or


[04/07/06 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: April 6-7
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 BRONX IS BURNING (ESPN, New!) - The cable channel plans to move forward with a new limited series about the New York Yankees' victory at the 1977 World Series. Here's how the network's press materials describe the project: "Set in New York City in 1977, this 8-10 episode series will focus on the Yankees, and the team�s two biggest personalities: Reggie Jackson and Billy Martin. The Yankees� first black superstar and the scrappy �working-class� Billy Martin mirror the racial and class tug-of-war that the city as a whole was facing." James D. Solomon ("The Handler") is behind the project, which is based on Jonathan Mahler's bestseller "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bronx Is Burning," while Michael Tollin and Brian Robbins ("One Tree Hill") will executive produce via their self-titled banner. ESPN is said to be targeting a July 2007 premiere for the series, a date which coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Yankees' first World Series under owner George Steinbrenner. Additional details are expected to be announced in the near future.

ISLAND HEAT: STRANDED (Lifetime, New!) - Erica Durance (Lois Lane on "Smallville") and Carlos Ponce (Carlos Rivera on "7th Heaven") are set to topline a new original movie for the cable channel, the first of a similarly-themed trilogy set in the Caribbean. Matt Dorff ("Lies My Mother Told Me") and Bill O'Dowd ("Zoey 101") are behind the project, which Dorff will write and executive produce with O'Dowd via the latter's Dolphin Entertainment. The "Stranded" installment revolves around a bride (Durance) whose bachelorette party on the fictional island of San Carlos goes terribly wrong. Ponce then will play police inspector Raddimus, a character that will recur in all three telefilms. Production is set to begin this spring for an unspecified air date.

LOST (ABC) - Executive producers/co-showrunners Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse have signed new one-year, seven-figure deals with Touchstone Television. The pact will keep them in said roles for the 2006-07 season where they'll serve alongside fellow executive producers J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk and Jack Bender.

MR. NICE GUY (ABC) - The Alphabet has opted not to move forward with the comedy project, which was set to shoot its pilot later this month. The Touchstone Television-based half-hour, about a well-meaning man (Diedrich Bader) who always ends up looking bad even when trying to do the right thing, will instead be redeveloped for midseason 2007 or the 2007-08 season. No reason for the decision, which was made shortly after a table read had taken place, was given. Andy Cadiff was attached to direct the project from a script by creator Jeff Astrof with Brillstein-Grey Television's Peter Traugott also serving as an executive producer. Cara DeLizia, Kevin Weisman and Rena Sofer were also cast.

RESCUE ME (FX) - The cable channel has confirmed the show's third season will launch on Tuesday, May 30 at 10:00/9:00c, the first Tuesday after the May sweeps period concludes.

SHE SAID, HE SAID (The CW) - Lacey Chabert (ABC Family's "Hello Sister, Goodbye Life") is set to play sister to Lindsay Sloane in the comedy pilot, about how men and women perceive relationships differently. Nick Lachey and Chris J. Johnson also star in the CBS Paramount Network Television/Warner Bros. Television-based half-hour, which comes from creators Daniel Berendsen and Heidi Clements. Garry Hart also serves as an executive producer.

THE TYRA BANKS SHOW (Syndication) - Alex Duda ("elimiDATE") has joined the syndicated talk show, where she'll serve as an executive producer alongside John Redmann. Her addition is understood to fill the void left by executive producer Kevin Applegate, who will exit the series at the end of this season.

UNTITLED DAVID HEMINGSON PROJECT (FOX, New!) - David Hemingson, the co-creator of FOX's short-lived comedy "Kitchen Confidential," has signed a multi-year, seven-figure overall with 20th Century Fox Television. The pact will keep the writer/producer at the studio until at least 2008, where he'll develop original projects and continue as a consulting producer on "Family Guy." In addition, he's also said to be close to setting up a new animated project at FOX about fraternal twins from an ordinary family who just happen to be the smartest kids in the world.

UNTITLED TOM HERTZ PROJECT (CBS) - Paulo Costanzo (Michael Tribbiani on "Joey") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about an engaged couple, a married couple and a happily single guy. He'll play the fiance of Kathleen Rose Perkins's character in the Sony Pictures Television-based half-hour, which also stars Megyn Price and Patrick Warburton. Costanzo's involvement is in second position to his duties on the NBC comedy. Andy Ackerman is directing the project from a script by Tom Hertz with Happy Madison's Adam Sandler, Doug Robinson and Jack Giarraputo also serving as executive producers.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [april 2006]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· BRONX IS BURNING, THE (ESPN)
· ELIMIDATE (SYNDICATION)
· FAMILY GUY (FOX)
· HANDLER, THE (CBS)
· HELLO SISTER, GOODBYE LIFE! (ABC FAMILY)
· ISLAND HEAT 1: STRANDED (LIFETIME)
· ISLAND HEAT 2: VANISHED (LIFETIME)
· ISLAND HEAT 3: BREAK-IN (LIFETIME)
· JOEY (NBC)
· KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL (FOX)
· LIES MY MOTHER TOLD ME (LIFETIME)
· LOST (ABC)
· MR. NICE GUY (ABC)
· ONE TREE HILL (CW)
· RESCUE ME (FX)
· RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (CBS)
· SEVENTH HEAVEN (CW)
· SHE SAID, HE SAID (CW)
· SMALLVILLE (CW)
· TWO DREADFUL CHILDREN (FOX)
· TYRA BANKS SHOW, THE (SYNDICATION)





[07/10/25 - 05:03 PM]
Meagan Good Returns to Lifetime to Executive Produce and Star in the Alluring New Thriller "I'll Never Let You Go" Alongside Antonio Cupo and Thomas Cadrot, Premiering August 16 on Lifetime
Good stars as Emily Westover, a poised and successful art gallery director whose life takes a dark turn after a brief, impulsive affair with a magnetic Italian artist, Carlo (Cupo).

[07/10/25 - 12:01 PM]
"Virgin River" Is Returning for Season 8
"On behalf of myself and the whole 'Virgin River' family, we're eternally grateful to Netflix and to the fans for allowing us to continue on this journey with these beloved characters," said showrunner Patrick Sean Smith.

[07/10/25 - 12:00 PM]
ESPN "Sunday Night Baseball Presented by Capital One" Schedule Update: New York Mets to Visit San Francisco Giants on July 27
Karl Ravech will call the action with analyst Eduardo Pérez, analyst and five-time World Series Champion David Cone and reporter Buster Olney.

[07/10/25 - 11:04 AM]
Paris Berelc to Co-Star and Executive Produce Upcoming Tubi Original YA Romantic Comedy Film "Kissing Is the Easy Part"
Fawzia Mirza (The Queen of my Dreams) is set to direct the film, which is based on the popular Wattpad webnovel (currently at 31.9 million reads) of the same name by Christine Duann adapted by Rebecca Webb.

[07/10/25 - 10:30 AM]
HBO Orders Untitled American History Sketch Comedy Starring and Executive Produced by Larry David and Higher Ground
President and Mrs. Obama wanted to honor America's 250th anniversary and celebrate the unique history of our nation on this special occasion. ...But then Larry David called.

[07/10/25 - 10:10 AM]
Apple's Acclaimed Sci-Fi Series "Murderbot" Lands Season Two Renewal
The season one finale of "Murderbot" premieres globally this Friday, July 11.

[07/10/25 - 10:06 AM]
AMC Networks Returns to Comic-Con International with Dynamic Lineup of Fan-Favorite Series Panels, Screenings, A Shudder Fan Activation & More
Panels include a return to Hall H for The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, featuring an exclusive first-look at the official trailer from the third season, premiering Sunday, September 7 on AMC and AMC+.

[07/10/25 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "Marc Maron: Panicked" - Official Trailer - HBO Max
He's mining for gold in a river of panic.

[07/10/25 - 09:55 AM]
"The Great Food Truck Race" Hosted by Tyler Florence Returns with New Roster of Competitors and Epic Culinary Challenges
The new season premieres Sunday, August 3 at 9pm ET/PT and streams next day on HBO Max.

[07/10/25 - 09:39 AM]
Peacock Announces September 4 Premiere Date for "The Paper"
The series premieres on Peacock with four episodes on September 4, followed by two new episodes every Thursday through September 25.

[07/10/25 - 09:34 AM]
MGM+ Unveils "Let The Devil In" Premiere Date
Premiering August 31, the four-episode documentary series is about a decades-old tragedy that destroyed one family and ignited the darkest fears of a small New Jersey town.

[07/10/25 - 09:01 AM]
Prime Video Adds Broadcast Veterans to NBA on Prime Game Coverage Lineup
The broadcast team includes award-winning play-by-play announcers Ian Eagle, Kevin Harlan, Michael Grady and Eric Collins.

[07/10/25 - 09:00 AM]
Video: Starz Releases Key Art and Trailer for Timeless Romantic Drama "Outlander: Blood of My Blood," Premiering Friday, August 8
From the battlefields of World War I to the rugged Highlands of 18th century Scotland, two fated couples must defy the forces that seek to tear them apart, intersecting in surprising and unforeseen ways.

[07/10/25 - 09:00 AM]
Video: Prime Video Releases Trailer and Key Art for Season Two of "Sausage Party: Foodtopia"
All eight episodes of the animated comedy will be served all at once in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide on Prime Video August 13.

[07/10/25 - 08:13 AM]
Star Designer Bobby Berk to Host Newly Greenlit HGTV Series "Junk or Jackpot?" (wt) Produced by John Cena
Executive produced by actor, wrestler and entrepreneur John Cena, the six-episode season follows collectors as they discover the true monetary value of their massive and unusual collections.