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[07/16/08 - 08:05 PM]
Development Update: Wednesday, July 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!
CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (CBS) - Executive producers Carol Mendelsohn and Naren Shankar have confirmed William Petersen is departing the series as a full-time cast member. Petersen, who already was set for a reduced role on the show's upcoming ninth season (read the story), will exit in episode 10. Nevertheless, he'll continue as an executive producer on the series alongside his producing partner Cynthia Chvatal and make occasional guest appearances. As part of the build up to Petersen's exit, Sara Sidle (Jorja Fox), Lady Heather (Melinda Clarke) and "The Miniature Killer" are all expected to make return appearances. Entertainment Weekly further reports that to help fill Petersen's (as well as Gary Dourdan's - who was killed off in the season finale) void, Liz Vassey and David Berman have been upped to regulars while casting has begun for a new regular ("a male professor with a genetic quirk") in addition to the previously announced Lauren Lee Smith. Lastly, feature director William Friedkin ("To Live and Die in L.A.") has been recruited to helm the show's upcoming 200th episode following last year's duties on the episode "Cockroaches."
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC) - Newcomers Joshua Moore, Kendall Applegate and twins Charles and Max Carver are all set to join the cast of the show's upcoming fifth season. They'll play Parker, Penny, Porter and Preston, respectively, the children of Tom and Lynette Scavo (Doug Savant and Felicity Huffman) who, due to the show's "flash forward," are now five years older. Zane Huett, Kerstin Pinkerton, Brent Kinsman and Shane Kinsman all originated said roles.
IRREPARABLE HARM (HBO, New!) - Writer Jesse Wigutow ("Eragon") and director Eugene Jarecki ("Why We Fight") are developing a new telefilm at the pay channel about the true story of Frank Snepp, the head of the CIA's strategic analysis in Saigon during the Vietnam War. The project, which Jarecki is also executive producing, will track Snepp as he returns to the U.S. after the fall of Saigon and, after being conflicted over what had just happened, decides to reveal the true story of the U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam. Said account, detailed in his book "Decent Interval: An Insider's Account of Saigon's Indecent End, Told by the CIA's Chief Strategy Analyst in Vietnam," ultimately led to a court battle with the CIA. Wigutow's script then will be based on Snepp's second book, "Irreparable Harm: A Firsthand Account of How One Agent Took on the Agency in an Epic Battle Over Free Speech." Paula Weinstein and Spring Creek's Palak Patel are also executive producing.
LIFE ON MARS (ABC) - "October Road" alum Jonathan Murphy has joined the cast of the newcomer, about a modern-day police detective (Jason O'Mara), who, after a car crash, finds himself mysteriously transported back to 1973 and still working as a detective. Murphy will play Chris Skelton, a jittery young detective who is new to the department. His casting is part of a post-pilot revamp of the series by incoming executive producers Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec and Scott Rosenberg. Michael Imperioli also stars.
SCRUBS (ABC) - Bill Lawrence and Zach Braff confirmed during the show's panel at the TCA the latter will likely depart the series after its upcoming eighth season. Like William Petersen (see above) however, Braff says he's open to returning as a guest star and/or director. "My sense is this is my last year," Braff told reporters. "If the show does continue like he's saying, like an 'ER' kind of thing, I would love to come back and visit and definitely direct some - and do craft service if they need some help." In any case, production on the show's 18-episode order will be completed next month. Also confirmed at the panel: the series will finally switch to HD for its eighth season; six two- to four-minute webisodes are being shot to help promote the show's move to ABC; and upcoming guest stars include Courteney Cox, Lee Thompson Young, Aziz Ansari, Betsy Beutler and Eliza Coupe.
SINCERELY, TED L. NANCY (FOX, New!) - Ted L. Nancy's book "Letters From a Nut" is once again being targeted for the small screen, this time by FOX. The network has given a cast-contingent presentation order to the project, which centers on a regular guy who, after suffering through too many faulty products and customer service mishaps, decides to take on the corporations by writing letters that "seek to avenge the consumer frustrations of people everywhere." Barry Marder, Chuck Martin, Gary Auerbach and Rob Lee are all behind the Lionsgate-based half-hour, which is being likened to a "Borat"-like mockumentary style, featuring him doing outrageous stunts involving regular people. ABC previously took at stab at bringing the book to the small screen back in 2002. Lionsgate, Auerbach's Go Go Luckey Productions and Lee's Bayonne Entertainment subsequently picked up the rights last year (read the story).
SIT DOWN, SHUT UP (FOX) - Sony Pictures Television and most of the show's writing staff have settled their dispute over the animated comedy's status as part of the IATSE's Animation Guild. "This contract is a compromise -- an improvement over the standard TAG terms we were initially offered but not full WGA coverage," said writers Mitch Hurwitz, Josh Weinstein, Rich Rinaldi, Aisha Muharrar, Alex Herschlag, Laura Gutin, Dan Fybel, Aaron Ehasz, Michael Colton and John Aboud in a joint statement. "Compromises are never easy nor satisfying, always less comforting than a clear victory. We know that this is part of an ongoing struggle." Not agreeing to terms however were Bill Oakley, Weinstein's longtime writing partner, and Ken Keeler. A statement from the WGA, where the writers were trying to move the show to, noted that "when Sony offered to pay 'WGA equivalent residuals' and to give each writer up to $200,000 in additional compensation through a blind script deal, most of the writers decided to accept. We understand why they did so but wish they hadn't. Had they stuck together we believe that they would have won WGA coverage for 'Sit Down, Shut Up!'"
THE UNLIMITED (ABC, New!) - Sean Bailey ("Project Greenlight") has booked a $500,000 put pilot commitment from the Alphabet for a new drama about a Texas basketball coach who discovers that his recently deceased father was actually one of the world's most brilliant minds and that he's inherited his genius. Bailey, who penned the pilot on spec, will executive produce via his Idealogy banner. Said company was formed last year after Live Planet, his partnership with Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Chris Moore, got out of the TV and film business to focus on new media.
UNTITLED GREG DANIELS/MICHAEL SCHUR PROJECT (A.K.A. UNTITLED OFFICE SPIN-OFF PROJECT) (NBC) - "Saturday Night Live's" Amy Poehler is in final negotiations to join the cast of the Greg Daniels/Michael Schur project, which is no longer being billed as a spin-off of "The Office." Poehler would join the previously cast Aziz Ansari on the project, which will air after "The Office" on Thursday nights next year. Full details about the show obviously still remain under wraps. Poehler presumably will exit "SNL" or take on a reduced role.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[07/23/25 - 01:52 PM]
ESPN "Sunday Night Baseball Presented by Capital One" Schedule Update: Chicago Cubs Visit St. Louis Cardinals as Historic Rivalry Continues August 10
"Sunday Night Baseball" on ESPN is averaging 1.71 million viewers in 2025, making it the most-watched season of the franchise in eight years, since 2017, according to Nielsen.
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[07/23/25 - 12:01 PM]
Brandy Norwood Joins Lifetime Holiday Family with Real Life Daughter Sy'Rai in "Christmas Everyday"
Norwood portrays Francine "Fancy" Ballantine, a devoted fashion designer juggling family obligations and career ambitions.
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[07/23/25 - 11:33 AM]
Video: Trailer and Key Art Debut - "Ralph Barbosa: Planet Bosa"
The special premieres Friday, August 8 on Hulu.
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[07/23/25 - 11:15 AM]
Apple's Sports Comedy "Stick" Tees Off for Season Two with Owen Wilson
"I think we all had a great time making it," said star and executive producer Owen Wilson. "It's really nice to see the show connecting with people and to know that we get a chance to continue the story!"
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[07/23/25 - 11:02 AM]
Video: "Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Buffalo Bills" - Official Trailer - HBO Max
Join NFL MVP Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills for the new season, premiering August 5 on HBO Max.
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[07/23/25 - 10:46 AM]
Paramount Global and Park County Extend Overall Deal
The deal with "South Park" co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone is for five years, including 50 new episodes, all 26 previous season episodes and extending "South Park" on Comedy Central and Paramount+ around the world.
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[07/23/25 - 10:06 AM]
Bravo's "Top Chef" Heads to the Carolinas for Season 23
Season 23 will be centered in the emerging and diverse culinary hub of Charlotte, North Carolina, with several episodes in Greenville, South Carolina.
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[07/23/25 - 10:00 AM]
The CW Network Strikes Multi-Year Agreement with Professional Bull Riders to Broadcast Saturday and Sunday Teams League Events
PBR on The CW kicks off on Saturday, August 9 (6:30-8:00pm ET) and Sunday, August 10 (2:00-4:30pm ET) live from Sunrise, Florida.
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[07/23/25 - 09:06 AM]
Apple Original Films Announces New Documentary Feature "Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost"
From Emmy and DGA Award-winning director, producer and son Ben Stiller, the film features the inspiring story of comedy icons Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, and is set to premiere in select theaters October 17, and stream on Apple TV+ October 24.
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[07/23/25 - 09:05 AM]
All-New Season of "Expedition X" Premieres Wednesday, August 20 at 9PM ET/PT on Discovery
In the two-part season premiere airing over two consecutive weeks, Josh Gates and Heather Amaro venture into the haunted ruins of Spike Island, once Ireland's most infamous, brutal prison.
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[07/23/25 - 08:04 AM]
Hulu Original Series "Only Murders in the Building" Season Five Premieres Tuesday, September 9
Your favorite crime-solving trio is back for another killer case!
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[07/23/25 - 06:46 AM]
Bring on More Torture: Netflix Renews "Wednesday" for Season 3 Ahead of Season 2 Debut
"Wednesday" originally premiered on Netflix on November 23, 2022 and currently holds the record for Netflix's most-popular English language show of all time with 252.1M views in 91 days.
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[07/23/25 - 06:01 AM]
Apple TV+ Unveils First Look at "The Savant," Starring and Executive Produced by Jessica Chastain
The suspenseful, high-stakes series will make its global debut on Apple TV+ with the first two episodes on Friday, September 26 followed by new episodes every Friday through November 7.
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[07/22/25 - 04:01 PM]
Production of YA Zombie Series "All of Us Are Dead" Season 2 Is Now Underway
Based on the legendary webtoon by Joo Dong-geun, the first season was an international success, amassing over 560M viewing hours within 28 days of its premiere.
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[07/22/25 - 03:03 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 in Adults 18-49, Leading CBS' "After Midnight" and NBC's "Late Night with Seth Meyers" in the Demo for the 6th Consecutive Week
"Nightline" posted week-to-week increases in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49, hitting a 4-week high in the key Adult news demo.
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