or


[05/12/06 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: May 9-12
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!

BIG SHOT (Showtime, New!) - Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner's Hazy Mills Productions is developing a new unflinching drama at the pay channel about pop icon Billy Joel's early years. Paul Chart ("Children of Men") is on board to write the pilot script, which opens in the mid-1970s and follows Joel's first marriage to his then-business manager Elizabeth Weber. Hayes, Milliner and Andrew Harrison Leeds - along with Joel himself - then will serve as executive producers. No other details were given.

CABLE RATINGS ROUND-UP (Various) - HBO's "The Sopranos" continued its cable dominance for the week of May 1-7 with 8.5 million viewers tuning in. Lead-out "Big Love" drew 4.0 million viewers, taking seventh place overall for the week. Outside the top 15, Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Orange County" signed off with a series-high 923,000 viewers on May 2 while "Nashville Star" closed its fourth season to the tune of 3.0 million viewers that same night (down 11.76% from its season three finale).

CROSSING JORDAN (NBC) - Jon Cowan, Robert Rovner and Kathy McCormick have been tapped as co-showrunners of the Peacock drama. They'll take over for creator Tim Kring, who's moving on to his new NBC drama "Heroes." The trio will serve alongside fellow returning executive producers Alan Arkush and Dennis Hammer. As part of the promotions, Cowan and Rovner have each signed two-year overall deals with producer NBC Universal Television while McCormick has inked a one-year deal. The former pair then is expected to focus on development for the second year of the pact.

EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION (ABC) - Denise Cramsey ("House Wars") has been upped to executive producer/showrunner on Endemol USA's veteran alternative series. Cramsey, who had been a co-executive producer since 2004, will take over Tom Forman, who's leaving as part of a new overall deal at CBS Paramount Network Television.

FAST INC. (MTV) - Promos currently running on the cable channel indicate the series, about the company of the same name as they "utilize their connections, craftiness, and charisma to field vintage and muscle car requests from celebrities, models, and eccentric millionaires," will launch on Monday, June 5 at 10:30/9:30c.

GREY'S ANATOMY (ABC) - Writer/producer Debora Cahn ("The West Wing") has inked a two-year overall deal with Touchstone Television. The pact, financial details of which weren't specified, calls for Cahn to join "Grey's Anatomy" next season as a supervising producer as well as develop new projects for the studio.

HBO ORIGINAL PROJECTS (HBO, New!) - The pay channel is said to be close to issuing pilot orders to two projects - "12 Miles of Bad Road," a comedy series about a Dallas matriarchy, and an untitled hour from "Deadwood" creator David Milch and author Kem Nunn ("Tapping the Source") set in the world of surfing. The former project comes from creators/executive producers Linda Bloodworth-Thomason and Harry Thomason ("Emeril") while the latter will be co-written by Milch and Nunn with the pair also executive producing alongside Howard Rosenman. Surf legend Herb "Herbie" Fletcher and wife Dibi are also expected to serve as consultants. No specifics however were released about either project. Meanwhile, pre-production reportedly has begun on "In Treatment," a serialized drama told from the point of view of therapists and their patients. HBO is in talks to order five episodes of the series, which is based on the Israeli series "BeTipul." Hagai Levi and Steve Levinson are the executive producers.

KINGS OF SOUTH BEACH (A&E) - "Boomtown" alums Donnie Wahlberg and Jason Gedrick are set to topline the original movie, about the true story of nightclub impresario Chris Paciello, who revived the South Beach scene with aid of the mob. Tim Hunter ("Cold Case") is directing the project, which begins production this month in Puerto Rico, from a script by Nick Pileggi ("Goodfellas"). Sonny Grosso and Larry Jacobson's Grosso-Jacobson Communications is producing the movie in association with Sony Pictures Television. Delia Fine and Clay Kahler also serve as executive producers.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [may 2006]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· 12 MILES OF BAD ROAD (HBO)
· BIG LOVE (HBO)
· BIG SHOT (SHOWTIME)
· BOOMTOWN (NBC)
· COLD CASE (CBS)
· CROSSING JORDAN (NBC)
· EMERIL (NBC)
· EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION (HGTV)
· FAST INC. (MTV)
· GREY'S ANATOMY (ABC)
· HEROES (NBC)
· HOUSE WARS (USA)
· IN TREATMENT (HBO)
· JOHN FROM CINCINNATI (HBO)
· KINGS OF SOUTH BEACH (A AND E)
· NASHVILLE STAR (NBC)
· REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ORANGE COUNTY, THE (BRAVO)
· SOPRANOS, THE (HBO)
· WEST WING, THE (NBC)





[08/27/26 - 10:15 AM]
Adult Swim to Serve Up New Series "Get Jiro" October 3
From Warner Bros. Animation and DC Studios and starring Brian Tee, the series transports viewers to a post-apocalyptic, near-future Los Angeles where culinary culture reigns supreme and the world's most powerful figures are chefs.

[08/27/26 - 10:00 AM]
Video: Starz Debuts Exhilarating Trailer and Key Art for Season Two of "Outlander: Blood of My Blood," Premiering Friday, September 18
The heart-pounding new trailer takes viewers on a captivating journey back in time to 1700s Scotland and the start of the Jacobite Uprising.

[08/27/26 - 10:00 AM]
The CW Network to Broadcast San Diego's 2026 Poinsettia Bowl and Holiday Bowl Games
The SDCCU Poinsettia Bowl returns to the college football schedule after a decade-long hiatus live on Wednesday, December 23, at 7:30pm ET / 4:30pm PT, with the Holiday Bowl following on Monday, December 28, at 5:00pm ET / 2:00pm PT.

[08/27/26 - 09:31 AM]
New Netflix Documentary Series "Born in the USA" Explores the High-Stakes World of a Busy Maternity Ward
With exclusive access to a busy maternity ward, this new premium documentary series unlocks a high-stakes hidden world: birth.

[08/27/26 - 09:01 AM]
ESPN and Words + Pictures Announce October 8 Premiere for "Saban," Landmark ESPN Original Series on Hall of Fame Icon Nick Saban
The series tells the story of Saban's remarkable career, highlighted by his 17 seasons at Alabama, where he led the Crimson Tide to six national championships and reestablished the program as the preeminent force in college football.

[08/27/26 - 08:31 AM]
Video: "Stavros Halkias: Uncle Stav" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Fresh off becoming an uncle this year, Stavros Halkias is back for his second Netflix special, "Uncle Stav."

[08/27/26 - 08:01 AM]
HBO Original Comedy Series "Youth," from Sharon Horgan, Debuts September 20
The series follows a 50-year-old divorcee's search for sex and love whilst juggling caring for her ailing parents and parenting her should-be grown up son.

[08/27/26 - 07:59 AM]
Paramount+ Sets September 4 Premiere for Original Football Docuseries "The Program: Texas Tech"
Produced by Skydance Sports and Second Wind Creative, the four-part series gives unprecedented access into the Texas Tech University Red Raiders College Football Program through one of the most consequential off-seasons in the history of the sport.

[08/27/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Unabomber" - Official Trailer - Netflix
In this drama inspired by true events, Ted Kaczynski's path from Harvard prodigy and test subject to the Unabomber unfolds as the FBI hunts him down.

[08/27/26 - 07:01 AM]
BET's Hit Drama "Tyler Perry's Sistas" Returns for the Second Half of Its Milestone 10th Season, Wednesday, October 7, at 9/8c on BET
KJ Smith Black, Mignon, and Crystal ReneƩ Hayslett, Jordan Coleman, and Tunde Oyeneyin return as series regulars, joined by Angela Beyince, Devale Ellis, Brian Jordan, Jr., Chris Warren, Angela Beyince, Branden Wellington and Monti Washington.

[08/27/26 - 07:00 AM]
CBS Presents "Remembering Dolly: A Rhinestone Life," An "Entertainment Tonight" Special, to Air Sunday, Aug. 30 at 8:00 PM on CBS and Stream on Paramount+
Hosted by Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner, the special celebrates the extraordinary life and legacy of Dolly Parton.

[08/27/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Go Team!" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When their team-building event gets downgraded to a tiny village, a cheese company's staff think it can't get worse - then they learn about the layoffs.

[08/27/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Toy Story 5" - Coming to Disney+ September 23rd
The toys have a new home... on Disney+.

[08/27/26 - 06:00 AM]
CBS Announces Inaugural Special "America's Tailgate on CBS," Hosted by Nate Burleson with Co-Host Melanie Collins, Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7
The brand-new event from Nashville will feature correspondent Whitney Cummings; A-list musical performances in "Music City" from Chase Rice, Gabby Barrett, John Legend and Sheryl Crow; and special appearances by NFL MVP and executive producer Josh Allen and "The NFL Today's" Kyle Long and Russell Wilson.

[08/27/26 - 05:01 AM]
Video: "The Ramparts of Ice" Season 2 - Official Trailer - Netflix
Koyuki wrestles with longing as Minato drifts on thin ice. Meanwhile, Miki and Yota face a strained bond. Can the four friends untangle their feelings?