or


[04/14/08 - 05:48 PM]
Development Update: Monday, April 14
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!


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





  [april 2008]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· AMAZING MRS. NOVAK, THE (LIFETIME)
· BIG MATCH, THE (LIFETIME)
· BURNT TOAST (LIFETIME)
· CHAMBERMAID (LIFETIME)
· COOK YOURSELF THIN (LIFETIME)
· DEPARTMENT STORE, THE (LIFETIME)
· DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· DROP DEAD DIVA (LIFETIME)
· LIBERTYVILLE (LIFETIME)
· LOVE & SALSA (LIFETIME)
· MANEATER (LIFETIME)
· MISTRESSES (LIFETIME)
· MODELS OF THE RUNWAY (LIFETIME)
· MY SECRET PUBLIC JOURNAL (CBS)
· PROJECT PYGMALION (LIFETIME)
· PROJECT RUNWAY (FREEFORM)
· RITA ROCKS (LIFETIME)
· SEX AND THE CITY (HBO)
· SIX FEET UNDER (HBO)
· SKIN I'M IN, THE (LIFETIME)
· TERRORIST (LIFETIME)
· TOTAL KNOCKOUT (LIFETIME)
· TOWERS, THE (LIFETIME)
· TRADING UP (LIFETIME)
· UNTITLED WALTER REED HOSPITAL PROJECT (HBO)
· WELCOME TO THE CAPTAIN (CBS)





[10/20/25 - 01:24 PM]
NBC's "The Voice" Announces Rock Legend Joe Walsh and Country Superstar Zac Brown as Season 28 Mega Mentors
Alongside the coaches, Walsh and Brown bring their dynamic artistry and long-standing industry experience to guide the artists into their most powerful performances yet.

[10/20/25 - 09:31 AM]
Netflix Announces Family Drama Series "Kennedy" Illuminating the Untold Story of America's Most Iconic Dynasty
Beginning in the 1930s, the first season charts the improbable ascent of Joe and Rose Kennedy and their nine children, including rebellious second son Jack, who struggles to escape the shadow of his golden boy older brother.

[10/20/25 - 08:31 AM]
Video: "Mo Amer: Wild World" - Official Trailer - Netflix
In this timely and fiercely honest hour, the comedian celebrates his Palestinian heritage, relives the birth of his son, takes aim at the TSA and much more.

[10/20/25 - 08:05 AM]
Food Network's Weekend Chat Show "The Kitchen" Comes to an End
The final episode will premiere Saturday, December 13 at 11am ET/PT.

[10/20/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "The Son of a Thousand Men" - Official Trailer - Netflix
In a small village, a lonely fisherman yearning for a son is drawn to an ethereal light that links him to others and their long-buried secrets.

[10/20/25 - 06:02 AM]
Video: "The Crystal Cuckoo" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Hoping to learn more about her heart donor, a young doctor arrives in a mountain town where decades of mysterious tragedies plague the small community.

[10/19/25 - 02:01 PM]
"Sins of Kujo" Comes to Life in New Live-Action Series Set for Spring 2026
Premiering worldwide in spring 2026, the series promises a thrilling exploration of law, morality, and the dark underbelly of modern society, led by a powerhouse cast and creative team.

[10/19/25 - 03:01 AM]
Video: "The Big Fake" - Official Teaser - Netflix
A master of forgery. A criminal of art. Toni Chichiarelli arrives in Rome with the dream of becoming a painter, but his talent leads him elsewhere - from art galleries to state secrets.

[10/17/25 - 05:26 PM]
HBO Max Launches Japanese Collection This October
From romance and comedy to action and thrillers, this slate showcases the vibrancy of Japanese storytelling.

[10/17/25 - 01:16 PM]
"Live with Kelly and Mark" Hits Season Highs with Best Audience Performance Since July
"Live" has now ranked as the No. 1 talk show in syndication for 139 consecutive weeks across all key measures.

[10/17/25 - 10:38 AM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Continues Historic Hot Streak - Rising for Fourth Straight Week Since Premiere with 6 Million Total Viewers
Plus: "High Potential" dominated the 10 p.m. hour with 4.15 million Total Viewers and a 0.33 rating among Adults 18-49.

[10/17/25 - 10:01 AM]
51st Season of "Saturday Night Live" Continues with Three Back-to-Back Shows in November
Miles Teller is on tap to host on November 1, followed by Nikki Glaser on November 8, and Glen Powell on November 15.

[10/17/25 - 09:05 AM]
All-New Season of "The Last Woodsmen" Premieres Friday, November 14 at 9PM ET/PT on Discovery
Deep in the untamed wilderness of the Pacific Northwest, veteran logger Jared Douglas returns to put everything on the line in the new season.

[10/17/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Mob War: Philadelphia vs. The Mafia" - Sneak Peek - Netflix
A brutal mob war between John Stanfa and Joey Merlino plunges '90s Philadelphia into chaos and bloodshed in this captivating true-crime series.

[10/17/25 - 08:31 AM]
Video: "Me late que si" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A desperate, ordinary man, fed up with his misfortune, hatches a daring heist and assembles a very unusual group to attempt the impossible: stealing a live lottery jackpot.