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[08/25/08 - 06:21 PM] Development Update: Monday, August 25 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!
BLUSH: THE SEARCH FOR AMERICA'S GREATEST MAKEUP ARTIST (Lifetime) - The cable channel has commissioned a new reality series that will search for - you guessed it - "America's Greatest Makeup Artist." Laura Fuest ("The Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious") is behind the six-episode project, which follows eight such aspiring artists as they compete for the grand prize of a one-year contract with Max Factor, $100,000 in cash and work on a yet-to-be-determined magazine cover shoot. As is custom for the format, the contestants will live together in Los Angeles with elimination challenges determining who moves on each week. Casting is currently underway for hosts, mentors and judges. Connectivetissue and IMG Entertainment are co-producing the hour, with Fuest, Rob Lee and Scott Kramer executive producing.
BREAKING BAD (AMC) - Krysten Ritter ("'Til Death") has booked a recurring role on the show's upcoming second season. She'll play Jane, a cool girl with an edge who is very comfortable in her own skin and able to calm Jesse (Aaron Paul) down when he spins out of control. No other details were released.
DROP DEAD DIVA (Lifetime) - Josh Stamberg ("Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip") has landed the final principal role on the drama pilot, about Deb, a dead aspiring actress-model who is reincarnated in the body of Jane (Brooke Elliott), a chubby, brilliant attorney. He'll play J. Parker, who's detailed in the casting notice as follows: "Late 30s-Late 40s, all ethnicities and distinguished. He is Jane's boss, senior partner at the law firm. He is something of a womanizer, self-absorbed and rather dismissive of Jane's trauma after her return to work following a brush with death. He later tries, unsuccessfully, to apologize to Jane for possibly hurting her feelings when he referenced her need for self-help books." April Bowlby, Golden Brooks, Jackson Hurst and Margaret Cho also star in the Sony Pictures Television-based hour, which James Hayman is directing from a script by Josh Berman.
HUNG (HBO) - Charlie Saxton ("Lovely Bones") is the latest addition to the drama pilot, about Ray (Thomas Jane), a well-endowed struggling middle-age high school basketball coach who figures out a way to use his best asset. He'll play Damon, a fairly straight-laced and bright-eyed goth kid, in the project, which also stars Jane Adams. Alexander Payne is helming the hour from a script by co-creators Colette Burson and Dmitry Lipkin.
THE L WORD (Showtime) - Mei Melancon ("X-Men: The Last Stand") has landed a six-episode arc on the show's swan song. She'll play a new social worker in a downtown L.A. shelter. No other specifics about her role were given.
LAPD (NBC) - Benjamin McKenzie ("The O.C.") has officially joined the cast the John Wells-produced pilot, an ensemble cop drama which follows a group of officers in Los Angeles. He's set as Ben, a reserved rookie cop. Also signing on is Michael Cudlitz ("Standoff") as John, Ben's training officer. The pair join the previously cast Kevin Alejandro, Michael McGrady and Regina King. Ann Biderman penned the hour, which Christopher Chulack is directing.
MY OWN WORST ENEMY (NBC) - Bella Thorne ("Dirty Sexy Money") has scored a role on the upcoming drama, about Henry (Christian Slater), a mild-mannered suburban dad whose alter ego, Edward, is a suave spy. She'll play Ruthy, the daughter of Slater's character. Cierra Ramirez originally was cast in said role but was replaced for unspecified reasons. Earlier this month, Madchen Amick was brought in in place of Yara Martinez as Slater's wife. The series launches Monday, October 13 at 10:00/9:00c.
RITA ROCKS (Lifetime) - The Nicole Sullivan-led comedy is set to debut with a weeklong stunt beginning Monday, October 20. Episodes will air Monday through Friday at 8:30/7:30c before moving to its regular time period of Tuesdays at 8:30/7:30c the following week. Meanwhile, Natalie Dreyfuss ("Life") has joined the cast of the half-hour as Hallie, the teenage daughter of Sullivan's character. She's further detailed in the casting notice as follows: "14-16, any ethnicity. The daughter of Rita and Jay. Hallie is a pretty, terminally bored girl. Intent on pushing both the envelope and Rita's buttons as often and as hard as possible, Hallie is confrontational, especially with her mother, whom she regards as some kind of deranged tyrant - simply because Hallie has sent her boyfriend a nude picture of herself. Outraged and judgmental whenever her mom gets outraged and judgmental, Hallie is going through a rebellious phase that might last another four years or so - and that's just a little longer than World War II." Dreyfuss takes over for Lauren Collins, who played said role in the original pilot.
SURVIVING SUBURBIA (The CW) - Lorna Scott ("Wanted") has joined the cast of the MRC-produced comedy, about Keith (Bob Saget), a misanthropic family man in suburbia trying his best to be left alone. She's on board as Monica, Keith's meddlesome neighbor.
THE TONY ROCK PROJECT (MyNetworkTV) - Whitney Cummings ("Made of Honor") has joined the cast of the upcoming sketch comedy series. She'll appear in the studio alongside host Rock as well as participate in man-on-the-street segments. The newcomer launches Wednesday, October 8.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[10/24/25 - 02:30 PM] Video: First Look at Upcoming New Drama "Memory of a Killer" Starring Patrick Dempsey and Michael Imperioli - Premiering This January on FOX Dempsey stars as a hitman, Angelo Doyle, leading a dangerous double life while hiding an even deadlier personal secret - he has developed early onset Alzheimer's.
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[10/24/25 - 02:02 PM] "20/20" Is Friday's Most-Watched Newsmagazine Across the Board In addition, "20/20" posted its best Adults 25-54 in more than four months.
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[10/24/25 - 02:01 PM] ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 Across the Board, Leading NBC in All Key Demos for the 4th Straight Week "Nightline" grew year to year across the board: Total Viewers, Adults 25-54, and Adults 18-49.
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[10/24/25 - 01:05 PM] "Dancing with the Stars" Makes Television History - Rising for Fifth Straight Week The October 21 episode scored 6.63 million Total Viewers and a 1.38 rating among Adults 18-49, hitting new season highs in both demographics.
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[10/24/25 - 08:01 AM] Netflix Announces "Hollywood Arts," A Brand-New Spinoff of Hit Live-Action, "Victorious," with Daniella Monet Returning as Star and Executive Producer The series is set to debut on Netflix in 2026, followed by releases on Nickelodeon and Paramount+.
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[10/24/25 - 07:14 AM] FOX Sports Readies for Major League Baseball's 121st World Series Presented by Capital One Action leads off Friday, October 24, between the National League and current reigning World champion Los Angeles Dodgers and American League champion Toronto Blue Jays from Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, on FOX, FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports App and FOX One.
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[10/24/25 - 07:01 AM] Video: "Love Is Blind" Season 9: The Reunion - Official Trailer - Netflix Denver singles shake up their search for "the one" and step into the pods, braving twists, turns and love triangles to find their soulmate sight unseen.
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[10/24/25 - 07:01 AM] Experience the Family, the Fun, and the Fantastic! Marvel Studios' "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" Lands Exclusively on Disney+ November 5 Continuing the celebration of Marvel's First Family, the announcement was made live from SpaceCon 2025 in San Antonio, where The Fantastic Four: First Steps Immersive Pop-Up Experience invites attendees to step inside the iconic Baxter Building.
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[10/24/25 - 06:00 AM] The CW Network and Xfinity Celebrate 11 Years of the NASCAR Xfinity Series by Presenting the Third Stage of the Championship Race Commercial-Free Taking place in Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday, November 1, the commercial-free stage presented by Xfinity was created to thank the loyal race fans who have supported the NASCAR Xfinity Series for more than a decade - helping the series grow through their unwavering enthusiasm, increased viewership, and continued trackside attendance.
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[10/23/25 - 05:01 PM] Video: "As You Stood By" - Official Trailer - Netflix When two women plot to end an abusive marriage through murder, an unexpected visitor arrives - threatening to shatter everything they've carefully planned.
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[10/23/25 - 02:33 PM] Largest Audience for "NBA Tip-Off" Doubleheader Since 2010 as NBA Returned to NBC and Debuted on Peacock Tuesday night's audience across NBC and Peacock peaked at 7.1 million viewers from 10:45-11 p.m. ET as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder to a one-point win over the Houston Rockets in double overtime.
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[10/23/25 - 02:28 PM] The 305 Just Got Hotter: "Love & Hip Hop: Miami" Moves to BET Season 7 Premieres Tuesday, November 4 at 8 PM ET/PT The upcoming seventh season dives deeper than ever into Miami's thriving entertainment scene, following a cast of stars who are rebuilding, rebranding, and redefining success in real time.
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[10/23/25 - 01:30 PM] Critically Acclaimed Noir Thriller, "Dark Winds," to Return to AMC and AMC+ Sunday, February 15 The series' gripping fourth season focuses on the search for a missing Navajo girl, which takes Leaphorn, Chee and Manuelito from the safety of Navajo Nation to the gritty terrain of 1970s Los Angeles in a race against the clock to save her from an obsessive killer with ties to organized crime.
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[10/23/25 - 12:01 PM] Video: BET+ Releases Trailer for Horror Film "A Demon's Revenge" In the film, following the bloodshed in Belize, Peaches, played by Jhoné Lucas, delves deeper into Caribbean folklore and the terrifying truth that lurks beneath.
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[10/23/25 - 12:00 PM] FOX Entertainment Acquires Equity Stake in Chain, Forging Strategic Partnership with Experiential Food Phenomenon Co-Founded by B.J. Novak Included in the investment is a first look development deal through Chain Media.
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