or


[03/17/09 - 06:27 PM]
Development Update: Tuesday, March 17
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!


HAPPY TOWN (ABC) - Sam Neill ("Crusoe") has joined the cast of the two-hour drama pilot, about a small town which had enjoyed a seven-year peace after a series of kidnappings until it is hit by another crime. He'll play the owner of a movie-paraphernalia shop in the ABC Studios-based project, which Gary Fleder is directing from a script by co-creators Andre Nemec, Josh Applebaum and Scott Rosenberg.


HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU (NBC, New!) - The Peacock is reportedly in talks with Hat Trick Productions to import the long-running U.K. panel show to the U.S. The series "features two teams of celebrities and newsmakers humorously trying to answer questions about current events and politics." Hat Trick's Jimmy Mulville is executive producing the project, which is said to be nearing a pilot commitment.


LIMELIGHT (ABC) - Noah Gray-Cabey ("Heroes"), Oded Fehr ("Sleeper Cell"), Jessy Schram ("Life") and singer Kyle Riabko have all joined the cast of the drama pilot, about the students and faculty at a performing arts school in New York. Gray-Cabey will play the school's music prodigy with Fehr as its larger-than-life and overbearing artistic director. Riabko and Schram then are set as aspiring young actors auditioning for the academy. David Semel is helming the Warner Bros. Television-based hour from a script by K.J. Steinberg.


MELROSE PLACE (The CW) - Jessica Lucas ("90210") is switching zip codes as the actress has joined the cast of The CW's "Melrose" revival. She'll play Riley Richmond, a wealthy and beautiful 24-year-old who works as an inner-city elementary school teacher. Her character is understood to be engaged to Jonah (Michael Rady) but has second thoughts about marrying him. Ashlee Simpson-Wentz and Katie Cassidy also star in the CBS Paramount Network Television-based hour, which Davis Guggenheim is helming off a script from co-creators Darren Swimmer and Todd Slavkin.


THE NAUGHTY KITCHEN (Oxygen) - The cable channel is reportedly close to ordering the Blythe Beck-led project to series. Code Entertainment and Authentic Pictures are behind the half-hour pilot, which follows the "brassy, ambitious five-star chef Beck and the colorful cast of characters at her upscale Dallas restaurant." Code's Larry Kennar and Rick Berg; Authentic's Lauren Lexton and Tom Rogan; and showrunners Brandy Menefree and Brad Hall are the executive producers.


THREE RIVERS (CBS) - "Moonlight" alum Alex O'Loughlin is in talks to join the cast of the drama pilot, which follows organ transplants as seen through the eyes of the doctors, the donors and the recipients involved. He's on track to play Dr. Andy Yablonski, "the workaholic head of the team of organ donor transplants who is separated from his wife and lives in a motel near the hospital." Carol Barbee is behind the project, which is set up at CBS Paramount Network Television.


UNTITLED JUSTIN ADLER PROJECT (NBC) - Nick D'Agosto ("Heroes") and Michael Rosenbaum ("Smallville") have both joined the cast of the comedy pilot, which revolves around a grown-up family. D'Agosto will play the youngest sibling, who brings his girlfriend to meet the family, while Rosenbaum is set as "the married middle sibling freaked out over his recently adopted baby." Justin Adler is behind the half-hour, which comes from the Sony Pictures Television-based Tantamount.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [march 2009]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· 90210 (CW)
· CRUSOE (NBC)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· HAPPY TOWN (ABC)
· HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU (TBS)
· HEROES (NBC)
· LIFE (NBC)
· LIMELIGHT (ABC)
· MELROSE PLACE (CW)
· MOONLIGHT (CBS)
· NAUGHTY KITCHEN WITH CHEF BLYTHE BECK, THE (OXYGEN)
· SLEEPER CELL (SHOWTIME)
· SMALLVILLE (CW)
· THREE RIVERS (CBS)
· UNTITLED JUSTIN ADLER PROJECT (NBC)





[01/14/26 - 12:02 PM]
NBC Will Now Offer a Special Premiere of "The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins" on Sunday, Jan. 18 Immediately Following Coverage of the NFL Playoff Game
The series will return on Monday, February 23 at 8 p.m. with an encore of the pilot and a new episode immediately following at 8:30 p.m. in its timeslot premiere.

[01/14/26 - 12:01 PM]
Ryan Hurst to Play Kratos in Prime Video's "God of War" from Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios
Hurst played Thor in PlayStation's "God of War Ragnarök," bringing established familiarity with the franchise to the role of Kratos.

[01/14/26 - 12:00 PM]
HBO Max and A24 Renew Multi-Year U.S. Pay-1 Output and Library Deal
As part of the agreement, HBO Max subscribers will also have access to a library of dozens of A24 films throughout the course of the deal.

[01/14/26 - 11:49 AM]
This Valentine's Day, Tubi's YA Original Film "Kissing Is the Easy Part" Premieres Exclusively on Tubi on February 13
The romantic comedy is directed by Fawzia Mirza and based on the popular Wattpad webnovel (currently at 31.9 million reads) of the same name by Christine Duann adapted by Rebecca Webb.

[01/14/26 - 11:32 AM]
Scott Speedman-Led Series "RJ Decker" to Premiere on ABC Tuesday, March 3, Streaming Next Day on Hulu
Season 8 of "The Rookie" shifts to Mondays at 10 p.m. starting January 26, following the highly anticipated season premiere of "American Idol."

[01/14/26 - 10:36 AM]
OWN Greenlights First-Ever "Belle Collective" Spinoff in 2026, Expanding the Franchise as Its #1 Friday Night Series Returns
The franchise spotlights dynamic women who embody the strength, ambition and pride of Black female entrepreneurship, redefining what it means to be a modern southern Belle who unapologetically carves her own path.

[01/14/26 - 09:01 AM]
BET's "The Coach Vick Experience," Executive Produced by NFL Legends Michael Vick, Michael Strahan, and Deion Sanders, Premieres February 4, 2026
The emotional, high-stakes docuseries follows Michael Vick as he returns home to Virginia for the biggest challenge of his life - stepping in as a first-time head coach tasked with reigniting Norfolk State's struggling football program.

[01/14/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Paul McCartney: Man on the Run" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
From Academy Award-winning director Morgan Neville, the film chronicles the arc of McCartney's solo career as he faces down a myriad of challenges while creating new music to define a new decade.

[01/14/26 - 08:31 AM]
Taylor Tomlinson Returns to Her Roots with Her Eagerly Anticipated New Netflix Comedy Special "Prodigal Daughter"
Tomlinson's fourth comedy special premieres globally on February 24, 2026, only on Netflix.

[01/14/26 - 08:31 AM]
Video: Apple TV Debuts Trailer for Season Two of Emmy Award-Nominated "Yo Gabba GabbaLand!"
Season two brings this group together with a new roster of musical guests to create dynamic performances and original songs to help kids and families uncover life lessons through music, movement and joyful discovery.

[01/14/26 - 08:30 AM]
TLC's "90 Day: The Single Life" Returns with Second Chances, Shocking Secrets, and New Romances
The new season follows singles on their journeys to romance, some of which lead to unexpected sparks between familiar 90 Day faces.

[01/14/26 - 08:01 AM]
Season Three of the HBO Original Drama Series "Euphoria" Debuts April 12
A group of childhood friends wrestle with the virtue of faith, the possibility of redemption, and the problem of evil.

[01/14/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "The Lincoln Lawyer" Season 4 - Official Trailer - Netflix
On trial for a murder he didn't commit, Mickey must face a relentless DA as he fights to prove his innocence, expose the real killer and save his firm.

[01/14/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "The Bluff" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
As her tranquil life is shattered by the return of her vengeful former captain, a skilled ex-pirate must confront her bloody past to save her family.

[01/14/26 - 06:29 AM]
"State of Fear", The First Spin-Off of a Netflix Brazil Production, Premieres February 11
Directed by Pedro Morelli and produced by O2 Filmes, the feature is the first spin-off of a Netflix Brazil series, "Brotherhood," created by Morelli.