 |
 |
[03/30/09 - 06:08 PM]
Development Update: Monday, March 30
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!
ACE IN THE HOLE (CBS) - Newcomers Skylar Astin and Darien Provost have joined the cast of the Adam Carolla-led comedy pilot, which stars Carolla as a husband and father who works as a driving instructor. Provost will play his nine-year son while Astin is set as his teenage stepson. Carolla and Kevin Hench co-created the half-hour, which is set up at CBS Paramount Network Television.
DIAMONDS (ABC, New!) - The Alphabet has picked up the broadcast rights to a new four-hour mini-series from Alchemy Television. The ensemble drama, featuring Judy Davis, James Purefoy, Derek Jacobi, Louise Rose and Joanne Kelly, tells five storylines linked to the "personal and political effects of the blood diamond trade on a global scale." Sienna Films is behind the $15 million production, which was originally filmed in South Africa and Canada for the CBC and the U.K. It's understood it will turn up here in late May following the sweeps period. As for specifics, Davis stars as "a U.S. senator who travels to Africa to find out why her daughter was killed at a diamond mine in Sierra Leone." Andy Wilson helmed the project from a script by David Vainola wrote.
HAPPINESS ISN'T EVERYTHING (CBS) - Mary Steenburgen ("Joan of Arcadia") is returning to the small screen, this time on the comedy front. She's been cast as Audrey Veill, the mother of Jason Biggs's character in the comedy pilot, about adult siblings (Biggs, Ben Schwartz) and their parents (Dreyfuss, Steenburgen) who are overly involved in one another's lives. James Vallely and Mitch Hurwitz are behind the project, which comes from the Sony Pictures Television-based Tantamount banner.
THE SHARK TANK (ABC) - The network has ordered seven episodes of the series, in which aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their business ventures to five multimillionaire tycoons each week. Mark Burnett is behind the project, which is based on a Japanese format. BBC America currently airs its U.K. incarnation, "The Dragon's Den." Production was completed on a pilot last fall, which featured such beefed up elements as "a huge auditorium and placing the investors behind an intimidating desk." Burnett however admits said changes took away from "the interpersonal tension between ambitious entrepreneurs struggling to convince five strangers to part with their money" and will now be dialed down. On board as "the sharks" then are Robert Herjavec (focus: internet), Kevin Harrington (infomercials), Barbara Corcoran (real estate), Kevin O'Leary (venture capitalist) and Daymond John (clothing). No air date has been set.
STATE OF ROMANCE (NBC) - "Mad TV" alum Bobby Lee has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, which is described as a modern day "Pride and Prejudice" set in Chicago. He'll play Andrew, an unspecified character. Barbara Wallace and Tom Wolfe are behind the half-hour, which is based at Universal Media Studios.
UNTITLED JUSTIN ADLER PROJECT (NBC) - Leslie Bibb ("Kings") and John Michael Higgins ("Kath & Kim") have both joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about adult siblings and their controlling mother. Bibb is set as Vanessa, the eldest child, a perfect domestic goddess. Higgins, whose casting is in second position to "Kath & Kim," then will play Charles, her husband, a wealthy professional polo player. Justin Adler penned the half-hour, which comes from the Sony Pictures Television-based Tantamount.
UNTITLED ANITA RENFROE PROJECT (ABC) - "The Drew Carey Show" alum Ryan Stiles is set to star opposite Anita Renfroe in the comedy pilot, about a couple raising kids. He'll play her husband Paul, the pastor of their town. Amy Welsh and Rob Hanning are behind the project, which likewise comes from the Sony Pictures Television-based Tantamount.
WAITING TO DIE (CBS) - T.J. Miller ("Carpoolers") and comedian Nick Thune have been tapped for the lead roles on the comedy pilot, about two simple guys who are happy with their lives - no matter how bad things might look from the outside. They'll play Lonnie Ponce and Jeff Helmut, respectively. Will Sasso and Chad Kultgen co-created the half-hour, which again comes from the ever-busy Sony Pictures Television-based Tantamount.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
|
|
|
 [march 2009]  |
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
[02/24/26 - 10:05 AM]
Ed Skrein Signs On to Play Baldur in Prime Video's "God of War" from Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios
Previously announced cast members include Ryan Hurst as Kratos, Callum Vinson as Atreus, Max Parker as Heimdall, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Thor, Teresa Palmer as Sif, Alastair Duncan as Mimir, Jeff Gulka as Sindri, Danny Woodburn as Brok, and Mandy Patinkin as Odin.
|
[02/24/26 - 10:04 AM]
Bravo Serves Fresh Peaches and Fierce Vibes as "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" Returns on Sunday, Apr. 5 at 8 P.M. ET/PT
Returning "housewives" include Porsha Williams, Phaedra Parks, Drew Sidora, Shamea Morton Mwangi, Angela Oakley and Kelli Ferrell.
|
[02/24/26 - 09:52 AM]
Presenters Announced for the "57th NAACP Image Awards"
NAACP also announced that iconic group Salt-N-Pepa and DJ Spindarella will be inducted into the esteemed NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame, presented by Tide, during this year's ceremony.
|
[02/24/26 - 09:39 AM]
2026 NAACP Image Award Nominated Series "Love & Marriage: Huntsville" Returns with New Episodes Starting March 7 on OWN
The series will continue to follow the lives of a group of longtime friends and frenemies from Huntsville, Alabama whose bold personalities, complicated relationships and business ambitions keep emotions running high.
|
[02/24/26 - 09:31 AM]
Netflix's "Untold" Returns with Four New Films
Premiering weekly, these gripping, character-driven stories feature raw, first-person perspectives from those at the heart of the action - revealing the determination, setbacks, and surprising truths that unfold behind the scenes.
|
[02/24/26 - 09:05 AM]
CBS Sports Reaches Agreement for Paramount+ to Become Exclusive U.S. English-Language Home of All Concacaf Women's Competitions Through 2030
Across four distinct competitions featuring club and national team matches, CBS Sports will present more than 250 games with every match on Paramount+ and select matches co-airing on CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo Network.
|
[02/24/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Great British Baking Show: Juniors" - Official Trailer - The Roku Channel
Host Harry Hill welcomes talented junior bakers to the iconic Baking Show tent, where judges Liam Charles and Ravneet Gill will crown Britain's best junior baker.
|
[02/24/26 - 09:01 AM]
Season Two of "Secrets Declassified with David Duchovny" Premieres March 17 on The History Channel
This season, Duchovny leads viewers through an examination of the highest intellect.
|
[02/24/26 - 09:01 AM]
Let's Go Bananas! ESPN and Disney+ to Deliver More Banana Ball Games Than Ever as Collaboration Expands
More than 15 additional games will air across ESPN networks, highlighted by a first-ever national showcase on ABC from Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon, one of the largest Banana Ball events ever staged.
|
[02/24/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "The Count of Monte Cristo" Official Trailer
Tune in for the broadcast premiere on Sunday, March 22 at 10:00/9:00c only on "Masterpiece" on PBS.
|
[02/24/26 - 08:00 AM]
Video: Paramount+ Debuts Official Trailer for "The Madison" Starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell
The six-episode debut season premieres globally on Saturday, March 14, with three episodes exclusively on the service.
|
[02/24/26 - 07:05 AM]
MGM+ Renews Hit Romantic Adventure Drama Series "Robin Hood" for Season Two
The 10-episode season will go into production at PFI Studios in Serbia this summer.
|
[02/24/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Pride and Prejudice" - Official Teaser - Netflix
Jane Austen's beloved classic returns in a faithful adaptation by Dolly Alderton, starring Emma Corrin as Elizabeth Bennet and Jack Lowden as Mr Darcy.
|
[02/24/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: Apple TV Debuts Trailer for Season Five of "For All Mankind"
The 10-episode fifth season will make its global debut on Apple TV with one episode on Friday, March 27, followed by one new episode every Friday through May 29.
|
[02/24/26 - 06:31 AM]
"That Thrifting Show with Lara Spencer" Premieres on Freeform and Hulu
The series premieres Thursday, March 19, at 9 p.m. EDT on Freeform, with the first six episodes available to stream on Hulu the next day.
|
|
|
|
