or


[02/09/06 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: February 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 branded "Devwatch" section. There visitors can view our listings by network, genre, studio and even development stage (ordered to pilot, cast-contingent, script, etc.). It's updated every day!

BECOMING GLEN (FOX) - "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" correspondent Rob Corddry has booked the title role in the comedy pilot, about a 32-year-old slacker (Corddry) living with his parents and spending all his time lying on the couch watching TV. Here's how the show's casting notice describes his character, Glen Abbott: "At 32, Glen Abbott has the life experience of a 14 years old - an inexperienced 14 year old. Think of Glen as a cross between Will Ferrell and Steve Carrell in "The 40 Year Old Virgin." Glen is an off-everyman who just hasn't found his purpose yet. Glen's OCD and overall slacker apathy have led him to hole himself up in his room watching TV and checking his pulse for years. Glen is virginal, and a tad socially awkward, but he's also intelligent, winning, charismatic and self aware. To cover for his naivete, Glen attempts to carry himself with bravado and cockiness. Once again, think Will Ferrell. Though he's a pathological liar, unlike George Costanza who lies just because he is, Glen is a sympathetic liar - he lies only to cover for his humiliating non-past. He will one day be a tremendous winner and we will see a glimpse into that distant potential even when we first meet him sleeping in till 2 pm. He's just a late bloomer who's beginning his puberty a mere 18 years too late." Corddry joins the previously cast Ken Gilchrist in the 20th Century Fox Television-based project, which comes from Seth MacFarlane and Ricky Blitt. Sitcom veteran Terry Hughes ("That '70s Show") is directing the half-hour from a script by MacFarlane and Blitt.

ENEMIES (ABC) - Feature helmer F. Gary Gray ("The Italian Job") has signed on to direct the drama pilot, about two best friends who grow up to become mortal enemies - one's a top player at the F.B.I. while the other's a mob boss. He'll direct from a script by creator Sean Bailey, who's also executive producing along with Ken Olin.

A HOUSE DIVIDED (ABC) - Michael Rymer ("Battlestar Galactica") has come aboard to direct the drama pilot, about the escalating conflict between a Midwest farming community and the U.S. government that sows the seeds of what will be the next civil war in present-day America. Andrew David Chapman created the Touchstone Television-based project with Mark Gordon serving as an executive producer.

MR. NICE GUY (ABC, New!) - Jeff Astrof ("The New Adventures of Old Christine") has set up a new comedy project at the Alphabet and Touchstone Television about a conflict averse man who always ends up looking bad despite his best efforts to do the right thing. The network has given a pilot order to the project, which Astrof will write and executive produce along with Brad Grey Television's Peter Traugott. No other details were given.

SECRET LEAGUE OF LEGIONNAIRES (Comedy Central, New!) - Sick Animation's Marc M is developing a new animated comedy at the cable channel about the hilarious and bizarre adventures of Captain Martinez, a space explorer. The project, which has a script order from the network, originated as an Internet cartoon series for NationalLampoon.com. Scott Rubin, the editor-in-chief of National Lampoon, then will serve as an executive producer on the half-hour with Marc M writing the script and providing several voices should it move forward.

SECRETS OF A SMALL TOWN (ABC) - Angie Harmon ("Inconceivable") is the first to be cast in the drama pilot, about the murder of a teenage girl and the disappearance of her sister in a small town - events which kick off a chain reaction that leads to both emotional and humorous discoveries that have been long buried. She'll play Beth in the Touchstone Television-based hour, which comes from creator Chuck Pratt ("General Hospital") and executive producers Chris Brancato and Bert Salke.

THE SINGLES TABLE (NBC, New!) - The Peacock has given a pilot order to a new single-camera comedy from Bill Martin and Mike Schiff ("Grounded for Life") about five single people who meet at a wedding and develop bonds. The pair will write and executive produce the half-hour, which is set up at 20th Century Fox Television.

SOUTHERN COMFORT (ABC, New!) - Writer/producer Brad Copeland ("My Name Is Earl") has scored a pilot order at the Alphabet for a new comedy about a social misfit turned billionaire who moves back to his hometown in order to reconnect with his family yet still ends up battling his older jock brother. The single-camera project is set up at 20th Century Fox Television with Copeland writing and executive producing. The title "Southern Comfort" is understood to be tentative as there's another project at FOX (and also set up at 20th) with the same name from creators Joe & Tony Gayton.

UNTITLED CHRIS SHERIDAN PROJECT (NBC, New!) - Writer/producer Chris Sheridan ("Family Guy") has landed a cast-contingent pilot order from the network for a new comedy about two brothers - one's a life-long criminal while the other is an F.B.I. agent - and their families who live next door to each other. The half-hour project is set up at 20th Century Fox Television with Sheridan writing and executive producing.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [february 2006]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (SCI FI)
· ENEMIES (ABC)
· FAMILY GUY (FOX)
· GREAT MALONES, THE (NBC)
· GROUNDED FOR LIFE (WB)
· HOUSE DIVIDED, A (ABC)
· INCONCEIVABLE (NBC)
· MR. NICE GUY (ABC)
· MY NAME IS EARL (NBC)
· NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE, THE (CBS)
· SECRET LEAGUE OF LEGIONNAIRES (COMEDY CENTRAL)
· SECRETS OF A SMALL TOWN (ABC)
· SINGLES TABLE, THE (NBC)
· SOUTHERN COMFORT (FOX)
· SUNSHINE STATE (ABC)
· THAT '70S SHOW (FOX)
· WINNER, THE (FOX)





[09/08/26 - 05:06 PM]
Netflix Announces New Drama Series "Lonesome Dove"
The new Larry McMurtry adaptation will reunite Zoe Kazan and Jeb Stuart, who will co-showrun the new series after also serving as co-showrunners for Netflix's highly anticipated limited series, "East of Eden."

[09/08/26 - 04:01 PM]
Video: "Love Village" Season 3 - Official Trailer - Netflix
This romantic reality series sees men and women aged 35 to 60 move in together into a vintage house in Love Village in search of one last shot at love.

[09/08/26 - 02:59 PM]
Video: "NCIS: Origins" Season 3 Official Trailer - CBS
Mark Harmon returns for Season 3, premiering Tuesday, October 6.

[09/08/26 - 12:34 PM]
ESPN and Apple Music Collaborate on "Monday Night Football" Music Curation for the 2026-27 Season, Leading Up to ESPN's First-Ever Super Bowl and the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show
The first song and artist Apple Music has selected is the recently-released single, "Dead Fresh" by Lil Baby, which will run in ESPN's Week 1 promotional efforts.

[09/08/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of August 31 - "The Whisper Man" Tracks Down No. 1 in This Week's Top 10
"Death of the Pastor's Wife" held the top spot of the English TV list with 13.9 million views.

[09/08/26 - 12:01 PM]
Drama and Rumors Bloom as "The Real Housewives of Potomac" Season 11 Launches on Sunday, Oct 11. at 8 P.M. ET/PT
Returning "housewives" include Karen Huger, Gizelle Bryant, Ashley Darby, Dr. Wendy Osefo, Stacey Rusch and Tia Glover.

[09/08/26 - 11:13 AM]
Jamie Demetriou and Amelia Dimoldenberg to Host Next Two Episodes of "Saturday Night Live UK," with Musical Guests Royal Blood and Rachel Chinouriri
They'll join the previously announced Jeff Goldblum and CMAT.

[09/08/26 - 10:30 AM]
Prime Video Announces September 24 Premiere Date for "Go Deep: The DeSean Jackson Story"
The groundbreaking documentary traces the story of a father, his two sons, and their family's pursuit of the American Dream through football excellence.

[09/08/26 - 10:09 AM]
FOX MLB Posts Best Regular Season Thursday Night Baseball Telecast Since 2022
2,668,000 viewers tuned-in to FOX Thursday for a two-game slate highlighted by the Cubs' 2-1 win over the Brewers in most of the country.

[09/08/26 - 10:03 AM]
"Moonshiners" Celebrates 250 Years of American Rebellion, Risk and Reward in All-New Season Premiering Tuesday, September 29 at 8PM ET/PT on Discovery Channel
It's a 250-year celebration of life, liberty and the pursuit of tax-free liquor when America's favorite Appalachian distillers return in an all-new season.

[09/08/26 - 10:02 AM]
ESPN Studio Lineup Continues 2026 Momentum with Record August Audiences
As a year-long pattern of strong viewership continued, multiple programs delivered their best August viewership on record, while overall studio show audiences increased 13% year over year.

[09/08/26 - 10:01 AM]
"The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" Scores Four Special Episodes Post-"Sunday Night Football" This Fall on NBC
The first Sunday night show is set for September 27 when Fallon will welcome an all-star lineup of guests, including Sylvester Stallone and Luke Bryan.

[09/08/26 - 10:01 AM]
HBO Original Documentary "Siren: The Voices of Shelley" Beattie Debuts September 22
While searching the internet one day, Hollywood veteran Marlee Matlin came upon the story of athlete Shelley Beattie - a fellow Deaf woman whose life felt eerily like her own.

[09/08/26 - 09:40 AM]
Following Their Emmy Win for Outstanding Animated Program, "South Park" Is Making a Big Change
Creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone announced: "Inspired by the bravery and patriotism of Apple and Google, we are changing the name of South Park to SOUTH AMERICA. We especially want to thank our parent company Paramount -- a Skydance Capitulation."

[09/08/26 - 09:29 AM]
Paramount+ and T-Mobile Arena Launch Paramount+ Plaza in New Multi-Year Partnership
The agreement establishes a prominent new platform for the streaming service to connect its expansive portfolio of original series, films, live sports and iconic franchises with millions of fans visiting Las Vegas.