 |
 |
[03/11/08 - 05:37 PM]
Development Update: March 10-11
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!
DRIVING AROUND WITH JONI (HBO, New!) - Jhoni Marchinko ("Men in Trees") has scored a pilot commitment from the pay channel for a new comedy about an eccentric, successful 40-year-old widow who spends her days driving around Los Angeles with her French bulldog, looking for meaning in her life after the sudden death of her husband. The project was originally set up at Warner Bros. Television where Marchinko had an overall deal prior to its termination during the WGA strike. Marchinko then will pen and executive produce "Joni" while Warner Bros. will still retain a piece of the show but not be creatively involved.
ELEVENTH HOUR (CBS) - Marley Shelton ("Grindhouse") has been tapped as the female lead in the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced drama pilot, about Jacob Hood (Rufus Sewell), a special science adviser to the government who - with his feisty female bodyguard Rachel Young (Shelton) in tow - saves people from the worst abuses of science. Ashley Jensen originated Shelton's role in the U.K. version. Danny Cannon is directing the hour from a script by Mick Davis with the pair executive producing alongside Bruckheimer and Jonathan Littman for Granada International and Warner Bros. Television.
HARPER'S ISLAND (CBS, New!) - Feature writer Ari Schlossberg ("Hide and Seek") has booked a pilot presentation order from the Eye and CBS Paramount Network Television for a new horror-themed drama that unfolds during the course of a season as a group of friends meet on an island off the Seattle coast for a destination wedding. "Jericho's" Jon Turteltaub is on board to direct and executive produce alongside his Junction Entertainment partners Karim Zreik and Dan Shotz. The latter pair then will serve as co-executive producers, as will Schlossberg.
MY BEST FRIEND'S GIRL (CBS) - Josh Cooke ("Big Day") is set to star opposite Tim Peper in the multi-camera comedy pilot, about two best friends who own a bike shop and whose relationship becomes complicated when one (Peper) starts dating the ex-wife of the other (Cooke). Mike Sikowitz is behind the half-hour, which is set up at Sony Pictures Television.
THE SAINT (New!) - Barry Levinson, Tom Fontana, Jorge Zamacona, Bill Macdonald, Roger Moore and Geoffrey Moore are set to team to produce an independently financed two-hour TV movie/backdoor pilot based on Leslie Charteris's famed novels about debonair international thief Simon Templar. Zamacona and Macdonald previously set up the project at TNT last season (read the story) but it didn't move forward. The rights subsequently reverted back to them, after which Fontana and Levinson came aboard. Nehst Studios is behind the project while James Purefoy ("Rome") in talks to topline. Production then is set to begin next month with filming in Budapest, Hungary, New York and Puerto Rico. Since the 1997 feature starring Val Kilmer, both UPN (director John McTiernan and producer ATG in 2000) and ABC (writer Stephen Nathan and producer FremantleMedia North America in 2004) have taken stabs at developing a new small screen take.
UNTITLED NICK LACHEY PROJECT (MTV, New!) - Nick Lachey is developing a "Fame"-esque reality series set at his alma mater, the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati. The untitled project then would track its students, blending their performances with a narrative about what takes place in the school. Marc Platt and Russell Heldt are executive producing alongside Lachey.
WORST WEEK (CBS) - Erinn Hayes ("The Winner") has landed the female lead in the comedy pilot, about a guy named Sam (Kyle Bornheimer) and his rocky relationship with the parents of his fiancee (Hayes) during a family holiday. Her character, Melanie "Mel" Cook, is further detailed in the casting notice as follows: "30. Sam's fiancee. She's a beautiful, warm woman who is unaffectedly striking, even when she's not wearing any make-up. Currently in her first trimester of pregnancy, Mel is throwing up on a regular basis and just trying to soldier on until she's feeling better. Very attached to Sam, she's hoping that his visit for Dick's birthday will sweeten up her parents and set the stage for their announcement of Mel's pregnancy and engagement. However, Sam's surreal string of blunders, gaffes and boneheaded misfortunes make it very hard for Mel to convince her folks that Sam is indeed Mr. Right." Jay Malone also stars in the half-hour, which comes from Universal Media Studios and executive producers Jimmy Mulville, Marc Buckland and Matt Tarses.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
|
|
|
 [march 2008]  |
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
| | | | | | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
[01/24/15 - 08:50 AM]
"Constantine" Delivers Its Most-Watched Episode Since November 21
NBC spins the numbers for Friday, January 23.
|
[01/24/15 - 08:37 AM]
Friday's Broadcast Ratings: ABC, CBS and NBC All Share Demo Crown
Repeats of "Blue Bloods" and "Shark Tank" lead the night in total viewers and adults 18-49, respectively.
|
[01/24/15 - 08:33 AM]
ABC's Encore "Shark Tank" Is Friday's #1 Show in Adults 18-49 - Most-Watched-Ever Repeat for the Show
ABC spins the numbers for Friday, January 23.
|
[01/23/15 - 01:09 PM]
New MTV Study, "Millennials Have Drive," Reveals Millennials Love Their Cars More Than Social Media and Texting
Today's results represent the first wave of research coming from Viacom's brands in the car category.
|
[01/23/15 - 12:19 PM]
"Our Little Family" Joins the TLC Lineup This February
The newcomer launches Tuesday, February 17 at 10:00/9:00c on the cable channel.
|
[01/23/15 - 11:24 AM]
Fox Sports Provides Extended On-Site Coverage From Arizona For Super Bowl XLIX
In anticipation of the championship showdown, FOX Sports has all hands on deck, providing comprehensive on-site coverage for the week's festivities in Arizona.
|
[01/23/15 - 10:46 AM]
Video: Starz Releases First Video Tease of Seth MacFarlane and Jonathan Ames' "Blunt Talk" Starring Patrick Stewart
Due this summer, the series is a live action character-driven comedy set in the competitive cable news arena and following a most eccentric TV personality and his crew.
|
[01/23/15 - 10:43 AM]
Animal Planet Dives Head First Into "Insane Pools: Off the Deep End," A New Series Premiering Friday, February 20
The six-episode series follows Lucas Congdon as he turns high and dry homes into exotic waterfront properties through grand, nature-inspired designs to encourage his clients to rediscover their love of the outdoors.
|
[01/23/15 - 10:38 AM]
"The Tonight Show" Outperforms ABC, CBS Timeslot Competition for Week of Jan. 12-16
NBC spins the late-night numbers for the week of January 12-16.
|
[01/23/15 - 10:23 AM]
"Nightline" Is #1 for the Week, #1 in Total Viewers 12 of Last 13 Weeks
ABC spins the late-night numbers for the week of January 12-16.
|
[01/23/15 - 09:17 AM]
History(R) Premieres Brand New Series "Legend of the Superstition Mountains"
The series, due on Sunday, February 8 at 10:00/9:00c, follows five brave treasure hunters as they seek to unearth the secrets of the Lost Dutchman's gold.
|
[01/23/15 - 08:57 AM]
NFL Legend Ray Lewis Tackles Coaches with Anger Issues When "Coaching Bad" Premieres Sunday, February 8 at 10 PM ET/PT on Spike TV
Lewis and acclaimed anger management specialist and author Dr. Christian Conte will work with nine coaches who have recognized that they need to change their combative and often bombastic ways if they want to continue in the profession they love.
|
[01/23/15 - 08:46 AM]
"Parenthood" Delivers Its Second-Most-Watched Telecast of the Season
NBC spins the numbers for Thursday, January 22.
|
[01/23/15 - 08:39 AM]
truTV Orders Pilot for "Shaq, Inq." (working title) From Mandalay Sports Media and Executive Producers Shaquille O'Neal and Mike Tollin
This half-hour scripted comedy follows Shaquille O'Neal and the team who runs his sprawling business empire.
|
[01/23/15 - 08:32 AM]
Thursday's Broadcast Ratings: "American Idol" Tops Demos for FOX
Plus: the network's "Backstrom" launches up nearly 18% among adults 18-49 from "Rake" a year ago.
|
|
|
|
