or


[01/31/07 - 12:57 AM]
Development Update: Wednesday, January 31
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!


ALL FALL DOWN (ABC) - Lawrence Trilling ("Invasion") has signed on to direct the hour, about a successful female attorney who leaves her high-powered big-city law firm to move home to Savannah, Georgia, where her crazy relatives live, and winds up joining her father's family law practice.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: TBA
Writer: Rina Mimoun
Director: Lawrence Trilling
Executive Producers: Rina Mimoun
Studio: Warner Bros. Television


ANCHORWOMAN (FOX, New!) - Model-turned-actress Amber Smith is set to topline a new partially scripted comedy about a supermodel who settles down in a southern Texas town and becomes an anchorwoman for the local news. Chad Damiani ("World Fighting Alliance") and newcomer J.P. Lavin are behind the half-hour, which has a pilot presentation order from the network. The pair will also executive produce alongside Brian Gadinsky for Fox 21.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot (7-10 minute presentation)
Cast: Amber Smith
Writers: Chad Damiani, J.P. Lavin
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Brian Gadinsky
Studio: Fox 21


THE CURE (FOX) - Danny Cannon ("C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation") is set to direct and executive produce the drama pilot, 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.

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


DIRTY SEXY MONEY (ABC) - Peter Horton ("Grey's Anatomy") has been tapped to direct the drama pilot, about drama about an idealistic lawyer who takes on the job of tending to the legal and sometimes illegal needs of a wealthy and colorful New York family.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: TBA
Writer: Craig Wright
Director: Peter Horton
Executive Producers: Craig Wright, Greg Berlanti (Berlanti Television)
Studio: Touchstone Television


LIFE (NBC) - Adam Arkin ("Boston Legal") has joined the cast of the drama pilot, about Billy Crews (Damian Lewis), an ex-cop who rejoins the force after being wrongly imprisoned for years. He'll play a former chief financial officer who befriended Crews in prison while he served time for insider trading and who now lives in a room over Crews' garage and handles his settlement money.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Adam Arkin, Damien Lewis (Billy Crews), Melissa Sagemiller, Sarah Shahi (Dani Reese)
Writer: Rand Ravich
Director: David Semel
Executive Producers: David Semel, Far Shariat, Rand Ravich
Studio: NBC Universal Television Studio


LIFE ON MARS (ABC) - David E. Kelley's import of the BBC series, about a detective whose girlfriend has just been kidnapped finds himself transported back to the 1970s, has formally been ordered to pilot. Kelley penned the pilot script and will executive produce alongside Stephen Garrett and Jane Featherstone for 20th Century Fox Television.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot (previously put pilot)
Cast: TBA
Writer: David E. Kelley
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: David E. Kelley (David E. Kelley Productions), Jane Featherstone (Kudos Productions), Stephen Garrett (Kudos Productions)
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television


MARLOWE (ABC) - Jason O'Mara ("In Justice") is in final talks to topline the pilot, a procedural crime drama set in present-day Los Angeles. He'll play the title role of Philip Marlowe, Raymond Chandler's famed noir private eye. In addition, O'Mara - who previously had signed a talent holding deal with the network and producer Touchstone Television - is also expected to receive a producer credit.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Jason O'Mara (Philip Marlowe)
Writers: Carol Wolper, Greg Pruss
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Carol Wolper, Daniel H. Blatt, Daniel Pipski, Greg Pruss, Sean Bailey (LivePlanet)
Producer: Jason O'Mara
Studios: Chorion Limited, Touchstone Television


N.S.A. INNOCENT (FOX) - Stana Katic ("24") is the first to be cast in the drama pilot, about a family man who winds up recruited by the N.S.A. as a spy. She'll play Baker, who's described in the casting notice as: "Mid 30's, any ethnicity. NSA agent. Smart, sexy and tough, responsible for "recruiting" Paul against his will. Despite her outwardly calm and professional manner, she harbors a secret tragedy which is hinted at in the pilot and will be explored during the series. She may also find herself, against her better judgment, attracted to Paul more than she should be."

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Stana Katic (Baker)
Writers: Bob Cochran, David Ehrman
Director: Jon Cassar
Executive Producers: Bob Cochran (Real Time Productions), David Ehrman, Howard Gordon (Real Time Productions), Joel Surnow (Real Time Productions)
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television


NICE GIRLS DON'T GET THE CORNER OFFICE (ABC, New!) - Josh Sternin and Jeff Ventimilia have booked a pilot commitment from the Alphabet for a small screen take on Dr. Lois Frankel's book of the same name. The comedy project, about the struggles of a "nice girl" to make it in the cutthroat corporate world, is based at Brian Grazer and David Nevins's Imagine Television with all four serving as executive producers. Frankel herself and Julie Richardson are also set to receive producing credits on the half-hour, which is set up at 20th Century Fox Television.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: TBA
Writers: Jeff Ventimilia, Josh Sternin
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Brian Grazer (Imagine Television), David Nevins (Imagine Television), Jeff Ventimilia, Josh Sternin
Producers: Julie Richardson, Lois Frankel
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television


UNTITLED DAVID SHORE/PETER BLAKE PROJECT (NBC) - Feature helmer Tony Goldwyn ("The Last Kiss") has come aboard to direct the Famke Janssen-led pilot, a light drama with procedural elements centered on a female cop.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Famke Janssen
Writers: David Shore, Peter Blake
Director: Tony Goldwyn
Executive Producers: David Shore (Shore Z Productions), Peter Blake
Studio: NBC Universal Television Studio


UNTITLED GABE SACHS/JEFF JUDAH PROJECT (ABC, New!) - Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah ("What About Brian") have scored a pilot order from the Alphabet for a new comedy about co-workers and friends in a top law firm who also are competing with one another to make partner. The untitled half-hour is based at Touchstone Television with the pair writing and executive producing.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: TBA
Writer: Gabe Sachs, Jeff Judah
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Gabe Sachs, Jeff Judah
Studio: Touchstone Television


UNTITLED KESSLERS/ZELMAN PROJECT (FX) - Ted Danson ("Help Me Help You") has joined the cast of the drama pilot, about Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne), a beautiful, self-possessed attorney fresh out of law school who lands her dream job working for Patty Hewes (Glenn Close), America's foremost high-stakes litigator. Danson would play Arthur Frobisher, a corporate executive involved in a class-action lawsuit brought by Hewes that will serve as the focus of the show's first season.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Glenn Close (Patty Hewes), Noah Bean, Rose Byrne (Ellen Parsons), Tate Donovan (Tom Kent), Ted Danson (Arthur Frobisher), Zeljko Ivanek (Ray Fiske)
Writers: Daniel Zelman, Glenn Kessler, Todd A. Kessler
Director: Allen Coulter
Executive Producers: Daniel Zelman, Glenn Kessler, Todd A. Kessler
Studio: Sony Pictures Television


WORK WIFE (FOX) - Barbie Feldman Adler and Brad Copeland's comedy project, about a female reporter and her male co-worker as they navigate the challenges that their partnership at work brings to their relationships at home, has been given a cast-contingent pilot order. The pair penned the pilot script and will executive produce for 20th Century Fox Television.

Commitment: Cast-contingent (previous put pilot)
Cast: TBA
Writers: Barbie Feldman Adler, Brad Copeland
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Barbie Feldman Adler, Brad Copeland
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [january 2007]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· 24 (FOX)
· ALL FALL DOWN (ABC)
· ANCHORWOMAN (FOX)
· BOSTON LEGAL (ABC)
· COMPANY MAN (FOX)
· CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (CBS)
· CURE, THE (FOX)
· DAMAGES (AUDIENCE)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· DIRTY SEXY MONEY (ABC)
· GREY'S ANATOMY (ABC)
· HELP ME HELP YOU (ABC)
· IN JUSTICE (ABC)
· INVASION (ABC)
· LIFE (NBC)
· LIFE ON MARS (ABC)
· MARLOWE (ABC)
· NICE GIRLS DON'T GET THE CORNER OFFICE (ABC)
· UNTITLED SACHS & JUDAH PROJECT (ABC)
· WHAT ABOUT BRIAN (ABC)
· WINTERS (NBC)
· WORK WIFE (FOX)





[01/09/26 - 12:02 PM]
A New Season of Hilarie Burton-Morgan's Documentary Series "True Crime Story: It Couldn't Happen Here" Returns February 19 on SundanceTV and Streaming Across AMC+ and All Reality
The new six-episode season examines the challenges and complexities of small-town justice, spotlighting cases that range from unsolved missing persons and wrongful convictions, to death while in police custody.

[01/09/26 - 12:01 PM]
Video: "Eternity" - Official Trailer - Apple TV
"Eternity," starring Miles Teller, Elizabeth Olsen and Callum Turner, premieres February 13 on Apple TV.

[01/09/26 - 11:01 AM]
"Love Island: All Stars" Returns to Peacock as Season Three Premieres on January 14
The first episode premieres exclusively in the U.S. on Wednesday, January 14, with new episodes streaming on Peacock every day at 9:00/8:00c.

[01/09/26 - 09:05 AM]
Ohtani, Judge, Yankees-Red Sox, Dodgers-Yankees, Cubs-Cardinals, and Additional Premium Matchups Headline "Sunday Night Baseball" Schedule as Major League Baseball Returns to NBC and Peacock
Highlights include the special July 5 "Star-Spangled Sunday" featuring all 15 MLB games exclusively presented nationally on Peacock and NBC.

[01/09/26 - 09:00 AM]
CBS Program Advisory: "Harlan Coben's Final Twist"
Beginning Tuesday, January 13, "Harlan Coben's Final Twist" will air original episodes Tuesdays at 8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT, with encore episodes airing Wednesdays at 10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT.

[01/09/26 - 08:47 AM]
ESPN's Second Most-Watched NBA Regular Season Ever
Through 21 games, the NBA on ESPN networks is averaging 2.6M viewers, up 35 percent from last season.

[01/09/26 - 08:31 AM]
Video: Peacock Releases Official Trailer, Key Art and New Images for "The 'Burbs"
All 8 episodes will premiere on Peacock Sunday, February 8, 2026.

[01/09/26 - 02:35 AM]
Paapa Essiedu Returns for "The Capture" Series 3 with New Pictures and Further Casting for the Hit Thriller Announced
The BBC has released new pictures from the series which show Paapa alongside Holliday Grainger who leads the cast as Rachel Carey.

[01/08/26 - 06:01 PM]
Video: "Undercover Miss Hong" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A tenacious investigator goes undercover at a securities firm to expose corruption, but her mission is complicated by its new CEO - her former lover.

[01/08/26 - 02:00 PM]
ESPN Networks Deliver Record-Breaking Viewership for 2025-26 FCS Playoffs and Championship
The 2026 FCS Championship Game averaged 2.3 million viewers on ESPN, ranking as the third-best FCS Championship audience ever.

[01/08/26 - 01:17 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 in All Key Demos
In fact, "Nightline" is ranking No. 1 in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 for the 3rd straight year.

[01/08/26 - 01:16 PM]
ABC News' Primetime Special "The Year: 2025" Earns Nearly 4 Million Total Viewers - Growing by Double Digits Over Last Year in Multiplatform Viewing
The 15th annual year-end special earned 3.857 million Total Viewers, growing impressively over last year's performance by +37% (vs. 2.818 million), after three days of viewing on ABC, Disney+, Hulu and digital platforms.

[01/08/26 - 01:15 PM]
"Dirty Talk: When Daytime Talk Shows Ruled TV" Premieres Wednesday, Jan. 14, on ABC and Streams Next Day on Disney+ and Hulu
By exploring the psychological forces that shaped the talk TV genre, the series reveals how these shows transformed from trusted confessional spaces into lightning rods of controversy, leaving a lasting impact on culture, media and the people caught in the chaos.

[01/08/26 - 12:07 PM]
Hulu Acquires Rights to All Seasons of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" from Versant, Expanding the Kardashian Universe Offering of Series and Specials
All titles will be available to stream on Hulu beginning February 17, 2026.

[01/08/26 - 12:01 PM]
Video: Paramount+ Releases Official Trailer for New Docuseries "Handsome Devil: Charming Killer"
The three-part docuseries premieres Tuesday, January 20, exclusively on Paramount+.