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)





[07/02/25 - 03:04 PM]
ABC News Announces "Verdict: The Diddy Trial," Airing Wednesday, July 2, at 10 P.M. on ABC, Streaming Next Day on Hulu
A verdict has been reached in the trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs, who has been found guilty on two of five counts.

[07/02/25 - 02:38 PM]
Hallmark Channel Earns #1 Most-Watched Network on Weekends Throughout June with "Passport to Love" Programming Event
"Passport to Love" helped elevate Hallmark Channel to be the #1 most-watched network on weekends throughout the month of June.

[07/02/25 - 11:52 AM]
ESPN "Sunday Night Baseball Presented by Capital One" Schedule Update: American League Leading Detroit Tigers to Visit Texas Rangers on July 20
Through 14 games, "Sunday Night Baseball" is averaging 1,750,000 million viewers, up 11 percent from last year.

[07/02/25 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "Trainwreck: Storm Area 51" - Official Teaser - Netflix
The stranger-than-fiction story of the greatest meme ever made.

[07/02/25 - 10:00 AM]
First Look - "Big Brother: A Summer of Mystery" Unlocks a Season of Secrets When Houseguests Enter "The Hotel Mystere"
In a season full of surprises, the premiere will be filled with unexpected twists and turns including a masked visitor, a secret accomplice and the shocking arrival of a "Mystery Houseguest" whose identity will remain under wraps... at least for now.

[07/02/25 - 09:00 AM]
"The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder" Season Three Drops August 6 on Disney+
Ahead of the summer debut, the series has also been renewed for a fourth season, coming to Disney+ in 2026.

[07/02/25 - 08:12 AM]
ESPN Original Series "The Fight Life" Returns for Season Two on July 7
After each episode's debut, "The Fight Life" will also air across ESPN's linear platforms.

[07/02/25 - 07:09 AM]
Apple's Sci-Fi Drama "Invasion" to Return for Season Three on August 22
The 10-episode third season will make its global return on Friday, August 22 on Apple TV+ with one episode, followed by one new episode weekly, every Friday through October 24.

[07/02/25 - 06:12 AM]
"South Park's" 27th Season Premiere Moves to Wednesday, July 23rd at 10:00pm ET/PT on Comedy Central
The show's social media accounts confirmed the news this morning.

[07/02/25 - 05:06 AM]
Video: Trailer Released for ESPN's "Fanatics Fest: All Access" Special
From June 20-22, Fanatics Fest drove more than 125,000 fans to the Javits Center in New York City, captivating all in attendance and taking over social feeds throughout the three-day event.

[07/02/25 - 04:00 AM]
Roku Will Live-Stream Viral Sensation Savannah Bananas' Banana Ball World Tour Game from Fenway Park
Roku viewers will see the Savannah Bananas take on the Firefighters at historic Fenway Park on Sunday, July 6, at 3:30 PM ET, exclusively streaming on The Roku Channel's Roku Sports Channel in the U.S.

[07/01/25 - 07:01 PM]
Video: "Low Life" - Official Trailer - Disney+
Outlaws. Opportunists. One deadly chase. Who will sink, and who will score?

[07/01/25 - 04:01 PM]
Video: "Glass Heart" Main Trailer and Title Song Revealed
This summer, Netflix presents a harmonious blend of emotion and music.

[07/01/25 - 02:48 PM]
FX's "The Bear" Renewed for Season Five
Christopher Storer's Emmy-award winning hit will return in 2026.

[07/01/25 - 02:25 PM]
Emmy Winner Michael Imperioli Set to Star Opposite Patrick Dempsey in New FOX Drama Series "Memory of a Killer," from Warner Bros. Television and FOX Entertainment
The new drama series is scheduled to premiere midseason on FOX.