 |
 |
[02/01/07 - 12:34 AM]
Development Update: Thursday, February 1
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!
THE BEAST (FOX) - Tucker Cawley's sitcom project, based on the British series of the same name, has been ordered to pilot. The workplace comedy centers on a charming and womanizing veterinarian who hates animals but loves the perks his job provides. Cawley penned the pilot script and is executive producing the hour for CBS Paramount Network Television and FremantleMedia North America, who holds the rights to the U.K. original.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot (previously put pilot)
Cast: TBA
Writer: Tucker Cawley
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Tucker Cawley
Studio: CBS Paramount Network Television, FremantleMedia North America
CANTERBURY'S LAW (FOX) - Feature helmer Mike Figgis ("Leaving Las Vegas") has been tapped to direct the hour, about a rebellious female defense attorney who pushes the boundaries of the law to protect innocent clients. The news mark Figgis' first pilot for television.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: TBA
Writer: Dave Erickson
Director: Mike Figgis
Executive Producers: Denis Leary (Apostle Productions), Jim Serpico (Apostle Productions)
Co-Executive Producer: Dave Erickson
Studio: Sony Pictures Television
JUDY'S GOT A GUN (ABC) - Sheree Folkson ("Ugly Betty") has signed on to direct the drama pilot, about Judy Lemen, a detective who struggles to balance her personal life as a single mother with her job investigating the unusual crimes that take place in suburbia.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: TBA
Writers: Michelle King, Robert King
Director: Sheree Folkson
Executive Producers: Michelle King, Robert King, Stu Bloomberg (Cabloom!)
Studio: Touchstone Television
MR. & MRS. SMITH (ABC) - Jordana Brewster ("The Fast and the Furious") has been cast as Jane Smith in the network's small screen take on the feature film, about a married couple who are spies. Her character is described as "cool, tough and smart as she is gorgeous and can disarm a horde of thugs without breaking a sweat."
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Jordana Brewster (Jane Smith)
Writer: Simon Kinberg
Director: Doug Liman
Executive Producers: Dave Bartis (Dutch Oven Productions), Doug Liman (Dutch Oven Productions), Simon Kinberg
Studio: Regency Television
THE OFFICE (NBC) - Ed Helms ("The Daily Show with Jon Stewart") has been upped to series regular on the Emmy-winning comedy. He'll continue in his role of Andy Bernard, an employee of paper supply company Dundler Mifflin's now-defunct Stamford, Connecticut, office. Said development is tied to a talent holding the deal the actor has with producer NBC Universal Television.
PLAYING CHICKEN (FOX) - John Pasquin ("Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous") has come aboard to direct the comedy pilot, about a loud-mouthed conservative and his brother, an intellectual leftie, who are forced to live together after the former suffers an accident that leaves him wheelchair-bound.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: TBA
Writers: John Morris, Sean Anders
Director: John Pasquin
Executive Producers: Eric Gold (Werner-Gold-Miller), Jimmy Miller (Werner-Gold-Miller), Tom Werner (Werner-Gold-Miller)
Co-Executive Producers: John Morris, Sean Anders
Studio: Warner Bros. Television
SEE JAYNE RUN (ABC, New!) - The Alphabet has booked a pilot order for a new comedy about a tough and accomplished investment banker who tries to balance her career and motherhood. Alana Sanko ("Just for Kicks") is behind the single-camera half-hour, which is based at Peter Traugott's Brillstein-Grey Television and Touchstone Television.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: TBA
Writer: Alana Sanko
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Alana Sanko, Peter Traugott (Brillstein-Grey Television)
Studio: Touchstone Television
UNTITLED ELIZABETH MERIWETHER PROJECT (FOX, New!) - Newcomer Elizabeth Meriwether has scored a pilot commitment from FOX for a new single-camera half-hour about four single women as they adjust to life after college. The 20th Century Fox Television-based project, which was developed through the network's Creative Writer Development Initiative, will be executive produced by Dawn Parouse and Jeff Richman with Meriwether serving as a supervising producer.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: TBA
Writer: Elizabeth Meriwether
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Dawn Parouse, Jeff Richman
Supervising Producer: Elizabeth Meriwether
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television
UNTITLED SHANA GOLDBERG-MEEHAN PROJECT (ABC) - "Joey" alum Shana Goldberg-Meehan's latest comedy project has received a pilot order from the network. The Warner Bros. Television-based half-hour revolves around a man and woman who fall in love, despite working for rival Democrat and Republican congressmen who attempt to keep the lovebirds apart.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot (previously put pilot)
Cast: TBA
Writer: Shana Goldberg-Meehan
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Shana Goldberg-Meehan
Studio: Warner Bros. Television
THE VIRGIN OF AKRON, OHIO (Lifetime) - Laurie Metcalf ("Desperate Housewives") is the first to be cast in the drama pilot, about a model who returns home to Ohio and her dysfunctional family before surviving a brutal car crash leading townspeople to believe she was sent from God. She'll play Lydia, the girl's mother. In addition, Randy Zisk ("Prison Break") has come aboard to direct the hour.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Laurie Metcalf (Lydia)
Writer: Jordan Budde
Director: Randy Zisk
Executive Producers: Cary Brokaw, Jordan Budde
Co-Executive Producer: Aaron Geller
Studio: Fox Television Studios
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
|
|
|
 [february 2007]  |
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
| | | | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
[11/07/25 - 03:00 PM]
Peacock Renews "Love Island: Beyond the Villa" for Season Two
The cast of season two includes Bryan Arenales, Gracyn Blackmore, Jeremiah Brown, Clarke Carraway, Amaya Espinal, Hannah Fields, Pepe Garcia, Iris Kendall, TJ Palma, Andreina Santos, Chris Seeley, Belle-A Walker, Coco Watson and Taylor Williams and other islanders from season seven.
|
[11/07/25 - 10:31 AM]
Video: Rockstar Lestat Is Ready for His Close-Up in New Behind-the-Scenes Teaser from Season Three of AMC Networks' Critically Acclaimed Series - "The Vampire Lestat" Debuts 2026 on AMC and AMC+
Resentful of the perfunctory portrayal in the trashy bestseller "Interview with the Vampire," the Vampire Lestat (Sam Reid) sets his story straight in a way only the Vampire Lestat can - by starting a band and going on tour.
|
[11/07/25 - 10:00 AM]
Nate Bargatze to Host New Game Show, "The Greatest Average American"
The series premieres Wednesday, February 25 (9:02-10:02 p.m. EST), on ABC and next day on Hulu.
|
[11/07/25 - 09:02 AM]
From Shiz to Studio 6B: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" Celebrates "Wicked" Week Nov. 16-19
"The Tonight Show's" week-long celebration will feature a magical lineup of the film's stars and special musical moments.
|
[11/07/25 - 08:36 AM]
Super Bowl XLIV Champion Quarterback Drew Brees Joins FOX Sports as NFL Game Analyst
Brees is set to make his debut on Sunday, November 16 on FOX.
|
[11/07/25 - 08:30 AM]
Nominations Revealed for "The 68th Annual Grammy Awards," A Celebration of a Landmark Year in Music
The Grammy Awards will return to Los Angeles' Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, February 1, 2026 (8:00-11:30 PM, live ET/5:00-8:30 PM, live PT) and will broadcast live on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+.
|
[11/07/25 - 08:03 AM]
Video: Prime Video Announces Release Date And Debuts Teaser Trailer For Season Two of "The Night Manager"
The first three episodes will debut on Sunday, January, 11, 2026, on Prime Video, with one new episode releasing every Sunday, until the season finale on Sunday, February 1.
|
[11/07/25 - 07:31 AM]
Netflix Announces "Win the Mall" (W/T) Competition Series
Over eight episodes, 10 teams of expert shoppers face off against each other as they attempt to gain control of storefronts, increase their spending power, and outmaneuver their rivals.
|
[11/07/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "The Stringer: The Man Who Took The Photo" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A former Saigon photo editor reveals a secret he's been plagued with for 52 years, setting off a gripping two-year investigation into the truth behind one of the Vietnam War's most iconic photographs.
|
[11/07/25 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "LEGO Marvel Avengers: Strange Tails" - Official Trailer
Purr-pare for a pawe-some adventure.
|
[11/06/25 - 11:36 PM]
Video: "The Family Man" Season 3 - Official Trailer - Prime Video
Outlawed and on the run, Srikant Tiwari faces sinister forces threatening to ignite chaos in Northeast India, uncovering a conspiracy that could plunge the nation into war.
|
[11/06/25 - 07:01 PM]
Video: "Stranger Things 5" - First Five Minutes - Netflix
With Hawkins under lockdown, El in hiding and danger lurking at every turn, the entire party unites with a single goal: to hunt and kill Vecna.
|
[11/06/25 - 02:15 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 in Total Viewers and Adults 25-54
"Nightline" was up on the previous week by double digits in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49.
|
[11/06/25 - 02:09 PM]
OWN's "Love & Marriage: Huntsville" Back with New Episodes Starting November 15
Also, this December OWN presents the first-ever holiday specials for "Love & Marriage: Huntsville" and "Reality with the King," both hosted by executive producer Carlos King.
|
[11/06/25 - 11:28 AM]
Love, Lies & High Stakes Drama: Viaplay Announces Must-See December U.S. Premieres
Highlights include the new true crime documentary series "Murdering Love."
|
|
|
|
