 |
 |
[06/09/08 - 05:21 PM]
Development Update: Monday, June 9
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!
DIRT (FX) - The cable channel has officially pulled the plug on the Courtney Cox-led drama after two seasons. Just 1.06 million viewers turned into the show's final episode on April 13 (including a 0.6 rating/2 share in adults 18-49), literally a third of its premiere audience from 2007 (3.74 million viewers, 1.8 rating/5 share in adults 18-49). ABC Studios and FX Productions were behind the hour, which was executive produced by Matthew Carnahan, Joe Fields, David Arquette and Courtney Cox.
THE INSIDER (Syndication) - Lara Spencer has reupped her contract with the "Entertainment Tonight" spin-off. The new pact will see her move permanently from New York to Los Angeles for the show's fifth-season premiere on September 8. Said date also marks the show's switch to high definition as well as the debut of its new set. As for Spencer, she'll serve as the de facto anchor following former co-anchor Pat O'Brien's decision to reduce his duties to that of special correspondent (alongside Victoria Recano and Steven Cojocaru).
NEVER BETTER (ABC) - Jane Lynch ("Two and a Half Men") and Kathleen Rose Perkins ("Tell Me You Love Me") have both come aboard the comedy pilot, about Keith (Damon Wayans), a recovering alcoholic trying to be a good husband and father. Lynch is playing Linda, Keith's AA sponsor, while Perkins is set as Claire, an AA member who has a contentious relationship with Keith. They join the previously cast Matt Winston and Nicole Ari Parker in the ABC Studios-based half-hour. David Walpert penned the pilot script which Marc Buckland is directing.
THE PRINCE OF MOTOR CITY (ABC) - Morris Chestnut ("The Game Plan") has joined the cast of the drama pilot, a gothic family soap inspired by "Hamlet" that centers on Billy (Warren Christie), a young Harvard philosophy professor forced to return to Detroit to take over the family's auto company and reconnect with his ex-girlfriend, Meg (Piper Perabo). He'll play the recurring role of Leo Moore, who's detailed in the casting notice as: "32, African-American, gorgeous, gallant, and intelligent, he is Meg's boyfriend of over a year who works with Meg's father, Paul. Leo is crazy about Meg but senses unfinished business between Meg and Billy." Andie MacDowell, Aunjanue Ellis, Benny Ciaramello and John Carroll Lynch also star in the ABC Studios-based hour, which Jack Bender is directing from a script by Hamish Linklater and Jessica Goldberg.
SAMURAI GIRL (ABC Family) - Stacy Keibler ("What About Brian") has landed a role on the upcoming limited series, about a 19-year-old Japanese girl named Heaven (Jamie Chung) who sets out to take down her adopted father's evil empire. She'll play Heaven's rival and the ex-fiancee of her love interest, Jake (Brendan Fehr). Anthony Brandon Wong, Kenneth Choi, Kyle Labine, Saige Thompson, Darryl Quon and Steven Brand also star in the project, which was created by Luke McMullen. ABC Studios and Alloy Entertainment are co-producing.
SCREAM QUEENS (VH1, New!) - The cable channel's latest reality search will focus on 10 unknown actresses as they compete for a "major" role in an upcoming horror movie from Lionsgate Films. The project, which Lionsgate is producing alongside Joke Productions, will also feature the aforementioned actresses as they are schooled by acting coach John Homa while their skills and progress will be judged by a yet-to-be-named director. VH1 has committed to eight hourlong episodes of the series, which is being targeted for a fall launch. Joke Fincioen and Biagio Messina are the executive producers with Jim Ackerman, Dave Hamilton and Jeff Olde overseeing the project for VH1.
UNTITLED BOBBY LEE PROJECT (Comedy Central) - The Bobby Lee-led comedy has been given the green light to produce a pilot. Troy Miller ("Flight of the Conchords") has been tapped to direct and executive produce the half-hour, which focuses on the "Mad TV" veteran's point of view on living in a multicultural world. The pilot then will see Lee trying to bridge the racial divide between blacks and Koreans. Lee co-wrote the project alongside Dick Blasucci and Michael Hitchcock. The trio will also executive produce via Miller's Dakota Pictures banner.
THE UNUSUALS (ABC) - Amber Tamblyn ("Joan of Arcadia") is the latest addition to the pilot, a dramedy set at a New York police precinct. She'll play Casey Shraeger, a smart detective who also is the black sheep of her wealthy family. Adam Goldberg, Harold Perrineau and Monique Gabriela also star in the project, which comes from Sony Pictures Television and creator Noah Hawley. Stephen Hopkins is directing.
VIRTUALITY (FOX) - Joy Bryant, Sienna Guillory, Nelson Lee, Omar Metwally and Richie Coster have all joined the ensemble cast of the two-hour drama pilot, about Earth's first starship, which is equipped with advanced virtual reality modules. They'll play Alice Thibadeau, Rika Goddard, Kenji Yamaguchi, Dr. Eyal Meyer and Jimmy Johnson, respectively. The group joins the previously cast James D'Arcy, Jimmi Simpson and Kerry Bishe. Peter Berg is helming the Universal Media Studios-based project, which was created by Michael Taylor and Ronald D. Moore.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
|
|
|
 [june 2008]  |
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
[04/14/25 - 01:00 PM]
Music Powerhouses Sheryl Crow and LeAnn Rimes Join NBC's "The Voice" as Season 27 Mega Mentors
Alongside the coaches, Crow and Rimes bring their distinct vocals, creative edge and deep industry experience to guide the artists into their most high-stakes performances yet.
|
[04/14/25 - 12:25 PM]
Apple Original Films Lands Sundance Festival Favorite "Come See Me in the Good Light"
The documentary is a poignant and unexpectedly funny love story about poets Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley facing an incurable cancer diagnosis with joy, wit and an unshakable partnership.
|
[04/14/25 - 10:30 AM]
ESPN to Exclusively Televise Three 2025 SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament Games
ESPN will also exclusively televise the Western Conference Play-In Tournament finale on Friday, April 18.
|
[04/14/25 - 10:30 AM]
Showtime Original Docuseries "Couples Therapy" Returns to Air Friday, May 23
The documentary series is returning for the second installment of season four, with nine new episodes and all new couples.
|
[04/14/25 - 09:42 AM]
Video: "The Order" - Official Trailer - Hulu
Jude Law, Nicholas Hoult, Tye Sheridan and Jurnee Smollett star in the film, due on April 18.
|
[04/14/25 - 09:06 AM]
"Duck Dynasty: The Revival" Premieres Wednesday, May 28 at 9PM ET/PT on A&E
The first season of one-hour episodes will run for 10 consecutive weeks.
|
[04/14/25 - 09:00 AM]
A24's Academy Award-Winning Film "The Brutalist" Begins Streaming Exclusively on Max May 16
The film stars Academy Award-winner Adrien Brody, Academy Award-nominated Felicity Jones, Academy Award-nominated Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn, Raffey Cassidy, Stacy Martin, Emma Laird, with Isaach de Bankolé, and Alessandro Nivola.
|
[04/14/25 - 08:46 AM]
FOX Nation to Debut "Greg Gutfeld's What Did I Miss?" in May
The first of three episodes will drop on Monday, May 12 followed by episode two and three dropping on May 13 and 14 respectively.
|
[04/14/25 - 07:00 AM]
Video: "Another Simple Favor" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) and Emily Nelson (Blake Lively) reunite on the beautiful island of Capri, Italy, for Emily's extravagant wedding to a rich Italian businessman.
|
[04/14/25 - 06:02 AM]
Going Bananas! ESPN and Disney Platforms Set for a Summer of Savannah Bananas Baseball
The summer of the Savannah Bananas will be showcased on Friday and Saturday nights on ESPN or ESPN2, with all ten games also simulcast live on Disney+ and ESPN+.
|
[04/14/25 - 06:00 AM]
HBO Original Harry Potter Series Casts John Lithgow, Janet McTeer, Paapa Essiedu, Nick Frost, Luke Thallon, and Paul Whitehouse
Newly announced guest/recurring cast include Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell and five-time BAFTA winner Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch.
|
[04/14/25 - 05:02 AM]
Video: Disney+ Releases Official Trailer for UK Original Drama "Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes"
The four-part series is written and executive produced by Jeff Pope, with all episodes available to stream on April 30, exclusively on Disney+.
|
[04/14/25 - 04:40 AM]
Video: High Stakes, Higher Thrills - Netflix's "Jewel Thief - the Heist Begins" Trailer Sets Heart Racing
Packed with style, speed and suspense, the film launches on April 25 and promises an edgy ride from start to finish.
|
[04/12/25 - 01:47 PM]
ESPN's Masters Tournament Second Round Coverage Averages 3.1 Million Viewers; Peaks at 3.4M
The audience was up considerably from Thursday's first round, which averaged 2.3 million viewers.
|
[04/11/25 - 02:36 PM]
ESPN's First Round Masters Tournament Coverage Averages 2.3 Million Viewers
The coverage aired from 3-7:23 p.m. ET and was the most-viewed sports program for the day across all broadcast and cable networks.
|
|
|
|
