or


[12/03/07 - 06:25 PM]
Development Update: Week of December 3-7
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!


DANNY FRICKE (A&E) - Connie Nielsen ("Law & Order: Special Victims Unit") has scored the title role on the crime drama, about a detective who gets a big promotion and on her first case investigates a high-profile murder while dealing with the old-school detectives who work for her. "Cane" creator Cynthia Cidre is behind the Sony Pictures Television-based project, which she's executive producing alongside Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly of 25C Productions. Said development means all four of the network's cast-contingent pilots are heading into production, including the Benjamin Bratt-led "The Cleaner" (directed by David Semel), the Patrick Swayze-led "The Beast" (directed by Michael Dinner) and the Henry Thomas-led in "Under" (directed by Charles S. Dutton).


THE LIFE & TIMES OF MARCUS "FELONY" BROWN (VH1, New!) - The cable channel has commissioned a pilot to a new single-camera comedy from executive producers Keenen Ivory, Marlon and Shawn Wayans. Darius McCrary ("Committed") stars as the title character, an up-and-coming hard-core East Coast rapper who, after his debut album goes platinum, is forced to relocate to Los Angeles to record his follow-up. Filling out his entourage are Vince Green as self-hyping hype man E-Z, Jon Abrahams as jet-setting manager Cash, Marcello Thedford as hard-partying bodyguard Tiny, Affion Crockett as Marcus' personal barber Seville and Toni Trucks as Marcus' assistant Tia. Principal photography was recently completed on the project with Marcus Raboy ("Friday After Next") directing from a script by Xavier Cook ("White Chicks"). Wayans Bros. Productions' Rick Alvarez and Modus Entertainment's Lisa Suzanne Blum also serve as executive producers.


UNTITLED THOM BEERS PROJECTS (NBC, New!) - "Deadliest Catch" creator Thom Beers and producers Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun have inked a blockbuster three-series/30-episode deal with the Peacock. The pact calls for the group to produce a trio of action-adventure reality series (of at least 10 episodes each) that will air as part of a themed programming block on the network. In addition, BermanBraun and Original Productions will retain the international rights to said projects. And if that wasn't enough - they've also received three blind pilot commitments for future unscripted projects.


WIPEOUT (ABC, New!) - Endemol USA is developing a new game show at the Alphabet in which 50 contestants compete for the chance to win $50,000 while trying to make it through an enormous obstacle course. The project, which has a pilot commitment, is further detailed in the casting notice as "all the fun of 'Fear Factor' with none of the gross." Exact format details however weren't released.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [december 2007]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· AMERICA'S TOUGHEST JOBS (NBC)
· BEAST, THE (A AND E)
· CANE (CBS)
· CLEANER, THE (A AND E)
· COMMITTED (NBC)
· DANNY FRICKE (A AND E)
· DEADLIEST CATCH (DISCOVERY)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT (NBC)
· LIFE & TIMES OF MARCUS "FELONY" BROWN, THE (VH1)
· SHARK TAGGERS (NBC)
· UNDER (A AND E)
· WIPEOUT (TBS)





[06/30/25 - 11:02 AM]
"Sinners" with Black American Sign Language (BASL) Debuts July 4 on Max in the U.S.
This groundbreaking release marks the first time a streaming platform will exclusively debut a film interpreted in BASL.

[06/30/25 - 10:38 AM]
Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest to Air July 4 on ESPN Networks
Returning to the iconic corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues on Coney Island is 16-time Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest champion, Joey Chestnut.

[06/30/25 - 10:01 AM]
NASA+ Is Coming to Netflix This Summer
Audiences now will have another option to stream rocket launches, astronaut spacewalks, mission coverage, and breathtaking, live views of Earth from the International Space Station.

[06/30/25 - 09:31 AM]
Video: "Apocalypse in the Tropics" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Through a deep examination, this documentary from Oscar nominee Petra Costa explores the profound impact of evangelism on Brazil's political landscape.

[06/30/25 - 09:23 AM]
All-New Series "Survival Mode" Premieres Monday, July 7 on NBC
Across nine episodes, the series chronicles some of the most recent devastating disasters - including the Maui wildfires, the Amtrak 501 derailment, Superstorm Sandy, and the sinking of the Costa Concordia - through firsthand accounts from survivors and rare archival footage.

[06/30/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Going, Going, Gone: The Magic of the Home Run" - Official Trailer - The Roku Channel
This one is dedicated to the dinger. Comedian Roy Wood Jr takes us on a baseball journey all about the long ball.

[06/30/25 - 09:01 AM]
"Miley Cyrus: Something Beautiful" Visual Album Coming to Disney+ and Hulu July 16
The visual album premiered June 6 at the Tribeca Festival ahead of its one-night theatrical release in the U.S. and Canada on June 12.

[06/30/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "America's Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys" - Official Trailer - Netflix
On August 19, experience the historic rise of one of the greatest teams in all of sports.

[06/30/25 - 07:26 AM]
Disney+ Adds Three New Premium Reality Commissions to Its Growing Slate of UK Unscripted Original Series
Highlights include the return of Britain's original and much-loved dating series "Blind Date", reimagined for a contemporary audience.

[06/30/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "My Oxford Year" - Official Trailer - Netflix
An ambitious American fulfilling her dream of studying at Oxford falls for a charming Brit hiding a secret that may upend her perfectly planned life.

[06/30/25 - 06:37 AM]
ESPN Reveals Special Honorees for The 2025 ESPYS Presented by Capital One Airing Wednesday, July 16, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Streaming Live on ESPN+
Oscar Robertson will receive the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage, Katie Schumacher-Cawley will receive the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, and David Walters and Erin Regan will receive the Pat Tillman Award for Service.

[06/30/25 - 01:01 AM]
Video: Netflix Unleashes Teaser for "Troll 2"
When a dangerous new troll is awakened, unleashing devastation across Norway, beloved adventurers Nora, Andreas and Captain Kris are thrust into their most perilous mission yet.

[06/29/25 - 10:31 PM]
A Secret Society, Ritualistic Killings, and a Century-Old Curse Netflix and YRF Entertainment's "Mandala Murders" Premieres July 25
"Mandala Murders" is a first-of-its-kind mythological-crime thriller that promises to pull audiences into a world where every clue leads deeper into a long-buried prophecy.

[06/27/25 - 11:48 PM]
Development Update: Week of June 23-27
Updates include: Scott Speedman to topline ABC's "RJ Decker" pilot; Joel Kim Booster to pen latest "Pitch Perfect" spin-off at Peacock; and "Doctor Odyssey," "Grosse Pointe Garden Society" among the latest cancellations.

[06/27/25 - 02:29 PM]
"Live with Kelly and Mark" Gears Up for Summer Rising Week to Week in All Key Measures
Wednesday, June 11, was the most-viewed day of the week among Total Viewers (2.164 million).