or


[02/23/09 - 06:55 PM]
Development Update: Monday, February 23
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!


2009-10 SEASON PILOTS (Various) - The CBS drama "Confessions of a Contractor" and ABC single-camera comedies "Funny in Farsi" and "Planet Lucy" have been pushed to the next development cycle. The trio had been operating under various contingencies - cast-contingent in the case of "Contractor" and "Lucy" and director- and showrunner-contingent for "Farsi" - all of which were not met by the networks' respective deadlines on Friday. Richard Murphy's "Contractor," based on his novel of the same name, was dubbed as "an insider's look at the sexy and provocative world of L.A. seen through the eyes of a successful contractor." Jeff Okin and Shawn Ryan also served as executive producers for 20th Century Fox Television. "Farsi" and "Lucy" were likewise based on books - the former a memoir by Firoozeh Dumas about an Iranian-born girl's experiences growing up in Newport Beach in the 1970s; and the latter Fiona Neill's book "Slummy Mummy" about "an endearing, disaster-prone everywoman who gives up an impressive professional career to be a stay-at-home mom raising three kids." Jeffrey Hodes and Nastaran Dibai penned the "Farsi" adaptation while Gabrielle Allan was behind "Lucy." ABC Studios was behind both half-hours with Sony Pictures Television co-producing the latter.


ACE IN THE HOLE (CBS, New!) - Adam Carolla is set to topline and co-write a new comedy pilot for the network about a husband and father (Carolla) who works as a driving instructor. Carolla penned the pilot alongside his "The Hammer" partner Kevin Hench. The pair are also executive producing alongside Jackhole Productions principals Jimmy Kimmel and Daniel Kellison. CBS Paramount Network Television is the studio attached while James Dixon, Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun are also on board as executive producers.


BROTHERS & DETECTIVES (ABC) - Jimmy Wolk ("Front of the Class") has been tapped for the lead role on the drama pilot, about a low-level detective (Wolk) whose genius 11-year-old brother helps him solve crimes. Daniel Cerone is behind the ABC Studios-produced hour, which is based on the Argentinean format.


COMMUNITY (NBC) - "The Soup" host Joel McHale is the first to be cast on the comedy pilot, described as "Stripes" in a community college. He'll play Jeff, "a lawyer who is back at school after his college degree is deemed invalid." Anthony and Joe Russo ("Carpoolers") have also signed on to direct the pilot, which comes from creator Dan Harmon and Sony Pictures Television.


GLEE (FOX) - Jennifer Aspen ("Rodney") has scored a role on the drama, due later this year. She'll play Kendra, additional details of which weren't specified. Dianna Agron, Chris Colfer, Jessalyn Gilsig, Jayma Mays, Kevin McHale, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Matthew Morrison, Amber Riley, Mark Salling and Jenna Ushkowitz also star in the hour, which comes from co-creators Brad Falchuk, Ian Brennan and Ryan Murphy.


HAPPY TOWN (ABC) - Dean Winters ("Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles") has joined the cast of the two-hour drama pilot, about a small town rattled by the return of a serial kidnapper. He'll play a man whose daughter was kidnapped years ago. Andre Nemec, Josh Applebaum and Scott Rosenberg are behind the ABC Studios-based project, to be helmed by Gary Fleder.


SCAR TISSUE (HBO) - John Sayles ("Honeydripper") has signed on to pen the drama pilot, about the childhood of Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis. Said hour will center on "the rocker's early years living in West Hollywood with his father, who, at that time, sold drugs and mingled with rock stars on the Sunset Strip, all while aspiring to get into showbiz." Sayles will also executive produce the project alongside Jason Weinberg, Catapult 360 partners Marc Abrams and Michael Benson as well as Kiedis himself.


SEE CATE RUN (ABC) - Liza Lapira ("Dexter") and Marc Blucas ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer") have joined the cast of the Amy Smart-led drama pilot, about a young prosecuting attorney who one day is going to be a serious contender for president. Blucas will play a legendary campaign guru who sees the girl's potential while Lapira is set as an attorney who works and lives with her. ABC Studios and director Dean Parisot are behind the project, which comes from creator John Scott Shepherd.


TRAUMA (NBC) - Aimee Garcia has joined the cast of the pilot, a drama set in the high-energy world of medical emergencies out in the field. She'll play the newest member of an EMT team. Dario Scardapane is behind the hour, which comes from Universal Media Studios and Film 44. Jeffrey Reiner is directing.


WASHINGTON FIELD (CBS) - Matthew Yang King ("NUMB3RS") has booked a role on the drama pilot, about the FBI's National Capital Response Squad. He's set as the team's bomb expert. Jon Cassar is helming the CBS Paramount Network Television-based hour, which comes from co-creators Edward Allen Bernero, Jim Clemente and Tim Clemente.


THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK (ABC) - Jaime Ray Newman and Veronica Cartwright have both landed roles on the drama pilot, about three young witches who come into their powers. Newman will play one of them, Kat, a good-natured nurse and a mom of five kids, while Cartwright's role wasn't specified. Maggie Friedman penned the Warner Bros. Television-based hour, which David Nutter is directing.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [february 2009]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· ACE IN THE HOLE (CBS)
· BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (UPN)
· CARPOOLERS (ABC)
· COMMUNITY (YAHOO)
· CONFESSIONS OF A CONTRACTOR (FOX)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· DEXTER (SHOWTIME)
· EASTWICK (ABC)
· FRONT OF THE CLASS (CBS)
· FUNNY IN FARSI (ABC)
· GLEE (FOX)
· HAPPY TOWN (ABC)
· NUMB3RS (CBS)
· PLANET LUCY (ABC)
· RODNEY (ABC)
· SCAR TISSUE (FX)
· SEE KATE RUN (ABC)
· SOLVING CHARLIE (ABC)
· SOUP, THE (E)
· TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES (FOX)
· TRAUMA (NBC)
· WASHINGTON FIELD (CBS)





[04/02/26 - 12:31 PM]
Paramount+ Greenlights New Reality Series, "Team Moms," Executive Produced by Kim Kardashian and Love Island Producers, ITV
"Team Moms" launches viewers into the world of nationally competitive youth baseball via immersion into the Legendary Prep Academy in Scottsdale, Arizona's first and only baseball prep school.

[04/02/26 - 12:01 PM]
Jamie Bell and Charlie Heaton Lead a New Generation of "Peaky Blinders" and First Look of Bell as Duke Is Revealed
Jessica Brown Findlay, Lashana Lynch, and Lucy Karczewski are also on board.

[04/02/26 - 12:01 PM]
"Wizards Beyond Waverly Place" Returns for One Last Spell This Summer on Disney+ and Disney Channel
Executive producer Selena Gomez to make her directorial debut with the premiere episode.

[04/02/26 - 11:44 AM]
First-Ever "American Idol" Simulcast on ABC and Disney+ Surges Double Digits
Season to date, "American Idol" averages 5.11 million Total Viewers and stands as one of the few shows to notch year-over-year gains this season.

[04/02/26 - 11:11 AM]
Sarah Drew and Eric Johnson to Headline "When I Said I Do" (wt), The New Movie Inspired by Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black's Beloved Duet of the Same Name
The movie is set to premiere Saturday, May 23 at 8/7c as part of the network's upcoming spring "Love of a Lifetime" original movie slate.

[04/02/26 - 11:07 AM]
Thursday Night Heats Up as "9-1-1: Nashville" and "9-1-1" Soar to Best Performance of the Season
On linear over three days, "9-1-1" earned 5.94 million Total Viewers, also nearly matching the show's previous season high in January.

[04/02/26 - 11:05 AM]
Hulu's Critically Acclaimed Comedy Series "Deli Boys" Returns for a Second Season on May 28
Andrew Rannells and Kumail Nanjiani join as recurring guest stars for the second season, alongside series regulars Asif Ali, Saagar Shaikh, Poorna Jagannathan and Fred Armisen.

[04/02/26 - 10:58 AM]
ESPN to Present WNBA Expansion Draft Friday, April 3
Malika Andrews will host the special, joined by analysts Carolyn Peck and Monica McNutt.

[04/02/26 - 10:31 AM]
Louis C.K. to Headline the Hollywood Bowl May 5 as Part of Netflix Is a Joke Fest
This summer, his newest stand-up special, "Ridiculous," will premiere globally on Netflix.

[04/02/26 - 10:01 AM]
HBO Original Comedy Special "Ramy Youssef: In Love" Debuts April 17
Whether it's his marriage, being a dog parent, AI, or religion, Ramy comes at everything with his own brand of heart and humor.

[04/02/26 - 09:36 AM]
Netflix Wins Hot Package "The Corrections"; Orders Limited Drama Straight-to-Series Starring Meryl Streep
The series - from Paramount Television Studios - will be directed by Cord Jefferson, and written and adapted by author Jonathan Franzen.

[04/02/26 - 09:10 AM]
Video: "Smiling Friends" - Final Episodes Trailer - Adult Swim
Watch the final two episodes of "Smiling Friends" on Sunday, April 12.

[04/02/26 - 09:01 AM]
"Sofia the First: Royal Magic" Premieres May 25 on Disney Jr. with the First 8 Episodes Streaming Next Day on Disney+
It was also announced today that Moana, Rapunzel, Jasmine, Cinderella, Aurora and Elena of Avalor will make special appearances throughout the series, offering guidance, wisdom and support when Sofia needs it the most.

[04/02/26 - 08:35 AM]
New Faces Join "The Chi" Ensemble Cast for Its Final Season on Paramount+
Daryl Dunning II, Biko Eisen-Martin, Akilah A. Walker, Laila Odom, Liza Jessie Peterson, and Anthony B. Jenkins are among the latest additions.

[04/02/26 - 08:35 AM]
Great American Media Sets "An Accidental Arctic Christmas," Reuniting Beloved Fan Favorites Cameron Mathison and Jill Wagner, From Executive Producer Candace Cameron Bure
Maya Rose Skabar also stars in the film, which will premiere as part of the upcoming all-star Great American Christmas on Great American Pure Flix, Great American Family, and GFAM+.