or


[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
 


· BORED TO DEATH (HBO)
· COCAINE COWBOYS (TNT)
· COLD CASE (CBS)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· FRASIER (NBC)
· HOW TO MAKE IT IN AMERICA (HBO)
· KARENSKYS, THE (CBS)
· LOST (ABC)
· MAKE IT OR BREAK IT (ABC FAMILY)
· MIDDLE, THE (ABC)





[02/02/26 - 04:01 PM]
Netflix and HYBE Announce Global Live BTS Comeback Performance and Feature-Length Documentary
Streaming live from the historic Gwanghwamun in Seoul on March 21, this monumental performance celebrates the release of their highly anticipated new album, ARIRANG.

[02/02/26 - 03:34 PM]
"The Kelly Clarkson Show" to Conclude After Season Seven
Season seven episodes will air through Fall 2026.

[02/02/26 - 01:17 PM]
NBC Renews "St. Denis Medical" and "Happy's Place" for 2026-27 Season
"Both 'St. Denis Medical' and 'Happy's Place' have delivered comedic brilliance over their first two seasons, truly connecting with our audience with hilarious characters, and remain hugely important and successful programs to our primetime and Peacock lineup," said Lisa Katz.

[02/02/26 - 01:15 PM]
NBC Sports Presents First Ever Live Broadcast from Alcatraz Island as Part of Super Bowl LX Pregame Show This Sunday, Feb. 8 on NBC & Peacock
Hall of Fame head coach Tony Dungy, fellow two-time Super Bowl winner Rodney Harrison, and co-host Jac Collinsworth will broadcast live from multiple locations on the island beginning at 1 p.m. ET.

[02/02/26 - 12:31 PM]
E! to Air the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards Hosted by Alan Cumming on Sunday, February 22
The EE BAFTA Film Awards ceremony will be held at the Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall in London and will premiere as-live on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK.

[02/02/26 - 11:01 AM]
Video: "Final Siren: Inside the AFL" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
Inside the highs, the heartbreak, and the hunt for glory.

[02/02/26 - 10:38 AM]
New Year, New Viewership Milestones for ESPN: Signature Events Deliver Second-Best Month in 30 Years
Continuing ESPN's landmark viewership success to start the year, January 2025 and 2026 now account for two of the top three most-watched months in the platform's history.

[02/02/26 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "Sommore: Chandelier Fly" - Sneak Peek - Netflix
From hot topics to celebrity scandals, "The Queen of Comedy" Sommore delivers her unapologetic perspective with a combination of bravado and elegant style.

[02/02/26 - 09:06 AM]
CNN FlashDoc "Bad Bunny and the Halftime Show: Rhythms of Resistance" Now Streaming in the CNN App
The special is now streaming on demand for subscribers of CNN's streaming offering and will premiere Saturday, February 7 at 10pm ET on CNN.

[02/02/26 - 09:01 AM]
"Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" Returns February 15
The weekly series has received 32 Emmys since its premiere in 2014.

[02/02/26 - 09:00 AM]
Video: AMC/AMC+ Release Final Teaser Trailer for the New Season of the Critically Acclaimed Noir Thriller, "Dark Winds"
Consisting of eight hour-long episodes, Season 4 premieres on Sunday, February 15 at 9pm ET/PT on AMC and AMC+.

[02/02/26 - 09:00 AM]
Video: Prime Video Reveals Official Trailer for "Soul Power: The Legend of the American Basketball Association"
Directed by Kenan Kamwana Holley, all four episodes of the docuseries will premiere February 12 exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. Soul Power is the latest addition to the Prime membership.

[02/02/26 - 08:01 AM]
ITV's Captivating Police Procedural Series, "Winter," Begins Filming in Bristol and Belgium, Whilst Further Casting Is Announced Alongside Richard Armitage and Annabel Scholey
Each episode features its own compelling, self-contained crime story, with resulting guest casting.

[02/02/26 - 07:02 AM]
Apple's Hit Drama "Your Friends & Neighbors" Lands Early Season Three Renewal
Season two will make its global debut on Apple TV with one episode on Friday, April 3, 2026, followed by new episodes every Friday through June 5.

[02/02/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Love Is Blind" Season 10 - Official Trailer - Netflix
The pods are back, this time in Ohio, with a brand-new group of singles dating sight unseen. Will they be able to see love from a new perspective?