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)





[10/02/26 - 11:00 AM]
Video: Summer May Be Over, But the Beach Is Just Heating Up - Watch the All-New "Baywatch" Teaser Promos
"Baywatch" premieres this January on FOX and next day Hulu.

[10/02/26 - 10:24 AM]
Video: "Wingman" - Official Trailer - ALLBLK
Sophie and Tyler spend their lives making sure everyone else around them finds love. Little did they know that finding love for each other was going to be harder than they thought.

[10/02/26 - 10:00 AM]
TNT Sports to Be Exclusive Home of 2026 American League Division Series & American League Championship Series
This Saturday, October 3, seven-time All-Star José Ramírez and Steven Kwan will lead the Cleveland Guardians against Colson Montgomery, Miguel Vargas and the Chicago White Sox in a division rival showdown.

[10/02/26 - 09:03 AM]
A Night of Mystery! New Series "History's Mystery Files" & A New Season of "The Curse of Oak Island" Premieres Nov. 10
Hosted by actor and comedian Jorge Garcia, each episode of "History's Mystery Files" follows the clues, the evidence, and the questions that refuse to go away.

[10/02/26 - 09:01 AM]
"The Watcher" Season Two to Begin Production, with Naomi Watts & Bobby Cannavale Returning
Margo Martindale and Isabel Gravitt will also reprise their roles in the hit Netflix series from Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan.

[10/02/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "The Forsytes" Season 2 Preview
Secrets, ambition, and forbidden passions collide as "The Forsytes" returns for an explosive Season 2, only on "Masterpiece" on PBS in 2027.

[10/02/26 - 07:31 AM]
Netflix Has Officially Renewed "A Different World" for Its Sophomore Season
"A Different World" debuted at #4 in the Global Top 10 English TV list, earning 4.2 million views and hit the Top 10 in 15 countries.

[10/02/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: New Animated Sports-Fantasy Series "Messi and the Giants," from Executive Producer Lionel Messi, Debuts First Look at San Diego Comic-Con Malaga, Coming to Disney+ and Disney Channel Summer 2027
Argentinian actor Milo Burgess-Webb will voice the role of Leo in the series.

[10/02/26 - 06:13 AM]
No Time Like FOXtober: FOX Sports' Star-Studded MLB Postseason Coverage Highlighted by Baseball's Biggest Names
FOX Sports begins its Postseason coverage Saturday, October 3 at 4:00 PM ET on FOX, FOX Deportes and FOX One as the Los Angeles Dodgers host the Atlanta Braves.

[10/02/26 - 04:01 AM]
Netflix Unveils Its New Competitive Reality Show, "Plex: Ultima Partida"
In the competitive strategy reality show, a group of renowned players arrive on a remote island at Plex's invitation, where they will compete for victory and a substantial cash prize.

[10/02/26 - 12:01 AM]
Video: "A Couple of Lies" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A seemingly idyllic home swap between Sicily and Stockholm turns toxic as two wealthy couples go to extremes to protect themselves - and their secrets.

[10/01/26 - 09:30 PM]
"Big Brother" Crowns Its Season 28 Winner and Announces Renewal Through Season 30 in Tonight's Live Finale
The milestone 28th season delivered 14.8 billion minutes watched, up +9% from last summer; averaged 5.1 million viewers in seven-day multiplatform viewing, up +8% year-over-year.

[10/01/26 - 04:37 PM]
Eddie Murphy to Star in His First Scripted Television Series, "The Chairman," at Peacock
"The Chairman" comes from nine-time Emmy Award-winning writer Matthew Weiner, the showrunner and creator behind the critically beloved series "Mad Men" and executive producer and writer on the iconic drama series "The Sopranos."

[10/01/26 - 02:39 PM]
NHL on ESPN Opens Season with Year-Over-Year Viewership Growth
The Panthers-Hurricanes matchup averaged 859,000 viewers, up 16% from a year ago.

[10/01/26 - 02:18 PM]
Tuesday's Red Sox-Yankees on NBC & Peacock Is Most-Watched Game 1 Among MLB Wild Card or Division Series Since 2006
Coverage averaged 7.3 million viewers on NBC and Peacock.