[02/12/09 - 06:16 PM] Development Update: Thursday, February 12 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!
COP HOUSE (FOX, New!) - Adam Resnick ("The Larry Sanders Show") has landed a pilot order from the network for a new single-camera comedy set at a halfway house for troubled cops. 20th Century Fox Television is behind the half-hour, which Resnick is executive producing alongside Marty Adelstein and Michael Thorn.
DAY ONE (NBC) - Alex Graves ("Fringe") has been tapped to direct the drama pilot, which chronicles the aftermath of a devastating global event. He'll work from a script by creator Jesse Alexander. Universal Media Studios is producing.
HAPPY TOWN (ABC) - Gary Fleder is set to reteam with Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec and Scott Rosenberg as he'll direct the two-hour ABC Studios-based pilot, about a hamlet which had enjoyed a seven-year peace after a series of kidnappings until it is hit by another crime. Fleder previously helmed the pilots to the trio's "October Road" and "Life on Mars."
INSIDE THE BOX (ABC) - Mark Tinker ("Private Practice") has signed on to direct the drama pilot, about an ambitious female news producer and her colleagues at a Washington network news bureau. Richard E. Robbins penned the script to the ABC Studios-based hour, which he's executive producing alongside Betsy Beers and "Practice" creator Shonda Rhimes.
MERCY (NBC) - Adam Bernstein ("Worst Week") is set to direct the drama pilot, about three nurses bound together in friendship by the highs and lows of their personal and professional lives. He'll work from a script by creator Elizabeth Heldens on the project, which comes from Universal Media Studios. In addition, "Pushing Daisies" alums Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts have signed on as executive producers and will serve as co-showrunners should the pilot move forward to series.
THE NEW TWENTY (ABC) - Marc Buckland ("My Name Is Earl") has been tapped for directing duties on the comedy pilot, about two friends in their 40s who are at different stages in life - one has a newborn child, while the other has a kid heading into college. Tad Quill is behind the multi-camera half-hour, which is set up at ABC Studios.
STARTER WIFE (USA) - The cable channel has decided not to renew the series for a third season. "'The Starter Wife' was an award-winning, critical and creative success," the network said in a statement. "We were thrilled with its performance as a miniseries, expanded and enriched it through an additional 10 episodes and reached what we all feel is a satisfying conclusion." The show's sophomore run averaged 2.4 million viewers, well shy of the most recent numbers from fellow originals "Monk" (5.7 million), "Burn Notice" (5.3 million) and "Psych" (4.5 million).
UNTITLED DAVID HEMINGSON PROJECT (ABC) - Michael Fresco ("Better Off Ted") has signed on to direct the revamped version of David Hemingson's drama pilot, about a group of hard-living associates at an L.A. entertainment law firm. Dean Parisot helmed the original incarnation, which starred Ben Lawson, Matt Long, Norbert Leo Butz and Tina Majorino - all of whom will reportedly reprise their roles. 20th Century Fox Television is behind the hour.
WASHINGTON FIELD (CBS) - "24" executive producer Jon Cassar is set to helm the drama pilot, about the FBI's elite the National Capital Response Squad. Edward Allen Bernero, Jim Clemente and Tim Clemente co-created the hour, which is set up at CBS Paramount Network Television.
WEEDS (Showtime) - Co-executive producer Matthew Salsberg has inked a two-year, seven-figure overall deal with Lionsgate Television. The pact covers his duties on the series for its fifth and sixth seasons, the latter of which will see him upped to executive producer, as well as develop new series projects for the studio.
