or


[04/09/09 - 06:02 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, April 9
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!


DAY ONE (NBC)/INSIDE THE BOX (ABC) - Xander Berkeley has booked recurring roles on both pilots. On the former he'll play Clark Christiansen, the father of Addison Timlin's character, who's injured in an explosion. The project, from Jesse Alexander and Universal Media Studios, revolves around the residents of an apartment complex who bind together after a cataclysmic event. On "Box," he's set as Fred O'Brien, the Washington Bureau Chief of NNC, the show's fictional cable news network. Richard E. Robbins created the ABC Studios-based hour, which also comes from executive producers Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers.


EASTBOUND & DOWN (HBO) - The pay channel has commissioned a second season of the comedy series, which will begin production later this year for a 2010 premiere. The series opened to modest 671,000 viewers on February 15, eventually climbing to 950,000 viewers on March 15 and closing its freshman season with 904,000 viewers on March 22. Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, Chris Henchy, Jody Hill, Danny McBride and Ben Best are the executive producers.


LIGHTS OUT (FX) - Melora Hardin, Elias Koteas and Kevin Conway have all joined the cast of the drama pilot, about Patrick "Lights Out" Leary (Holt McCallany), "an aging former heavyweight boxing champion who struggles to find his identity and support his wife and three daughters after his fighting days are over." Hardin will play his wife, Theresa Leary, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon. Conway then is set as Robert Leary, Patrick's father and former trainer, a widower who still runs a gym, while Koteas is playing Clay Tarpin, Patrick's boyhood friend who is his manager/business partner. Clark Johnson has also signed on to direct the hour, which comes from creator Justin Zackham, Fox TV Studios and FX Productions. Phillip Noyce and Ross Fineman also serve as executive producers.


PRISON BREAK (FOX) - TVShowsonDVD.com is reporting 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment will release the final two installments of the series directly to DVD on July 21. Sister company 20th Century Fox Television ordered the episodes back in November, in addition to the two-hour series finale, which airs Friday, May 15 on FOX. Billed, "Prison Break: The Final Break," the single-disc release is detailed as follows: "The shocking series conclusion was just the beginning. Secrets revealed and mysteries solved. The truth will blow you away."


RONNA & BEVERLY (Showtime) - The cable channel has passed on the comedy pilot, about two middle-aged Jewish women (Jessica Chaffin, Jamie Denbo) who tirelessly promote their book, a dating guide for Jewish singles. Lionsgate Television was behind the half-hour, which was penned by Chaffin, Denbo and Jenji Kohan. Paul Feig was the director. It's understood the studio will shop the project to other outlets. Showtime passed on fellow entries "The End of Steve" and "The L Word" spin-off "The Farm" last week, leaving Tim Robbins's drama "Possible Side Effects" as the only pilot still awaiting its fate.


UNTITLED DAVID HEMINGSON PROJECT (ABC) - Noa Tishby ("Ghosts of Girlfriends Past") has been tapped to guest star on the drama pilot, about four young lawyers at one of L.A.'s most prestigious law firms. Her role however wasn't specified. Michael Fresco is helming the 20th Century Fox Television-based hour from a script by David Hemingson.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [april 2009]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· DAY ONE (NBC)
· DEEP END, THE (ABC)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· EASTBOUND & DOWN (HBO)
· END OF STEVE, THE (SHOWTIME)
· INSIDE THE BOX (ABC)
· L WORD, THE (SHOWTIME)
· LIGHTS OUT (FX)
· POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS (SHOWTIME)
· PRISON BREAK (FOX)
· RONNA & BEVERLY (SHOWTIME)
· UNTITLED L WORD SPIN-OFF PROJECT (SHOWTIME)





[03/31/26 - 10:13 AM]
BET Experience FanFest Tickets Now on Sale for June 25-27 in Los Angeles
General admission is free, and VIP tickets are available now at betexperience.com.

[03/31/26 - 10:01 AM]
Netflix's "Age of Attraction" Gets Second Shot at Love with Season 2 Renewal
Season 1 debuted in the Netflix English TV Top 10, where it has remained since its release, reaching the Top 10 in 26 countries.

[03/31/26 - 09:50 AM]
TNT Sports to Serve Up Banana Ball this Summer on truTV & HBO Max
TNT Sports will showcase 15 Banana Ball games this summer on truTV and HBO Max, presented by Tropical Smoothie Cafe, beginning Friday, May 8 at Truist Park - home of the Atlanta Braves - when the Savannah Bananas face the Party Animals as part of the Banana Ball World Tour.

[03/31/26 - 09:00 AM]
HBO Max and Warner Bros. Television Partner with Alamo Drafthouse to Host Nationwide Healthcare Appreciation Screenings for "The Pitt" Season 2 Finale
Screenings will take place on Monday, April 13, at select Alamo Drafthouse locations nationwide.

[03/31/26 - 08:31 AM]
Netflix to Stream "The 51st AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Eddie Murphy" on May 31
The award will be presented to Murphy at a Gala Tribute at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on April 18, 2026.

[03/31/26 - 08:02 AM]
Video: Miss Mary Bennet Takes the Floor - BritBox Debuts Official Trailer and Key Art for "The Other Bennet Sister," Premiering May 6
The 10-episode series will debut with three episodes, followed by a weekly episodic rollout.

[03/31/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Son-In-Law" - Official Trailer - Netflix
José Sánchez becomes a feared political operator after a rough patch, but this time neither his memorable mustache nor his sharp tongue will be enough.

[03/31/26 - 08:00 AM]
First Look: Hulu Original Series "Alice and Steve," Starring Jemaine Clement & Nicola Walker
Alice is devastated when her best friend Steve starts dating her 26-year-old daughter Izzy.

[03/31/26 - 08:00 AM]
Video: Prime Video Drops Official Trailer for the Iconic Competition Series "American Gladiators" Featuring Original Music from Jelly Roll
The first three episodes of the series will premiere on Friday, April 17, 2026, on Prime Video, followed by three new episodes releasing Friday April 24, and the final four episodes releasing on Friday May 1.

[03/31/26 - 07:31 AM]
Video: "Noah Kahan: Out of Body" - Official Trailer - Netflix
After rocketing to global fame, singer-songwriter Noah Kahan faces the pressure of what comes next.

[03/31/26 - 07:00 AM]
Beyond the Headlines: Award-Winning Documentary "One Golden Summer" - The Story of Brotherhood, Resilience, and the Jackie Robinson West Champions Premieres on TBS and OWN
In the summer of 2014, a group of boys from the South Side of Chicago did the impossible: they captured the hearts of a nation, becoming the first all-Black team to win the U.S. Little League Championship.

[03/31/26 - 07:00 AM]
Video: Prime Video Debuts Official Trailer for "Jerry West: The Logo"
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Kenya Barris in his documentary debut, "Jerry West: The Logo" will premiere April 16, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

[03/31/26 - 06:01 AM]
"Avatar: The Last Airbender" Season Two Returns June 25 on Netflix
After a bittersweet victory saving the Northern Water Tribe from the invading Fire Nation, Avatar Aang (Gordon Cormier), Katara (Kiawentiio) and Sokka (Ian Ousley) regroup and set off on a mission to convince the elusive Earth King to aid in their battle against fearsome Fire Lord Ozai (Daniel Dae Kim).

[03/31/26 - 06:01 AM]
HBO, NFL Films, and the Reigning Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks Announce "Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Seattle Seahawks," Debuting August 11
Looking ahead, the New England Patriots, Super Bowl LX runner-up and six-time champions, will be the show's featured training camp team in August 2027.

[03/31/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: Apple TV's "Cape Fear" Unveils Teaser for New Psychological Horror Thriller
The 10-episode limited series will make its global debut on Friday, June 5, 2026 with the first two episodes, followed by new episodes every Friday through July 31, 2026 on Apple TV.