or


[02/15/06 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: February 15
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!

THE 12TH MAN (FOX) - Jodi Lyn O'Keefe ("She's All That") and newcomer Andrew Katz are the first to be cast in the comedy pilot, about a not-so-good professional basketball player who spends most of the time on the team's bench. O'Keefe will play Lindsay, the assistant general manager of said basketball team, while Katz is set as Oggie. 20th Century Fox Television is behind the half-hour, which is based on the life of Phoenix Suns reserve forward Paul Shirley. Tim Story is directing from a script by Dan Fogelman with both serving as executive producers.

24 (FOX) - Howard Gordon, the veteran drama's showrunner, has inked a mid-seven-figure multi-year overall deal with the show's producer, 20th Century Fox Television. The pact, which begins in June, covers his duties on the show's expected sixth season. In addition, he'll also develop new projects for the studio.

THE ADVENTURES OF BIG HANDSOME GUY AND HIS LITTLE FRIEND (FOX) - Mircea Monroe ("The Code") and Margo Harshman ("Run of the House") are the latest additions to the comedy pilot, about the unlikely friendship between two men - one for which everything comes easy (Hayes MacArthur), the other not so much (Jason Winer). No details on their respective character were given. Dennie Gordon is directing the single-camera pilot from a script by MacArthur and Winer. Joshua Sternin and Jeffrey Ventimilia also serve as executive producers.

ALPHA MOMS (NBC) - "Scrubs" creator/executive producer Bill Lawrence has signed on to direct the single-camera comedy pilot, about a corporate mom who tries to balance kids, a stay-at-home husband and a job. He'll direct the NBC Universal Television-based half-hour from a script by creator Kerry Ehrin.

AVENGER (TNT) - The Sam Elliott-led/Wolfgang Petersen-produced original movie has been slated to premiere on Sunday, April 9 at 8:00/7:00c. Here's how the network's press materials describe the project: "AVENGER tells the story of Cal Dexter (Elliot), whose duty during the Vietnam War was to locate and destroy the jungle hideouts of the enemy. But today he's nothing more than a simple attorney in small town New Jersey. Or so it seems to most. Covertly, he has been hired by a tycoon to track down and deliver justice to the man who killed his grandson, an American aid worker in Bosnia. As the quest takes Dexter around the globe, CIA agent Frank McBride must stop him before his mission of vengeance throws the world into chaos."

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC) - "Crumbs" star Eddie McClintock has scored a recurring role on the smash hit series. He'll play Frank, a low-life who becomes involved with the Solises. It's not clear when his first episode will air.

E-RING (NBC) - Jaime Ray Newman, who was recently cast in the ABC drama pilot "Hollis & Rae," has signed on to appear in a four-episode arc on the freshman drama later this season. She'll play the daughter of Army General Hughes (Bob Gunton) however it's not clear when her first episode will air. (Note: The original version of this story included an out-of-date mention of Newman's two-episode appearance on "Related.")

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (NBC) - Newcomers Gaius Charles and Scott Porter have both been cast in the Kyle Chandler-led drama pilot, a small screen take on the 2004 high school football-themed feature of the same name. Charles will play Brian "Bomber" Williams, an extremely confident and larger than life running back, while Porter is set as Jason Street, the talented quarterback and pride of the football-obsessed Texas town. Peter Berg wrote the script to the NBC Universal Television/Imagine Television/Film 44-based hour which he's also executive producing along with David Nevins, Brian Grazer, Sarah Aubrey and John Cameron. Production is set to begin this week in Austin, Texas.

IN JUSTICE (ABC) - Tim Guinee ("Tarzan") is set to appear in the show's final four episodes this season. No specifics about his character however were given.

MEN IN TREES (ABC) - Anne Heche ("Everwood") has booked the lead role in the drama pilot, about a female shrink (Heche) who moves to Alaska after she learns that her husband had been cheating on her, only to discover herself surrounded by available men. Derek Richardson ("Hostel") and Emily Bergl ("Gilmore Girls") have also joined the cast of the Warner Bros. Television/Tree Line Film-based hour, which James Mangold is directing from a script by Jenny Bicks. The pair also serve as executive producers along with Cathy Konrad.

THE O.C. (FOX) - Autumn Reeser, who plays Taylor Townsend on the series, is on track to be upped to series regular should the FOX soap return for a fourth season. Also set for a return appearance is Nikki Griffin, who played Trey Atwood's (Logan Marshall-Green) troublemaking love interest for six episodes last season. It's not clear however how many episodes her second arc will encompass. (Note: The original version of this story incorrectly identified Griffin's character.)

ORPHEUS (CBS) - Bruce Beresford ("And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself") has signed on to direct the drama pilot, about the journey of a young man (Nick D'Agosto) into first love and the seductive world of a sophisticated, modern-day cult. Nicholas Meyer is behind the CBS Paramount Network Television/Scott Free Productions-based hour, which he's also executive producing along with Scott Free principals Ridley Scott and Tony Scott.

SEEING RED (NBC) - Emmy-nominated actor Jeff Goldblum ("Will & Grace") is in final talks to play the lead role in the drama pilot, about an eccentric, brilliant cop (Goldblum) with the ability to talk to dead victims, who help him solve his cases. Goldblum's involvement would presumably lift the cast-contingency on the pilot's production. Frank Darabont is directing the NBC Universal Television-based hour from a script by creator Graham Yost.

THAT GUY (FOX) - Betty Thomas, who directed the pilot to the upcoming FOX comedy "The Loop," has come aboard to direct the comedy pilot, about a thirtysomething guy who realizes everyone around him has grown up. She'll direct from a script by creators/co-executive producers Josh Lobis and Darin Moiselle. Regency Television and the Montecito Picture Co. are behind the half-hour, which is executive produced by Jackie Marcus and Ivan Reitman.

UNTITLED DANNY COMDEN PROJECT (ABC) - Bonnie Somerville ("Kitchen Confidential") is the latest addition to the comedy pilot, about an egotistical real estate agent (Danny Comden) who decides to change his life after realizing that he hates who he has become. She'll play Sam in the Warner Bros. Television/Wonderland Sound & Vision-based project, which also stars Scott Caan. Robert Duncan McNeill is directing the single-camera half-hour from a script by Comden, who's also executive producing along with McG and Peter Johnson.

UNTITLED PALLADINOS PROJECT (The CW) - "Gilmore Girls" creator Amy Sherman-Palladino confirmed to The Associated Press over the weekend that her and husband Daniel Palladino's drama project has been scrapped in the wake of the UPN/WB merger. The untitled hour, which was described as a New York-based family mystery series (a la "Nick & Nora"), was originally given a blind six-episode commitment last year by the WB. No other details about the news were given.

VANISHED (FOX) - Gale Harold, who will play Wyatt Earp in the upcoming season of "Deadwood," has been cast as the lead role in the drama pilot, about the search for a missing senator's wife. No specifics about his character in the 20th Century Fox Television-based hour however were given. Mimi Leder is directing the pilot from a script by Josh Berman.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [february 2006]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· 12TH MAN, THE (FOX)
· 24 (FOX)
· ADVENTURES OF BIG HANDSOME GUY AND HIS LITTLE FRIEND, THE (FOX)
· ALPHA MOM (NBC)
· AND STARRING PANCHO VILLA AS HIMSELF (HBO)
· AVENGER (TNT)
· CRUMBS (ABC)
· DEADWOOD (HBO)
· DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)
· E-RING (NBC)
· EVERWOOD (WB)
· FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (DIRECTV)
· GILMORE GIRLS (CW)
· HOLLIS & RAE (ABC)
· IN JUSTICE (ABC)
· KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL (FOX)
· LEARNING TO FLY (ABC)
· LOOP, THE (FOX)
· MEN IN TREES (ABC)
· OC, THE (FOX)
· ORPHEUS (CBS)
· RAINES (NBC)
· RELATED (WB)
· RUN OF THE HOUSE (WB)
· SCRUBS (ABC)
· TARZAN (WB)
· THAT GUY (FOX)
· UNTITLED PALLADINOS PROJECT (CW)
· VANISHED (FOX)
· WILL & GRACE (NBC)





[10/31/24 - 02:31 PM]
NBC Will Groove Into the Holiday Season with "A Motown Christmas" Special Hosted by Smokey Robinson and Halle Bailey
The special will include performances featuring more than 25 Motown hits, performed by Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, and the Temptations.

[10/31/24 - 02:15 PM]
ABC News Announces 72+ Hours of Coverage and Analysis of the 2024 Election with Special Programming on ABC, ABC News Live and ABC News Digital Platforms, Including the ABC News App, Hulu and Disney+
"World News Tonight" anchor and managing editor David Muir will lead the network's coverage.

[10/31/24 - 01:16 PM]
BET+ Renews Emmy-Nominated "The Ms. Pat Show" for a Fifth Season
Additionally, BET Media Group also extended its overall deal with star Patricia "Ms. Pat" Williams.

[10/31/24 - 01:00 PM]
It's Holiday Time at The CW! Celebrate the Season with Festive Programming
Highlights include the series finale of "Superman & Lois" (December 2); the return of "Children Ruin Everything" (November 29); and "Christmas with The Chosen: Holy Night" (December 15).

[10/31/24 - 12:01 PM]
Video: "Squid Game" Season 2 - Official Teaser - Netflix
Heralding the return of the worldwide hit, a new chapter unfolds as Gi-hun comes back with an agenda, having given up on leaving for the US.

[10/31/24 - 11:04 AM]
Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Orange County" Three-Part Reunion Begins Thursday, Nov. 7 at 9 P.M. ET/PT
Host Andy Cohen sits down with housewives Shannon Storms Beador, Heather Dubrow, Tamra Judge, Gina Kirschenheiter, Emily Simpson, Jennifer Pedranti and new housewife Katie Ginella to revisit the epic season that saw dramatic highs and staggering lows.

[10/31/24 - 10:01 AM]
TNT Sports' "The Match: Superstars" Special Two-Night Primetime Event to Showcase Some of Biggest Names in Sports and Entertainment - Thursday, Nov. 21 and Friday, Nov. 22, on TNT & Max
"The Match: Superstars" will be headlined by iconic celebrities across sports and entertainment, including Bill Murray, Mark Wahlberg, Charles Barkley, Wayne Gretzky, Michael Phelps, Nate Bargatze, Ken Griffey, Jr., and Blake Griffin, competing from Breakers West Country Club in West Palm Beach, FL.

[10/31/24 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Peacock Debuts Trailer for New Original Series "Eat Slay Love"
The series brings together Grammy-nominated singer Nivea and her girl gang - Eva Marcille, Tammy Rivera and London Hughes - as they journey through Vietnam to celebrate Nivea's 41st birthday and embark on new adventures.

[10/31/24 - 09:01 AM]
HBO Releases First Look Images from the New Original Drama Series "It: Welcome to Derry"
The series will debut in 2025 on HBO and will be available to stream on Max.

[10/31/24 - 09:01 AM]
Video: AMC Networks Releases Bewitching New Trailer for Season Two of "Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches" Premiering January 5 on AMC and AMC+
Starring Alexandra Daddario, Jack Huston, Harry Hamlin, Tongayi Chirisa and Alyssa Jirrels, the new season will debut Sunday, January 5 on AMC+ and AMC.

[10/31/24 - 08:02 AM]
"Saturday Night Live's" 50th Season Continues with Back-to-Back Shows This November
Bill Burr (November 9) and Charli xcx (November 16) are on tap to host in the coming weeks.

[10/31/24 - 08:00 AM]
CBS Presents "The Making of Gladiator II," A Primetime Special Featuring an Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Paramount Pictures Film, Monday, Nov. 18 on CBS
This inside look offers unprecedented access encompassing all aspects of production, from the grand scope of the set - including reconstructing Ancient Rome - to characters, combat training, costumes, historical accuracy, scoring and more.

[10/31/24 - 07:55 AM]
Multimillion Selling Pop Band Ace of Base Reveal Their Full Story to the Present in Documentary Series "Ace of Base: All That She Wants" Premiering in US Thursday, December 5 Only on Viaplay
This uncensored documentary captures Ace of Base's fascinating story - where grandiose pop dreams, charts and money collide with relentless adversity, performance anxiety and shattered friendships.

[10/31/24 - 07:47 AM]
Peacock Announces January 9 Premiere Date for the Third Season of Emmy Award Winning Reality Competition Series "The Traitors"
The Emmy Award-winning competition-reality series returns for a third season with an all-new lineup of familiar faces, hosted again by the impossibly stylish and devastatingly witty Alan Cumming.

[10/31/24 - 07:22 AM]
The CW Network Brings Shoppable TV to ACC Football in Innovative Partnership with Shopsense AI
Beginning November 2 with the Virginia Tech at Syracuse game, viewers will be able to shop game-day essentials and team merchandise directly from their mobile devices with technology powered by Shopsense's latest enterprise Commerce Operating System (Commerce OS).