or


[04/22/08 - 05:10 PM]
Development Update: Tuesday, April 22
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!


THE GLASS SEAGULL (Hallmark, New!) - Lesley Ann Warren and Meredith Baxter are set to topline a new original movie for the cable channel about two lifelong friends struggling with the news that one has cancer. Said event forces one friend (Baxter) to make a decision over whether to tell her daughter she is really the daughter of the other (Warren), a Broadway star. David Cass Sr. is directing the project from a script by Darrell V. Orme Mann. Production is underway for a spring 2009 premiere with Larry Levinson, Randy Pope, Dan Gross and Michael Moran serving as executive producers and Lincoln Lageson and Traceigh Scottell producing.


MY NAME IS EARL (NBC) - Danielle Sanchez-Witzel, a supervising producer on the series, has inked a two-year, seven-figure overall deal with Universal Media Studios. During the first year of the pact, Sanchez-Witzel will be loaned out to the 20th Century Fox Television-produced "Earl," where she'll be upped to co-executive producer next season. Additionally, she'll develop new series projects for the studio.


THE PHILANTHROPIST (NBC) - Executive producer Tom Fontana has departed the upcoming drama, which received a blind series commitment back in September. Fontana's exit is reportedly due to creative differences with the network over the show's direction. The Universal Media Studios-based project centers on a renegade billionaire who uses his wealth, connections and power to help people in need no matter what the risks or costs. Fontana penned the pilot script based on an idea by Original Media's Charlie Corwin. It's understood Fontana wanted to focus on social issues as immigration, drug addiction and the use of children soldiers in parts of world, while the network was looking for a more escapist and fantastical approach. In any case, the search is underway for a new showrunner. Fontana's producing partner Barry Levinson is also departing, leaving Corwin as the sole executive producer for the time being. It's not clear if the network plans to thrown out any of the show's six completed scripts.


THE WENDY WILLIAMS SHOW (Syndication) - Debmar-Mercury is set to launch a test run of the talk show in four markets beginning July 14. The participating stations - WNYW New York, KTTV Los Angeles, KDFW Dallas and WJBK Detroit, all Fox owned-and-operated - will carry a six-week, 30-episode run of the show with an eye toward a nationwide rollout in the fall of 2009. In addition, Rob Dauber ("Martha") has been tapped to co-executive produce the New York-based series - which will feature Williams's commentary on celebrity gossip and news events, as well as interviews, fashion and advice segments - alongside Williams and her husband/manager Kevin Hunter. Said stations will pay an unspecified cash license fee as well as hand over four minutes of ad time for national ad sales by Debmar-Mercury.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [april 2008]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· BOUND BY A SECRET (HALLMARK)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· MARTHA (HALLMARK)
· MY NAME IS EARL (NBC)
· PHILANTHROPIST, THE (NBC)
· WENDY WILLIAMS SHOW, THE (SYNDICATION)





[07/30/25 - 09:06 AM]
TNT Unveils Impressive Guest Star Lineup for Season Two of "The Librarians: The Next Chapter"
Dominic Monaghan, Jeremy Swift, Josh Gates, Stefan Kapicic, Oliver Dench and more around bound for the show's sophomore run.

[07/30/25 - 09:06 AM]
ABC News Studios Announces Three New True Crime Docuseries to Premiere in August, Streaming Exclusively on Hulu
"Capturing Their Killer: The Girls on the High Bridge," "Stalking Samantha: 13 Years of Terror" and "Ruby Red Handed: Stealing America's Most Famous Pair of Shoes" are all on tap in the coming month.

[07/30/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Trailer & Key Art Debut - Hulu's "The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox"
A limited series inspired by the story of how Amanda Knox was wrongfully convicted for the tragic murder of her roommate, Meredith Kercher, and her 16-year odyssey to set herself free.

[07/30/25 - 07:16 AM]
Video: Apple TV+ Debuts Trailer for Peanuts Special "Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical"
Discover the magic of summer camp as Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the gang break out in original songs by Emmy Award nominees Jeff Morrow and Ben Folds, plus Broadway veterans Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner in the first Peanuts musical in over three decades.

[07/30/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "The Dead Girls" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Based on Jorge Ibargüengoitia's novel, the series tells how the Baladro sisters built a brothel empire and became merciless killers in 1960s Mexico.

[07/30/25 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Her Mother's Killer" Season 2 - Sneak Peek - Netflix
With Mejía in prison, Analía and Pablo look to their future. But a relentless new enemy threatens to destroy everything they've built.

[07/30/25 - 03:01 AM]
Video: "Fantasy Football Ruined Our Lives" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When a member of their fantasy football league vanishes on his wedding day, a motley group of friends recount the lead-up to his chaotic bachelor party.

[07/29/25 - 04:00 PM]
Video: Teaser Trailer & Poster - Korean Hulu Original "Tempest"
The new spy thriller with an international cast, including Gianna Jun, Gang Dongwon, John Cho and more, is launching with three episodes on September 10 on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally.

[07/29/25 - 02:26 PM]
Discovery Channel August Programming Highlights
This August, the all-new series "Truck Dynasty" premieres alongside new seasons of "Deadliest Catch," "Contraband: Seized at the Border," "Bering Sea Gold," "Mysteries of the Abandoned," and "Expedition X."

[07/29/25 - 12:32 PM]
"Inside the Worlds of Epic Universe" to Air Wednesday, Aug. 20 at 9 P.M. ET/PT on NBC and Next Day on Peacock
Hosted by Joe Manganiello, the one-hour special celebrates the debut of Universal Orlando Resort's Universal Epic Universe and explores the imagination, innovation and storytelling behind the groundbreaking new theme park.

[07/29/25 - 12:07 PM]
Video: "Songs & Stories with Kelly Clarkson" - NBC
Get an exclusive first look at the new four-part behind-the-scenes series, featuring Gloria Estefan, Jonas Brothers, Lizzo and Teddy Swims.

[07/29/25 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10 Week of July 21: "Happy Gilmore 2" Finds Its Happy Place at No. 1 in This Week's Top 10
Mystery thriller "Untamed" spent another week at No. 1 on the English TV List.

[07/29/25 - 11:46 AM]
ABC Airs Another of Its Most-Watched WNBA Games Ever: Indiana Fever vs Chicago Sky Averaged 1.5 Million Viewers, Up 17% from Last Year's ABC Average
Said audience peaked with 1.7 million viewers.

[07/29/25 - 11:30 AM]
Chilling Crime Thriller Based on the Unbelievable Real-Life Case, "Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story," Set to Premiere on Thursday, August 28, Exclusively on AMC+
Additionally, a three-part Sundance Now original true crime docu-series about the ordeal, "Chloe Ayling: My Unbelievable Kidnapping," will premiere with all episodes on Thursday, September 25, exclusively on Sundance Now and AMC+.

[07/29/25 - 11:00 AM]
ABC Announces Fall 2025 Premiere Dates on the Heels of Scoring the Top 5 Programs in Adults 18-49 for the 2024-2025 Season
New series "9-1-1: Nashville" and returning series "9-1-1" and "Grey's Anatomy" will now premiere Thursday, October 9.