 |
 |
[12/26/08 - 06:43 PM]
Development Update: Week of December 22-26
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!
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
|
|
|
 [december 2008]  |
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
[11/21/19 - 12:00 PM]
HISTORYCon(TM) Launches April 3-5, 2020 at Pasadena Convention Center
The enthusiast event will feature fan-favorite series talent, renowned historians, authors and experts in a weekend-long convention dedicated to exploring and celebrating our country's cultural, societal, and political milestones, and helps mark the network's 25th anniversary.
|
[11/21/19 - 11:30 AM]
Disney Channel Orders a Third Season of Its Popular Live-Action Daughter/Father Comedy "Sydney to the Max"
"We're thrilled to be investing in another season of this endearing comedy and to continue working with our very talented showrunner Mark Reisman," said Kory Lunsford.
|
[11/21/19 - 11:30 AM]
DC Universe Drama Series "Stargirl" Secures Exclusive Linear Window on The CW Network
The CW will broadcast each episode the day after its debut on the DC Universe digital subscription service.
|
[11/21/19 - 11:02 AM]
EPIX(R) Lands Urban Myth Films' Reimagining of "War of the Worlds"
The eagerly-anticipated, contemporary reimaging of H.G. Wells timeless classic is created and written by BAFTA award-winning writer Howard Overman.
|
[11/21/19 - 10:51 AM]
OWN Announces New Unscripted Relationship Series "#LoveGoals" Premiering March 2020
The series joins OWN's popular Saturday night lineup of unscripted shows that focus on love and relationships.
|
[11/21/19 - 10:03 AM]
Video: Amazon Prime Video Releases Teaser Trailer for "Hunters" Series
Executive produced by Academy Award-winner Jordan Peele and led by legendary Academy Award-winner Al Pacino, "Hunters" follows a diverse band of Nazi hunters living in 1977 New York City.
|
[11/21/19 - 10:00 AM]
CBS All Access Announces Expansion of Original Content Team
"Together we've built an originals brand for CBS All Access that stands apart in the marketplace, and I look forward to continuing to work with this incredible team to grow the service and our originals slate even further," said Julie McNamara.
|
[11/21/19 - 10:00 AM]
ABC Announces 2020 Midseason Premiere Dates
Highlights include the launch of drama "For Life" and the return of "American Idol."
|
[11/21/19 - 09:07 AM]
Netflix Develops New Animated Adventure Series "Oni" Inspired by Japanese Folklore
The series will feature a hybrid of both stop motion and computer generated animation.
|
[11/21/19 - 09:02 AM]
Showtime Renews "Desus & Mero" for a Second Season
The series will return for season two on Monday, February 3 and will air all-new episodes every Monday and Thursday at 11:00/10:00c.
|
[11/21/19 - 09:00 AM]
Disney Channel Orders Second Season of Animated Fantasy-Comedy "The Owl House" Ahead of Its Series Premiere Friday, Jan. 10
Created and executive-produced by Dana Terrace, the series follows Luz, a self-assured teenage girl who stumbles upon a portal to a magical realm where she befriends a rebellious witch, Eda, and a tiny warrior, King.
|
[11/21/19 - 08:15 AM]
Wednesday's Broadcast Ratings: FOX, NBC Share Adults 18-49 Crown
NBC's "Chicago" fall finales and FOX's "The Masked Singer" top charts in said demographic.
|
[11/21/19 - 07:21 AM]
CJ ENM/Studio Dragon-Netflix Announce a Long-Term Partnership
As part of a three-year partnership beginning in 2020, Studio Dragon and its stellar roster of creators will produce original series that will be available to Netflix members all over the world.
|
[11/21/19 - 06:00 AM]
Legendary Singer/Songwriter Carole King to Present Artist of the Decade Honor to Taylor Swift at the "2019 American Music Awards(R)," Airing Live Sunday, Nov. 24, on ABC
"I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to present Taylor with the Artist of the Decade honor," said King.
|
[11/21/19 - 02:58 AM]
Video: The Gods and Giants Are Coming: "Ragnarok" Premieres January, 31 2020 - See the First Teaser
The series is set in the small, fictitious town of Edda, situated in the grand, breathtaking Norwegian nature.
|
|
|
|
