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[10/07/08 - 06:24 PM]
Development Update: Tuesday, October 7
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!
ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS (FOX, New!) - Christine Zander ("Samantha Who?") is developing a domestic take on the infamous U.K. comedy, about the friendship of two boozy, over-40 best friends who are desperate to stay hip and youthful. The project, which has script commitment with a penalty attached, is set up at Mitch Hurwitz, Eric Tannenbaum and Kim Tannenbaum's Sony Pictures Television-based Tantamount banner. Jennifer Saunders, the mind behind the U.K. original, along with Ian Moffitt will also executive produce via BBC Worldwide Productions. ABC was the last network to take a stab at importing the show nearly a decade ago with Roseanne Barr and Carrie Fisher in the roles made famous by Saunders and Joanna Lumley.
THE RICHES (FX) - The cable channel confirmed this week the Minnie Driver/Eddie Izzard-led drama won't return for a third season. The news had been widely expected as its strike-shortened sophomore run experienced a significant 44% drop in the key 18-49 demographic. Dmitry Lipkin was behind the hour, which was co-produced by Fox Television Studios, FX Productions and Maverick Television.
THE WASHINGTONIENNE (HBO) - Rachael Taylor, Amanda Walsh and Bitsie Tulloch have scored the lead roles in the Sarah Jessica Parker-produced comedy, about the professional and personal lives of three smart, sophisticated 28-year-old girls working on Capitol Hill. Taylor will play Jackie, "a recent transplant from New York who has decided to pursue a career as a speechwriter but first must work her way up from the intern desk"; with Tulloch as April, her mentor friend from college "who has been on the Hill since graduation and lives a prematurely middle-age lifestyle with a boyfriend who seems more in love with his flashy senator boss than with her"; and Walsh as Laura, "a small-town girl whose workaholic ways often come at the expense of a social life and who is constantly defending her Republican views to her liberal friends." Also signing on is David Furr as April's boyfriend Tom, an aide to a charismatic senator. Susanna Fogel and Joni Lefkowitz penned the pilot script based on Jessica Cutler's semi-autobiographical book. Vanessa Taylor was previously attached to pen the adaptation. Parker, Parker's producing partner Alison Benson, Sarah Condon and Stacy Traub are the executive producers.
WIPEOUT (ABC) - Japanese broadcaster Tokyo Broadcasting System has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles against ABC, alleging "Wipeout" is "a blatant copycat" of several of its classic Japanese competition series, including "Takeshi's Castle," "Sasuke" and "Kuniochi." Spike TV's "MXC" and G4's "Ninja Warrior" feature footage from "Castle" and "Sasuke," respectively, here in the U.S. "ABC's willful and wrongful use of Plaintiff's shows to create 'Wipeout' is egregious, inexcusable and not to be tolerated," the complaint reads. Among its claims: ABC bought search terms such as "MXC" on Google to help drive traffic to the official "Wipeout" page and a memo from Alphabet executive VP Howard Davine indicating producers to "carefully scrutinize" whether licensing foreign formats "is necessary or appropriate." A separate lawsuit against producer Endemol is also said to be pending.
THE WISHING WELL (Hallmark, New!) - Ernest Borgnine, Jordan Ladd and Sally Kellerman are set to star in a new original movie at the cable channel about a reporter (Ladd) sent to Slow Creek, Illinois, to write a fluff piece on the local wishing well, which ends up having an impact on her life. Borgnine then plays a local innkeeper with Kellerman as a waitress/the unofficial town therapist. David Jackson is directing the movie, from a script by Steven H. Berman with Larry Levinson executive producing and Brian Gordon and Susan McGuire producing.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[02/23/26 - 01:08 PM]
Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao Saturday, September 19 Live Globally Only on Netflix
Two of the greatest icons in boxing history will meet again in the first-ever professional boxing match at Sphere in Las Vegas.
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[02/23/26 - 12:07 PM]
Hulu Greenlights "The X-Files" Pilot from Ryan Coogler and Proximity Media, Starring Danielle Deadwyler
The truth is officially out there.
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[02/23/26 - 12:00 PM]
CBS Series Post Strong Fall Viewership, Topping Broadcast and Streaming Rankings in Live + 35-Day Multiplatform Viewership
The CBS fall lineup scored eight of the top 10 most-watched series among broadcast competition and nine of the top 20 most-watched series among all broadcast and streaming competition for this season's episodes airing through January 4, 2026.
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[02/23/26 - 11:16 AM]
Acclaimed Comedian Druski to Serve as Special Commentator for NBC's "The Voice: Battle of Champions"
Druski joins the four-time Emmy Award-winning musical competition series as its first-ever commentator, drawing from his love of music to offer unique takes on the coaches' strategy as they vie for the win.
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[02/23/26 - 10:20 AM]
The Book of More-Men Is Officially Open - "The Bachelorette" Premieres Sunday, March 22, at 8/7c
22 men will answer the call for Taylor Frankie Paul when the 22nd season of "The Bachelorette" premieres Sunday, March 22.
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[02/23/26 - 10:01 AM]
What's New on HBO Max This March
Catch the debuts of the limited series "DTF St. Louis," comedy series "Rooster," and a new season of "The Comeback."
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[02/23/26 - 09:31 AM]
Multiple Academy Award Winning Composer Hans Zimmer to Score Netflix Thriller Series "All the Sinners Bleed"
"'All the Sinners Bleed' lives in the tension between faith, violence and redemption, the kind of moral complexity where music speaks most powerfully," said Zimmer.
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[02/23/26 - 09:00 AM]
Harry Styles to Take the Stage as "Saturday Night Live" Host and Musical Guest on March 14
As previously announced, "SNL" returns this Saturday, February 28 with host Connor Storrie and musical guest Mumford & Sons.
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[02/23/26 - 08:01 AM]
HBO Documentary Films Acquires Worldwide TV and Streaming Rights to "The Slightest Touch"
The documentary will debut on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max globally, including in the UK and Ireland, later this year.
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[02/23/26 - 08:01 AM]
Apple TV Unveils First Look at Season Two of "Wonder Pets: In the City"
Season two sees the return of the heroic trio of classroom pets who live in a kindergarten in New York City and travel all around the globe in their amazing "Jetcar" to rescue animals in musical, mini-opera-themed adventures.
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[02/23/26 - 08:00 AM]
ESPN Signs American Tennis Legend Andy Roddick to Multi-Year Analyst Deal
Roddick, who retired in 2012 from professional tennis, will join ESPN's tennis commentator roster just prior to Wimbledon.
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[02/23/26 - 07:11 AM]
ESPN Original Series "NWSL: The Final Third" to Premiere February 25
The three-episode series, produced by Words + Pictures, Omaha Productions and ESPN, follows Angel City FC, Washington Spirit and Kansas City Current through a defining NWSL season.
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[02/23/26 - 07:01 AM]
Apple TV Sets New Thriller "Unconditional" to Premiere Friday May 8
"Unconditional" follows a mother-daughter vacation-turned-nightmare when 23-year-old Gali (Talia Lynne Ronn) is arrested for drug smuggling in Moscow.
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[02/23/26 - 06:01 AM]
"Wednesday" Season 3 Is Now in Production - Winona Ryder, Chris Sarandon, Noah Taylor and More Join the All-Star Cast
They join previously announced Eva Green who will portray Morticia Addams' sister, Ophelia, as well as returners Jenna Ortega, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzmán and more.
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[02/20/26 - 09:31 PM]
Video: "Accused" - Official Trailer - Netflix
An anonymous message. And Meera & Geetika's lives on a knife's edge.
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