 |
 |
[03/28/08 - 06:54 PM]
Development Update: Friday, 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!
AUSTIN GOLDEN HOUR (The CW) - Justin Hartley ("Smallville") is the first to join the cast of the pilot, a real-time medical drama about a team of young emergency room surgeons and emergency medical technicians. Hartley, who has a talent holding deal with the network, will play one of them. Lance Gentile and Mal Young created the hour, which is set up at CBS Paramount Network Television and Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment.
THE BAD MOTHER'S HANDBOOK (ABC, New!) - "Help Me Help You" creators Jennifer Konner and Alexandra Rushfield are back the Alphabet, this time for a new comedy based on Kate Long's book of the same name. The single-camera half-hour then will revolve around 32-year-old Karen, whose life is consumed by taking care of her 16-year-old daughter and 48-year-old mother. The project, which they're executive producing alongside Stu Bloomberg, is the result of a two-script deal the duo signed with ABC Studios last summer. Long's book is no stranger to television as Catherine Tate, Anne Reid and Holly Grainger toplined a U.K. adaptation last year.
CAN OPENERS (CBS) - Lauren Lee Smith ("The L Word") has scored the lead role on the drama pilot, which centers on a twentysomething female brain surgeon (Smith) who fights to survive in the intensely competitive boys club that is the seven-year neurosurgical residency. Elle Johnson is behind the project, which is based at Sony Pictures Television and Denis Leary and Jim Serpico's Apostle Productions banner.
CAPTAIN COOK'S EXTRAORDINARY ATLAS (ABC, New!) - Tom Wheeler ("Empire") has landed a pilot commitment from the Alphabet for a new fantasy drama about a young girl who finds a magical atlas that reveals a secret world underneath our own. The project is set up at Warner Bros. Television where Wheeler will write and executive produce.
CASTLE (ABC, New!) - Feature writer Andrew Marlowe ("Hollow Man") has landed a pilot presentation commitment from the network for a new drama about a horror novelist who consults for the NYPD Homicide department. The project is set up at ABC Studios and Beacon Television where he'll executive produce alongside the latter's Armyan Bernstein and Laurie Zaks.
CSI: MIAMI (CBS) - Sunil Nayar, a co-executive producer on the series, has inked a two-year, seven-figure overall deal with CBS Paramount Network Television. The pact calls for the writer/producer to be upped to executive producer next season. In addition, he'll develop new projects for the studio, including a blind script commitment for CBS with a mid-six-figure penalty attached.
EX LIFE/THE KINGDOM (CBS) - The Eye has quietly passed on both projects despite their previous commitments. "The Kingdom," a Middle Ages-based drama about four average young men, one of whom discovers he's heir to the throne, was given a hefty $2 million put pilot order back in July while "Ex Life," a comedy about on a newly single guy who is taken under the wing of a group of more experienced guys, was ordered to pilot last month. Rob Greenberg and CBS Paramount Network Television were behind the latter while Chad Hodge, director Barry Sonnenfeld and Sony Pictures Television were attached to the former.
FINNEGAN (ABC, New!) - Trent Jones ("Threat Matrix") has scored a pilot presentation order for a new drama at the network. The project, which is set up at ABC Studios, focuses on the organized crime/vice unit in Los Angeles, which is led by a tough female detective. He'll write and executive produce alongside Francie Calfo.
HOW TO TEACH FILTHY RICH GIRLS (The CW) - Joanna Garcia ("Welcome to the Captain"), Lucy Kate Hale ("Bionic Woman") and Ashley Newbrough ("The Best Years") have all been cast in the drama pilot, about a Yale-educated woman who is hired to be the live-in tutor/life coach to two rich heiresses in Palm Beach, Florida. Garcia will play said woman, Megan Smith, while Hale and Newbrough are set as heiresses Rose and Sage Baker. Marsha Mason and Michael Cassidy also star in the hour, which is based on the book series by Zoey Dean. Rina Mimoun is writing and executive producing for Warner Bros. Television alongside Alloy Entertainment's Bob Levy and Leslie Morgenstein.
THE INN (FOX) - "Arrested Development" alum Jason Bateman has signed on to direct the comedy pilot, described as "Upstairs/Downstairs" set at a hip New York hotel. Bateman, who helmed episodes of "For Your Love" (as well as an episode of "Development"), will work from a script by creator Abraham Higginbotham. Niecy Nash stars in the half-hour, which is set up at 20th Century Fox Television, Reveille and Principato-Young Entertainment.
KINGS (NBC) - Christopher Egan ("Eragon") and Ian McShane ("Deadwood") are the first to be cast on the drama pilot, a contemporary soap loosely based on the story of King David. Egan will play David, a pure-hearted young warrior who joins the royal court after saving the life of his king's son. McShane's then is set as the charismatic and authoritative King Silas. Universal Media Studios is behind the hour, which comes from creator Michael Green.
THE MENTALIST (CBS) - Simon Baker ("Smith") has been tapped for the lead role while Owain Yeoman ("The Nine"), Amanda Righetti ("The OC"), Shaun Toub ("The Kite Runner") and Tim Kang ("Third Watch") have also joined the cast of the drama pilot, about a man who uses his keen sense of observation to solve crimes as an independent detective working with the police. Baker will play the title character, Patrick Jane, with Yeoman, Righetti, Toub and Kang as unspecified characters. Bruno Heller is behind the Warner Bros. Television-based hour which David Nutter is directing.
SPACED (FOX) - Sara Rue ("Less Than Perfect") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about two strangers (Rue, Josh Lawson) who pose as a married couple in order to rent an apartment. She'll play Daisy Steiner, said woman, in the half-hour. Jessica Stevenson originated the role in the U.K. version. She joins the previously cast Federico Dordei and Will Sasso on the Warner Bros. Television/Granada International/Wonderland Sound and Vision-based project, which Charles Stone is directing from a script by Adam Barr.
STARTING UNDER (FOX) - Bert Belasco ("Dash 4 Cash") is set to play son to Bernie Mac in the comedy pilot, about a larger-than-life and opinionated man (Mac) who, after a divorce, finds himself living with and working for his introverted twentysomething son (Belasco). Ken Davitian also stars in the half-hour, which comes from creator Bruce Helford and director Andy Ackerman. Warner Bros. Television and Mohawk Productions are co-producing.
THE UNUSUALS (ABC, New!) - Noah Hawley ("Bones") has lined up a pilot presentation order from the Alphabet for an hourlong dramedy set at a New York police precinct. He penned the script and is executive producing alongside Peter Tolan for Sony Pictures Television.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
|
|
|
 [march 2008]  |
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
| | | | | | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
[05/26/17 - 12:31 PM]
Senators-Penguins Game 7 Double-OT Thriller on NBCSN Averages More Than 3 Million Viewers
NBCSN spins the numbers for Thursday, May 25.
|
[05/26/17 - 10:01 AM]
Disney XD's "Star vs. The Forces of Evil" Two-Hour TV Movie Event to Premiere Saturday, July 15
Season three of the fan-favorite and Annie Award-nominated series is slated to debut this fall.
|
[05/26/17 - 09:07 AM]
"Into the Badlands" Closes Its Second Season as a Top Scripted Series on Cable
AMC further spins the numbers for the series to date.
|
[05/26/17 - 08:36 AM]
NBC's 10 P.M. "The Red Nose Day Special" #1 in Timeslot in 18-49 and Improves on Last Year's Telecast by 40% in Demo and 27% in Total Viewers
NBC spins the numbers for Thursday, May 25.
|
[05/25/17 - 11:55 PM]
3rd Annual Red Nose Day Raises Over $35 Million for Children in Need, Top Stars Join NBC's Night of Red Nose Day Programming & Live Special
The donation total was calculated after the broadcast finished airing on the West Coast.
|
[05/25/17 - 03:59 PM]
Video: Netflix Reveals Trailer and Key Art for CounterPunch
The film brings to light the true stories of a number of young boxers determined not only to turn around the fate of the industry, but to also make sure their names end up in the firmament alongside the most remembered and revered champions.
|
[05/25/17 - 03:50 PM]
Top Ninja Warriors Will Show Off Their Strength on NBC's Annual Three-Hour Special "USA vs. The World" Airing Sunday, June 4 (8-11 PM ET/PT)
Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbajabiamila are set to host and Kristine Leahy will co-host.
|
[05/25/17 - 02:36 PM]
ABC Wins Its 4th Consecutive May in Adults 18-49, Delivering Its Longest Winning Streak for the Sweep in Over 25 Years
ABC further spins the numbers for the May sweeps period.
|
[05/25/17 - 02:32 PM]
Production Team for "69th Primetime Emmys" Announced
Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner of White Cherry Entertainment will executive produce this year's telecast.
|
[05/25/17 - 01:27 PM]
Video: First Look at Ludacris in MTV's "Fear Factor"
The series returns this Tuesday, May 30 at 10:00/9:00c.
|
[05/25/17 - 11:59 AM]
Rubber Hits the Road on the New Season of CNBC's "Jay Leno's Garage" Premiering Wednesday, June 28th
Celebrity guests this season include President George W. Bush and Laura Bush, Ted Koppel, Wanda Sykes, Michael Strahan, Brad Garrett, Josh Duhamel, J. B. Smoove, among others.
|
[05/25/17 - 10:59 AM]
History Orders Robert Zemeckis Scripted Drama Series "Blue Book"
"Blue Book" chronicles the true top secret United States Air Force-sponsored investigations into UFO-related phenomena in the 1950's and 60's known as "Project Blue Book."
|
[05/25/17 - 10:46 AM]
Summer Is Blazing Hot with "Teen Choice 2017" Live Sunday, August 13, on FOX
For 19 years, the special has presented performances and appearances by some of pop culture's brightest stars.
|
[05/25/17 - 10:30 AM]
The Avengers Return for an Action-Packed One-Hour "Marvel's Avengers: Secret Wars" Season Four Premiere on Saturday, June 17, on Disney XD
Picking up right after the events of season three "Ultron Revolution," the fourth season finds Tony Stark trapped in another dimension.
|
[05/25/17 - 10:04 AM]
"Legends of Chamberlain Heights" Returns for Season Two on Sunday, June 18 at 11:30 P.M. ET/PT on Comedy Central
"Legends of Chamberlain Heights" is an urban animated series mixing raucous comedy and social commentary that centers on three high school freshman basketball benchwarmers.
|
|
|
|
