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[04/22/08 - 05:10 PM]
Development Update: Tuesday, April 22
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!
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
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[04/02/26 - 12:31 PM]
Paramount+ Greenlights New Reality Series, "Team Moms," Executive Produced by Kim Kardashian and Love Island Producers, ITV
"Team Moms" launches viewers into the world of nationally competitive youth baseball via immersion into the Legendary Prep Academy in Scottsdale, Arizona's first and only baseball prep school.
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[04/02/26 - 12:01 PM]
"Wizards Beyond Waverly Place" Returns for One Last Spell This Summer on Disney+ and Disney Channel
Executive producer Selena Gomez to make her directorial debut with the premiere episode.
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[04/02/26 - 11:44 AM]
First-Ever "American Idol" Simulcast on ABC and Disney+ Surges Double Digits
Season to date, "American Idol" averages 5.11 million Total Viewers and stands as one of the few shows to notch year-over-year gains this season.
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[04/02/26 - 11:11 AM]
Sarah Drew and Eric Johnson to Headline "When I Said I Do" (wt), The New Movie Inspired by Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black's Beloved Duet of the Same Name
The movie is set to premiere Saturday, May 23 at 8/7c as part of the network's upcoming spring "Love of a Lifetime" original movie slate.
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[04/02/26 - 11:07 AM]
Thursday Night Heats Up as "9-1-1: Nashville" and "9-1-1" Soar to Best Performance of the Season
On linear over three days, "9-1-1" earned 5.94 million Total Viewers, also nearly matching the show's previous season high in January.
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[04/02/26 - 11:05 AM]
Hulu's Critically Acclaimed Comedy Series "Deli Boys" Returns for a Second Season on May 28
Andrew Rannells and Kumail Nanjiani join as recurring guest stars for the second season, alongside series regulars Asif Ali, Saagar Shaikh, Poorna Jagannathan and Fred Armisen.
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[04/02/26 - 10:58 AM]
ESPN to Present WNBA Expansion Draft Friday, April 3
Malika Andrews will host the special, joined by analysts Carolyn Peck and Monica McNutt.
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[04/02/26 - 10:31 AM]
Louis C.K. to Headline the Hollywood Bowl May 5 as Part of Netflix Is a Joke Fest
This summer, his newest stand-up special, "Ridiculous," will premiere globally on Netflix.
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[04/02/26 - 10:01 AM]
HBO Original Comedy Special "Ramy Youssef: In Love" Debuts April 17
Whether it's his marriage, being a dog parent, AI, or religion, Ramy comes at everything with his own brand of heart and humor.
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[04/02/26 - 09:36 AM]
Netflix Wins Hot Package "The Corrections"; Orders Limited Drama Straight-to-Series Starring Meryl Streep
The series - from Paramount Television Studios - will be directed by Cord Jefferson, and written and adapted by author Jonathan Franzen.
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[04/02/26 - 09:10 AM]
Video: "Smiling Friends" - Final Episodes Trailer - Adult Swim
Watch the final two episodes of "Smiling Friends" on Sunday, April 12.
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[04/02/26 - 09:01 AM]
"Sofia the First: Royal Magic" Premieres May 25 on Disney Jr. with the First 8 Episodes Streaming Next Day on Disney+
It was also announced today that Moana, Rapunzel, Jasmine, Cinderella, Aurora and Elena of Avalor will make special appearances throughout the series, offering guidance, wisdom and support when Sofia needs it the most.
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[04/02/26 - 08:35 AM]
New Faces Join "The Chi" Ensemble Cast for Its Final Season on Paramount+
Daryl Dunning II, Biko Eisen-Martin, Akilah A. Walker, Laila Odom, Liza Jessie Peterson, and Anthony B. Jenkins are among the latest additions.
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[04/02/26 - 08:35 AM]
Great American Media Sets "An Accidental Arctic Christmas," Reuniting Beloved Fan Favorites Cameron Mathison and Jill Wagner, From Executive Producer Candace Cameron Bure
Maya Rose Skabar also stars in the film, which will premiere as part of the upcoming all-star Great American Christmas on Great American Pure Flix, Great American Family, and GFAM+.
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[04/02/26 - 08:07 AM]
HBO Max Brings HBO Original Series "Euphoria" to Coachella with First-Ever Series Screening at Festival
The screening will take place Sunday, April 12 at approximately 11:59 p.m. PT in the campgrounds, following the evening's final performance.
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