 |
 |
[08/05/08 - 06:52 PM]
Development Update: Tuesday, August 5
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!
ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5TH GRADER? (FOX) - Twentieth Television and Mark Burnett Productions are reportedly close to moving forward with a syndicated version of the successful FOX game show in the fall of 2009. The project, like NBC's "Deal or No Deal," would feature a condensed half-hour version of the parent hourlong show. Jeff Foxworthy is expected to host both the FOX and the syndicated incarnations.
CONFESSIONS OF A CONTRACTOR (CBS, New!) - Richard Murphy's upcoming book, about Henry Sullivan, a blue-collar Los Angeles contractor who oversees high-end renovations for wealthy clients, is heading to the small screen. Shawn Ryan ("The Shield") is on board to shepherd the project, which has a put pilot commitment from the network and 20th Century Fox Television. Murphy will pen and co-executive produce the pilot with Ryan supervising and serving as its executive producer via his MiddKid Productions banner. Said hour is loosely on Murphy's own experience remodeling homes in L.A. off and on for 12 years. As for specifics, the book has Henry falling for two of his female clients, who happen to be former best friends. Anonymous's Jeff Okin, Murphy's manager, and Paul Green will also receive executive producing credits.
GARY UNMARRIED (CBS) - Ed Begley Jr. ("Recount") has joined the cast of the freshman comedy, which stars Jay Mohr as a newly divorced dad. He'll take over for Larry Miller as Dr. Krandall. His character is detailed in the casting notice as follows: "50-60, Male, intelligent, educated but a bit of a pompous blowhard. Dr. Krandall is the family therapist, who has been counseling Gary and Allison during their divorce. He is now engaged to be married to Allison, and comes to Gary's house to offer his services as a therapist to help Gary process his feelings about this awkward situation. Basically a decent guy who wants to help, Dr. Krandall mediates as Gary, Vanessa and Allison vent a few grievances." Producers are also recasting Louise, the daughter of Mohr's character. Laura Marano played the role in the original pilot. No reason for the changes were given.
HARPER'S ISLAND (CBS) - "Supernatural" alum Katie Cassidy has joined the cast of the midseason drama, about a group of friends who meet on an island off the Seattle coast for a destination wedding - to terrifying results. She'll play Trish Wellington, whom the casting notice describes as: "Mid 20s, Caucasian female. The bride. Radiant, dignified, intelligent, and perfectly put-together, with her charm and lovely personality she almost seems too good to be true. The heiress to the Wellington family fortune, she has fallen in love with Henry Dunn, a local boy who used to work on her daddy's boats during the summer. Intent on having the perfect wedding, she has invited dozens of friends to spend a perfect weekend on Harper's Island. But Trish has at least two surprises in store for her." Samantha Noble originated the role in the project's initial pilot presentation. Christopher Gorham and Elaine Cassidy also star.
HYPER-CHONDRIAC (NBC, New!) - Brian Frazer's memoir, subtitled "One Man's Quest to Hurry Up and Calm Down," is being developed as a potential single-camera comedy at the network. Jason Dean Hall ("Grand Theft Auto") is on board to pen the 20th Century Fox Television-based project, with the ever-busy Ryan Murphy executive producing. Frazer's tome details his journey to resolve the stress that was causing all of his unusual ailments. The adaptation then will center on Brian, a pharmaceutical salesman who's forced to sell his wares at hospitals and, as a result, consistently thinks he's suffering from a wide range of maladies. Murphy then is on board to direct from a script by Hall, who will serve as a co-executive producer.
RISE OF THE GARGOYLE (Sci Fi, New!) - Eric Balfour ("24") is set to topline a new original movie for the cable channel about an ancient gargoyle monster whose terror is unleashed in modern-day Paris. He'll play Jack Richmond, a struggling author whose outlandish theories on pagan architecture make him the laughingstock of the academic world. Caroline Neron, Jason Salinger, Nick Mancuso and Tanya Clarke also star in the project, which is currently in production at Romania's Mediapro Studios. Muse Entertainment's Michael Prupas and RHI Entertainment's Robert Halmi Sr. are executive producing with Bill Corcoran as director, Pierre Jodoin as the director of photography and Francois Sylvestre and Andreea Stanculeanu producing.
TRIVIAL PURSUIT: AMERICA PLAYS (Syndication) - Actor/reality staple Christopher Knight has been tapped to host the upcoming game show, based on the iconic Hasbro board game. Production on the series begins this week for a September 22 launch on stations across the country, including FOX affiliates in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Wheeler-Sussman Productions is producing the half-hour with Debmar-Mercury distributing.
UNTITLED POLITICAL THRILLER (AMC) - Jason Horwitch and Joshua Maurer's drama for the cable channel has been given the green light to produce a pilot. The untitled hour revolves around a secret society that pulls the strings on the world political stage and an analyst at a national think tank who discovers that his employers are not who they seem to be. Horwitch penned the pilot and is executive producing alongside Maurer. Production is set to begin in October.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
|
|
|
 [august 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.
|
|
|
|
