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[04/09/09 - 06:02 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, April 9
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!
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
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[09/04/26 - 01:31 PM]
Peacock Greenlights New Competition Series "Get Me Out of Here" (wt) Co-Hosted by Maura Higgins and Rob Rausch
An updated and amped-up take on the massive global format "I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!" the series is set in a dense and unforgiving jungle, pairing celebrities with a non-famous friend or family member in the ultimate test of friendship.
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[09/04/26 - 11:49 AM]
ABC News Wins Friday Night and Late Night
"20/20" posted double-digit gains week to week in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49, hitting 6-week highs in both measures.
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[09/04/26 - 10:01 AM]
Apple TV's Hit Drama "Silo" to Return for Fourth and Final Season on July 9, 2027
The complete third season of the acclaimed world-building drama starring and executive produced by Rebecca Ferguson is now streaming on Apple TV.
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[09/04/26 - 08:01 AM]
Production Underway in Prague for Netflix Series Based on Dan Brown's "The Secret of Secrets"
Newly announced cast includes Mamadou Athie, Ben Levi Ross, Anamaria Marinca, Richard Sammel, and Elena Saurel.
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[09/04/26 - 08:00 AM]
Paramount+ Celebrates Mexican Independence Day Weekend with Combat Sports Doubleheader on Saturday, September 12
The wall-to-wall action kicks off with Noche UFC: Silva vs. Delgado at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT.
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[09/04/26 - 03:31 AM]
Video: "Schumacher '94 - The Birth of a Legend" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Michael Schumacher's first World Championship win roars to life through personal interviews and archival footage of the legendary 1994 Formula 1 season.
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[09/03/26 - 03:15 PM]
Brutal Murder Inspired by Horror Film Is First Original ABC News Video Podcast to Premiere Exclusively on Disney+ and Hulu Sept. 4
Based on the Hulu documentary, the six-part series - with new, never-before-seen material and hosted by the producers of the original documentary, Pat Rogers and Conor McCarthy - takes viewers deeper into the slaying of Idaho teenager Cassie Stoddart by killers influenced by a horror film.
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[09/03/26 - 02:31 PM]
FOX Greenlights "Mammoth," A New Comedy Series from Emmy Award-Winning "Modern Family" Co-Creator/Executive Producer Christopher Lloyd and Executive Producer/Writer Danny Zuker
Based on the original BBC Studios U.K. production of the same name and created by Welsh comedian and writer Mike Bubbins, "Mammoth" is produced by FOX Entertainment Studios.
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[09/03/26 - 02:01 PM]
"Famous Last Words" Honors the Life and Legacy of Gloria Steinem
Conducted by Emmy Award winner Brad Falchuk in February 2025, the episode captures Steinem not just as a media spokeswoman, but as a lifelong traveler on the road to justice.
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[09/03/26 - 01:32 PM]
Video: Abbott House Rock - "Abbott Elementary" Season 6
No such thing as too cool for school(house).
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[09/03/26 - 01:01 PM]
Netflix Expands Broadcast Team for First-Ever Regular Season NFL Game in Australia
The studio desk and in-game broadcast team will also return across Netflix's entire 2026-2027 NFL slate, with more names to come.
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[09/03/26 - 11:03 AM]
Kevin Zegers, Paul Gross, and Milla Jovovich Join the Cast of "Heated Rivalry" Season 2
And the crowd goes crazy.
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[09/03/26 - 11:03 AM]
Video: "R.J. Decker" Season 2 - Official Trailer - Premieres September 15
The stakes are higher and the cases are weirder, but R.J. Decker is just getting started.
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[09/03/26 - 10:10 AM]
"Gold Rush" - New Season Premieres Friday, October 2 on Discovery Channel
As soaring gold prices attract a new wave of fortune seekers to the Yukon, mining veterans and ambitious newcomers alike risk everything in pursuit of life-changing riches.
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[09/03/26 - 10:08 AM]
Deliciously Deceptive Desserts Hide in Plain Sight in New Food Network Series "Sweet Deceit" Hosted by Josh Peck
The series is hosted by actor Josh Peck, who hilariously commands the on-screen hijinks as he leads contestants through four rounds as they try to identify masterfully disguised sweets created by world-class cake artists.
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