 |
 |
[12/19/08 - 06:15 PM]
Development Update: Friday, December 19
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!
BORED TO DEATH/HOW TO MAKE IT IN AMERICA (HBO) - The pay channel has issued eight-episode commitments to both comedy pilots - the Jason Schwartzman-led "Bored to Death" and the Bryan Greenberg/Victor Rasuk-toplined "How to Make It in America." The latter half-hour revolves around Ben (Greenberg) and his friend Cam (Rasuk), enterprising twentysomethings who hustle their way through New York determined to achieve the American dream. Shannyn Sossamon and Scott "Kid" Mescudi also star in the project, which comes from creator Ian Edelman and fellow executive producers Stephen Levinson, Mark Wahlberg, Rob Weiss and Julian Farino (who also directed the pilot). "Death" then centers on Jonathan (Schwartzman), "a struggling thirtysomething Brooklyn writer with a drinking problem who, after a painful breakup with his girlfriend, decides to emulate his heroes from the novels of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett." Jonathan Ames is behind the project, which also co-stars Ted Danson and Zach Galifianakis. Sarah Condon, Dave Becky, Stephanie Davis and Troy Miller are executive producing alongside Ames. Alan Taylor helmed the pilot.
COCAINE COWBOYS (HBO, New!) - Frequent collaborators Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay are teaming up once again, this time for a drama at the pay channel about the early days of cocaine trafficking in Miami. "Cold Case" creator Meredith Stiehm has been tapped to pen the hour, which is inspired by Billy Corben's 2006 documentary of the same name. The project is set up at Bruckheimer's Warner Bros. Television-based banner, marking the first collaboration between the studio and HBO. Bruckheimer, Bay and Stiehm then will executive produce alongside Jonathan Littman with KristieAnne Reed serving as a consulting producer.
THE KARENSKYS (CBS) - Desi Lydic has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about a woman (Sasha Alexander) who returns to her hometown and is reunited with her large, eccentric family. She'll play Bernadette, the woman's sister. Mather Zickel, Tinsley Grimes and Todd Stashwick also star in the half-hour, which comes from Universal Media Studios and creator Linwood Boomer. Pamela Fryman is directing while Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun are executive producing alongside Boomer.
THE MIDDLE (ABC) - Charlie McDermott is the latest addition to the Patricia Heaton-led comedy pilot, which tells the story of a middle-class Midwestern family through the eyes of the mother (Heaton). He'll play Axel, the oldest child. DeAnn Heline and Eileen Heisler are behind the Warner Bros. Television-based half-hour, which Julie Anne Robinson is directing.
PERFECT 10 (ABC Family) - Brett Cullen ("Lost") and Peri Gilpin ("Frasier") have both joined the cast of the drama pilot, about three families dealing with the trials and tribulations of the world of competitive gymnastics. They'll play Mark and Kim Keeler, the parents of the Olympic hopefuls Becca (yet to be cast), the dedicated, focused one; and Payson (Ayla Kell), immature, happy-go-lucky one. Also signing on are Rosa Blasi and Jason Manuel Olazabal as Ronnie and Alex Cruz, parents to Kaylie (Josie Lopez, "a girl who wants to stay small and limber for her sport but is clearly growing into a woman") and Bradford (Marco James, "equally attractive but a lot more clueless"). And rounding out the third clan are single mom Chloe Kmetko (Susan Ward) and her kids Emily (Chelsea Hobbs, "perhaps the most naturally gifted gymnast, she has had only scattershot training, but was born to do this") and Brian (Wyatt Smith, "a cute smart ass who happens to be in a wheelchair with paralysis"). Holly Sorensen is behind the hour, which comes from Adam Cohen, Cara Tapper and Joanna Vernetti's Super Delicious Productions.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
|
|
|
 [december 2008]  |
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
[03/27/26 - 03:16 PM]
Official Trailer for HBO's Harry Potter Series, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," Shatters Records as HBO and HBO Max's Most-Watched Ever by More Than Double, Amassing +277 Million Organic Views in 48 Hours
The series will debut Christmas 2026 on HBO and will be available to stream exclusively on HBO Max.
|
[03/27/26 - 01:01 PM]
Hugely Popular "Chicago" Series Set to Return to NBC in the Fall
"Chicago Fire" will begin its 15th season in the fall, "Chicago P.D." its 14th and "Chicago Med" its 12th.
|
[03/27/26 - 10:01 AM]
Netflix Rounds Out Cast of "Kennedy" with Production Underway in London
The new drama series based on Fredrik Logevall's book, "JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917-1956," will explore the triumphs and tragedies of the Kennedy family from Chernin Entertainment.
|
[03/27/26 - 09:48 AM]
FOX Sports Assembles Top-Tier Roster for 2026 Major League Baseball Regular Season Coverage
Entering their fifth season together, first-ballot Hall of Famer John Smoltz and Emmy Award-winning play-by-play announcer Joe Davis call FOX Sports' top regular season and playoff games.
|
[03/27/26 - 09:46 AM]
ABC News Is #1 in Total Viewers in Late-Night, Friday Night and Sunday Morning
"20/20" scored its best Adults 25-54 performance in 11 months.
|
[03/27/26 - 09:21 AM]
"The Morning Show" News Incoming - Sean Hayes Joins the Cast of Season 5
Apple TV confirmed the news on social media this morning.
|
[03/27/26 - 08:01 AM]
HBO Original Documentary Series "The Dark Wizard" Debuts April 14
The four-part documentary series is an up-close and unflinching portrait of Dean Potter, one of the world's most influential and controversial climbers, BASE jumpers, and highline walkers.
|
[03/27/26 - 07:01 AM]
ESPN Original "Why Not Us: UMES Volleyball" to Premiere March 30
Presented by Andscape and produced by Sport & Story, the latest installment follows the inspiring journey of the newly formed men's volleyball team at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore - the first men's volleyball program at a Division I HBCU.
|
[03/26/26 - 02:05 PM]
"The Madison" Marks Taylor Sheridan's Biggest Debut Season Launch with 8 Million Views Globally for Paramount+
The debut of the six-part series also marks the biggest freshman season launch for the prolific creator among women 35+.
|
[03/26/26 - 12:49 PM]
Apple Original Films Lands New Sci-Fi Thriller "Liminal"
Starring Vanessa Kirby and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, the feature will be directed by Louis Leterrier.
|
[03/26/26 - 12:01 PM]
"After the Flood" Returns to BritBox: Tensions Rise in High-Stakes Season Two Premiere
Other April highlights include "A Taste For Murder," "Silent Witness," and "Death in Paradise."
|
[03/26/26 - 12:00 PM]
ESPN NBA Schedule Update: Atlanta Hawks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Added on April 8
The game replaces the previously scheduled Milwaukee Bucks vs. Detroit Pistons matchup.
|
[03/26/26 - 11:30 AM]
BET and Paramount+ Announce the Sixth Season Renewal of Multi-Emmy-Nominated Comedy "The Ms. Pat Show"
The upcoming season will be among the first BET originals to stream on Paramount+, which becomes the new streaming home for BET content beginning in June, bringing the beloved series to a global platform with nearly 80 million subscribers.
|
[03/26/26 - 11:01 AM]
"Saturday Night Live" Springs Into April with Back-to-Back Episodes
Jack Black and Colman Domingo will host on April 4 and April 11, respectively.
|
[03/26/26 - 10:03 AM]
Sony Pictures Television Advertiser Sales Heads Into 2026 Upfront Bringing Advertisers Branded Content Opportunities Within High Volume of Originals and a Safe Harbor of Entertainment Programming
The studio continues to elevate its media investment opportunities for advertisers through Game Show Network, a top 10 cable network and a top five general entertainment network.
|
|
|
|
