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[02/01/08 - 06:16 PM]
Development Update: Week of January 28-February 1
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC) |
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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!
ABC FAMILY ORIGINAL SERIES (ABC Family) - The cable channel has firmed up its original series plans for 2008 and beyond. It's understood recently completed pilots "The Middleman" and "Roomies" have been ordered to series as has a new untitled hour from "7th Heaven" creator Brenda Hampton. "Middleman," from writer-producer Javier Grillo-Marxuach, stars Natalie Morales as a twentysomething struggling artist who's recruited by a secret agency to fight comic book-type villains alongside the title character (Matt Keeslar), a sci-fi superhero who serves as her guide. Jeremiah Chechik directed the pilot, which also stars Britt Morgan and Mary Pat Gleason. As for "Roomies," the multi-camera comedy stars Tyler Francavilla and David Weidoff as, you guessed it, roommates. Kieron Quirke and Robin French created the project, which is also executive produced by Michael Hanel and Mindy Schultheis of Acme Productions. Andy Cadiff directed the pilot. And finally, the Hampton hour is described as a teen relationship series similar in sensibility to "Juno." All three newcomers are said to have commitments of at least six episodes. "Middleman" and "Roomies" were part of a quartet of pilots ordered last year, the others being "Samurai Girl" and "Happy Campers." Hampton's project is believed to be a straight series commitment, contingent on casting the lead role.
Meanwhile in related ABC Family news, the network is in talks with Canadian broadcaster CBC to import the comedy "Sophie," about a young woman (Natalie Brown) whose picture-perfect life comes crashing down. 13 episodes have been completed of the half-hour, which bowed on January 9 on the network. Sebastian Spence, Amy Lalonde, Jeff Geddis, Mimi Kuzyk, Sara Botsford, Chantelle Chung and Catherine B�rub� also star in the project, which comes from Jocelyn Deschenes of Sphere Media Plus. The show itself is based on a French-language series that aired in Quebec before it was transplanted to the CBC. Lastly, ABC Family also confirmed a decision is expected soon on the fate of "Lincoln Heights" while "Wildfire," currently in its fourth season, won't be renewed for a fifth season.
DIRT (FX) - FX has confirmed Danny Comden ("I'm With Her") has completed a three-episode arc on the show's upcoming second season. He plays Ted Rothman, an almost-divorced president of a major TV studio who wants to rekindle a romance with Courtney Cox's character. The new season bows Sunday, March 2.
FRINGE (FOX) - Australian actress Anna Torv has scored the lead role on the two-hour drama pilot, about a young, tough FBI agent who is forced to confront the spread of unexplained phenomena and work with an institutionalized scientist whose work might be at the center of a coming storm. She'll play Olivia Warren, the agent in question. Also signing on are Blair Brown and Jasika Nicole. The former will play Nina Cord, a 16-year veteran at Prometheus Corp., a cutting-edge research facility, while Jasika Nicole is playing the recurring role of Astrid Farnsworth, a stunning federal assistant. They join the previously cast John Noble, Kirk Acevedo, Lance Reddick and Mark Valley. Alex Graves is helming the Warner Bros. Television/Bad Robot-based drama, which comes from co-creators Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and J.J. Abrams. The group also executive produces alongside Bad Robot's Bryan Burk.
UNTITLED FASHION MAGAZINE ASSISTANT PROJECT (The CW, New!) - "America's Next Top Model's" Tyra Banks and Ken Mok have scored a series commitment from the netlet for a new reality series in which aspiring assistants compete to become assistant editors at a fashion magazine. The project, which has an eight-episode commitment, is expected to begin production in April for a launch in late spring or summer. As for specifics, each episode will feature two different challenges - an individual one and a team one with the winner of the former making the pairings for the latter. Each team challenge then will focus on submitting a page for "The Book," a mock edition of the magazine, with the loser's page going in the trash and one of its members being sent home. Banks and Mok will executive produce the project via their respective banners, Bankable Productions and 10x10 Entertainment, alongside Eli Holzman, who developed "Project Runway" at Miramax Television, and Full Picture's Jane Cha and Desiree Gruber, fashion experts and managers of "Runway" host Heidi Klum. It's understood the "Runway" team came up the initial idea for the series and pitched it to the CW, who in turn paired them with Banks and Mok. Talks are underway with various magazines to sponsor the show with the editors themselves likely appearing as judges. It's not clear if Banks herself will appear on camera.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[11/05/25 - 04:01 PM]
Mystery Thriller "The Price of Confession" Starring Jeon Do-yeon and Kim Go-eun Premieres December 5
A mystery thriller about Yun-su, a woman accused of murdering her husband, and Mo Eun, a mysterious woman called a witch, and the secrets between them.
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[11/05/25 - 04:00 PM]
Peacock's Compelling New Documentary "High Horse: The Black Cowboy", Executive Produced by Jordan Peele, Premieres Thursday, November 20
This three-part pop culture and historical documentary confronts and reclaims the Wild West while revealing the story of the Black cowboy - a history that has largely been untold.
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[11/05/25 - 12:40 PM]
All-New Special, "Louvre Heist: Minute by Minute," Premieres November 26 at 10PM ET/PT on Discovery
Told in real-time with gripping new details, this one-hour special reconstructs the daring robbery and jewelry heist that unfolded in broad daylight on October 19, 2025 at the world-renowned Louvre Museum in Paris, France.
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[11/05/25 - 11:20 AM]
TLC's "90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days" Returns with a Brand-New Season and Unforgettable Couples
This season, eight Americans, including the bold and fiery Elise, looking to settle down after stirring things up on "90 Day: Hunt for Love," are leaving everything behind to travel to international destinations like the Philippines, Belize, Turkey, Morocco, Madagascar, Nigeria, and Australia.
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[11/05/25 - 11:06 AM]
Optum Named Title Sponsor of the "Golf Channel Games" Featuring Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler December 17 on Golf Channel and USA Network
McIlroy and Scheffler will lead two four-man teams at the "Optum Golf Channel Games" in never-before-seen timed and strategy-focused challenges under the pressure of the clock and the primetime lights.
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[11/05/25 - 10:02 AM]
Video: "Power Book III: Raising Kanan" - Season 5 Official Teaser - Starz
Everything's coming to a head. 2026 - we back.
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[11/05/25 - 09:39 AM]
"College GameDay" and ESPN College Football on ABC Win Week 10
Georgia-Florida led the week with 7.8 million viewers, marking the largest audience on record for this rivalry in a full national window.
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[11/05/25 - 09:01 AM]
'Tis the Season to Be Jolly When "25 Days of Christmas" Returns to Spread Holiday Cheer on Freeform
Last year, "25 Days of Christmas" reached 32 million viewers.
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[11/05/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "The Abandons" - Official Trailer - Netflix
In 1850s Washington, two families led by powerful matriarchs - one wealthy, one poor but deeply loyal - battle for supremacy on the unforgiving frontier.
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[11/05/25 - 08:01 AM]
Hulu Announces Cast for "Never Change!"
The film follows the 2005 graduating class of North Meadows High School, who had their senior year cut short due to a disastrous tornado that wrecked half the school.
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[11/05/25 - 08:00 AM]
The NASCAR Xfinity Series Concludes First Full Year on The Cw Network with Most-Watched Season in Four Years
The championship race, which saw Jesse Love emerge as the season winner, drew 1,015,000 total viewers and peaked at 1,191,000 total viewers from 9:30-9:45pm ET.
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[11/05/25 - 07:04 AM]
"The Last Thing He Told Me," Returns for Season Two on February 20, 2026
Jennifer Garner, Angourie Rice, David Morse and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau return, while new additions include Judy Greer and Rita Wilson.
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[11/05/25 - 06:00 AM]
Vice TV and Professional Fighters League Join Forces to Showcase Global MMA in the US
The network serve as the exclusive linear US telecast home for 10 international events, beginning with two in December and continuing with eight more throughout 2026.
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[11/05/25 - 05:31 AM]
Xolo Mariduena Joins Season 3 of Netflix's "One Piece"
He'll star as Portgas D. Ace in season three, which is set to go back into production later this year in Cape Town, South Africa.
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[11/05/25 - 05:01 AM]
Paramount and PBR Announce Landmark Five-Year Media Rights Deal
The partnership builds on the long-standing relationship between PBR and CBS Sports, which began in 2013 and runs through 2030.
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