or


[03/16/09 - 06:28 PM]
Development Update: Monday, March 16
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!


100 QUESTIONS FOR CHARLOTTE PAYNE (NBC) - British actress Sophie Winkleman ("Peep Show") has been cast in the title role of the comedy pilot, about a young woman (Winkleman) working at a dating service who navigates life and friendship in New York. Chris Moynihan penned the Universal Media Studios-based half-hour, the production of which was contingent on casting said role. James Burrows is directing.


AT RISK/THE FRONT (Lifetime) - John Pielmeier ("Capture of the Green River Killer") has been tapped to pen the small screen adaptations of Patricia Cornwell's bestselling crime novels while Tandem Communications has signed on as their worldwide distributor. Jim Head, Lane Bishop, Russell Werdin, Stanley M. Brooks and Cornwell herself are executive producing both projects, which follow Massachusetts state investigator Win Garano and his ambitious supervisor, state attorney Monique Lamont, as they investigate cases.


BROTHERS (FOX, New!) - Daryl "Chill" Mitchell and football legend Michael Strahan are set to star in a new comedy pilot for the network about "a retired NFL player who returns to his hometown and starts working to reconnect with his family - especially his brother (Mitchell), who is confined to a wheelchair following a car accident." Don Reo ("Everybody Hates Chris") is behind the project comes from the ever-busy Sony Pictures Television-based Tantamount banner. Reo then will executive produce alongside the company's principals Eric Tannenbaum, Kim Tannenbaum and Mitch Hurwitz. Ted Wass is attached to direct.


CANNED (ABC) - Comedian Baron Vaughn is the latest addition to the comedy pilot, about a group of friends who are fired in a corporate shake-up. He'll play an unspecified character in the half-hour, which also stars Tim Peper and Stephanie Lemelin. Kevin Etten created the half-hour, which comes from ABC Studios.


COMMUNITY (NBC) - Chevy Chase is staying in business with the Peacock, booking a role on the comedy pilot, described as "Stripes" at a community college. He'll play a student at said college who has been married five times. Chase recently completed a multi-episode arc on NBC's "Chuck," set to air later this season. Dan Harmon is behind the Sony Pictures Television-based half-hour, which Anthony and Joe Russo are directing.


EMPIRE STATE (ABC) - Beau Garrett and Mike Vogel have landed the lead roles in the drama pilot, about "a blue-collar man (Vogel) who falls in love with the beautiful and smart daughter (Garrett) of a wealthy businessman and his father's nemesis." Michael Seitzman penned the Mark Gordon-produced hour for ABC Studios. Jeremy Podeswa is directing.


THE GOOD WIFE (CBS) - Archie Panjabi has joined the cast of the Julianna Margulies-led drama pilot, about a politician's wife who gets a job at a top law firm. He'll play one of her co-workers, described as "a bisexual Bollywood Erin Brockovich." Charles McDougall is helming the hour, which comes from creators Michelle and Robert King. CBS Paramount Network Television is the studio attached.


HAPPINESS ISN'T EVERYTHING (CBS) - Oscar-winner Richard Dreyfuss is set to play dad to Jason Biggs in the comedy pilot, about adult siblings and their parents who are overly involved in each other's lives. He'll play Jerry Hamburger, the pushy, loving and funny patriarch of the family. Also singing on is Ben Schwartz as Jacky Hamburger, the explosive older brother of Jason (Biggs). James Vallely and Mitch Hurwitz are behind the half-hour, which comes from the latter's Sony Pictures Television-based Tantamount.


HOUSE RULES (CBS) - Warren Christie ("October Road") and Denzel Whitaker have joined the cast of the drama pilot, which follows the freshman class of Congress. Christie will play the House Speaker's chief of staff, who's in the midst of a love-hate relationship between a school teacher-turned-congresswoman (Zoe McLellan). Whitaker will play "a former student of the teacher who works for her part time." Michael Seitzman is behind the hour, which comes from ABC Studios and The Mark Gordon Company.


THE LAW (ABC) - "According to Jim" co-star Larry Joe Campbell has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about reserve LAPD officers. He's set as Cedric's training officer in the half-hour, which comes from co-creators Cedric the Entertainer and Bob Fisher. ABC Studios is the studio attached.


MERCY (NBC) - Jaime Lee Kirchner ("Just Legal") has joined the cast of the drama pilot, about the personal and professional lives of three nurses. She'll play one of the aforementioned trio in the Universal Media Studios-based hour, which Adam Bernstein is directing from a script by Elizabeth Heldens.


NO HEROICS (ABC) - Paul Campbell ("Knight Rider") has booked the lead role on the comedy pilot, about four B-list superheroes living among the general population. He'll play Pete (a.k.a. Chillout), their leader, "a Canadian-born superhero who can freeze small objects." Drew Pearce and Jeff Greenstein are behind the half-hour, which comes from ABC Studios.


STATE OF ROMANCE (NBC) - Lindsey Broad has scored the female lead on the comedy pilot, described as a modern "Pride and Prejudice" set in Chicago. She'll play Emily, who begins a relationship with Mike (the male lead) after they meet awkwardly on a plane. Barbara Wallace and Tom Wolfe are behind the half-hour, which is based at Universal Media Studios.


UNTITLED FRANK MILITARY PROJECT (CBS) - Rachel Nichols and Laz Alonso are the latest additions to the drama pilot, about a team of New York federal prosecutors. They'll play two members of said team. Frank Military is behind the project, which comes from CBS Paramount Network Television.


UNTITLED JEFF STRAUSS PROJECT (ABC) - Matthew Lillard and Janet Varney have both been cast in the comedy pilot, about marriage and parenthood through the eyes of three couples. They'll play halves of two of the couples in the project, which comes from creator Jeff Strauss and ABC Studios.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [march 2009]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· 100 QUESTIONS (NBC)
· ACCORDING TO JIM (ABC)
· AT RISK (LIFETIME)
· BROTHERS (FOX)
· CANNED (ABC)
· CAPTURE OF THE GREEN RIVER KILLER, THE (LMN)
· CHUCK (NBC)
· COMMUNITY (YAHOO)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· EMPIRE STATE (ABC)
· EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS (CW)
· FRONT, THE (LIFETIME)
· GOOD WIFE, THE (CBS)
· HAPPINESS ISN'T EVERYTHING (CBS)
· HOUSE RULES (CBS)
· JUST LEGAL (WB)
· KNIGHT RIDER (NBC)
· LAW, THE (ABC)
· MARRIED NOT DEAD (ABC)
· MERCY (NBC)
· NO HEROICS (ABC)
· OCTOBER ROAD (ABC)
· STATE OF ROMANCE (NBC)
· US ATTORNEY (CBS)





[11/13/25 - 01:36 PM]
Major League Soccer Is Coming to AppleĀ TV Starting in 2026
Starting next season, fans can watch every regular-season match, the annual Leagues Cup tournament, the MLS All-Star Game, the Campeones Cup, the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, and more - all included with an Apple TV subscription.

[11/13/25 - 01:12 PM]
Great American Media Is National Linear, Digital, and Streaming Home of the 137th Rose Parade Presented by Honda
The Rose Parade has named legendary athlete, entrepreneur, and transformative philanthropist, Earvin "Magic" Johnson as Grand Marshal of the 2026 Rose Parade.

[11/13/25 - 11:01 AM]
Peacock Brings the Ultimate Sunday Night Football Watch Party Serving Up Touchdowns and Tea with "Reality Hot Seat" - Streaming Live Throughout the Houston Texans-Kansas City Chiefs Matchup on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 8 P.M. ET
Leading the charge is an all-star panel ready to call the game like it's their favorite reunion special: "Boston Rob" Mariano, Heather Gay, TV and podcast host Justin Sylvester and Kate Chastain.

[11/13/25 - 11:00 AM]
"The Celebrity Traitors" UK to Premiere on Peacock Thursday, Nov. 20
An average of 11.1 million people tuned in to watch the final episode of this year's Celebrity version last week in the UK - the biggest live audience of the year for a single UK TV show.

[11/13/25 - 11:00 AM]
Prime Video Hands Comedy All Stars Kevin Hart and Kenan Thompson November 25 Premiere Date for "Good Sports"
Premiering November 25 exclusively on Prime Video, new episodes of "Good Sports" will stream every Tuesday in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

[11/13/25 - 10:00 AM]
12 Bakers Are Ready to Sleigh the Competition and Battle for the Title of First-Ever "Next Level Baker!"
The series premieres Thursday, December 4 at 9:00/8:00c on FOX.

[11/13/25 - 09:45 AM]
Melissa Peterman to Host "Countdown to Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade"
On the eve of the iconic "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade," viewers will enjoy an all-access look at the Macy's Parade Studio to discover exactly what it takes to create the famous floats and balloons prior to their journey through the streets of New York.

[11/13/25 - 09:32 AM]
Wonder Project's Inspiring Docuseries, "Redemption," Premieres on the Wonder Project Subscription on Prime Video in the U.S. on Sunday, November 16
The limited docuseries chronicles the Ohio State football team's unforgettable 2024 season, culminating in a national championship, but this story goes much deeper than touchdowns and trophies.

[11/13/25 - 09:06 AM]
Golf Channel Announces New Morning Programming Beginning January 2026
New morning programming on Golf Channel is highlighted by on-course reporter Smylie Kaufman bringing his popular show and podcast, "The Smylie Show," to Golf Channel on Wednesdays at 9 a.m. ET.

[11/13/25 - 09:02 AM]
Prime Video Announces November 17 Release Date for "Hazbin Hotel: Live on Broadway" Season 2 Premiere Concert Event
Hosted by series lead Erika Henningsen, at New York's historic Majestic Theater, the concert event features performances of the show's hit songs from Seasons One and Two.

[11/13/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Kathleen Madigan: The Family Thread" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
The one-hour special will premiere November 21, 2025 on Prime Video.

[11/13/25 - 09:00 AM]
HBO Original Documentary "The Shuffle" Debuts November 25
The documentary is the first in a new series of short football films, made in partnership with NFL Films, and will debut in advance of the new season of "Hard Knocks: In Season with the NFC East."

[11/13/25 - 08:30 AM]
"Mad Men" Comes to HBO Max December 1
This marks the first time the series is available to stream in 4K, giving audiences and longtime fans the opportunity to enjoy the series' authentically-crafted elements with crisp detail and enhanced visual clarity.

[11/13/25 - 08:03 AM]
Star Designer Bobby Berk Turns Chaotic Collections Into Dream Digs in New HGTV Series "Junk or Jackpot?" Premiering Friday, Dec. 26, at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT
Executive produced by actor, wrestler and entrepreneur John Cena, the six-episode season will follow Bobby as he meets passionate people who are in desperate need of a life-changing renovation and will soon discover the hidden monetary value of their massive and unusual collections.

[11/13/25 - 08:00 AM]
Apple TV Unveils First Look and Premiere Date for All-New Wildlife Series "Born to be Wild"
Filmed over several years across three continents, the six-part documentary series follows six endangered young animals as they grow up in our world but are destined to return to theirs.