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[03/30/09 - 06:08 PM]
Development Update: Monday, March 30
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC) |
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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
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[03/24/25 - 10:31 AM]
Caitlin Clark Joins Netflix's "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman" on April 8
In 26 episodes across five seasons, "My Next Guest" has featured notables including Barack Obama, Tina Fey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, JAY-Z, Robert Downey Jr., Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Dave Chappelle, Miley Cyrus, and Billie Eilish.
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[03/24/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Pangolin: Kulu's Journey" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A man finds new purpose when he helps rescue a baby pangolin, one of the most trafficked animals in the world, in a sting operation in South Africa.
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[03/24/25 - 09:00 AM]
Video: Trailer & Key Art Debut - Hulu's "Got to Get Out"
Hosted by Simu Liu, all eight episodes premiere Friday, April 11 on Hulu.
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[03/24/25 - 09:00 AM]
Video: Prime Video Releases Official Trailer for the Captivating New Docuseries "Spy High"
All four binge-worthy episodes will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide on April 8.
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[03/24/25 - 08:50 AM]
"Project Runway" Icons Christian Siriano & Nina Garcia Join Heidi Klum on the Emmy-Award Winning Reality Competition Series, Alongside New Judge & Fashion Trailblazer Law Roach
Production begins today on the new season and will air this summer on Disney+, Hulu and Freeform.
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[03/24/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Andor" - Official Trailer - Final Season Streaming April 22 on Disney+
Welcome to the rebellion.
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[03/24/25 - 08:00 AM]
Blake Shelton, Eric Church, and Lainey Wilson Kick-Off Performance Rollout for Milestone 60th Academy of Country Music Awards
Hosted by Reba McEntire, the 60th ACM Awards will stream live exclusively for a global audience across 240+ countries and territories on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch on Thursday, May 8.
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[03/24/25 - 07:47 AM]
ESPN Begins 36th Season of Major League Baseball Coverage with Opening Day Doubleheader and 2025 "Sunday Night Baseball" Debut
Both of ESPN's MLB Opening Day games will also be available for the first time on ESPN+ and Disney+.
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[03/24/25 - 07:13 AM]
Video: ESPN Unveils Newest "Georgia on My Mind" Rendition for the Masters Tournament Featuring 2x Grammy Nominated, Multi-Platinum Singer-Songwriter Noah Kahan
This is ESPN's sixth rendition of the hit 1960s song "Georgia on My Mind" by Ray Charles to be used in its annual marketing campaign leading up its coverage of the prestigious event.
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[03/24/25 - 06:00 AM]
Video: Disney+ Unveils Otherworldly New "Doctor Who" Season Two Trailer
The Doctor meets Belinda Chandra and begins an epic quest to get her back to Earth.
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[03/23/25 - 09:59 PM]
First Look Photos from "Conan O'Brien: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor" Premiering Sunday, May 4 Only on Netflix
Comedy's biggest stars gather to toast and celebrate late-night legend Conan O'Brien as he accepts the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
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[03/23/25 - 06:37 PM]
"When Calls the Heart" Will Return for Season 13
The network confirms they'll see you back in Hope Valley in 2026.
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[03/23/25 - 06:07 PM]
Video: ESPN Announces Jonas Brothers' "I Can't Lose" to Be Opening Day & "Sunday Night Baseball" Anthem for 2025 MLB season
The song will be used as ESPN's season-long anthem for all "Sunday Night Baseball" promotions, featured across the broadcasts and weekly tune-in commercials.
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[03/23/25 - 05:01 PM]
Video: "When Life Gives You Tangerines" - Volume 4 Trailer - Netflix
In Jeju, a spirited girl and a steadfast boy's island story blossoms into a lifelong tale of setbacks and triumphs - proving love endures across time.
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[03/21/25 - 08:11 PM]
From Cosmic Adventures to Charming Tales: Netflix Showcases AnimeJapan 2025 Highlights
Highlights include new trailers for "The Summer Hikaru Died" and "Moonrise."
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