or


[08/04/09 - 08:09 PM]
Development Update: Tuesday, August 4
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!


AMERICAN IDOL (FOX) - Paula Abdul has departed the ratings juggernaut after eight seasons. The judge broke the news herself via her Twitter account: "With sadness in my heart, I've decided not to return to #IDOL... I'll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all... being a part of a show that I helped from day 1become an international phenomenon." FOX, FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment subsequent released a statement saying, "Paula Abdul has been an important part of the 'American Idol' family over the last eight seasons and we are saddened that she has decided not to return to the show. While Paula will not be continuing with us, she's a tremendous talent and we wish her the best." Said development spells the end of protracted negotiations between Abdul and the producers. Kara DioGuardi closed her deal yesterday while fellow judges Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson had already been under contract for season nine.


CRIMINAL MINDS (CBS) - D.B. Sweeney has booked a six-episode arc on the upcoming season of the series, executive producer Ed Bernero tells Entertainment Weekly. "He's playing a U.S. Marshal who's brought in to help with a big [case] that arcs through the first part of the season," Bernero said. "He's a contemporary of our team and knows several members of our team really well."


GAME OF THRONES (HBO) - Jennifer Ehle is the latest addition to the drama pilot, an adaptation of the George R.R. Martin fantasy-book series. She'll play Catelyn Stark, "Ned Stark's (Sean Bean) wife who originally was betrothed to Ned's older brother. When the older brother was killed, she fulfilled her duty by marrying Ned and securing the alliance between their two houses." Production on the pilot is set to begin in October.


RITA ROCKS (Lifetime) - "Pushing Daisies" alum Swoosie Kurtz has landed a recurring role on the show's second season. She'll play the mother of the title character (Nicole Sullivan) in an unspecified number of episodes.


YOU DON'T KNOW JACK (HBO) - Oscar-nominee Brenda Vaccaro ("Once Is Not Enough") is the latest addition to Barry Levinson's biopic of Jack Kevorkian (Al Pacino). She'll play the Jack's doting sister, Margo Janus. Danny Huston, John Goodman and Susan Sarandon also star.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [august 2009]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· AMERICAN IDOL (ABC)
· CRIMINAL MINDS (CBS)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· GAME OF THRONES (HBO)
· PUSHING DAISIES (ABC)
· RITA ROCKS (LIFETIME)
· YOU DON'T KNOW JACK (HBO)





[11/19/25 - 04:01 PM]
Video: "The Price of Confession" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A mystery thriller about Yun-su, a woman accused of murdering her husband, and Mo Eun, a mysterious woman called a witch, and the secrets between them.

[11/19/25 - 01:52 PM]
Video: "Everybody Loves Raymond: 30th Anniversary Reunion" Premiere Preview
The 90-minute special, hosted by Emmy Award-winning actor Ray Romano and series creator Phil Rosenthal, looks back on the timeless show, which premiered on September 13, 1996, and aired for nine seasons on CBS.

[11/19/25 - 01:00 PM]
HBO Original Comedy Special "Sarah Squirm: Live + In the Flesh" Debuts December 12
Sarah Sherman's unholy alter ego, Sarah Squirm, slithers onto your screen in her first stand-up comedy special.

[11/19/25 - 12:31 PM]
Next on Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN - December 2025
Highlights include season two of "Percy Jackson and the Olympians"; the original film "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw"; and the premiere of "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The End of an Era."

[11/19/25 - 12:26 PM]
MLB Forms New Three-Year Media Rights Agreements with ESPN, NBCUniversal and Netflix
FOX/FS1, TBS, Apple TV, and MLB Network will continue their existing packages.

[11/19/25 - 12:26 PM]
ESPN, Major League Baseball Reach Innovative New Agreement Featuring Significant Collection of National and Local Rights
ESPN to produce new exclusive package of 30 regular season games for its linear networks and direct-to-consumer offering.

[11/19/25 - 12:24 PM]
Major League Baseball Returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026 with Three-Year Media Rights Partnership Featuring Extensive Exclusivity
"Sunday Night Baseball" on NBC/Peacock now joins NBC Sports' presentations of "Sunday Night Football" (NFL) and "Sunday Night Basketball" (NBA) to deliver year-round primetime sports programming on the same night each week - a broadcast network first.

[11/19/25 - 12:01 PM]
MLB on Netflix Live in 2026: Opening Night, the T-Mobile Home Run Derby, and Field of Dreams
From 2026 to 2028, Netflix will kick off each MLB season with a singular game on Opening Night, the evening prior to a full slate of traditional Opening Day matchups.

[11/19/25 - 11:03 AM]
Romantic Drama Series "Heated Rivalry" Debuts November 28 on HBO Max
New episodes of the six-episode season will debut weekly leading up to the finale on Friday, December 26.

[11/19/25 - 11:01 AM]
Comedy Central Announces "The Daily Show Presents: Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse: Give the Man a Prize"
The latest special is set to premiere directly after "The Daily Show" on Monday, December 8 at 11:30pm ET/PT and will be available on Paramount+, "The Daily Show's" YouTube Channel, and VOD starting December 9.

[11/19/25 - 11:00 AM]
Maria Zuckerman Enters Into Multi-Year First-Look Producing Deal with FOX Entertainment Studios to Develop Slate of Premium Scripted Content and Prestige Non-Fiction
An Emmy Award-winning producer and respected industry leader, Zuckerman is known for her ability to identify and champion brand-defining stories and talent that balance artistic excellence with commercial success.

[11/19/25 - 11:00 AM]
AMC Networks' December Highlights Include "Sanctuary: A Witch's Tale," "Midsomer Murders," "Bridezillas," "Best Christmas Ever" and More
"Sanctuary: A Witch's Tale" returns Thursday, December 25 with new episodes through January 29.

[11/19/25 - 09:18 AM]
Peacock Announces January 15 Premiere Date for "Ponies"
The espionage thriller series starring Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson will premiere on Thursday, January 15.

[11/19/25 - 09:05 AM]
The CW Network Sets 2026 Midseason Premiere Dates for Returning Hit Series
Highlights include the season premiere of "Wild Cards" on Monday, January 26 at 8:00/7:00c.

[11/19/25 - 09:02 AM]
Video: "Stargate" Announcement - Prime Video
Amazon MGM Studios has greenlit a new "Stargate" series for Prime Video.