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[04/14/08 - 05:48 PM] Development Update: Monday, April 14 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!
LIFETIME'S UPFRONT PRESENTATION (New!) - The cable channel detailed its development slate at its annual upfront presentation today, which included a few new projects in addition to its previously announced efforts:
On the comedy front, production has been completed on the multi-camera pilots "Libertyville," starring Christine Ebersole as a divorced 40-something on the dating scene again, and "Rita Rocks," starring Nicole Sullivan managing marriage, motherhood and a newly formed garage band, one of which could be ordered to series shortly as testing is set to begin next week. Also still in the works is "Burnt Toast," an adaptation of "Desperate Housewives" actress Teri Hatcher's book about her life as a fortysomething single mother who's determined that her daughter learn from her mistakes. ABC Studios is producing the project, which is still in the script stage.
In the drama department, the network has commissioned pilots for "Mistresses" and "Drop Dead Diva." The latter, which was previously set up at FOX, revolves around a demanding young actress who dies and returns to Earth in the body of a brilliant but "unpolished" attorney. Josh Berman penned the hour which is set up at Sony Pictures Television. The former, which is based on a BBC series that follows a group of friends from college through their adult years, then comes from writer Melissa Carter and Fox 21. Also in the hopper in the script stage are "The Amazing Mrs. Pritchard" (from writer Vanessa Taylor), based on a British miniseries about a woman who accidentally becomes governor of her state; "The Skin I'm In" (Laura Ziskin), about a Harvard medical school student; "The Department Store," from ABC Studios and the Mark Gordon Co.; as well as the previously announced "Chambermaid" (Warner Horizon, Spring Creek and Class IV), based on a novel by Saira Rao about a law clerk; and "Trump Tower" (previously at NBC), a nighttime soap opera set at fictional swanky apartments at the very real Trump Towers in midtown Manhattan. Donald Trump himself is executive producing and attached to serve as the show's narrator.
Meanwhile in the network's signature original movie department, six projects were spotlighted: "Trading Up," based on the novel by "Sex and the City" author Candace Bushnell (at one time set up as a series at ABC); "America," a story of a runaway helped by a doctor that will star and be executive produced by Rosie O'Donnell; "Terrorist," based on the John Updike novel; "Maneater," an adaptation of Gigi-Levangie Grazer's book about a gold digger; "Amish Grace" about the families who lost daughters in the recent schoolhouse shooting and how they forgave; and "The Julie Roberts Story" about the sad personal life of a country music star. The network also has four more Nora Roberts adaptations in the works, again from Peter Guber's Mandalay Productions and Stephanie Germain, coming off the heels of the successful four-movie stunt last year.
And finally over in reality, the Weinstein Co. has two series in the works: "Models of the Runway," a "Project Runway" companion (also due in November) that tracks the show's parallel modeling competition; and "Project Pygmalion" (eyed for 2009), which involves a contest among a group of average women, the winner of which receives a makeover by a panel of experts in a variety of fields to transform her into a person who would feel at home in the highest circles of New York society. Meanwhile, production has been completed on the Cat Deeley-hosted/Granada-produced game show "The Big Match," in which 100 single men compete for a woman. The network plans to air the backdoor pilot special this Friday at midnight EST. Also wrapped is the makeover show "Total Knockout," hosted by former supermodel Roshumba Williams while new entries include "Cook Yourself Thin," which gives one woman help from a group of chefs and food stylists every week, and "Salsa and the City," a docu-soap about Los Angeles salsa dancers. Tiger Aspect is behind the former while Gay Rosenthal and Mario Lopez are executive producing the latter.
MIKE BIRBIGLIA'S SECRET PUBLIC JOURNAL (CBS) - Frances Conroy ("Six Feet Under") and Christine Woods ("Welcome to the Captain") have joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about a stand-up comedian (Mike Birbiglia) who lives with his girlfriend in Brooklyn and struggles in his efforts to be a grown up. The former will play Kathy, the mom of Birbiglia's character, in the project, while Woods is set as his girlfriend. Rachel Blanchard was previously indicated as playing Birbiglia's girlfriend. It's not clear if she was recast or is actually playing a different character. Bob Odenkirk and Phil Hendrie also star in the half-hour, which comes from CBS Paramount Network Television. Rob Greenberg is directing from a script by Andy Secunda and Mike Birbiglia.
UNTITLED WALTER REED HOSPITAL PROJECT (HBO, New!) - Ron Nyswaner ("The Painted Veil") is set to pen a new docudrama at the pay channel about the recent Walter Reed Hospital scandal. The network has acquired the rights to a series of Washington Post articles about said event, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for reporters Dana Priest and Anne Hull, along with photographer Michel du Cille. It's understood the telefilm will track how four ordinary people (including Staff Sgt. John Daniel Shannon, a 43-year-old sniper whose eye and skull were shattered by an enemy bullet), who put their lives on the line for their country, came back injured and were then abused and ignored by the crown jewel of the military. 4-Screen Media's Larry Lyttle is executive producing the project alongside the Helpern Co.'s David Helpern.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[11/20/24 - 12:30 PM] Slam Dunk! Disney, ESPN and the NBA Team Up to Present "Dunk the Halls" - the First Real-Time, Animated NBA Game: San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks on Christmas Day "Dunk the Halls" will be presented on ESPN2, Disney+ and ESPN+.
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[11/20/24 - 12:00 PM] Third Annual "LEGO Masters: Celebrity Holiday Bricktacular" Premieres Tuesday, Dec. 10 and Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 8:00 - 10:00PM ET/PT on FOX Special celebrity guests include Sophia Bush, Holly Robinson Peete, Eric McCormack and Lil Rel Howery pairing up with fan-favorite former contestants to compete in jaw-dropping holiday-themed challenges for charities of their choice.
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[11/20/24 - 12:00 PM] "Glitter and Greed: The Lisa Frank Story" to Premiere December 5 on Prime Video The four-part documentary penetrates the neon-hued world of Lisa Frank Inc., a brand that defined girlhood for a generation of Americans only to seemingly disappear overnight.
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[11/20/24 - 11:03 AM] Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro Set to Host "The Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular" Airing Sunday, Dec. 1, on ABC and Stream Next Day on Hulu and Disney+ Narrated by Kristen Bell, who will share the tale of how the Disney Parks kicks off the most magical holiday ever, "The Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular" airs Sunday, December 1.
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[11/20/24 - 11:00 AM] Paramount+ with Showtime Announces "The Honey Trap: A True Story of Love, Lies and the FBI" Premiering Friday, December 6th The documentary feature, directed by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Chris Moukarbel, is a dramatic tale of espionage, propaganda, and romance, following the infamous Berlin rapper Denis Cuspert aka Deso Dogg and his journey from artist to MMA fighter to ISIS recruiter.
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[11/20/24 - 10:34 AM] Bravo Rings in the New Year with "Southern Hospitality" Season Three Premiering Thursday, Jan. 2 at 9 P.M. ET/PT The Queen of King Street, Leva Bonaparte, and her staff - Joe Bradley, Bradley Carter, TJ Dinch, Maddi Reese and Emmy Sharrett - are back for an unforgettable summer of work, play and debauchery.
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[11/20/24 - 10:01 AM] Peacock's New Docuseries "Girls Gone Wild: The Untold Story" Goes Inside the Cultural Phenomenon to Reveal the Dark Underbelly of Joe Francis' World The docuseries, premiering December 3 exclusively on Peacock, includes Francis' first in-depth, in-person interview with a journalist in almost a decade.
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[11/20/24 - 10:01 AM] Video: "Anthony Jeselnik: Bones and All" - Official Trailer - Netflix Anthony Jeselnik celebrates 20 years of delivering boundary-pushing comedy to the masses in this razor-sharp stand-up special.
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[11/20/24 - 10:01 AM] The CW Network Sets 2025 Midseason Premiere Dates for New and Returning Series Season 7 of the hit series "All American," starring Michael Evans Behling, Greta Onieogou and Bre-Z, kicks off with a special sneak peek on Wednesday, January 29 (8:00-9:00pm ET/PT) before premiering in its regular timeslot on Monday, February 3 (8:00-9:00pm ET/PT).
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[11/20/24 - 10:00 AM] "The Simpsons" - Pamela Hayden, the Voice of Milhouse and Other Iconic Characters Retires the Show After 35 Years Hear Pamela give her final voice to Milhouse and Jimbo Jones in an all-new episode this Sunday, November 24 on FOX.
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[11/20/24 - 09:34 AM] AXS TV Presents Every Star-Studded Episode from Season One of the Emmy-Nominated Hit "Nashville" in a Special Two-Day Marathon on December 7 & 8, Starting at 10A ET As part of the event, AXS TV presents new exclusive interviews with cast members Clare Bowen, Charles Esten, Jonathan Jackson, and Sam Palladio.
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[11/20/24 - 09:05 AM] Food Network's Emmy-Nominated Series, "Kids Baking Championship," Returns with an All-New Animal-Inspired Season Hosts and judges, Duff Goldman and Kardea Brown, welcome a new field of talented kid bakers to the kitchen for challenges inspired by creatures big and small, including a few fluffy, furry and feathery friends who drop in to the kitchen for live appearances over the course of the season.
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[11/20/24 - 09:01 AM] First Look: Netflix's "Zero Day" Premieres on February 20, 2025 The limited series stars Robert De Niro as respected former U.S. President George Mullen, who, as head of the Zero Day Commission, is charged with finding the perpetrators of a devastating cyber attack that has caused chaos around the country and thousands of fatalities.
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[11/20/24 - 09:01 AM] Video: "Dream Productions" - Official Trailer Disney and Pixar's all-new four-episode limited series is available December 11 only on Disney+.
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