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[02/13/09 - 08:10 PM]
Development Update: Friday, February 13
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!
FUNNY IN FARSI (ABC, New!) - Firoozeh Dumas's book, subtitled "A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America," is set to be the focus of a potential new comedy at the Alphabet. The network has commissioned a director-contingent pilot for the project, which chronicles her upbringing as an Iranian immigrant in 1970s Newport Beach. Nastaran Dibai and Jeffrey Hodes ("Rita Rocks") penned the pilot and are executive producing for ABC Studios.
GOOD GIRLS (CBS, New!) - Sherry Bilsing-Graham and Ellen Kreamer ("The New Adventures of Old Christine") are the latest to land a pilot commitment from the Eye, this time about two women/childhood friends who are trying to reinvent themselves after making some youthful mistakes. The pair wrote the CBS Paramount Network Television-based pilot and are executive producing alongside Katalyst Films's Ashton Kutcher, Jason Goldberg and Karey Burke.
THE GOOD WIFE (CBS) - Charles McDougall ("The Tudors") has scored helming duties on the drama pilot, about a politician's wife, who takes a legal job after her husband is disgraced. Robert and Michelle King are behind the hour, which comes from CBS Paramount Network Television and Scott Free Productions. Production nevertheless is contingent on casting the lead role.
HAPPY TOWN (ABC) - Lauren German ("Hostel: Part II") is the first to be cast on the drama pilot. She'll play a newcomer to the town, which had enjoyed a seven-year peace after a series of kidnappings until it is hit by another crime. Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec and Scott Rosenberg are behind the ABC Studios-based project, which Gary Fleder is directing.
HOT GIRLS IN SCARY PLACES (E!, New!) - The cable channel has commissioned a pilot for a potential new reality series in which, you guessed it, hot girls are challenged to spend the night in a scary place for a $10,000 cash prize. For the inaugural installment, set to air as a special on Friday, March 13, three University of Southern California cheer squad friends will be tasked with an overnight trip to a supposedly haunted abandoned hospital. Go Go Luckey Productions ("Paranormal State") is behind the project, which is being executive produced by the company's Gary Auerbach.
NCIS (CBS) - Louise Lombard ("CSI: Crime Scene Investigation"), Peter Cambor ("Notes From the Underbelly") and Daniela Ruah have all joined the cast of the show's proposed spin-off. Lombard will play Clara, "a former major in the military police... an intelligent, sharp investigator who can look after herself"; while Cambor is set as Nate, "the team's conscience and beating heart... an operational psychologist and a walking encyclopedia of American culture"; with Ruah as Kensi, "a super bright young investigator who studied forensics and criminology in college." The trio will potentially join Chris O'Donnell and LL Cool J, who are still in negotiations with producer CBS Paramount Network Television.
UNTITLED FRANK MILITARY PROJECT (CBS) - "Jericho" alum Lennie James is the first to be cast in the drama pilot, about prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan. He'll play a former assistant DA who works as a paralegal after getting disbarred. Frank Military is behind the hour, which is set up at CBS Paramount Network Television.
UNTITLED JEFF STRAUSS PROJECT (ABC, New!) - Jeff Strauss ("All of Us") has booked a pilot order from the Alphabet for a new multi-camera comedy which examines marriage and parenthood as seen through the eyes of three couples. The untitled half-hour is set up at ABC Studios with Acme Productions's Michael Hanel and Mindy Schultheis ("Surviving Suburbia") also serving as executive producers alongside Strauss.
UNTITLED JUSTIN ADLER PROJECT (NBC, New!) - Sony Pictures Television-based Tantamount has locked in yet another pilot, this time at NBC. Justin Adler is behind the half-hour, a multi-camera family comedy featuring adult siblings. He penned the pilot and is executive producing with the Tantamount team of Mitch Hurwitz, Eric Tannenbaum and Kim Tannenbaum.
UNTITLED NEW YORK CITY PRIVATE SCHOOLS PROJECT (Bravo, New!) - Broadcasting & Cable is reporting the cable channel has begun production on a new reality series referred to as a "real life" version of "Gossip Girl." Stone & Company Entertainment is behind the project, which will track the lives of New York City private-school kids, although it won't feature Manhattan's exclusive schools specifically.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[02/12/26 - 02:34 PM]
ABC's Thursday Night Dramas Dominate as "9-1-1," "9-1-1: Nashville" and "Grey's Anatomy" Jump to Biggest Multiplatform Audience Since Their Season Premieres
The January 29 episodes of all three series rose to their biggest Total Viewer audience since their season premieres after seven days of viewing on ABC, Hulu, Hulu on Disney+ and digital platforms.
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[02/12/26 - 01:30 PM]
Video: Official Trailer for the Highly Anticipated Drama "CIA" Starring Tom Ellis and Nick Gehlfuss, Now Available
When by-the-book FBI Special Agent Bill Goodman (Nick Gehlfuss) is loaned out to a clandestine CIA/FBI task force, he finds himself teamed up with secretive and roguish CIA Agent Colin Glass (Tom Ellis).
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[02/12/26 - 01:00 PM]
"Saturday Night Live's" 51st Season Returns Feb. 28 with Three Back-to-Back Shows
Connor Storrie will host on February 28, followed by Ryan Gosling on March 7.
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[02/12/26 - 12:49 PM]
Video: Trailer & Key Art Debut - Hulu Original "Shoresy" Season 5
The hockey comedy returns on February 21 with all six new episodes premiering exclusively on Hulu, and on Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S.
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[02/12/26 - 12:12 PM]
Video: "America's Culinary Cup" Official Trailer Premieres March 4, 2026
Welcome to "America's Culinary Cup," where the best chefs in the country compete under the eyes of Padma Lakshmi, Michael Cimarusti, and Wylie Dufresne.
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[02/12/26 - 12:02 PM]
Critically Acclaimed Series "The Way Home" Returns for Final Season on April 19
Bianca Melchior joins the cast along with Hallmark fan favorites Gabriel Hogan and Dan Jeannotte.
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[02/12/26 - 11:01 AM]
"Duck Dynasty: The Revival" Returns for Season 2 on March 7 at 10pm ET/PT on A&E
Across the 10-episode season, Willie and Korie return with their signature wit and down-home charm as they navigate the ever-evolving future of Duck Commander, support their children through marriage, parenthood, and new business ventures as they work to preserve the family legacy.
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[02/12/26 - 10:01 AM]
Date Announcement: "Dinosaur" Season 2
The charming Scottish series returns for season two on February 25 on Hulu.
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[02/12/26 - 09:31 AM]
Video: "Taylor Tomlinson: Prodigal Daughter" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Taylor Tomlinson takes her fans to church with hilarious confessions about dating in her 30s, her dream assistant and why she refuses to use AI.
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[02/12/26 - 09:31 AM]
New Preschool Series "Beddybyes" and "Magicampers" Set to Premiere on Disney+ and Disney Jr. in March 2026
They'll premiere on Monday, March 2 and Monday, March 23, respectively.
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[02/12/26 - 09:02 AM]
Paramount+ Set to Premiere Men's College Basketball Documentary Series "Made for March" on Saturday, April 4
The series will feature unprecedented off-court access, exclusive game footage and interviews, and coverage of key regular season, conference and postseason matchups in the Big 12 and Big Ten.
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[02/12/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "The Plastic Detox" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When six couples embark on a plastic detox within their homes, it changes their families forever.
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[02/12/26 - 09:01 AM]
"Tribunal Justice" Season Three Premieres on Prime Video on March 2, 2026
Created and executive produced by judicial icon Judge Judy Sheindlin, "Tribunal Justice" will be available to stream exclusively on Prime Video in the U.S., UK, and Germany with new episodes available every weekday.
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[02/12/26 - 09:00 AM]
Peacock Releases Premiere Date and First Look Images for Upcoming Original Drama Series "M.I.A."
The crime drama series from Bill Dubuque and Karen Campbell will premiere on May 7, 2026.
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[02/12/26 - 08:53 AM]
FOX Entertainment Names Sophie Leonard Executive Vice President, Unscripted at FOX Television Network
Leonard will lead the creative strategy, development, and production of FOX's unscripted portfolio, working closely with internal teams and creative partners to build bold, premium formats and large-scale franchises designed to resonate with broad audiences and travel globally.
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