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[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





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· 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)





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