or


[10/14/09 - 06:39 PM]
Development Update: Wednesday, October 14
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!


BIG LOVE (HBO) - Sissy Spacek has joined the cast of the show's fourth season, due to launch on Sunday, January 10. She'll play a Washington, D.C., lobbyist beginning with the show's third episode this season. Adam Beach and Bella Thorne are also on board for the show's fourth go around.


FAMILY GUY (FOX) - Executive producer David Goodman has inked a new two-year, seven-figure overall deal with producer 20th Century Fox Television. The pact calls for the writer/producer to supervise series projects in development at the studio as well as develop his own series, both live action and animated. Goodman is already in talks to supervise two such properties, both animated pilot presentations for FOX: "Fathers and Son," from Jason Ruiz, and the recently announced high school series from Seth Green, Matthew Senreich and Tom Root. As previously reported, Goodman and Chris Sheridan are stepping down as the day-to-day showrunners for the show's eighth production cycle, to be replaced by Mark Hentemann and Steve Callaghan.


PAST LIFE (FOX) - The network has quietly rolled back its commitment to the midseason drama to seven episodes, including the pilot. "Due to the return of 'American Idol, '24' and our other midseason programming in January, as well as the back order of 'Glee,' we have a wealth of material for midseason and can only accommodate seven episodes of 'Past Life' on our schedule," the network said in a statement. The Warner Bros. Television-based hour is currently slated to follow "American Idol" on Tuesday nights starting next year.


UNTITLED AMY SHERMAN-PALLADINO PROJECT (HBO, New!) - "Gilmore Girls" creator Amy Sherman-Palladino is developing a new dramedy at the pay channel which "chronicles the complicated relationship between three adult sisters, all writers sharing the same upper east side apartment building, and their mother, a domineering literary lioness who reserves most of her affections for their ne'er-do-well brother." The news marks Sherman-Palladino's first cable venture, which she'll write and executive produce.


UNTITLED BEN WATKINS PROJECT (FOX, New!) - Ben Watkins ("Burn Notice") has booked a script order from the network for a new drama about "a woman in her late 20s of mixed-race heritage who works for the Alameda County D.A.'s office" as an undercover investigator. 20th Century Fox Television is behind the hour, which Watkins will write and executive produce alongside Mike Tollin. As for specifics, the woman "having been adopted as an infant... is dogged by questions about her own identity."


UNTITLED MATTHEW PERRY PROJECT (ABC, New!) - The Alphabet has booked a hefty series commitment to a new single-camera comedy featuring "Friends" alum Matthew Perry about "a self-involved manager of a second-rate sports arena who begins to reevaluate his life on his 40th birthday." Perry himself is co-writing the half-hour with Alex Barnow and Mark Firek ("'Til Death") for Sony Pictures Television. Thomas Schlamme is on board to direct the project while Jamie Tarses is attached to executive produce alongside Schlamme, Perry, Barnow and Firek. It's understood ABC will have to pay a significant penalty to the studio should it not land on its schedule, virtually guaranteeing a pilot will be greenlit.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [october 2009]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
    


· 24 (FOX)
· AMERICAN IDOL (ABC)
· BIG LOVE (HBO)
· BURN NOTICE (USA)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· FAMILY GUY (FOX)
· FATHERS & SON (FOX)
· FRIENDS (NBC)
· GILMORE GIRLS (CW)
· GLEE (FOX)
· MR SUNSHINE (ABC)
· PAST LIFE (FOX)
· 'TIL DEATH (FOX)
· UNTITLED AMY SHERMAN-PALLADINO PROJECT (HBO)
· UNTITLED BEN WATKINS PROJECT (FOX)
· UNTITLED SETH GREEN PROJECT (FOX)





[12/04/25 - 01:31 PM]
Heroes Rise Together! Disney+ Original Series "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" Official Branded Merchandise Now Available
Inspired by the series' rich storytelling, the dedicated e-commerce store will feature a wide variety of Camp Half-Blood-themed merchandise tailored for enthusiasts of the acclaimed series.

[12/04/25 - 12:56 PM]
Video: HBO Releases Official Trailer for the Original Drama Series "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," Debuting January 18
From the world of Westeros comes an endearing tale centered on the adventures of an unexpected duo.

[12/04/25 - 12:07 PM]
Video: "Mo' Waffles" - Official Trailer - Tubi Original
When a hip hop legend vanishes before his waffle joint's opening, his oddball crew must crack the case, wondering if one of them could be the culprit.

[12/04/25 - 12:00 PM]
Video: A New Generation of Camp Rockers Vie to Become the Opening Act for Connect 3 in First "Camp Rock 3" Teaser
The teaser includes a first look at the Jonas Brothers' return as Connect 3 and the new generation of campers joining the iconic franchise.

[12/04/25 - 11:02 AM]
"The Masked Singer" Returns with an All-New Season of Epic Themes and Massive Unmaskings on FOX!
Season 14 takes its beloved themed episodes to new heights, celebrating some of the most recognizable and nostalgic moments in pop culture history.

[12/04/25 - 11:01 AM]
Video: AMC Networks Debuts Official Trailer for Sports Docuseries "Rise of the 49ers," Narrated by Executive Producer Tom Brady
The limited series event, exploring the dramatic and iconic run of the San Francisco 49ers during the '80s and early '90s, premieres with the first two episodes on Sunday, February 1 at 9pm ET/PT, followed by the remaining two episodes on Monday, February 2 at 9pm ET/PT on AMC and AMC+.

[12/04/25 - 10:39 AM]
Meryl Streep, Jon Batiste, Kathryn Hahn, Regina Hall, Parker Posey, Zachary Quinto, Kelly Ripa and Adam Scott to Present Honors in the 19th Annual "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute"
This year, the third annual CNN Heroes Legacy Award will continue the new tradition of honoring not-so-everyday people dedicated to a lifetime of service by recognizing Robert Redford with a special tribute and appearance by former Vice President Al Gore accepting the award on behalf of the Redford family.

[12/04/25 - 10:31 AM]
"The Hunting Wives" Season 2 Adds Kim Matula and Alex Fitzalan
The duo joins previously announced returning cast members Brittany Snow, Malin Akerman, Jaime Ray Newman, Dermot Mulroney, Evan Jonigkeit, George Ferrier, Karen Rodriguez, Hunter Emery, and Branton Box.

[12/04/25 - 10:28 AM]
"A CNN Special Event: Roy Wood Jr.'s Very Very Very Merry Holiday Special" Airs Sunday, December 14 at 8pm ET on CNN
Filmed in front of a live audience in the nation's capital, Wood Jr. will dive into the joy, and occasional chaos, of the holiday season with his signature blend of sharp wit and warm humor.

[12/04/25 - 10:01 AM]
The World Knew Him as Dirty John: New Documentary Series Exposes the Real John Meehan
From Bunim/Murray Productions, a Banijay Americas company, and Empress Films, director Emma Cooper and executive producers Julie Pizzi, Jesse Daniels, and Melissa G. Moore, comes the definitive documentary series of the man behind the myth.

[12/04/25 - 10:01 AM]
Video: Trailer & Key Art Debut - Hularious Original "Kumail Nanjiani: Night Thoughts"
The latest special in the Hularious stand-up slate premieres Friday, December 19 on Hulu, and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers, in the US, and on Disney+ internationally.

[12/04/25 - 09:41 AM]
Hallmark Media Announces That Matthew Lawrence and TLC's Chilli Will Host an All-New, Original Series "Second Chance Love"
The all-new, unscripted series gives five couples, ranging from their 30's to 70's and who dated 5 to 40 years ago, a second chance to reconnect with the one who got away against the backdrop of a romantic Italian resort.

[12/04/25 - 09:32 AM]
Food Network Will Kick Off 2026 with a Fresh New Competition Series, "Baking Championship: Next Gen"
Duff Goldman and Kardea Brown are the hosts and judges of the series, due on Monday, January 5 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

[12/04/25 - 09:31 AM]
First Look - Bert Kreischer Stars in Netflix's "Free Bert"
The new scripted comedy series, starring Bert Kreischer, premieres on Netflix in January 2026.

[12/04/25 - 09:06 AM]
PBS and WETA Announce Four-Part Documentary "Black and Jewish America: An Interwoven History" with Henry Louis Gates Jr. to Premiere February 3, 2026
Black and Jewish Americans began on fundamentally different footing, but by the early 20th century, they were drawn together by entrenched racism and rising antisemitism.