[03/04/09 - 06:31 PM] Development Update: Wednesday, March 4 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 BEAUTIFUL LIFE (The CW) - Christian Duguay (Lifetime's "Coco Chanel") has been tapped to direct the drama pilot, about a group of young models living together in a co-ed residence in New York City. He'll work from a script by creator Adam Giaudrone. Ashton Kutcher, Carol Barbee, Mike Kelley, Jason Goldberg and Karey Burke are the executive producers of the project, which is set up at the CBS Paramount Network Television-based Katalyst Films.
THE BODY POLITIC (The CW) - Scott Winant ("Californication") has signed on to helm the drama pilot, about a young woman who moves to D.C. to work for a senator and the other eager up-and-comers she befriends. Bill Robinson and Jason Rothenberg co-created the hour and are executive producing alongside Peter Horton for CBS Paramount Network Television.
THE BRIDGET SHOW (A.K.A. LET IT GO) (ABC) - Lucy Davis has landed a role on the Lauren Graham-led comedy pilot, about a self-help guru (Graham) who teaches women how to live a stress-free life - but struggles to follow her own advice when her boyfriend dumps her. Davis's role wasn't specified. Alex Herschlag is behind the half-hour, which is set up at Sony Pictures Television.
CANNED (ABC) - Stephanie Lemelin ("Cavemen") and Tim Peper ("Carpoolers") have both joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about a group of friends who all get fired on the same day. They'll play Marissa and Sam, respectively, two of the aforementioned friends. Kevin Etten created the half-hour, which is based at ABC Studios.
INSIDE THE BOX (ABC) - Jennifer Finnigan ("Close to Home") has joined the cast of the pilot, a drama set at a Washington network news bureau. She'll play "the newly minted White House press secretary who has an affair with the network's D.C.-based news anchor (Jason George)." Sarah Drew, Lloyd Owen and Kim Raver also star in the hour, which Mark Tinker is directing from a script by Richard E. Robbins. Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers also serve as executive producers for ABC Studios.
THIS LITTLE PIGGY (ABC, New!) - The Alphabet has issued a pilot presentation order to a new comedy from Steven Cragg and Brian Bradley ("Mad TV") about a family man who's forced to take in his younger brother and sister when times get tough. The multi-camera project is set up at ABC Studios with Cragg executive producing and Bradley serving as a co-executive producer.
UNTITLED SHERRI SHEPHERD PROJECT (Lifetime) - Sherri Shepherd's comedy for The CW has found new life at Lifetime. The cable channel has ordered a pilot to the project, which is loosely based on Shepherd's experiences as "a woman who contends with her husband's infidelity and his illegitimate child when she allows the child and mother to move in with them." Dave Flebotte ("Desperate Housewives") penned the original pilot and is expected to stay on board in some capacity. Nina Wass and Gene Stein also remain as executive producers on the ABC Studios-based half-hour.
V (ABC) - Morris Chestnut ("The Game Plan") has joined the cast of the Alphabet's "V" revival. He's believed to be playing Ryan Nichols, a Visitor who's been living among us and is dating a single mom. Scott Wolf also stars in the hour, which comes from Warner Bros. Television, writer Scott Peters and director Yves Simoneau.
VAMPIRE DIARIES (The CW) - Marcos Siega ("Dexter") has come aboard to direct the drama pilot, about a tragic young heroine who is the object of passion for two vampire brothers, one good and one evil. The project, based on the series of novels of the same name, was penned by Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson. Warner Bros. Television and Alloy Entertainment are co-producing.
THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK (ABC) - Jon Bernthal ("The Class") and Johann Urb ("Dirt") have both joined the cast of the drama pilot, about three young witches who come into their powers. Bernthal will play the unemployed husband of one of them (Jaime Ray Newman) while Urb is set as a local news photographer/volunteer fireman who is the object of affection of another (Lindsay Price). David Nutter is helming the Warner Bros. Television-based hour from a script by Maggie Friedman. Veronica Cartwright also stars.
