[11/17/08 - 06:39 PM] Development Update: Monday, November 17 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!
100 QUESTIONS FOR CHARLOTTE PAYNE/UNTITLED CRISS ANGEL PROJECT (NBC, New!) - Actor/writer Chris Moynihan has lined up a pair of comedy projects at the Peacock and Universal Media Studios. First up is an untitled half-hour described as a workplace comedy set in the world of magic. A&E star Criss Angel is behind the project, which is based on his experiences as an up-and-coming magician. Moynihan then will pen and executive produce alongside Angel, Dave Baram, Jason Verona and Adam Shulman. Next up is "100 Questions for Charlotte Payne," a comedy about a young woman navigating life with friends in New York. The half-hour takes its title from a questionnaire the lead character takes at a dating service, each of which serves as the inspiration for that week's installment. Tagline Pictures's Kelly Kulchak and Thruline's Ron West are also executive producing alongside with Moynihan.
BUNKER HILL (TNT) - Brian Dennehy ("Righteous Kill") is the latest addition to the drama pilot, which explores crime, corruption and deceit in the Bunker Hill section of Boston. He'll play Martin Kelsey, a flower shop owner who was a former mob boss. Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan and Scott Tony Curran also star in the Warner Horizon Television-based hour, which Jon Avnet is helming from a script by Walon Green.
CRIMINAL MINDS/NUMB3RS (CBS) - CBS Television Distribution has cleared the veteran dramas for weekend syndication starting in the fall of 2010. The former is a go on stations covering 95% of the country with "NUMB3RS" on 90%, including all top 20 markets. Participating stations include the CBS Television Stations group as well as stations in the Gannett Broadcast Group, Belo Corp., Cox Television, LIN Television and the Meredith Broadcasting Group.
THE KARENSKYS (CBS) - Mather Zickel ("Rachel Getting Married") and Todd Stashwick ("The Riches") have both landed roles on Linwood Boomer's comedy pilot while Pamela Fryman ("How I Met Your Mother") has been tapped to direct. The multi-camera half-hour stars Alexander as Emily Atwood, a woman who returns to her hometown when her husband Bill's (Zickel) job as biology professor relocates them and is reunited with her large, eccentric family. Stashwick then will play Emily's brother "Little Max," who runs one of his father's butcher shops and lives with his wife (the previously cast Tinsley Grimes) and their seven children next door to his parents. Universal Media Studios and BermanBraun are co-producing.
UNTITLED JOAN CUSACK PROJECT (NBC, New!) - Actress Joan Cusack is developing a new comedy at the network set in the world of psychiatry. John Markus ("The Larry Sanders Show") is penning the potential pilot - based on an idea by Cusack - for Universal Media Studios. Cusack then will produce with Julie Yen. No other specifics about the project were given.
