or


[11/03/08 - 06:22 PM]
Development Update: Monday, November 3
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!


BLOCK PARTY (CBS, New!) - The Eye has ordered seven episodes of a new reality series that pits a neighborhood of families against each other for a significant prize. Reality guru/film producer Mike Fleiss ("The Bachelor") and his Next Entertainment are behind the project, which comes from Warner Horizon Television. No other details were given about the series, which is set to begin casting shortly. The pickup marks the first project commissioned by incoming CBS reality chief Jennifer Bresnan.


CHANGING POSITIONS (NBC, New!) - "Meet the Parents" and "Meet the Fockers" co-writer Jim Herzfeld has booked a new multi-camera comedy at the Peacock about a Wall Street guy in his late 30s who loses everything and is forced, along with his wife and their teen kids, to move in with his parents. Universal Media Studios and Doug Liman and David Bartis's Dutch Oven are behind the half-hour, which Herzfeld will write and executive produce. The Hollywood Reporter goes on to add that the parents are "a wealthy, very sexually active couple in their mid 50s who live in a large compound in the Hollywood Hills after amassing a fortune making (and starring in) instructional sex videos in the 1980s when they also invented the 'standing O' position."


GREY'S ANATOMY (ABC) - Co-star Brooke Smith has been let go from the popular drama, fueling speculation her ouster was related to her character's recently revealed sexual orientation. The actress, whose final episode airs on November 6, told Entertainment Weekly: "I found out in mid-September soon after shooting the monologue that aired last week where Erica has the revelation that she's gay. They even came down and told me it was a great scene -- one of the best they ever shot on the show. So I was really, really shocked. I was floored when they told me [I was being let go]. It was the last thing I expected. In fact, when they told me I asked, "When is this happening?" And they said, "The [next episode] is your last," which is the one that airs this Thursday. So it was very sudden." Executive producer Shonda Rhimes subsequently released a statement saying: "Brooke Smith was obviously not fired for playing a lesbian. Clearly it's not an issue as we have a lesbian character on the show � Calliope Torres. Sara Ramirez is an incredible comedic and dramatic actress and we wanted to be able to play up her magic. Unfortunately, we did not find that the magic and chemistry with Brooke's character would sustain in the long run. The impact of the Callie/Erica relationship will be felt and played out in a story for Callie. I believe it belittles the relationship to simply replace Erica with 'another lesbian.' If you'll remember, Cristina mourned the loss of Burke for a full season."


HEROES (NBC) - Co-executive producers Jesse Alexander and Jeph Loeb have exited the show due to creative differences. The pair, who joined the series after its pilot, are the first victims of an expected overhaul of the show's writing staff, which includes Cathy Mickel Gibson, Joe Pokaski, Lori Motyer, Aron Eli Coleite, Rob Fresco, Jim Chory, Adam Armus and Kay Foster. Creator Tim Kring executive produces the series alongside Dennis Hammer, Allan Arkush and Greg Beeman. The news comes after the Universal Media Studios-produced "Heroes" posted a series low 8.20 million viewers last week. That, coupled with an overall creative backlash and rumblings of overruns on its sizable $4 million per-episode budget, lead to the shakeup.


KING OF THE HILL (FOX) - ABC reportedly is eyeing the animated veteran following the news FOX won't be moving forward with a 14th cycle of the series. The Alphabet is home to "Hill" co-creator Mike Judge's (and fellow "Hill" executive producers John Altschuler and Dave Krinsky's) new animated effort "The Goode Family," due at midseason. Producer 20th Century Fox Television however would only confirm another network is interested in the show, but didn't offer any specifics. Due to the lengthy lead time needed for animated projects, it's unlikely "Hill" could make the move until late 2009 or early 2010.


KINGS (NBC) - Michael Green, the creator and executive producer of the upcoming drama, has inked a two-year, seven-figure overall deal with producer Universal Media Studios. The pact covers his duties on the newcomer as well as his future development.


STATEN ISLAND (FX, New!) - Lawrence O'Donnell ("The West Wing") is developing a new drama at the cable channel about a compromised police chief based in the famed New York City borough. Mandalay Television, FX Productions and Fox 21 are producing the project, which O'Donnell will write and executive produce.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters, Entertainment Weekly





  [november 2008]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· BACHELOR, THE (ABC)
· CHANGING POSITIONS (NBC)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· GOODE FAMILY, THE (ABC)
· GREY'S ANATOMY (ABC)
· HEROES (NBC)
· KING OF THE HILL (HULU)
· KINGS (NBC)
· STATEN ISLAND (FX)
· THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD (CBS)
· WEST WING, THE (NBC)





[07/25/26 - 02:18 PM]
"Family Guy" Halloween and Holiday Specials Return Exclusively to Hulu This Year
Having danced with any number of devils on "Succession," Kieran Culkin now gets to play the Devil himself in "Happy Hell-o-ween."

[07/25/26 - 01:49 PM]
Star Trek Universe Takes Over Hall H with Special Announcements, Exclusive First Looks and a 60th Anniversary Celebration at Comic-Con International
Ruaridh Aldington joins season two of "Starfleet Academy" as a series regular playing Keats, a young alien our cadets encounter on an away mission who possesses a mysterious backstory.

[07/25/26 - 01:30 PM]
Video: Global First Look at New Contemporary Mystery Thriller, "Yaga," Revealed at Comic-Con International
Set to premiere this October on AMC+, the eight-episode, half-hour drama reimagines the myth of Baba Yaga as a contemporary mystery thriller set in a small coastal town.

[07/25/26 - 11:46 AM]
Video: Hulu Debuts "Futurama" Season 14 Trailer and Announces Three "XXXL-Sized" Specials During San Diego Comic-Con Panel
The first of the three specials will be Xmas themed and will launch in 2027.

[07/25/26 - 10:46 AM]
"Bob's Burgers" to Debut Exclusive Holiday Short on Hulu
In "On the Fort Day of Christmas," a record-breaking Christmas snowstorm means one thing to the Belcher kids - a record-breaking Christmas snow fort.

[07/25/26 - 03:31 AM]
"Ranma1/2" Returns with Season 3 on October 3, Only on Netflix
Romance? Comedy? Martial arts? You can have it all when the series returns.

[07/24/26 - 06:15 PM]
Former "Live PD" Co-Host and Analyst Tom Morris Jr. Joins "On Patrol: Live"
Morris Jr. will reunite with host and executive producer Dan Abrams and co-host and analyst Sgt. Sean "Sticks" Larkin starting Friday, July 31, and Saturday, August 1.

[07/24/26 - 03:18 PM]
"Adventure Time: Side Quests" Returns with All-New Episodes This Fall on Disney+ and Hulu
Side quest-ed straight into a second season.

[07/24/26 - 02:01 PM]
Netflix Announces the Adaptation of Marcelo Rubens Paiva's "Happy Old Year"
The series is produced by Amaia and O2 Filmes.

[07/24/26 - 02:00 PM]
Adult Swim Announces "President Curtis" Season Two Now in Production
Season two will continue the adventures of President Curtis and his team as they confront new cryptid threats, unexpected allies, and increasingly bizarre sci-fi missions.

[07/24/26 - 01:46 PM]
Video: HBO Max Releases Official Trailer for DC Studios Drama Series "Lanterns," Debuting August 16
The eight-episode season debuts Sunday, August 16 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max.

[07/24/26 - 01:15 PM]
AMC Global Media Renews "Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire" for a Fourth Season, Titled "Anne Rice's Queen of the Damned"
Based on the beloved novel, "Anne Rice's Queen of the Damned" will be executive produced and showrun by Hannah Moscovitch, along with executive producers Mark Johnson and Rolin Jones.

[07/24/26 - 12:46 PM]
Video: "Common Side Effects" - First Look at Season 2 - Adult Swim
Season 2 is coming in 2027.

[07/24/26 - 12:31 PM]
News from AMC Global Media's "The Walking Dead: Dead City" San Diego Comic-Con Panel
It was also announced that the fourth and final season of "The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon" starring Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride, will air in 2027.

[07/24/26 - 11:30 AM]
Video: Prime Video's "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" Brings an Epic New Season Three Teaser Trailer, Exciting News and Lots of Surprises to San Diego Comic-Con's Iconic Hall H
The first four episodes of season three will premiere on November 11, 2026.