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[03/28/07 - 02:16 AM]
Development Update: Wednesday, March 28
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!


CRIMINAL MINDS (CBS) - Co-executive producer Simon Mirren has signed a three-year, seven-figure overall deal with producer CBS Paramount Network Television. Mirren follows in the footsteps of showrunner/executive producer Ed Bernero, who likewise recently inked an overall deal with the studio. As for specifics, like most pacts of its type, Mirren will continue in his duties on the Wednesday drama as well as develop new series projects for the studio.


THE HOT YEARS (FOX) - Tia Carrere ("Wayne's World") has booked a potentially recurring role on the comedy pilot, about a group of college grads forced to clean up their partying ways. She'll play the publishing boss of Molly Stanton's character.

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), Tia Carrere (Guest Star)
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


OPRAH WINFREY'S THE BIG GIVE (ABC) - "The Amazing Race" creators Bert Van Munster and Elise Doganieri have come aboard as showrunners on the upcoming reality series, in which 10 people are handed money and resources and then challenged to find dramatic and emotional ways to use them to help others. They'll serve as executive producers alongside Winfrey.

Commitment: Ordered to series (eight episodes)
Cast: TBA
Writer: TBA
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Bert Van Munster, Elise Doganieri, Oprah Winfrey
Studio: Harpo Productions


PUSHING DAISIES (ABC) - Executive producers Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen are sticking with Warner Bros. Television as the duo's overall deal with the studio was been reupped through the spring of 2009. The pact will cover their duties on the upcoming dramas "Traveler" for ABC (due to premiere on May 30) and "Side Order of Life" for Lifetime (due on July 15) as well as their development slate, which includes the ABC drama pilot "Pushing Daisies," via their the Jinks/Cohen Co. banner.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Anna Friel (Charlotte "Chuck" Charles), Chi McBride (Emerson Cod), Jim Dale (Narrator), Kristin Chenoweth (Olive), Lee Pace (Ned), Swoosie Kurtz (Lily)
Writer: Bryan Fuller
Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
Executive Producers: Bruce Cohen (The Jinks-Cohen Company), Bryan Fuller, Dan Jinks (The Jinks-Cohen Company)
Studio: Warner Bros. Television


THE THICK OF IT (ABC) - Wayne Wilderson ("The Class") is the latest addition to the comedy pilot, about the workers in the office of a low-level congressman (John Michael Higgins). He's set as a smart and ambitious political blogger.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Alex Borstein (Hope Mueller), John Michael Higgins (Albert Alger), Michael McKean (Glen Glahm), Oliver Platt (Malcolm Tucker), Rhea Seehorn (Ollie Tadzio), Wayne Wilderson
Writer: Mitchell Hurwitz
Director: Christopher Guest
Executive Producers: Armando Iannucci, Mitchell Hurwitz, Paul Telegdy (BBC Worldwide Productions)
Studio: Sony Pictures Television


UNTITLED VICTORIA PILE PROJECT (ABC) - "Seinfeld" alum Jason Alexander is set to guest star on the comedy pilot, about the eccentric characters in a police precinct. He'll play Stanley Banks, an internal affairs superintendent responsible for tracking down "bad apples." It's understood said role is now being billed as recurring with the option to become a series regular.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Jason Alexander (Stanley Banks), Jillian Armenante (Det. Grace Dillian), Kathleen Rose Perkins (Zoe Sherman), Orlando Jones (Det. Marcus Green), Sarah Lafleur (Det. Maria Fantezzi), Stephen Mangan (Det. Dan Little)
Writer: Victoria Pile
Director: Victoria Pile
Executive Producers: Chris Godsick, Victoria Pile
Studio: CBS Paramount Network Television


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [march 2007]  
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· AMAZING RACE, THE (CBS)
· CLASS, THE (CBS)
· CRIMINAL MINDS (CBS)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· HOT YEARS, THE (FOX)
· OPRAH'S BIG GIVE (ABC)
· PUSHING DAISIES (ABC)
· SIDE ORDER OF LIFE (LIFETIME)
· THICK OF IT, THE (ABC)
· TRAVELER (ABC)
· UNTITLED VICTORIA PILE PROJECT (ABC)





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