or


[01/23/07 - 12:28 AM]
Development Update: Tuesday, January 23
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 signature "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!


ACTION NEWS (TBA, New!) - Emmy-winners Kelsey Grammer ("Frasier") and Patricia Heaton ("Everybody Loves Raymond") reportedly are in talks to topline a potential new comedy from 20th Century Fox Television. Steven Levitan ("Stacked") and Christopher Lloyd ("Out of Practice") are behind the half-hour, which would revolve around a male and female anchor team (Grammer, Heaton) at a local TV station. It's understood the studio is trying to nail down deals with the actors before shopping the project to the various networks. Should it move forward, "News" would mark the first major production for Levitan and Lloyd's new 20th-based production banner.

Commitment: Script
Cast: Kelsey Grammer, Patricia Heaton
Writer: Christopher Lloyd, Steven Levitan
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Christopher Lloyd, Steven Levitan
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television


CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM (HBO)/MY BOYS (TBS) - Pariah's Gavin Polone and Jamie Tarses have parted ways as each has signed overall deals with HBO and Sony Pictures Television respectively. The pair however will continue to oversee their various projects on the air and in development - such as NBC's "The Watch" and David O. Russell's untitled project for FX. Polone's pact with HBO calls for him to develop new series projects for the network as well as covers his duties on "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and the upcoming "Tell Me You Love Me." As for Tarses, she'll launch her own company under the Sony umbrella as part of her 18 month pact (which has an option for an additional year). In addition, she'll continue to executive produce the Sony/Pariah-based "My Boys."


THE CURE (FOX, New!) - Oscar-winning screenwriter Akiva Goldsman ("A Beautiful Mind") has scored a pilot order from FOX for a new drama about a group that cuts through the red tape of medical bureaucracy - often at their own peril - to get care to those who need it most. Patrick Massett and John Zinman ("Friday Night Lights") penned the Warner Bros. Television-based hour and will executive produce alongside Goldsman via his Weed Road Pictures banner. Brittany Lovett and Stephanie Koff also serve as co-executive producers.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: TBA
Writers: John Zinman, Patrick Massett
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Akiva Goldsman (Weed Road Pictures), John Zinman, Patrick Massett
Co-Executive Producers: Brittany Lovett, Stephanie Koff
Studio: Warner Bros. Television


FORT PIT (NBC) - James Badge Dale ("24") has been cast in the lead role of the drama pilot, about one of the worst, most crime-ridden NYPD precincts in Brooklyn, where bad cops are sent to live out their careers and rookie cops with no connections are stationed. He'll play Bobby Bonelli, who's detailed in the casting notice as follows: "23, Fit, handsome. He's fresh out of the police academy and has just been assigned to the infamous 74th Precinct, nicknamed "Fort Pit" by the cops who serve there. At the top of his class, Bonelli is an anomaly among this checkered crew, most of whom were assigned to the 74th as a punishment after various infractions. However, as we soon learn, Bonelli has been assigned to Fort Pit for an undercover assignment -- namely, to clean up the notoriously corrupt precinct. Squeaky clean and intensely idealistic, he soon goes toe-to-toe with the legendary Jack Cade, a highly decorated veteran who clashes violently with his young colleague. But whether Bonelli will succeed in changing the climate on the force, or whether the job will ultimately take its toll on his principles -- principles which may be impossibly high-minded when applied to the harsh realities of his profession -- remains to be seen."

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: James Badge Dale (Bobby Bonelli)
Writers: Michael Chernuchin, Peter Tolan
Director: Peter Tolan
Executive Producers: Denis Leary (Apostle Productions), Jim Serpico (Apostle Productions), Michael Chernuchin, Peter Tolan
Producers: Lou DiGiamo, Robert Cea
Studio: Sony Pictures Television


HEROES (NBC) - Eric Roberts ("Less Than Perfect") is the latest addition to the popular Monday night drama. He'll play Thompson, a new associate of Jack Coleman's character. It's not clear when his first episode will air.


K-VILLE (FOX, New!) - Jonathan Lisco ("Jack & Bobby") has booked a pilot commitment from FOX for a New Orleans-based drama about two cops of different racial backgrounds who have very different takes on how the city should be dealing with its problems post-Katrina. Lisco penned the pilot script to the 20th Century Fox Television-based hour and will executive produce.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: TBA
Writer: Jonathan Lisco
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Jonathan Lisco
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television


THE MASTERSONS OF MANHATTAN (NBC, New!) - The Peacock has given a pilot order to a new sitcom from writer/producer Gary Janetti ("Will & Grace"). The NBC Universal Television-based half-hour is a soapy sitcom about two sisters in a socially prominent family in New York. Janetti wrote the script and will executive produce.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: TBA
Writer: Gary Janetti
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Gary Janetti
Studio: NBC Universal Television Studio


THE RETURN OF JEZEBEL JAMES (FOX) - "Gilmore Girls" alum Scott Cohen is set to reteam with creator Amy Sherman-Palladino on the comedy project, about two estranged sisters who reunite after one of them, Coco, agrees to carry the baby of the other one, Sarah. He'll play Marcus, a charming confirmed bachelor whose relationship with Sarah is all about nice dinners, fancy drinks and sex.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast:
Writer: Amy Sherman-Palladino
Director: Amy Sherman-Palladino
Executive Producers: Amy Sherman-Palladino (Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions)
Studio: Regency Television


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [january 2007]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· 24 (FOX)
· BACK TO YOU (FOX)
· BACKYARDS & BULLETS (NBC)
· CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM (HBO)
· CURE, THE (FOX)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND (CBS)
· FORT PIT (NBC)
· FRASIER (NBC)
· FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (DIRECTV)
· GILMORE GIRLS (CW)
· HEROES (NBC)
· JACK & BOBBY (WB)
· K-VILLE (FOX)
· LESS THAN PERFECT (ABC)
· MASTERSONS OF MANHATTAN, THE (NBC)
· MY BOYS (TBS)
· OUT OF PRACTICE (CBS)
· RETURN OF JEZEBEL JAMES, THE (FOX)
· STACKED (FOX)
· TELL ME YOU LOVE ME (HBO)
· UNTITLED DAVID O. RUSSELL PROJECT (FX)
· WILL & GRACE (NBC)





[01/27/26 - 01:47 PM]
"America's Culinary Cup" Announces the Award-Winning Chefs Invited to Compete for the Biggest Prize in Culinary Television History
The ultimate culinary showdown premieres with a 90-minute episode following "Survivor 50" on Wednesday, March 4.

[01/27/26 - 01:46 PM]
CBS Announces Landmark Crossover Event Between Hit Daytime Dramas "Beyond the Gates" and "The Young and the Restless"
The ambitious storyline will transport six iconic residents from Y&R's Genoa City into BTG's posh gated community, Fairmont Crest, and will air on "Beyond the Gates" in June.

[01/27/26 - 01:45 PM]
CBS Announces the 10 Iconic "Survivor" Episodes Paving the "Road to 50"
Beginning Monday, February 9, the network will present 10 encore episodes from the Emmy-winning series' ground-breaking history showcasing players from the "Survivor 50" cast.

[01/27/26 - 01:23 PM]
NBC Sports' Star-Studded Cast to Present Super Bowl LX Sunday, Feb. 8 on NBC and Peacock, Headlining Biggest Day in Sports on Opening Weekend of "Legendary February"
Super Bowl LX marks NBC's 21st Super Bowl broadcast, and the second on Peacock.

[01/27/26 - 01:01 PM]
Apple TV Renews "Shrinking" for Season Four Ahead of Its Season Three Premiere
Bringing more heart and humor, the series will also see the return of cast members Christa Miller, Emmy Award nominee Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Emmy Award nominee Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell and Ted McGinley.

[01/27/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of January 19 - "The Rip" Is Right on the Money at No. 1 in This Week's Top 10
Audiences kept the suspense going as they streamed the murder-mystery thriller "His & Hers," putting the series at No. 1 on the English TV list with 17.2 million views.

[01/27/26 - 11:59 AM]
Hulu Sets Premiere Date and Title for Upcoming Nikki Glaser Comedy Special
"Nikki Glaser: Good Girl" will stream Friday, April 24 on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers and internationally.

[01/27/26 - 11:30 AM]
Starz Acquires Critically-Acclaimed Drama Series "The Listeners" Starring Rebecca Hall
Based on the novel by Jordan Tannahill, who also wrote the adaptation, the provocative, haunting drama premiered on BBC One in the U.K. to broad critical acclaim and will premiere in the U.S. exclusively in 2026.

[01/27/26 - 11:01 AM]
Richard Dormer Returns to BAFTA-Winning Drama "Blue Lights" for Season Four
Three years into their jobs as response officers, Constables Grace Ellis, Tommy Foster, and Annie Conlon are operating at their limit, facing a new threat on the streets that the police can barely control.

[01/27/26 - 10:30 AM]
Caitlin Clark to Join NBC Sports as Special Contributor for "Basketball Night in America" Before "Sunday Night Basketball" Debuts February 1 at Madison Square Garden
"I'm really excited to be part of the Basketball Night in America crew this season," said Clark. "Carmelo, Vince, and Tracy are legends of the game and Maria is a true professional. It will be really fun to join them a few times this season."

[01/27/26 - 10:10 AM]
FOX Sports and NASCAR Studios Announce New Original Documentary "We've Lost Dale Earnhardt: 25 Years Later" Premiering February 12 on FS1
The film is told through exclusive first-person accounts, rare home video, archival broadcast footage, and cinematic storytelling, revisiting the death of seven-time NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt and examining the profound ripple effects that continue to shape the sport and its culture 25 years later.

[01/27/26 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "Love Is Blind" Season 10 - Meet the Singles - Netflix
Come for the meet cutes, stay for the wedding bells. Hopeful romantics fall in love based solely on their inner beauty in this hit dating experiment.

[01/27/26 - 09:48 AM]
Zorro Is Coming to MHz Choice
Broadly appealing with a light comedic touch, the eight-episode limited series is set to premiere on MHz Choice this summer, launching June 30.

[01/27/26 - 09:24 AM]
CBS News Significantly Expands Its Roster with 19 New Contributors Covering the Worlds of Politics, National Security, Medicine, Health, Happiness, Food, Style and Much More
The new hires were announced today by Bari Weiss, editor-in-chief of CBS News, during an all-hands meeting.

[01/27/26 - 09:01 AM]
"Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen" on March 26th - First Look & Date Announcement
Netflix's limited series comes from the executive producers of "Stranger Things" and the director of "Baby Reindeer."