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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!
AGE OF LOVE (NBC, New!) - The Peacock has given a pilot order to 3 Ball Productions ("Beauty and the Geek") for a new reality dating series. Mark Consuelos (Lifetime's "Missing") is already on board to host the project, which is currently casting for single men (28-36) and women (21-50). While specifics about the show are being kept under wraps, a casting notice indicates: "We are currently casting a prime time show for a Major Network. It's all about modern romance and finding love in an increasingly complicated world. If you're a single female looking for love, we'd love to meet you. We have one of the world's most eligible bachelors waiting for you. We are looking for all age ranges, please do not hesitate and apply!"
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Mark Consuelos (Host)
Writer: TBA
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: J.D. Roth, Todd Nelson
Studio: 3 Ball Productions
THE BEAST (FOX) - Josh Dean ("Free Ride") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about a womanizing veterinarian (Steve Howey). Dean, whose casting stems from a talent holding deal with the network, will play Frank Hopper. His character is detailed in the casting notice as follows: "20, chipper, eager to please, but inexperienced in the ways of the world, especially woman. He's an assistant at Ty's veterinary clinic who idolizes Ty and develops a crush on PJ. He tries to work up the nerve to tell PJ he's sweet on her, but is mortified to learn she thinks he is gay."
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Josh Dean (Frank Hopper), Steve Howey (Tyler Droop)
Writer: Tucker Cawley
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Tucker Cawley
Studios: CBS Paramount Network Television, FremantleMedia North America
DRAWN TOGETHER (Comedy Central) - Co-creators Matt Silverstein and Dave Jeser have inked a two-year, seven-figure overall deal with 20th Century Fox Television. The pact calls for the duo to develop new projects for the studio as well as potentially work on one of its existing properties. As for "Together," the duo will no longer be involved with series on a day-to-day basis should it return for a fourth season. The back half of the show's third season is due to air on the cable channel this summer.
EIGHT DAYS A WEEK (The CW) - Anna Chlumsky ("My Girl") is the first to be cast in the comedy pilot, about four twentysomethings who work under the top movers and shakers in New York City. She'll play one of the quartet, a girl-next-door personal assistant to an egomaniacal web site publisher.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Anna Chlumsky
Writers: Marcie Ulin, Meredith Lavender
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Marcie Ulin, Meredith Lavender, Sean Hayes (Hazy Mills Productions), Todd Milliner (Hazy Mills Productions)
Studio: CBS Paramount Network Television
FAMILY OF THE YEAR (ABC) - Jennifer Coolidge ("Joey") and Alan Ruck ("Spin City") have been cast in the final principal roles on the comedy pilot, about a 10-time winner of the "family of the year" title in their dusty New Mexico home town. She's set as Jackie Holloway, who's detailed in the casting notice as: "40-50, the matriarch of the family. Jackie is a former beauty queen who is always well-coiffed, and dressed right from Chico's catalogue (think Annette Bening). A woman who doesn't take well to being thwarted, Jackie married into the rich and powerful Holloway clan, only to learn that her father-in-law keeps her husband on a tight leash and allows him no power. A status-obsessed woman who puts on a bright face in public, she's a manipulative harpie when she's alone with her family, eagerly pitting one child against each other. Used to coaching her daughter Tatum (named after their home town as a naked ploy to curry favor) to win in every competition, Jackie is simmering with unvented fury when Tatum decides to drop out of active competition in this year's pageant, and Jackie takes desperate, double-dealing steps (not for the first time, not for the last) to get her own way."
Ruck then will play her husband, Dick Holloway: "45-55, the emasculated father of the family. Dick is a Southwestern businessman with an affable, not very bright, G.W. Bush-esque personality. He's well respected in the community and quite charismatic in public, but it's at home where he has his problems. Under the thumb of his dad all his life, Dick runs Holloway Lumber, the smallest branch of his dad's business empire, Dick keeps fighting for status and praise, but his papa just swats him away like a pesky fly. Berated for the last 25 years over his failure to make an impossible 49 yard field goal, Dick is also under the thumb of his wife, simply because her vibrant, crackling, domineering personality makes him seem like Jackie's little bitch -- and in fact, he usually sleeps in his office rather than in his wife's bed. An avid hunter, Dick goes along in order to get along, and appears to have eaten way more than his share of crap in his middle-aged life."
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Alan Ruck (Dick Holloway), Dina Waters (Barbara Anderson), Jennifer Coolidge (Jackie Holloway), Robert Vaughn (Monty Holloway), Shana Dowdeswell (Tatum Sue Holloway), Tommy Dewey (Boots Robert Holloway)
Writers: Erica Rivinoja, Pam Brady
Director: Michael Lehmann
Executive Producers: Erica Rivinoja, Pam Brady
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television
GAME SHOW IN MY HEAD (CBS) - "Saturday Night Live" alum Chris Kattan has signed on to host the game show pilot, which revolves around people performing stunts for hidden cameras.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Chris Kattan (Host)
Writer: TBA
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Ashton Kutcher (Katalyst Films), Jason Goldberg (Katalyst Films), Jimmy Mulville (Hat Trick Productions), Leon Wilde (Hat Trick Productions)
Studio: Fox 21
HBO ORIGINAL SERIES (HBO) - The pay channel has confirmed its summer schedule (via The New York Times), which will see the network expand to three hours of original programming on its signature night. It all starts on Sunday, June 10 at 9:00/8:00c with the swan song of "The Sopranos." Said finale will lead into the series premiere of David Milch's "John From Cincinnati" at 10:00/9:00c. The following week, on June 17, "John" will slide into the 9:00/8:00c hour where it will be bookended by season two of "Big Love" at 8:00/7:00c and season four of "Entourage" at 10:00/9:00c. Closing out the night then will be newcomer "Flight of the Conchords," a "Curb Your Enthusiasm"-esque comedy about the fictionalized life of the New Zealand folk parody duo of the same name, at 10:30/9:30c. Beyond this summer, look for the serialized comedy "In Treatment" and the relationship dramedy "Tell Me You Love Me" in the fall while fellow newbies "12 Miles of Bad Road" and (potentially) "True Blood" are due in 2008. ("Blood," which is currently casting its pilot, has yet to officially be ordered to series.) And finally, last but certainly not least, look for the final season of "The Wire" and a fresh run of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" sometime in 2008.
THE HOT YEARS/REVENGE (A.K.A. UNTITLED DAMON SANTOSTEFANO PROJECT) (FOX) - Robert Hoffman ("Vanished") has landed guest roles on both comedy pilots. He'll play Josh in the former, about "four twenty-somethings, living in the age of text messaging and Internet hookups, who have more interest in great clothes and great parties than in meaningful relationships and fulfilling careers." And in the latter - about three thrill-seeking girlfriends who, fed up with the lying, cheating and lack of commitment by men, hit the road to settle the score with all of the men that have ever wronged them - he's set as Gordon.
("The Hot Years") Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Brandon Quinn, Dorian Brown (Kate Dellapina), Lacey Chabert (Stevie Pitts), Molly Stanton (Allison Miller), Nick Gonzalez, Robert Hoffman (Josh), Sarayu Rao (Rupa Kumar)
Writer: Elizabeth Meriwether
Director: Jason Winer
Executive Producers: Dawn Parouse (Dawn Parouse Productions), Jeff Richman (Dawn Parouse Productions)
Supervising Producer: Elizabeth Meriwether
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television
("Revenge") Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Casey Wilson (Sarah), Danielle Hoover (Briar), Noureen DeWulf (Lizzy), Robert Hoffman (Gordon)
Writer: Damon Santostefano
Director: Damon Santostefano
Executive Producers: Damon Santostefano
Studio: Fox 21
PLAYING CHICKEN (FOX) - Alanna Ubach ("House") has been cast in the comedy pilot, about two brothers with opposite political views who are forced to live together after one (Norbert Leo Butz) suffers an accident that leaves him in a wheelchair. She'll play Colette, his physical therapist, on whom he has a crush.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Alanna Ubach (Colette), Bill Burr (Tim), Jake Busey (Karl), Marianne Muellerleile (Donna), Norbert Leo Butz (Jake)
Writers: John Morris, Sean Anders
Director: John Pasquin
Executive Producers: Eric Gold (Werner-Gold-Miller), Jimmy Miller (Werner-Gold-Miller), Mike Clements, Tom Werner (Werner-Gold-Miller)
Co-Executive Producers: John Morris, Sean Anders
Studio: Warner Bros. Television
THE THICK OF IT (ABC) - Alex Borstein ("Family Guy") is the latest addition to the comedy pilot, about the workers in the office of a low-level congressman. She's set as the congressman's press secretary.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Alex Borstein, Michael McKean, Oliver Platt, Rhea Seehorn (Ollie)
Writers: Mitchell Hurwitz, Richard Day
Director: Christopher Guest
Executive Producers: Armando Iannucci, Mitchell Hurwitz, Paul Telegdy (BBC Worldwide Productions), Richard Day
Studio: Sony Pictures Television
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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