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[01/16/09 - 06:09 PM]
Development Update: Friday, January 16
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!
ABC AT THE TCA - Alphabet chief Steve McPherson has confirmed the network won't be picking up "King of the Hill" after it completes its run on FOX. ABC flirted with the idea back in November, opening talks with producer 20th Century Fox Television to order addition scripts of the series. Meanwhile, Mike Judge's new animated comedy "The Goode Family" may not roll out until May while "In the Motherhood" is expected to bow in March, potentially as a lead out to "Dancing With the Stars." On the development side, McPherson said he hopes to shoot 10 comedy and drama pilots for next season with pick-ups set to begin as early as next week. And finally, fans looking for the remaining produced installments of axed dramas "Eli Stone," "Dirty Sexy Money" and "Pushing Daisies" will have to wait a bit longer - they could be burned off over the summer or streamed online at some point in the future.
LEGALLY MAD (NBC) - Hugh Bonneville ("Five Days") has booked the male lead in the drama pilot, about Brady Hamm (Charity Wakefield), a twentysomething woman who takes a job at her father's law firm. He'll play her father, Gordon Hamm, whom the casting notice details as follows: "Late 40s, any ethnicity. The firm's senior partner, part F. Lee Bailey, part Harold Hill of "The Music Man." Fun-loving, fast-talking, a little slick...it was either a career in law or used cars. He chose the law." Jon Seda and Kristin Chenoweth also star in the hour, which comes from Warner Bros. Television and creator David E. Kelley.
LEVERAGE (TNT) - The cable channel has quietly asked for six additional scripts of the series, which opened to 5.6 million viewers last month. The drama wraps its inaugural 13-episode run in February.
MAD MEN (AMC) - After months of negotiations, Matthew Weiner has finally closed a two-year, seven-figure overall deal with producer Lionsgate Television. The pact puts the writer/producer back at the helm of the Emmy-winning drama. He'll also develop new series projects for the studio, including a potential feature. It's understood AMC is helping fund Weiner's deal as is typical on the cable side. Production on the new season then is set to begin in time for a summer premiere.
PHIL ROSENTHAL PROJECTS (HBO, New!) - Emmy-winner Phil Rosenthal ("Everybody Loves Raymond") has lined up three projects at the pay channel - a comedy, a drama and a original movie. First up is "The Jeannie Tate Show," a comedy based on TheWB.com digital series created by Liz Cackowski and Maggie Carey about a neurotic soccer mom (Cackowski) who hosts a talk show from her minivan. Cackowski and Carey are penning the pilot and co-executive producing under Rosenthal's supervision with TheWB.com's Rich Rosenthal, Phil's brother, producing. Warner Bros. Television originally developed the project and remains a passive partner. Next is "Random Family," a drama based on the nonfiction book of the same name by Adrian Nicole LeBlanc and revolves around a multigenerational family in the South Bronx. LeBlanc and Chris Terrio likewise are writing the script and co-executive producing with Rosenthal and Neal Gabler serving as executive producers. And finally there's an original movie based on portions of Raymond Arsenault's book "Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice." Wayne Kramer is in talks to write and direct the film, which "chronicles civil rights activists' harrowing ride on buses through the South that escalated to a point where segregationists threw Molotov cocktails at them." Rosenthal and Gabler are executive producing.
Separately, Rosenthal is now editing the feature-length documentary "Exporting Raymond," about his outrageous experiences while remaking his own show in Russia. The series, "Vse Lubyat Kostya" (Everybody Loves Kostya), was ordered to pilot by Russian broadcaster CTC using Rosenthal's original "Raymond" script and produced by local production company Lean-M. Sony Pictures Television International, Worldwide Pants and HBO Independent Productions are behind the export, with Rosenthal's film chronicling the casting, the prep and the shooting of the pilot in December and ending with CTC's decision on whether or not to move forward with the show. No distributor has been set for the film, although Sony is widely expecting to.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[02/24/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of Feb. 16 - "Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model" Sashays to No. 1 in Top 10
Plus: Season 3 of "The Night Agent" took No. 2 on the English TV list with 8.4 million views.
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[02/24/26 - 11:01 AM]
"Stranger Things: Tales From '85" Reveals Odessa A'zion as Nikki Baxter and Character Posters
The animated series premieres April 23, 2026 on Netflix.
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[02/24/26 - 10:55 AM]
Video: New "Scrubs" Title Sequence Released, Confirming They're Still "Superman"
The first two episodes of "Scrubs" premiere back-to-back Wednesday, February 25 at 8pm ET/PT on ABC.
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[02/24/26 - 10:05 AM]
Ed Skrein Signs On to Play Baldur in Prime Video's "God of War" from Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios
Previously announced cast members include Ryan Hurst as Kratos, Callum Vinson as Atreus, Max Parker as Heimdall, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Thor, Teresa Palmer as Sif, Alastair Duncan as Mimir, Jeff Gulka as Sindri, Danny Woodburn as Brok, and Mandy Patinkin as Odin.
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[02/24/26 - 10:04 AM]
Bravo Serves Fresh Peaches and Fierce Vibes as "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" Returns on Sunday, Apr. 5 at 8 P.M. ET/PT
Returning "housewives" include Porsha Williams, Phaedra Parks, Drew Sidora, Shamea Morton Mwangi, Angela Oakley and Kelli Ferrell.
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[02/24/26 - 09:52 AM]
Presenters Announced for the "57th NAACP Image Awards"
NAACP also announced that iconic group Salt-N-Pepa and DJ Spindarella will be inducted into the esteemed NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame, presented by Tide, during this year's ceremony.
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[02/24/26 - 09:39 AM]
2026 NAACP Image Award Nominated Series "Love & Marriage: Huntsville" Returns with New Episodes Starting March 7 on OWN
The series will continue to follow the lives of a group of longtime friends and frenemies from Huntsville, Alabama whose bold personalities, complicated relationships and business ambitions keep emotions running high.
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[02/24/26 - 09:31 AM]
Netflix's "Untold" Returns with Four New Films
Premiering weekly, these gripping, character-driven stories feature raw, first-person perspectives from those at the heart of the action - revealing the determination, setbacks, and surprising truths that unfold behind the scenes.
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[02/24/26 - 09:05 AM]
CBS Sports Reaches Agreement for Paramount+ to Become Exclusive U.S. English-Language Home of All Concacaf Women's Competitions Through 2030
Across four distinct competitions featuring club and national team matches, CBS Sports will present more than 250 games with every match on Paramount+ and select matches co-airing on CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo Network.
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[02/24/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Great British Baking Show: Juniors" - Official Trailer - The Roku Channel
Host Harry Hill welcomes talented junior bakers to the iconic Baking Show tent, where judges Liam Charles and Ravneet Gill will crown Britain's best junior baker.
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[02/24/26 - 09:01 AM]
Season Two of "Secrets Declassified with David Duchovny" Premieres March 17 on The History Channel
This season, Duchovny leads viewers through an examination of the highest intellect.
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[02/24/26 - 09:01 AM]
Let's Go Bananas! ESPN and Disney+ to Deliver More Banana Ball Games Than Ever as Collaboration Expands
More than 15 additional games will air across ESPN networks, highlighted by a first-ever national showcase on ABC from Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon, one of the largest Banana Ball events ever staged.
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[02/24/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "The Count of Monte Cristo" Official Trailer
Tune in for the broadcast premiere on Sunday, March 22 at 10:00/9:00c only on "Masterpiece" on PBS.
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[02/24/26 - 08:00 AM]
Video: Paramount+ Debuts Official Trailer for "The Madison" Starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell
The six-episode debut season premieres globally on Saturday, March 14, with three episodes exclusively on the service.
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[02/24/26 - 07:05 AM]
MGM+ Renews Hit Romantic Adventure Drama Series "Robin Hood" for Season Two
The 10-episode season will go into production at PFI Studios in Serbia this summer.
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