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[12/26/08 - 06:43 PM]
Development Update: Week of December 22-26
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!
BITCHES (FOX, New!) - Feature writer Michael Dougherty ("Superman Returns") has scored a hefty script commitment from the network for a new drama about a quartet of female friends in New York who are werewolves. The project, which has a penalty attached should it not move forward to pilot, is set up at Warner Bros. Television. Writer/producers Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts ("Pushing Daisies") have been tapped to supervise Dougherty and executive produce. No other specifics were given.
GILMORE GIRLS (The CW) - One day after filing a lawsuit against CBS over "Two and a Half Men" (see below), Warner Bros. Television itself has been sued by producer Gavin Polone over "Gilmore Girls." The breach-of-contract lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, claims the vertically integrated Time Warner companies Warner Bros. Television and The WB "have colluded to defraud the originator of hit 'Gilmore Girls' television series with a scheme that rivals the greed and bravado of any story line defendants could script." Hofflund/Polone, Polone's company with Judy Hofflund, alleges the "modified adjusted gross," the money the show earns after costs are deducted, for "Gilmore's" first six seasons was modified by the studio - through "collusion among defendants to set below-market license fees" and a series of improper charges - which cut into Hofflund/Polone's profits as a result. A third-party audit commissioned by Hofflund/Polone in October 2006 alleges that number was understated by $45.5 million and the company has asked for "tens of millions of dollars" in damages as a result. Warner Bros. has yet to comment on the suit.
LOST & FOUND (NBC) - Australian actor Damon Herriman ("All Saints") has joined the cast of the drama pilot, which centers on Tessa Cooper (Katee Sackhoff), an offbeat LAPD detective who, after butting heads with higher-ups, is sent as punishment to the basement to work on John and Jane Doe cases. He'll play Anthony Yeckel, an oddball civilian consultant to the police's lost-and-found department who has an obsessive love of old detective TV shows. Brian Cox and Josh Cooke also star in the Universal Media Studios/Wolf Films-based hour, which Michael Engler is directing from a script by creator Chris Levinson.
TWO AND A HALF MEN (CBS) - Warner Bros. Television filed a $49 million breach of contract lawsuit against CBS on Tuesday. Said suit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, claims the network owes Warner Bros. additional fees toward the production deficit carried by the studio. The "deficit recoupment" was understood to be tied to "Men" hitting certain ratings milestones as specified by the show's original four-year license agreement signed in 2003. The suit indicates the studio incurred a $61.1 million deficit over the course of the first four years of the show (for instance CBS paid $750,000 per episode during "Men's" first season while Warner Bros. actual cost to produce the show came in at $1.22 million), a cost which CBS would cover should "Men" finish as a top 10 show. Additionally, should "Men" finish in the top five in its fourth season, CBS would pay an additional $650,000 more per episode in the fifth and sixth seasons (with a downward scale from there). "CBS has reaped the benefits of the tremendous success of 'Two and a Half Men" but wants to deny Warner Bros. the right to its agreed-upon share," Warner Bros. said in a statement. CBS countered with simply, "Wow, I wonder what they got the other networks for Christmas."
UGLY BETTY (ABC) - "Dexter" co-star Lauren Velez has booked a multi-episode arc on the Thursday dramedy. She'll play Elena, a nurse that enters the lives of the Suarez family, whom reports speculate will be linked to a major plot development. It's not clear when her first episode will air.
UNTITLED MARIA BELLO PROJECT (HBO, New!) - Maria Bello ("The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor") is set to topline a potential new drama at the pay channel about a woman who's forced into a life of crime to support her three teenage sons after her husband is killed. Gary Lennon ("The Shield") is penning the hour, which sees the woman using her sons as henchmen, leading them all down a destructive road. Bello herself will executive produce alongside Lennon, Gavin Polone and John Carrabino.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[06/12/25 - 09:09 AM]
ESPN "Sunday Night Baseball Presented by Capital One" Schedule Update: American League-Leading Detroit Tigers to Host Minnesota Twins on June 29
The Tigers and Twins are currently in first place and second place, respectively, in the American League Central.
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[06/12/25 - 09:01 AM]
The Emmy Award-Winning "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman" Renewed for Two More Seasons
The sixth season will premiere later this year.
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[06/12/25 - 09:01 AM]
"Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+" Debuts July 21 on Disney Jr. and Next Day on Disney+
The series continues the adventures of Mickey and pals from the original global hit which aired from 2006-2016 and is still breaking records as a Top 3 series for preschoolers on streaming and over 5 billion views on YouTube.
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[06/12/25 - 08:04 AM]
Paramount+ Announces Fifth and Final Season of "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds"
Production will begin on the final six-episode season later this year.
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[06/12/25 - 08:00 AM]
Eight Couples Return in a New Season of "90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After?"
Eight fan-favorite couples are back; Gino & Jasmine, Brandon & Julia, Tigerlily & Adnan, Kara & Guillermo, Jovi & Yara, Elizabeth & Andrei, Loren & Alexei, and Darcey & Georgi, navigating the next chapters of their marriages as the honeymoon phase wears off and real life sets in.
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[06/12/25 - 07:31 AM]
Video: "Brick" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When a mysterious brick wall encloses their apartment building overnight, Tim and Olivia must unite with their wary neighbors to get out alive.
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[06/12/25 - 07:07 AM]
Warner Bros. Animation and DC Studios Announce Series Greenlight for "Mister Miracle"
The adult animated series is based on DC's critically acclaimed and Eisner Award-winning 12-issue comic book series from Tom King and Mitch Gerads.
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[06/12/25 - 07:04 AM]
Video: Prime Video Debuts Trailer for "One Night in Idaho: The College Murders"
The four-part docuseries will premiere July 11 on Prime Video.
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[06/12/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "The Diplomat" Season 3 - Official Teaser - Netflix
The critically acclaimed drama series returns this fall, only on Netflix.
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[06/12/25 - 07:00 AM]
HBO Original Series "Rage" Debuts July 11
The series is a contemporary portrait around five women: five female characters who lead this surprising, realistic and intense drama.
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[06/12/25 - 07:00 AM]
"The 68th Annual Grammy Awards" to Air Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, on CBS
This year's nominees will be announced on Friday, November 7.
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[06/12/25 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "In Your Dreams" - Official Teaser - Netflix
Featuring Jolie Hoang-Rappaport, Elias Janssen, Craig Robinson, Simu Liu, and Cristin Milioti.
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[06/12/25 - 06:01 AM]
Prime Video Announces New Cast Members for Season Three of "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power"
Andrew Richardson, Zubin Varla and Adam Young join the cast of the hit fantasy series, which recently began production on its third season.
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[06/12/25 - 05:01 AM]
NBC's "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks" Announces Star-Studded Lineup of Musical Artists
The star-studded event, hosted by Academy Award-winning actress, singer and dancer Ariana DeBose, will feature dazzling fireworks, musical performances and appearances by special guests, will air live Friday, July 4 (8-10 p.m. ET) on NBC and simulcast live on Peacock.
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[06/11/25 - 05:50 PM]
Video: Prime Video Releases Highly Anticipated Official Trailer for "The Summer I Turned Pretty" Final Season
The highly anticipated 11-episode season will stream exclusively on Prime Video in over 240 countries and territories worldwide.
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