or


[09/15/09 - 06:28 PM]
Development Update: Tuesday, September 15
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!


THE BLACK PANTHERS/IDA TARBELL (HBO, New!) - Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Films is developing a pair of historical mini-series at the pay channel. First up is "Ida Tarbell," about the life of the journalist who exposed the unfair practices of John D. Rockefeller and his Standard Oil monopoly. Mimosa Jones ("Wild Card") is writing the script. Also in the works is "The Black Panthers," a look at the inner circle of the 1960s movement based on David Hilliard's "Huey: Spirit of the Panther" and Elaine Brown's "A Taste of Power: A Black Woman's Story." Carl Franklin ("Devil in a Blue Dress") is attached to write and direct the project. Both efforts will be executive produced by Winfrey and Harpo's Kate Forte. Franklin, Jesse B. Franklin, Cecil Cox and Craig Rice are also attached as executive producers on "Panthers."


DOLLHOUSE (FOX) - "Reaper" alum Ray Wise has booked an arc on the sophomore drama. He'll play Howard, "an intelligent higher-up in the Dollhouse who has huge presence and humor," Entertainment Weekly reports. It's not clear when his first episode will air. Wise joins previously announced guests Jamie Bamber, Keith Carradine, Alexis Denisoff, and Summer Glau on the show's new season, due on Friday, September 25 at 9:00/8:00c.


HANK (ABC) - Jordan Hinson ("Eureka") has joined the cast of the freshman comedy, set to launch on Wednesday, September 30 at 8:00/7:00c. She'll play Maddie, the daughter of Kelsey Grammer's character. Hinson is the third actress attached to said role: Macey Cruthird played Maddie in the original pilot only to be replaced by Sasha Pieterse back in July. Hinson was subsequently brought in after producers decided to age the Maddie character. In addition, Andrew D. Weyman ("Roommates") was tapped to helm the new pilot, which was filmed last month. James Burrows directed the original pilot.


PARENTHOOD (NBC) - Oscar- and Emmy-winner Helen Hunt reportedly has been offered the role of Maura Tierney's character on the midseason drama. Last week Tierney announced she could not participate on the freshman drama due to her breast cancer treatment. The series revolves around four adult siblings (including Peter Krause, Erika Christensen and Dax Shepard) and their parents (Bonnie Bedelia and Craig T. Nelson). Jason Katims is behind the Universal Media Studios-based project and is executive producing alongside Ron Howard and Brian Grazer.


SINS OF THE MOTHER (LMN, New!) - Jill Scott ("The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency") has been tapped to star in the original movie, about "a grad student who returns home to face her abusive, alcoholic mother only to discover that her mom is sober and has a 3-year-old daughter and new life." Scott would play the mother in the project, which is based on Carleen Brice's book "Orange Mint and Honey." Paul Kaufman is directing the project from a script by Elizabeth Hunter with Damon Lee executive producing for Mother Road Productions. Production is set to begin this week.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [september 2009]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· BLACK PANTHERS, THE (HBO)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· DOLLHOUSE (FOX)
· EUREKA (SYFY)
· HANK (ABC)
· IDA TARBELL (HBO)
· NO. 1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENCY, THE (HBO)
· PARENTHOOD (NBC)
· REAPER (CW)
· SINS OF THE MOTHER (LMN)
· WILD CARD (LIFETIME)





[03/24/26 - 05:17 PM]
Production Begins on "The Koreans" - A Reimagining of the Critically Acclaimed FX Series "The Americans"
The series will stream exclusively on Disney+ internationally and on Hulu in the United States.

[03/24/26 - 04:31 PM]
Video: "Straight to Hell" - Official Trailer - Netflix
As Japan's most famous fortune teller, Kazuko Hosoki ruled TV and bestseller lists, but who was she behind rumors of spiritual scams and underworld ties?

[03/24/26 - 04:01 PM]
Video: "Humint" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A South Korean agent hunts a drug ring in Russia and goes head-to-head with a North Korean operative - pulling both into peril and tangled secrets.

[03/24/26 - 01:55 PM]
Video: "When Hope Calls: Brookfield" - Season 3 - Trailer - Premieres April 5 on Great American Family
As Brookfield embraces a hopeful new chapter filled with growing dreams and new ventures, the community grows stronger together.

[03/24/26 - 01:01 PM]
Bravo Renews "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" for 15th Season
Teresa Giudice, Dolores Catania, and Melissa Gorga, will begin filming soon.

[03/24/26 - 01:00 PM]
What's New on HBO Max This April
Catch the debut of the fifth and final season of "Hacks"; a new season of "Euphoria"; and the original limited series "Half Man."

[03/24/26 - 12:52 PM]
Video: "SisterS" - Season 2 Official Trailer - Premieres April 22 on Acorn TV
The series returns with an all-new season April 22 on Acorn TV.

[03/24/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of March 16 - The Wait Is Over as "BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE" Ignites at No. 1
Holding steady at No. 1 on the English TV list is "One Piece" Season 2 with 11.1 million views.

[03/24/26 - 12:01 PM]
Paramount+ Renews "School Spirits" for a Fourth Season
All three seasons are now streaming on Paramount+ in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, Latin America, and Brazil.

[03/24/26 - 11:21 AM]
Tubi Announces New Original YA Thriller-Mystery Film "Remember Me" Based on Bestselling Novel by Christopher Pike
Based on the popular novel of the same name by Christopher Pike, the film joins Tubi's rapidly growing slate of programming targeting a new generation of young audiences.

[03/24/26 - 11:01 AM]
Netflix Casts Paul Walter Hauser in the Live-Action "Scooby-Doo" Series
Previously announced cast includes Mckenna Grace as Daphne Blake; Tanner Hagen as "Shaggy Rogers; Abby Ryder Fortson as Velma Dinkley; and Maxwell Jenkins as Fred Jones.

[03/24/26 - 10:02 AM]
BTS Commands the Global Stage As "BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE - ARIRANG" Draws 18.4 Million Global Viewers
The live broadcast from Seoul's historic Gwanghwamun Square reached the weekly Top 10 in 80 countries and secured the #1 spot in 24 countries.

[03/24/26 - 10:01 AM]
Netflix's "Nobody Wants This": Season 3 Starts Production in Los Angeles
Returning series regulars include Kristen Bell, Adam Brody, Justine Lupe, Timothy Simons and Jackie Tohn.

[03/24/26 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "Widow's Bay" - Official Sneak Peek - Welcome to Widow's Bay - Apple TV
A new series starring Matthew Rhys from creator Katie Dippold and director Hiro Murai.

[03/24/26 - 09:31 AM]
OWN's Expands the "Belle Collective" Franchise with "Belle Collective: Birmingham" Premiering on Friday, April 10
The new series will debut immediately following "Belle Collective" on April 10 and the show's season finale on April 17, before moving into the 8pm ET/PT timeslot beginning Friday, April 24.