or


[04/24/06 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: April 20-24
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!

A&E ORIGINAL SERIES (A&E) - The cable channel has confirmed both "Inked" and "Criss Angel: Mindfreak" will debut their second seasons on Wednesday, May 31 while newcomers "Driving Force" and "Gene Simmons' Family Jewels" will bow on Monday, July 17 and Monday, August 7 respectively. In addition, both "Dog the Bounty Hunter" and "The First 48" have been given fourth season renewals (joining the previously announced pick-ups of "Intervention" and "Dallas S.W.A.T."). Finally, A&E has given an eight-episode order to its reality project "Sons of Hollywood" (a docu-soap featuring celebrity kids Randy Spelling, Sean Stewart and Dave Weintraub). The I Candy-based series, from executive producers J.T. Taylor, Nancy Dubuc, Robert Sharenow and Michael Morrison, is set to launch in the first quarter of 2007. And if that wasn't enough, Irwin Entertainment has booked a pilot order at the network for "The Beach," a docu-soap about the lifeguards who live, work and party in Orange County's Huntington Beach.

BARABOO 2010 (NBC)/GENERATIONS (CBS) - Emmy-winner Cheryl Holliday ("King of the Hill") has signed a two-year, seven-figure overall deal with NBC Universal Television. The pact will cover her duties on the cast-contingent pilots "Generations" (for CBS) and "Baraboo 2010" (for NBC) should either move forward to series. In addition, she'll develop other new projects for the studio as well as potentially join one of its existing series.

GILMORE GIRLS (The WB) - Creator Amy Sherman-Palladino and fellow executive producer Dan Palladino won't be returning for the show's seventh season, the pair confirmed on Thursday. "Despite our best efforts to return and ensure the future of 'Gilmore Girls' for years to come, we were unable to reach an agreement with the studio and are therefore leaving when our contracts expire at the end of this season," they said in a joint statement to the press. The news comes in spite of a reported $5 million offer by Warner Bros. Television to oversee what many speculate will be "Gilmore's" final season on the soon-to-launch CW network. It's understood the Palladinos were holding out for a two-year commitment from the studio, a demand hampered by the cast only being signed through the 2006-07 season. In their place, writer David Rosenthal has been tapped as showrunner.

HBO ORIGINAL SERIES (HBO) - Recently launched promos on the pay channel indicate "Deadwood's" third season will bow on Sunday, June 11 at 9:00/8:00c. That same night look for "Entourage" to debut its third season at 10:00/9:00c followed by the premiere of newcomer "Lucky Louie" - HBO's first multi-camera sitcom - at 10:30/9:30c.

HUSTLE (AMC) - The cable channel has confirmed the series will return for its third season of six episodes on Saturday, July 1 at 10:00/9:00c. The series wrapped its initial 12-episode run - featuring its six-episode freshman and sophomore efforts - earlier this month.

THE JANICE DICKINSON MODELING AGENCY (Oxygen) - The Janice Dickinson-led reality series - in which the former "America's Next Top Model" judge starts her own Hollywood modeling agency - reportedly will debut on Tuesday, June 6 at 10:00/9:00c.

MAKE IT HAPPEN (ABC, New!) - eBay is partnering with Tom Mazza's Madison Road Productions and executive producers Flody Suarez ("The Book of Daniel") and Jay Blumenfield & Tony Marsh ("Family Business") for a potential new reality series in which a team of experts help families identify their "hidden treasures" and put them up for auction on the famed web site in order to raise funds for making the family's dreams come true. Casting is currently underway on the project (visit here for more info), which could be ready to air as early as this summer. Blumenfield and Marsh then would serve as showrunners on "Happen" with Suarez and Mazza also executive producing.

MTV ORIGINAL SERIES (MTV) - Promos currently running on the cable channel indicate the Jamie Kennedy-led "Blowin' Up" will launch on Tuesday, May 16 at 10:30/9:30c. Meanwhile, "Laguna Beach's" spin-off "The Hills" has had its premiere bumped from May 24 to May 31 at 10:00/9:00c. And lastly, look for "Pimp My Ride," "Making the Band" and "Run's House" to return with new installments on Thursday, June 15 (exact times TBA).

SCRUBS (NBC) - Bill Callahan, a co-executive producer on the series, has inked a two-year, seven-figure pact with producer Touchstone Television. The deal will keep Callahan on board the veteran comedy should it return next season as well as give him the option to develop new projects for the studio.

UNTITLED PAUL ABDUL PROJECT (Syndication, New!) - CBS Paramount Domestic Television reportedly is developing a new syndicated project around "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul. No details about the format or other specifics were released. Abdul also serves as a special correspondent on the company's "Entertainment Tonight."

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [april 2006]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· AMERICAN IDOL (ABC)
· AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL (VH1)
· BARABOO 2010 (NBC)
· BEACH, THE (A AND E)
· BLOWIN' UP (MTV)
· BOOK OF DANIEL, THE (NBC)
· BUY IT NOW (ABC)
· CRISS ANGEL: MINDFREAK (A AND E)
· DALLAS SWAT (A AND E)
· DEADWOOD (HBO)
· DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER (A AND E)
· DRIVING FORCE (A AND E)
· ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT (SYNDICATION)
· ENTOURAGE (HBO)
· FAMILY BUSINESS (SHOWTIME)
· FIRST 48, THE (A AND E)
· GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS (A AND E)
· GENERATIONS (CBS)
· GILMORE GIRLS (CW)
· HILLS, THE (MTV)
· HUSTLE (AMC)
· INKED (A AND E)
· INTERVENTION (A AND E)
· JANICE DICKINSON MODELING AGENCY, THE (OXYGEN)
· KING OF THE HILL (HULU)
· LUCKY LOUIE (HBO)
· MAKING THE BAND (MTV)
· NEWPORT HARBOR: THE REAL ORANGE COUNTY (MTV)
· PIMP MY RIDE (MTV)
· RUN'S HOUSE (MTV)
· SCRUBS (ABC)
· SONS OF HOLLYWOOD (A AND E)
· UNTITLED PAUL ABDUL PROJECT (SYNDICATION)





[06/19/26 - 06:01 AM]
New Updates on Three Upcoming Netflix Anime Titles Revealed at MAPPA's 15th Anniversary Presentation
"Jimoto Saiko!" (wt) and "Beat & Motion" will join the previously announced third season of "Ranma1/2."

[06/19/26 - 05:01 AM]
Netflix Announces Two New Samay Raina Titles: "India's Got Latent" Season 2 and an All-New Comedy Special in the Works
Raina's all-new comedy special, exclusive to Netflix, which is currently in development, will showcase Samay's signature observational humor, sharp storytelling, and unique perspective that have made him one of the most influential voices in contemporary Indian comedy.

[06/18/26 - 03:01 PM]
"Bet" Season 2 Sets Additional Cast and Starts Production in Toronto
Season 1 reached the global top 10 on Netflix in 77 countries and spent three weeks on the list with over 10 million views during that time.

[06/18/26 - 03:00 PM]
AMC Global Media's Critically Acclaimed Drama, "The Audacity," Commences Season 2 Production
Production of the eight-episode second season is underway in Vancouver, Canada, with the series returning to AMC and AMC+ in 2027.

[06/18/26 - 02:47 PM]
Stars Shine Bright on FOX as Strong FIFA World Cup 2026 Viewership Continues
9,082,000 viewers witnessed Lionel Messi's hat trick with Argentina defeating Algeria 3-0 Tuesday on FOX.

[06/18/26 - 02:34 PM]
UFC Freedom 250 Reaches 17M Total Viewers in U.S. and Latin America on Paramount+
Since the beginning of the year, 16 million subscriber households have watched more than 180 million hours of UFC programming on Paramount+ - delivering viewership more than 20x the average pay-per-view event over the past two years.

[06/18/26 - 01:56 PM]
"Rulers of Fortune": Netflix Gathers Cast to Celebrate the Start of Season 2 Production
Season 1 was a massive success, reaching Netflix's Global Top 10 and spending six weeks among the platform's most-watched non-English-language titles worldwide.

[06/18/26 - 12:30 PM]
Wonder Project Unveils First-Ever Line-Up of Six Stand-Up Comedy Specials - "Wonder Presents: The Stand-Ups" - Beginning July 2
From award-winning comedy studio, New Metric Media, each of the six specials will debut weekly, starring comedians Caroline Rhea, K. Trevor Wilson, Sterling Scott, Ola Dada, Zabrina Douglas, and Erica Sigurdson.

[06/18/26 - 12:05 PM]
Lacey Chabert Brings a Beloved Romantic Story to Life in the Limited Series "Paris Is Always a Good Idea," Premiering Thursday, July 30 Exclusively on Hallmark+
Based on the bestselling novel by Jenn McKinlay, the six-episode globe-trotting romance takes viewers on a heartfelt journey through Paris, Ireland and Spain filled with love, self-discovery and second chances.

[06/18/26 - 11:11 AM]
Prime Video Announces Season Three of "Fallout" Adds Emily Mortimer, Manny Jacinto, and Thomasin McKenzie to Cast
The critically acclaimed global hit series, from Kilter Films, returns to Los Angeles this month to begin filming season three.

[06/18/26 - 11:01 AM]
Apple Original Films to Bring Beloved Children's Book "Little Santa" to the Screen
How did Santa become Santa? The answer is in the evergreen musical comedy adventure, "Little Santa."

[06/18/26 - 11:00 AM]
FOX Creator Studios Expands Roster with New Wave of Creator Partners, Original Formats and Premium IP
Now joining the FCS roster, which already ranges from culinary icon Gordon Ramsay to renowned comedian Tom Segura, are popular creators including Josh Richards, Emelia Hartford, Speeed Co, Sorted Food, MyHealthyDish, Mad Realities, and Christina Richardson.

[06/18/26 - 10:31 AM]
Netflix's "The God of the Woods" Rounds Out Cast with Tracy Letts, John Gallagher Jr. Lola Kirke, Colton Ryan and More
The multi-generational drama series explores the Van Laar family's dark secrets, class tensions, and the mysteries surrounding the disappearance of 13 year old Barbara Van Laar from her family's summer camp - in the wake of an earlier family tragedy that may be related.

[06/18/26 - 10:31 AM]
"Jimmy Kimmel Live" Announces a Strong Lineup of Summer Guest Hosts
Tiffany Haddish will lead things off, hosting the week of July 6, followed throughout the summer by Anthony Anderson, Ike Barinholtz, Colman Domingo and Jelly Roll.

[06/18/26 - 10:12 AM]
Missing Woman, Endless Questions: David Morrissey Stars in "Gone" - BritBox's Latest Gripping Crime Thriller
Packed with twists and emotional stakes, the series premieres July 23 on BritBox.