or


[04/05/06 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: April 5
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!

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC) - Lifetime reportedly has snagged the off-network rights to the popular ABC series from Buena Vista Television, beating out fellow bidder TBS. The pact, said to be valued in the $500,000 per episode range, gives the cable channel the exclusive weekday rights to the series beginning in the fall of 2008. In addition, Lifetime will also begin repurposing the show's weekly broadcasts once the deal is finalized. No time periods however were specified.

DRIVE (FOX) - Alan Ruck (Stuart Bondek on "Spin City") and Melanie Lynskey (Rose on "Two and a Half Men") are the latest additions to the drama pilot, about an illegal cross-country road race. Ruck will play John Ashton, who's described in the casting notice as: "40s. A bespectacled, buttoned down sort. He's an MIT grad and rocket scientist whose wife recently left him for a far wealthier man. John has recently grabbed his daughter, Violet, out of school, ostensibly for an impulsive "road trip." In actuality, John is also participating in the mysterious race. When he inadvertently insults his sensitive daughter, she runs away, leaving John frantic to learn her whereabouts."

Lynskey then is set as Wendy Patrakas, who's detailed as: "Late 20s-early 30s. An appealing young suburban housewife. She would be cheerful and outgoing under normal circumstances, but presently, she's under some enormous strain. On the lam from her husband, Wendy has also joined the mysterious race, apparently with her infant in the back seat of her car. However, when she's pulled over by the highway patrol, it's discovered that her baby is actually a plastic doll. Whether Wendy is actually the mother of an infant, or whether she is merely pretending to have a baby for the purposes of this bizarre, deadly contest, remains to be seen." Emily Stone also stars in the 20th Century Fox Television-based hour, which comes from creators Ben Queen and Tim Minear. Greg Yaitanes is directing.

GENERATIONS/NEVER IN MY WILDEST (CBS) - The comedy projects, both co-productions of DreamWorks Television and NBC Universal Television, have been rolled to midseason 2007 consideration by the network. Each received a cast-contingent pilot order earlier this season. The former, from Cheryl Holliday, revolves around a grandfather and grandson who are unlikely roommates at a retirement community while the latter, from Carol Leifer, tracks two people who have an undeniable spark but impossible standards. DreamWorks's Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey also serve as executive producers on both half-hours.

THE GREG BEHRENDT SHOW (Syndication) - Dan Jbara ("Ripley's Believe It or Not!") and Janelle Fiorito ("Renovate My Family") have both signed onto Sony Pictures Television's upcoming syndicated talk show, which features the comedian/author dispensing relationship advice. Jbara will serve as the executive producer/showrunner while Fioriot is set as a co-executive producer.

MORE, PATIENCE (FOX) - Scoot McNairy (a recent guest on "Close to Home") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about a neurotic New York psychiatrist (Jennifer Esposito). He'll play Jake in the Sony Pictures Television-based half-hour, which also stars Bianca Kajlich. Jed Seidel is behind the project, which Arlene Sanford is directing and Gavin Polone and Jamie Tarses also serve as executive producers.

MY EX-LIFE (CBS) - Jonathan Sadowski (Paul on "She's the Man") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about two best friends (Tom Cavanagh and Gillian Vigman) who happen to be a divorced couple sharing custody. His character, Gus, is described in the casting notice as follows: "20-25, confident. He has his finger in lots of different pies. Gus is Nick's former college student and part time babysitter for Nick and Kate's two children. He is now able to teach his old teacher a few things about the dating world of 2005. Energetic and confident, he gives Kate some sage advice regarding an outfit she's considering wearing on a date." Roger Bart also stars in the 20th Century Fox Television-based half-hour, which comes from creator Richard Appel and director Kelsey Grammer.

SHE SAID, HE SAID (The CW) - Chris J. Johnson (Vincent on "South Beach") has scored a role in the romantic comedy pilot, which also stars Nick Lachey and Lindsay Sloane. He'll play Finn in the CBS Paramount Network Television/Warner Bros. Television-based project, which comes from creators Daniel Berendsen and Heidi Clements. Garry Hart also serves as an executive producer. Johnson's involvement is in second position to the still-technically-alive UPN drama.

UNTITLED TOM HERTZ PROJECT (CBS) - Kathleen Rose Perkins (a recent guest on NBC's "Four Kings") is the latest addition to the comedy pilot, about an engaged couple, a married couple and a happily single guy. She'll play Jennifer, one half of the newly engaged couple, in the Sony Pictures Television-based half-hour, which Andy Ackerman is directing from a script by creator Tom Hertz. Happy Madison's Adam Sandler, Doug Robinson and Jack Giarraputo also serve as executive producers along with the duo. Separately, Perkins has also booked a guest starring role on the ABC comedy pilot "Help Me Help You" in an unspecified role.

WITHOUT A TRACE (CBS) - Scott Williams, a co-executive producer on the series, has inked two-year, seven-figure overall deal with 20th Century Fox Television. The pact, which has an option for a third year, calls for the writer/producer to come aboard one of the studio's existing series next season (likely "Bones") as well as develop new projects.

YOU'VE REACHED THE ELLIOTTS (CBS) - Cynthia Stevenson (Roberta Collie on "The L Word") and Christopher McDonald (Walter Booth on "North Shore") have both joined the cast of the comedy pilot, a semi-autobiographical take on the life of Chris Elliott. They'll play Tracy and Phil respectively in the Warner Bros. Television-based half-hour, which comes from creator Rob Des Hotel. Eric Tannenbaum and Kim Tannenbaum also serve as executive producers.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [april 2006]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· BONES (FOX)
· CLOSE TO HOME (CBS)
· DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)
· DRIVE (FOX)
· FOUR KINGS (NBC)
· GENERATIONS (CBS)
· GREG BEHRENDT SHOW, THE (SYNDICATION)
· HELP ME HELP YOU (ABC)
· L WORD, THE (SHOWTIME)
· MORE, PATIENCE (FOX)
· MY EX-LIFE (CBS)
· NEVER IN MY WILDEST (CBS)
· NORTH SHORE (FOX)
· RENOVATE MY FAMILY (FOX)
· RIPLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT (TBS)
· RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (CBS)
· SHE SAID, HE SAID (CW)
· SOUTH BEACH (UPN)
· SPIN CITY (ABC)
· TWO AND A HALF MEN (CBS)
· WITHOUT A TRACE (CBS)
· YOU'VE REACHED THE ELLIOTTS (CBS)





[07/07/25 - 02:01 PM]
"Alice in Borderland" Season 3 Premieres September 25
Once again directed by Shinsuke Sato, Season 3 stars Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya, along with an exciting lineup of new and returning actors.

[07/07/25 - 11:15 AM]
John Slattery, Jessica Henwick, Ellen Robertson and More Join Netflix's "Vladimir"
Kayli Carter, Miriam Silverman, Mallori Johnson, Matt Walsh, Tattiawna Jones and Louise Lambert will also recur on the series.

[07/07/25 - 11:09 AM]
2025 T-Mobile Home Run Derby Exclusively on ESPN Platforms July 14
Karl Ravech will return for his 9th year to call the action, alongside analysts Eduardo Pérez and Todd Frazier and reporters Buster Olney and Alden González.

[07/07/25 - 10:31 AM]
Tubi to Launch AMC Studios' Sci-Fi Comedy Series "Demascus" as a Tubi Original
The six episode half-hour comedic sci-fi series follows Demascus (Okieriete Onaodowan), a Black man who goes on a journey of self-discovery using an experimental reality-bending technology.

[07/07/25 - 10:17 AM]
"LEGO Masters Jr." with Host Kelly Osbourne to Air Over Four Weeks Beginning Monday, August 18 at 8/7c on FOX
Hosted by television personality Kelly Osbourne, the series features celebrity contestants including Ravi V. Patel, Andy Richter, Jordin Sparks, Alison Sweeney and Porsha Williams.

[07/07/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "My Life With the Walter Boys" Season 2 - Official Teaser - Netflix
Hoping for a fresh start in Silver Falls, Jackie discovers second chances aren't guaranteed when unresolved feelings and small-town tensions resurface.

[07/07/25 - 08:02 AM]
Nickelodeon Sets Launch for "Tim Rex in Space," Brand-New Animated Preschool Series, on Monday, Aug. 4
The series follows a Tyrannosaurus Rex (T-Rex) named Tim, his big brother Tommy, little sister Tia, and triceratops bestie Kai, as they tackle kid-shaped adventures with dino-sized solutions in space.

[07/07/25 - 05:01 AM]
Video: "The Sandman" Season 2 - Volume 2 Official Teaser - Netflix
When the Kindly Ones turn a sorrow-stricken mother into a vessel of vengeance, their combined power puts Lord Morpheus' realm - and life - in jeopardy.

[07/07/25 - 03:01 AM]
Video: "She Said Maybe" - Official Teaser - Netflix
From Hamburg to Istanbul. One journey, two worlds, and a decision that changes everything.

[07/06/25 - 10:31 PM]
Video: "Vir Das: Fool Volume" - Official Trailer - Stand-Up Comedy Special - Netflix
Vir Das is back to make you laugh, think, and feel all the feels with his brand new special.

[07/05/25 - 02:11 PM]
Yeeee-haw! "My Life with the Walter Boys" Season 2 Premieres August 28
Netflix confirmed the news on social media this afternoon.

[07/05/25 - 01:31 PM]
From Action-Packed Adventures to Chilling Supernatural Tales: Netflix Invites Viewers to Discover Their Next Favorite Anime
In addition to debuts for "BEASTARS" Final Season, "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2," "Record of Ragnarok III" and "My Melody & Kuromi," Netflix offered sneak peeks at "The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity," "The Summer Hikaru Died" and "SAKAMOTO DAYS," with new episodes launching weekly beginning July 14.

[07/05/25 - 01:01 PM]
First Look at "Reasonable Doubt" Season 3 Premiering September 18 on Hulu
Jax is coming in red hot.

[07/04/25 - 03:31 PM]
Video: Tyler Perry's "Miss Governor" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Tyler Perry's comedy series "She The People" starring Terri J. Vaughn returns with all the laughs and a new name.

[07/04/25 - 02:31 PM]
Video: Tyler Perry's "Beauty in Black" Season 2 - Official Teaser - Netflix
As she takes the reins of the Bellarie empire, Kimmie confronts a vicious family power struggle, where betrayal, greed and danger lurk at every turn.