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[04/16/08 - 05:55 PM]
Development Update: Wednesday, April 16
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!
CIRCUS OF THE STARS (ABC) - The Alphabet has ultimately decided to pass on a revival of the 1980s stable, despite a fierce bidding war with at least one other network. The news comes as NBC is set to roll out its competing effort, "Celebrity Circus" this summer. Industry insiders suggest the project's demise was a result of the competing hour as well as a general overabundance of "celebreality" shows in today's marketplace.
THE INN (FOX) - Jerry O'Connell ("Carpoolers") has joined the cast of the multi-camera comedy pilot, described as "Upstairs/Downstairs" set at a hip New York hotel. He'll play the manager of said hotel. Brando Eaton, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Jolene Purdy, Molly Stanton and Niecy Nash also star in the 20th Century Fox Television-based project. Jason Bateman is directing from a script by Abraham Higginbotham.
MY BEST FRIEND'S GIRL (CBS) - Kristin Booth ("The Company") has been tapped as the new female lead in the comedy pilot, about two best friends whose relationship becomes complicated when one (Tim Peper) starts dating the ex-wife of the other (Josh Cooke). She'll take over for Jennie Garth, leading to speculation that the actress will reprise her role on the CW's "Beverly Hills, 90210" revival. Nevertheless, Garth, who's exit was a mutual decision between her and the producers after Monday's table read, has been coping with the recent death of her father. Eric Ladin also stars in the Sony Pictures Television-based "Girl," which comes from creator Mike Sikowitz.
THE TOWER (CBS) - Tony winner Denis O'Hare is the latest addition to the drama pilot, about a group of Chicago newspaper reporters who treat breaking news as cases to be both investigated and solved. He'll play the group's editor. He joins the previously cast CCH Pounder, Cole Hauser, Marcia Gay Harden and Rosamund Pike. Davis Guggenheim is directing the CBS Paramount Network Television-based project from a script by Meredith Stiehm.
UNTITLED JENNIFER WEINER PROJECT (ABC Studios, New!) - "Chick lit" queen Jennifer Weiner ("In Her Shoes") has inked a two-year, seven-figure overall deal with ABC Studios. The pact, which comes in spite of Weiner having no TV experience, calls for the prolific author to develop new series projects for the studio. It doesn't however include the rights to any of Weiner's existing properties. It's understood the deal was actually finalized before the strike. In addition to "Shoes," Weiner's novels "Little Earthquakes" and "The Guy Not Taken" are being developed as features by Universal and DreamWorks respectively.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[03/27/26 - 03:16 PM]
Official Trailer for HBO's Harry Potter Series, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," Shatters Records as HBO and HBO Max's Most-Watched Ever by More Than Double, Amassing +277 Million Organic Views in 48 Hours
The series will debut Christmas 2026 on HBO and will be available to stream exclusively on HBO Max.
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[03/27/26 - 01:01 PM]
Hugely Popular "Chicago" Series Set to Return to NBC in the Fall
"Chicago Fire" will begin its 15th season in the fall, "Chicago P.D." its 14th and "Chicago Med" its 12th.
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[03/27/26 - 10:01 AM]
Netflix Rounds Out Cast of "Kennedy" with Production Underway in London
The new drama series based on Fredrik Logevall's book, "JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917-1956," will explore the triumphs and tragedies of the Kennedy family from Chernin Entertainment.
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[03/27/26 - 09:48 AM]
FOX Sports Assembles Top-Tier Roster for 2026 Major League Baseball Regular Season Coverage
Entering their fifth season together, first-ballot Hall of Famer John Smoltz and Emmy Award-winning play-by-play announcer Joe Davis call FOX Sports' top regular season and playoff games.
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[03/27/26 - 09:46 AM]
ABC News Is #1 in Total Viewers in Late-Night, Friday Night and Sunday Morning
"20/20" scored its best Adults 25-54 performance in 11 months.
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[03/27/26 - 09:21 AM]
"The Morning Show" News Incoming - Sean Hayes Joins the Cast of Season 5
Apple TV confirmed the news on social media this morning.
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[03/27/26 - 08:01 AM]
HBO Original Documentary Series "The Dark Wizard" Debuts April 14
The four-part documentary series is an up-close and unflinching portrait of Dean Potter, one of the world's most influential and controversial climbers, BASE jumpers, and highline walkers.
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[03/27/26 - 07:01 AM]
ESPN Original "Why Not Us: UMES Volleyball" to Premiere March 30
Presented by Andscape and produced by Sport & Story, the latest installment follows the inspiring journey of the newly formed men's volleyball team at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore - the first men's volleyball program at a Division I HBCU.
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[03/26/26 - 02:05 PM]
"The Madison" Marks Taylor Sheridan's Biggest Debut Season Launch with 8 Million Views Globally for Paramount+
The debut of the six-part series also marks the biggest freshman season launch for the prolific creator among women 35+.
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[03/26/26 - 12:49 PM]
Apple Original Films Lands New Sci-Fi Thriller "Liminal"
Starring Vanessa Kirby and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, the feature will be directed by Louis Leterrier.
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[03/26/26 - 12:01 PM]
"After the Flood" Returns to BritBox: Tensions Rise in High-Stakes Season Two Premiere
Other April highlights include "A Taste For Murder," "Silent Witness," and "Death in Paradise."
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[03/26/26 - 12:00 PM]
ESPN NBA Schedule Update: Atlanta Hawks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Added on April 8
The game replaces the previously scheduled Milwaukee Bucks vs. Detroit Pistons matchup.
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[03/26/26 - 11:30 AM]
BET and Paramount+ Announce the Sixth Season Renewal of Multi-Emmy-Nominated Comedy "The Ms. Pat Show"
The upcoming season will be among the first BET originals to stream on Paramount+, which becomes the new streaming home for BET content beginning in June, bringing the beloved series to a global platform with nearly 80 million subscribers.
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[03/26/26 - 11:01 AM]
"Saturday Night Live" Springs Into April with Back-to-Back Episodes
Jack Black and Colman Domingo will host on April 4 and April 11, respectively.
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[03/26/26 - 10:03 AM]
Sony Pictures Television Advertiser Sales Heads Into 2026 Upfront Bringing Advertisers Branded Content Opportunities Within High Volume of Originals and a Safe Harbor of Entertainment Programming
The studio continues to elevate its media investment opportunities for advertisers through Game Show Network, a top 10 cable network and a top five general entertainment network.
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