or


[01/05/09 - 07:13 PM]
Development Update: Monday, January 5
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!


THE AMAZING MRS. NOVAK (Lifetime) - Variety's Liz Smith reports the Amy Pietz-led drama pilot - about a supermarket manager, wife and mother of two who, through a series of unexpected circumstances, becomes governor of New Jersey - won't be moving forward. Said hour, which also starred Kristin Dattilo and Tom Verica, rose to prominence in the media due to its pseudo-parallels to Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, the current governor of Alaska. Vanessa Taylor was behind the hour, which came from Kudos Film & Television, Shine and Warner Horizon Television.


LEGALLY MAD (NBC) - British actress Charity Wakefield ("Sense and Sensibility") has been tapped for the lead role on the drama pilot, about a twentysomething woman who takes a job at her father's law firm and quickly becomes the practice's center. The casting notice details her character, Brady Hamm, as follows: "Late 20s, any ethnicity. Lawyer/den mother/babysitter/she is the center of this warped universe; in fact, she is the lifeline to everyone else's semblance of sanity. Easygoing, popular with friends and foes alike; she disarms with charm. Offered several prestigious clerkships out of law school, she instead chose to work for her father, who she remains deeply devoted to. Deadpan funny, it's often through her bemused eyes that we experience all the madness." Also signing onto the Warner Bros. Television-based hour is Jon Seda ("Close to Home") as Joe Matty: "30s, any ethnicity. Rugged, grumpy, abrupt, offensive, no reason for anybody to like him; everybody does. We loves Joe, we simply don't know why." Kristin Chenoweth also stars in the project, which comes from David E. Kelley.


SHAMELESS (HBO, New!) - "ER" executive producer John Wells is looking to import the British drama for the pay channel. The series, which has aired domestically on both BBC America and the Sundance Channel, revolves around a dysfunctional working-class clan led by an alcoholic patriarch. Original creator Paul Abbott is on board to co-write the U.S. incarnation with Wells for Warner Bros. Television. Wells and company have reportedly been trying to import the show for four years with Woody Harrelson rumored for the lead at one point at NBC. The sixth season of the U.K. "Shameless" begins on Channel 4 later this month with another season due in 2010.


SOUNDTRACK (NBC, New!) - Jared Bush ("All of Us") is developing a new drama at the Peacock about a misguided man whose life begins being accompanied by the music in his head. The project is set up at Universal Media Studios and Mosaic Television, with the latter's Jimmy Miller and Sam Hansen executive producing. As for specifics, the lead character has lost his job and his ex-girlfriend has gotten engaged to someone else. It's then he starts to hear the music - the same iconic song, over and over again, which won't go away until he figures out its significance. The following week, a new song will be featured and so forth. Dana Sano ("Dan in Real Life") has been tapped to oversee the project's music.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [january 2009]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
    


· ALL OF US (CW)
· AMAZING MRS. NOVAK, THE (LIFETIME)
· CLOSE TO HOME (CBS)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· ER (NBC)
· LEGALLY MAD (NBC)
· SHAMELESS (SHOWTIME)
· SOUNDTRACK (NBC)





[06/26/26 - 07:13 AM]
Adult Swim Announces "Heist Brothers," New "Robot Chicken" Specials, and Expanded Slate at Annecy International Film Festival
"Heist Brothers" is a new high-octane animated action comedy from Emmy Award-winning creator Genndy Tartakovsky.

[06/26/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Kaulitz & Kaulitz" Season 3 - Official Trailer - Netflix
Health checkups, a stormy wedding and an overdue journey to the past: The twins are ready to confront life's big questions - and each other.

[06/26/26 - 06:01 AM]
Prime Video Set to Serve "Novak Djokovic: The Wolf in Winter" on August 20
The feature-length documentary explores the extraordinary journey of tennis GOAT Novak Djokovic, who began playing on the hardscrabble courts of Serbia and rose to become the most accomplished champion in the history of men's tennis.

[06/26/26 - 06:00 AM]
Video: A Mad New Adventure Awaits as "Descendants: Wicked Wonderland" Debuts Official Trailer and New Villain Anthem
The highly anticipated next chapter of the "Descendants" franchise premieres Thursday, July 16, on Disney Channel and the next day on Disney+.

[06/26/26 - 04:31 AM]
Warner Bros. Animation Announces Development on "Dark Shadows" Adaptation Based on the Cult-Favorite Television Series
Created by Dan Curtis and celebrating its 60th anniversary this summer, "Dark Shadows" starred TV's original anti-hero and the father of the modern-day vampire, Barnabas Collins, a vampire with a conscience.

[06/26/26 - 03:01 AM]
Netflix Announces a New Chapter in the Story of "The Monster of Florence," Directed by Stefano Sollima
A new chapter in Italy's most famous true crime case, the series will revisit the investigation through a new lens, coming soon, only on Netflix globally.

[06/25/26 - 08:01 PM]
Video: "Eraserheads: Combo on the Run" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Through archival footage and candid interviews, this documentary explores the rise, rupture and record-breaking reunion of Filipino band Eraserheads.

[06/25/26 - 03:03 PM]
Viewership for 2026 NBA Draft First Round Presentation Up 10 Percent Year Over Year
The audience peaked with 5.5 million viewers during the 8:15 p.m. ET quarter hour.

[06/25/26 - 02:06 PM]
BET's 4th Annual Black + Iconic Soiree to Premiere June 29, Exclusively on Paramount+
Hosted by Emmy-nominated actress, producer, and advocate Laverne Cox, with Lavelle Dontae serving as Red Carpet Host, this year's celebration highlighted the power, influence, and impact of Black LGBTQ+ leaders and allies across entertainment, advocacy, business, and media.

[06/25/26 - 01:30 PM]
Starz in Development to Adapt International Bestseller "The Wolf King"
The bestselling romantasy book series by Lauren Palphreyman follows a captive princess who gets kidnapped by a brooding werewolf alpha and plunged into a bloodthirsty war.

[06/25/26 - 12:01 PM]
Video: "Breaking Bear" - Official Trailer - Tubi Original
A family of bears run a drug empire to raise money to save their forest from frackers and an endless array of psychotic enemies.

[06/25/26 - 12:01 PM]
The 62nd Academy of Country Music Awards Will Return to the World-Renowned MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 16, 2027
This year's event drove an estimated $53 million in total economic impact for the Las Vegas region.

[06/25/26 - 11:45 AM]
ESPN Presents "All of Wimbledon. All in One Place" June 29 - July 12
Every match from all courts stream live on the ESPN App for ESPN Unlimited plan subscribers.

[06/25/26 - 11:31 AM]
Emmy Award Nominee Lizzy Caplan Plunges Into the Insanity of FX's "Far Cry" Coming to FX and Hulu
The limited series from Noah Hawley and Rob Mac, who will also star, will retain the franchise's signature standalone storytelling format with each season set in a new setting following a new cast of characters.

[06/25/26 - 10:01 AM]
NBC Greenlights Emmy-Nominated Event Series "The Americas" for a Second Season
Expanding on the tentpole series, special episodes will roll out in the leadup to season two, starting with "The Americas: A Wild 250th," airing July 2 at 9pm ET/PT on NBC and next day on Peacock.