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)





[11/12/25 - 12:02 PM]
"The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins" Anchors NBC's Midseason Lineup
The series, from creators Robert Carlock and Sam Means, will debut with a one-hour premiere on Monday, February 23 at 8 p.m. ET/PT before moving to its regular timeslot the following week on Monday, March 2 at 8:30 p.m.

[11/12/25 - 12:01 PM]
TLC Sets January Premiere Date for Three-Part Docuseries Unpacking Allegations Against "The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" Star Mary Cosby and Her Church
"The Cult of the Real Housewife" will premiere Thursday, January 1 from 8-11PM ET/PT on TLC.

[11/12/25 - 12:01 PM]
Video: Trailer Debut - "Little Disasters" with Diane Kruger Premieres December 11 on Paramount+
The six-part psychological thriller adapted from the bestselling novel by Sarah Vaughan will premiere all episodes on Thursday, December 11, exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., Canada, GSA, Italy and Latin America.

[11/12/25 - 12:00 PM]
"The Family McMullen," Starring Edward Burns, Connie Britton, and Tracee Ellis Ross, Debuts December 5 on HBO Max
30 years after Edward Burns' "The Brothers McMullen" wowed critics and audiences with its exploration of the lives and struggles of three Irish American brothers from Long Island, New York, the family returns in the long-awaited follow-up.

[11/12/25 - 10:02 AM]
Season Two of the HBO Original Late-Night Comedy Series "It's Florida, Man." Debuts November 28
Featuring candid accounts from everyday Floridians playfully recreated by a rotating cast of actors and comedians, this hilarious and irreverent series sheds light on the viral, wacky, and weird. With equal parts humor and heart.

[11/12/25 - 10:01 AM]
Derek Hough to Host "The Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular" Airing Monday, Dec. 1, on ABC and Next Day on Hulu and Disney+
Featured performers include Gwen Stefani, Nicole Scherzinger, Trisha Yearwood, and more.

[11/12/25 - 09:31 AM]
Netflix Announces Michelle Monaghan Is Hitting the Ice in a New Hockey Series
For the town of South Dorothy, Minnesota, hockey is everything - until a tragic loss knocks the legs out from under the high school's legendary team.

[11/12/25 - 08:54 AM]
Here's Your First Look at "Living the Dream": A New Netflix Animated Workplace Sitcom from George Gendi and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe
Starring George Gendi, Javone Prince, Julia Davis, Tom Stourton, Ellie White, Ambika Mod, Chris Diamontopoulos, Stavros Halkias, and more.

[11/12/25 - 08:51 AM]
TNT Sports Announces Start Times for 2026 NASCAR In-Season Challenge Races, Starting on Sunday, June 28
Highlights of the In-Season Challenge include three Sunday races under the lights.

[11/12/25 - 08:31 AM]
Video: "Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within" - Official Trailer - Netflix
In this joyful short documentary, children at a Ugandan orphanage find healing, spread hope and achieve global acclaim - one viral dance video at a time.

[11/12/25 - 08:27 AM]
ABC Scores Top Game of the Week for the 10th Straight Week; "College GameDay" Posts Week 11 Growth and Record Season Rolls On
LSU-Alabama (7.5 million viewers) was the most-watched game of the week, followed by Texas A&M-Missouri (4.9 million) and BYU-Texas Tech (4.0 million) among the top five.

[11/12/25 - 08:05 AM]
Roku Originals Huddles Up with Eva Longoria, Skydance Sports, NFL Films, Alfred Street Industries, and Hyphenate Media Group for New Series "NFL Hometown Eats" (wt)
The three-part series will kick off with executive producer Eva Longoria alongside an NFL player from her favorite football team, the Dallas Cowboys.

[11/12/25 - 07:31 AM]
Video: Apple TV Debuts Trailer for the Final Installment of "WondLa"
Hailing from Skydance Animation and based on Tony DiTerlizzi's New York Times bestselling book series "The Search for WondLa," the series is showrun and executive produced by Bobs Gannaway.

[11/12/25 - 07:11 AM]
"USA Sports" Announced as New Brand and Division Name for Versant's Sports Portfolio
In total, USA Sports will present more than 10,000 hours of event, studio, and original sports programming across USA Network, Golf Channel, and CNBC in 2026.

[11/12/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Tell Me Softly" (Dimelo Bajito) - Official Trailer - Prime Video
The Di Bianco brothers are back and nothing will ever be the same.