "Free Birds," she'll play an unspecified character on the partially improvised series, which bows sometime next year. "Free Birds" stars Josh Dean as a college grad who's forced to return to his small Midwestern hometown and move back in with his parents. Erin Cahill and Dave Sheridan also star.

HEROES (NBC, New!) - "Crossing Jordan" creator/executive producer Tim Kring has set up a pair of projects as part of his two-year overall deal at NBC Universal Television. "Heroes," which is described as a reality-bending, large ensemble drama about a group of seemingly everyday people who discover that they have superpowers, has scored a script order at NBC while an unspecified drama has been set up at CBS. Kring will write and executive produce the former while Buzz Bissinger, author of "Friday Night Lights" and "Shattered Glass," is behind the latter with Kring executive producing.

SEX, POWER, LOVE & POLITICS (CBS, New!) - Writer/producer Greg Malins ("Will & Grace") has set up a new multi-camera comedy at the Eye and Sony Pictures Television about four underachieving staffers in their mid-30s who work on Capitol Hill. It's understood "Sex" was the subject of a bidding war between CBS, ABC and FOX with the former obviously landing the project. As for specifics, "Sex" will track the quartet, all of whom live next to each other, as they juggle their political work and personal lives, as well as socialize at the neighborhood bar.

SURVIVOR (CBS) - Host Jeff Probst has inked a two-year deal with CBS and Mark Burnett Productions to continue in his duties on the series through its 16th edition (or the 2007-08 season). Probst's contract had been set to expire following the 12th edition, which begins airing early next year. No financial details were specified.

UNTITLED KAREN STILLMAN PROJECT (FOX, New!) - Bob Cooper's Landscape Entertainment ("Medical Investigation") has inked a one-year development deal with the network. Said pact, financial details of which weren't specified, calls for Landscape to develop two scripts for FOX, with at least one guaranteed a pilot order. In addition, Fox TV Studios will co-produce any resulting series from the deal. The first project developed as part of the pact is a drama about a sex therapist. Karen Stillman (VH1's "They Shoot Divas, Don't They?") is behind the hour with Cooper and Jeff Sagansky executive producing.

UNTITLED SECTION EIGHT NBA PROJECT (HBO, New!) - George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh's Section Eight banner ("Unscripted," "K Street") is set to team with NBA Entertainment and Maloof Television for a new unscripted comedy series set in the world of basketball. Said project would tell the story of a fictional NBA expansion team through the eyes of a coach, a cheerleader, a seasoned player and a rookie. And like Section Eight's previous efforts, the untitled half-hour will mix fictional and real-life elements. It's understood former Los Angeles Lakers center Vlade Divac is in talks to play the veteran with former Dallas Mavericks coach Don Nelson in talks to play the coach.

UNTITLED ZACH HELM PROJECT (FOX, New!) - Feature writer Zach Helm (the upcoming "Stranger Than Fiction") has scored a put pilot commitment from FOX for a project described as a psychological family drama with a major twist. The project is set up at 20th Century Fox Television and Imagine Television with Jim Garavente, Brian Grazer, David Nevins and Craig Silverstein all serving as executive producers along with Helm.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [december 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
    


· 30 DAYS (FX)
· AMERICA'S MOST TALENTED KIDS (PAX)
· BLACK WHITE (FX)
· BOGEYMAN, THE (NBC)
· BOSTON LEGAL (ABC)
· CHEYENNE (MTV)
· CROSSING JORDAN (NBC)
· CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (CBS)
· CSI: MIAMI (CBS)
· CSI: NEW YORK (CBS)
· DIVISION, THE (LIFETIME)
· DRESDEN FILES, THE (SCI FI)
· FREE RIDE (FOX)
· HEROES (NBC)
· K STREET (HBO)
· MEDICAL INVESTIGATION (NBC)
· NIP/TUCK (FX)
· SEX, POWER, LOVE & POLITICS (CBS)
· SURVIVOR (CBS)
· THAT '70S SHOW (FOX)
· THERE & BACK: ASHLEY PARKER ANGEL (MTV)
· THEY SHOOT DIVAS, DON'T THEY? (VH1)
· THIEF (FX)
· UNSCRIPTED (HBO)
· UNTITLED BUZZ BISSINGER PROJECT (CBS)
· UNTITLED KAREN STILLMAN PROJECT (FOX)
· UNTITLED SECTION EIGHT NBA PROJECT (HBO)
· UNTITLED ZACH HELM PROJECT (FOX)
· WILL & GRACE (NBC)
· WINNER, THE (FOX)





[04/26/24 - 12:07 PM]
Oxygen True Crime's "Accident, Suicide or Murder" Returns for a Fifth Season on Saturday, May 18 at 8 P.M. ET/PT
The series explores the unbelievable true stories of suspicious deaths that either initially appear to be an accident, suicide or murder.

[04/26/24 - 12:00 PM]
The "2024 American Music Awards" to Air for the First Time on CBS, Sunday, Oct. 6
The AMAs celebrate the year's top achievements in music determined by the fans, for the fans.

[04/26/24 - 11:40 AM]
#1 and #2 Court Shows "Judge Judy" and "Hot Bench" Renewed Through 2025-26 in 95% of the Country
"Hot Bench" was reupped for two more years by CBS Stations in major markets, as well as stations owned by Sinclair, Nexstar, Tegna, Scripps, FOX Stations, Gray and Weigel.

[04/26/24 - 11:00 AM]
The Word-Twisting Game Show "Lingo," Hosted By RuPaul Charles, to Premiere Friday, May 24 on CBS
Host RuPaul Charles brings his one-of-a-kind personality to this clever, competitive and unpredictable game where teams of two face off in fast-paced puzzle rounds to guess letters that reveal seemingly simple words.

[04/26/24 - 09:33 AM]
Paramount+ Announces "Apartment 7A," A New Original Film Starring Golden Globe Winner Julia Garner, to Premiere This Fall
Set in 1965 New York City, the film tells the story prior to the legendary horror classic Rosemary's Baby, exploring what happened in the apartment before Rosemary moved in.

[04/26/24 - 09:00 AM]
Video: China Anne Mcclain & Kylie Cantrall Perform "What's My Name (Red Version)" from "Descendants: The Rise of Red" Soundtrack in New Music Video
"Descendants: The Rise of Red" premieres Friday, July 12 exclusively on Disney+, followed by a special encore on Friday, August 9, at 8:00 p.m. EDT/PDT on Disney Channel.

[04/26/24 - 06:31 AM]
Video: "Secrets of the Neanderthals" - Official Trailer - Netflix
The film takes viewers on a journey from their preconceptions of Neanderthals as a dim-witted creature to a complex and creative people, through the lens of a unique, ongoing excavation and a landmark new discovery - the best-preserved Neanderthal skeleton found in over a quarter century.

[04/25/24 - 02:31 PM]
On the Heels of "The Daily Show's" Huge Ratings Growth, The Emmy Award-Winning Franchise Expands Its All-Star News Team
The show enlists Troy Iwata, Josh Johnson, and Grace Kuhlenschmidt as Correspondents.

[04/25/24 - 01:01 PM]
Greed, Lust and Wrath Turn Deadly in New Oxygen True Crime Series "Sins of the South" Premiering Sunday, May 12th at 8:00 PM ET/PT
With a deliciously delightful Southern inflected narration, each of the 12-hour-long episodes unravel the twists and turns of a?real-life?murder, highlighting the disturbing crimes of the?South and the wickedness that led to it.

[04/25/24 - 11:31 AM]
Netflix Greenlights Leanne Morgan Scripted Comedy from Co-Creator Chuck Lorre
Additionally, Morgan will do two stand-up specials for Netflix.

[04/25/24 - 11:01 AM]
Netflix & Shondaland Announce New "Bridgerton" Season 3 Product Collections & Brand Collaborations
In celebration of its upcoming Season 3 premiere, Netflix and Shondaland are announcing new product collections with leading lifestyle brands that speak to the essence of the Bridgerton universe and the underpinnings of the romantic Regency era releasing this spring.

[04/25/24 - 10:37 AM]
ABC's "Will Trent" Continues Momentum as Series Logs Highest Total Viewer Audience to Date and Highest Adults 18-49 Rating in Over a Year
After 35 days of viewing on ABC, Hulu and digital platforms, "Will Trent" continues its ratings climb in episode three of season two, growing to 11.23 million Total Viewers and marking its highest multiplatform telecast to date.

[04/25/24 - 10:07 AM]
Video: "Prom Dates" - Official Trailer - Hulu
"Prom Dates" follows best friends Jess and Hannah, who made a pact at 13 to have the perfect senior prom.

[04/25/24 - 10:02 AM]
HGTV Picks-Up New Season of Popular Hawaii-Based Series "Renovation Aloha"
The new season is slated to premiere in 2025.

[04/25/24 - 10:01 AM]
Video: Paramount+ Debuts Official Trailer and Key Art for Third Season of "Mayor of Kingstown"
In season three, a series of explosions rock Kingstown and its citizens, as a new face of the Russian mob sets up shop in the city, and a drug war rages inside and outside prison walls.