or


[04/13/07 - 11:23 AM]
Development Update: Thursday-Friday, April 12-13
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!


BACK TO YOU (A.K.A. ACTION NEWS) (FOX) - Josh Gad ("21") and Ayda Field ("Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip") have both landed roles in the pilot, an ensemble comedy set at a local TV station that centers on an womanizing newscaster (Kelsey Grammer) who must co-anchor with his ex (Patricia Heaton). In addition, the project has now been dubbed "Back to You." Gad will replace Paul Campbell as Ryan Church while Field is stepping in for Aimee Garcia as Montana Diaz Herrera. Field's involvement is in second position to her duties on the Gabe Sachs/Jeff Judah pilot for ABC. No reason for the changes were given.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Ayda Field (Montana Diaz Herrera), Fred Willard (Marsh McGinley), Josh Gad (Ryan Church), Kelsey Grammer (Chuck Darling), Laura Marano (Gracie Carr), Patricia Heaton (Kelly Carr), Ty Burrell (Gary Crezyzewski)
Writers: Christopher Lloyd, Steven Levitan
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Christopher Lloyd (Levitan-Lloyd Productions), Steven Levitan (Levitan-Lloyd Productions)
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television


DO YOU TRUST ME? (A.K.A. UNTITLED PHIL GURIN PROJECT) (CBS) - MSNBC anchor and "Dancing With the Stars" alum Tucker Carlson has been tapped to host Phil Gurin's game show pilot, which involves strangers being forced to put their trust in one another. In addition, Jeff Margolis (NBC's "Fame") has signed on to direct the pilot with Ray Giuliani ("Renovate My Family") and David Floyd ("Deal or No Deal") serving as co-executive producers.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Tucker Carlson (Host)
Writer: TBA
Director: Jeff Margolis
Executive Producers: Phil Gurin
Co-Executive Producers: David Floyd, Ray Giuliani
Studio: The Gurin Company


MYNETWORKTV SPECIALS (MyNetworkTV, New!) - Hoping to spark some sort of ratings success, the fledgling network plans to air a handful of first-run specials as it heads into the May sweeps period. Among the offerings: "Hawaiian Tropic International Beauty Pageant" and "Ujena Bikini Jam" on April 24, "America's Trashiest Weddings" and "Body Doubles: International Twins Search" on May 1, "The Hooters Dream Girl Challenge" (two hours) on May 8, "Anna Nicole Smith: Centerfold Revisited" and "Britney Spears: A Pop Idol Exposed" on May 16 and "Night of a Million Laughs: Comics Unleashed" and "Eddie Murphy: 25th Anniversary of 'Delirious'" on May 22. To make room for the offerings, its telenovelas "American Heiress" and "Saints & Sinners" will be cut to one hour each week with the former airing Wednesdays at 8:00/7:00c and the latter Wednesdays at 9:00/8:00c.


THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL (Comedy Central, New!) - "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart's" Lewis Black is set to host a potential new court show on the cable channel in which he presides over cases pitting political figures, celebrities and pop culture concepts accused of being "the root of all evil." Production has already been completed on the pilot, which saw guest comedians Greg Giraldo, Patton Oswalt, Andy Daley and Paul F. Tompkins serve as attorneys on such cases as Paris Hilton vs. Dick Cheney and chick flicks vs. video games. Scott Carter ("Real Time With Bill Maher") and David Sacks ("3rd Rock From the Sun") are the executive producers.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Lewis Black
Writers: David Sacks, Scott Carter
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: David Sacks, Scott Carter
Studio: TBA


TERRORIST (Lifetime, New!) - John Updike's most recent novel is being developed into an original movie by Sony Pictures Television and executive producers Frank von Zerneck, Robert M. Sertner and Judith Verno. The project, which has a script commitment, revolves around a young boy being raised by a single mother who regularly attends a mosque to get in touch with the roots of his absent Egyptian father and gets pulled into a terrorist plan to blow up New York's Lincoln Tunnel. The trio will executive produce via their Von Zerneck/Sertner Films banner, which has an overall deal with the studio.

Commitment: Script
Cast: TBA
Writer: TBA
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Frank von Zerneck (Von Zerneck/Sertner Films), Judith Verno, Robert M. Sertner (Von Zerneck/Sertner Films)
Studio: Sony Pictures Television


UNTITLED DAVID KOHAN/MAX MUTCHNICK PROJECT (CBS) - Jay Mohr ("Ghost Whisperer") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about two friends/writing partners with different sexual orientations. He'll play the straight man, a guy's guy who loves sports and reads a lot. His casting is tied to a talent holding deal with the network. Should the untitled half-hour not go to series, it's understood Mohr will be upped to regular on "Ghost's" expected third season.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Brian Austin Green (Noah), Jay Mohr, Jessica Capshaw (Melanie), Vanessa Lengies (Tessa)
Writers: David Kohan, Max Mutchnick
Director: James Burrows
Executive Producers: David Kohan (KoMut Entertainment), Max Mutchnick (KoMut Entertainment)
Studio: Warner Bros. Television


UNTITLED RED PRODUCTION PROJECT (CBS, New!) - Nicola Shindler and Andrew Critchley's U.K.-based Red Production ("Queer as Folk") has inked a first-look development deal with the network and its sibling studio CBS Paramount Network Television. The one-year pact, which has an option for another year, includes a blind script commitment for the Eye's 2008 development slate, mostly likely an import of one of its current series - "Clocking Off," "Conviction," "Bob and Rose" and "The Second Coming." Shindler and Critchley then will executive produce any resulting project alongside RDF Media's Chris Coelen.

Commitment: Script
Cast: TBA
Writer: TBA
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Andrew Critchley (Red Production), Chris Coelen, Nicola Shindler (Red Production)
Studio: CBS Paramount Network Television


UP ALL NIGHT (CBS) - John Cho ("Kitchen Confidential") and Phillip C. Vaden ("Man Maid") have both joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about a group of people who hang out at an all-night diner from midnight-6 a.m. Cho is set as Andy, who's detailed in the casting notice as follows: "Late 20s, any ethnicities, good looking in a prep school sort of way, Andy is an upbeat fellow, "a young Chevy Chase, confident and playful with a devil-may-care attitude." A regular at the all-night diner, where he conducts business via his laptop, Andy has found a way to avoid the pesky trappings of modern life - by staying up all night and sleeping during the day." Vaden then is playing Ben: "Late 20s, any ethnicities, with the weight of the world on his shoulders, Ben is a preoccupied insomniac but a very intelligent one. He's now working on his Ph.D., to add to his other ten degrees. Back in Boston where he's studying at Harvard, while also teaching, Ben seeks camaraderie at an all-night diner."

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: J.D. Walsh (Matthew), John Cho (Andy), Josh Meyers (Farrelly), Leslie Grossman (Erika), Phillip C. Vaden (Ben)
Writer: Scott Silveri
Director: Andy Ackerman
Executive Producers: Scott Silveri
Studio: Warner Bros. Television


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [april 2007]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· ALL NIGHTERS (CBS)
· AMERICAN HEIRESS (MYNETWORKTV)
· BACK TO YOU (FOX)
· DANCING WITH THE STARS (ABC)
· DEAL OR NO DEAL (CNBC)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· DO YOU TRUST ME? (CBS)
· FAME (NBC)
· GHOST WHISPERER (CBS)
· KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL (FOX)
· LEWIS BLACK'S ROOT OF ALL EVIL (COMEDY CENTRAL)
· QUEER AS FOLK (SHOWTIME)
· REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER (HBO)
· RENOVATE MY FAMILY (FOX)
· SAINTS & SINNERS (MYNETWORKTV)
· STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP (NBC)
· TERRORIST (LIFETIME)
· THIRD ROCK FROM THE SUN (NBC)
· UNTITLED KOHAN & MUTCHNICK PROJECT (CBS)
· UNTITLED RED PRODUCTION PROJECT (CBS)
· UNTITLED SACHS & JUDAH PROJECT (ABC)





[03/18/24 - 01:59 PM]
Chrissy Metz, Jaime Ray Newman, Katie Lowes, and George Ferrier Join as Series Regulars for Starz's New Drama "The Hunting Wives"
Production on the thrilling new series has started in Charlotte, North Carolina.

[03/18/24 - 11:30 AM]
Video: ALLBLK Releases Trailer for the World Premiere of New Thriller, "The Influencer" Premiering Thursday, April 4
The original film stars Christina Cooper as Niecy Fields, a social media influencer on the cusp of stardom.

[03/18/24 - 10:06 AM]
E! Announces Trendsetting Guest Judges and Pioneering Disruptors for New Cutting-Edge Design Competition Series "OMG Fashun" with Julia Fox
Handcrafted is the new haute couture on "OMG Fashun" as Julia inspires pioneering fashion disruptors to upend traditional style convention, break the rules and redefine cool.

[03/18/24 - 10:00 AM]
Video: Peacock Debuts Trailer For New Original Documentary "Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal" Premiering April 1
The documentary looks at the remarkable career of the late Windham Rotunda also known as Bray Wyatt, one of the most skillful, tenacious, and creative WWE Superstars of all-time.

[03/18/24 - 10:00 AM]
NBC Is the Official Home of Competition and Games This Summer with a Slate of Powerhouse Hit Series
NBC is the summer home for both the Paris Olympic Games and high-stakes competition with a robust lineup of returning powerhouse favorites, including "America's Got Talent," "American Ninja Warrior," "Password," "The Wall" and "Weakest Link."

[03/18/24 - 09:02 AM]
Netflix Announces News About 26 Upcoming Nordic Titles - Including 12 Brand New Titles
Plus: the streamer offers new looks at "Deliver Me," "The Helicopter Heist," "Ronja the Robber's Daughter," "Billionaire Island" and season two of "Baby Fever."

[03/18/24 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver" - Official Trailer - Netflix
The rebels gear up for battle against the ruthless forces of the Motherworld as unbreakable bonds are forged, heroes emerge - and legends are made.

[03/18/24 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Disney's "Wish" - Streaming April 3rd - Disney+
Walt Disney Animation Studios' "Wish" is an all-new musical-comedy welcoming audiences to the magical kingdom of Rosas, where Asha, a sharp-witted idealist, makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force - a little ball of boundless energy called Star.

[03/18/24 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Our Living World" - Cate Blanchett - Official Trailer - Netflix
This stunning nature series narrated by Cate Blanchett explores the intelligence, resourcefulness and interconnectedness of life on our planet.

[03/18/24 - 08:00 AM]
Acorn TV Fan-Favorite "Harry Wild" Returns Monday, May 13
Season three consists of six episodes and will be available on Acorn TV in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

[03/18/24 - 08:00 AM]
Prime Video Orders "Beast Games" from MrBeast and Amazon MGM Studios
Based on his already successful YouTube show, "Beast Games" is set to become the biggest reality competition series ever with 1000 contestants competing for a $5 million dollar cash prize which will be the biggest single prize in the history of television and streaming.

[03/18/24 - 07:14 AM]
ESPN+ Original Series "Full Court Press" Presented by State Farm Featuring Caitlin Clark, Kamilla Cardoso and Kiki Rice to Premiere May 11 & 12 on ABC and ESPN+
From Iowa's historic preseason game that broke attendance records all the way through the WNBA draft in April, the series uses unparalleled access, exclusive interviews, and unique game footage, to transport audiences into the lives of these exceptional athletes.

[03/18/24 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Scoop" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Inspired by real events, this fictional dramatization gives an insider account of how the women of Newsnight secured Prince Andrew's infamous interview.

[03/18/24 - 06:01 AM]
Video: Apple TV+ Debuts Trailer for Season Two of Iconic Emmy Award-Winning Series "Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock," Premiering Globally March 29
Award-winning season two cast includes the return of Daveed Diggs alongside Ariana DeBose, Brett Goldstein, Catherine O'Hara, Adam Lambert and K-pop group aespa in guest star roles.

[03/18/24 - 04:01 AM]
Video: "Joy" - First Look Teaser - Netflix
Starring Thomasin McKenzie, James Norton and Bill Nighy, the new film based on the story of the birth of IVF.