 |
 |
[10/27/09 - 04:33 PM]
Development Update: Tuesday, October 27
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!
DELTA BLUES (TNT) - The cable channel has commissioned a pilot for the drama project, about "an outstanding but unusual Memphis cop who moonlights as an Elvis impersonator and lives with his mother." Liz Garcia ("Cold Case") and Josh Harto penned the Warner Horizon Television-based hour and are executive producing alongside Smokehouse Pictures's George Clooney, Grant Heslov and Abby Wolf-Weiss. Casting is underway.
DRY (Showtime, New!)/THE NATURE OF FIRE (CBS, New!) - Augusten Burroughs ("Running With Scissors") has set up a pair of projects, including a comedy at Showtime and a drama at CBS. The former, dubbed "Dry," is based on the author's experience as an advertising executive struggling toward sobriety. The latter, "The Nature of Fire," will center on "a group of male firefighters whose world is rocked when they're joined by a female arson investigator." Burroughs is penning both efforts and executive producing alongside Created By's Vince Gerardis ("FlashForward") and Katalyst's Karey Burke, Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg ("The Beautiful Life") for CBS Television Studios. As previously reported, Bryan Fuller and Bryan Singer are developing a small screen take on Burroughs's book "Sellevision" for NBC.
FAMILY GUY (FOX) - Microsoft has dropped out as the sole sponsor of the show's upcoming "Seth and Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show" special. Said development reportedly comes after the company's executives attending its October 16 taping and grew concerned over its content. "We initially chose to participate in the Seth and Alex variety show based on the audience composition and creative humor of 'Family Guy,' but after reviewing an early version of the variety show, it became clear that the content was not a fit with the Windows brand," said a Microsoft spokeswoman. "We continue to have a good partnership with Fox, Seth MacFarlane and Alex Borstein and are working with them in other areas. We continue to believe in the value of brand integrations and partnerships between brands, media companies and talent." The special will nevertheless continue with another, yet-to-be-named, sponsor when it airs on November 8.
FLASH FORWARD (ABC) - Paula Newsome ("Women's Murder Club") is the latest to land an arc on the freshman drama, Entertainment Weekly reports. She'll play a doctor in several upcoming episodes however details about her character weren't released.
GHOSTS/ALIENS (Comedy Central) - Joey Kern ("The Sasquatch Gang") has been tapped as the new lead of the comedy pilot, about "two potheads who set out on a quest to expose the truth about the existence of ghosts and aliens." He'll take over from Jonathan Sadowski as one of said men, Trey Hamburger. Keir O'Donnell, Allan McLeod, Kaylee DeFer, Keir O'Donnell, Nathan Barnatt and Rebecca Wisocky also star in the project, which Michael Patrick Jann is directing from a script by Phil Johnston.
GOSSIP GIRL (The CW) - Sherri Saum ("In Treatment") has booked a multi-episode arc on the series. She'll play Holland Kemble, "a powerful business executive-turned-Upper East Side trophy wife and could be trouble for Lily (Kelly Rutherford) and Rufus (Matthew Settle)." It's not clear when her first episode will air.
HOUNDS (Comedy Central) - Ron White is back in business with the cable channel as the comedian will lend his voice to a new animated comedy described as "a blue-collar Southern neo-gothic comedy." Chris Thompson ("Ladies Man") is behind the half-hour which White will also co-executive produce. As for specifics, White will voice Chicken, "a countrified Yoda with a bottle of Jack and a bag of weed, an opinionated Southern philosopher who considers himself the center of the universe." Earlier this year, White toplined a pilot presentation for the network in which he "looked at stories from across the country and ran them through his everyman perspective."
RAVENS PARISH (FOX, New!) - Feature writer Dan McDermott ("Eagle Eye") has scored a script commitment from the network about "a man and his teenage son who return to their rural Mississippi hometown in search of a fabled cavern hidden beneath a nearby swamp that allegedly holds hidden treasure." McDermott, who previously served as head of current programming at the network, will pen the hour and executive produce for 20th Century Fox Television. Generate's Peter Aronson and Jordan Levin are also attached as executive producers via their first-look deal with the studio.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
|
|
|
 [october 2009]  |
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
| | | | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
[06/04/26 - 01:15 PM]
Starz Greenlights "Power: Legacy" with Joseph Sikora and Michael Rainey, Jr. Reprising Their Iconic Roles
"Power: Legacy" sees the return of Tommy Egan to New York, where he partners with Tariq St. Patrick to take the city by storm.
|
[06/04/26 - 01:04 PM]
ESPN Presents Comprehensive UFL Postseason Coverage, Culminating with the 2026 United Bowl on ABC & ESPN Deportes
The UFL playoffs begin Sunday, June 7, on ABC at 3 p.m. as the defending UFL champion DC Defenders take on the Orlando Storm in the Storms' inaugural UFL season, as both teams look to punch their championship ticket.
|
[06/04/26 - 12:04 PM]
Discovery Channel June Programming Highlights
This June, look for all-new seasons of "Expedition Unknown," "In the Eye of the Storm," and "Contraband: Seized at the Border."
|
[06/04/26 - 11:01 AM]
FX's "The Marriage Plot" Limited Series Ordered for FX and Hulu
Sadie Sink is attached to star and executive produce the project, which will be adapted from the acclaimed novel by Jeffrey Eugenides.
|
[06/04/26 - 10:09 AM]
Patricia Heaton to Star in and Executive Produce MPI Original Films' New Legal Drama Pilot "Public Interest"
Set inside a nonprofit public interest law firm in Washington, D.C., "Public Interest" follows Ingrid Erickson, an attorney unexpectedly thrust into the firm's top leadership role after its longtime president suffers a sudden heart attack, and her unconventional team as they fight for everyday people facing impossible odds.
|
[06/04/26 - 10:01 AM]
Star-Studded Line-Up of Performers and Presenters Revealed for the "79th Annual Tony Awards" Live Sunday, June 7 on CBS
Rachel Zegler, who will return to Broadway next Spring, will deliver a special tribute to "A Chorus Line," which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.
|
[06/04/26 - 09:40 AM]
Joshua Jackson Joins "Your Friends & Neighbors" Season 3
He's no stranger to a tight-knit neighborhood.
|
[06/04/26 - 09:31 AM]
"Paul Simon: The Quiet Celebration Concert" Premieres in the U.S. on Disney+ and Hulu June 26
The nearly two-hour live concert film was recorded during the legendary singer-songwriter's "A Quiet Celebration Tour."
|
[06/04/26 - 09:01 AM]
NBC to Air "Alan Jackson: The Last Show"
Filmed before a sold-out crowd at Nashville's Nissan Stadium, the special will capture a once-in-a-generation farewell from one of country music's most beloved and influential artists.
|
[06/04/26 - 09:01 AM]
Ms. Lauryn Hill to Receive the Living Legend Icon Award at the "BET Awards" 2026 Sponsored by Sprite
Culture's Biggest Night will broadcast live on Sunday, June 28 at 8 PM ET/PT, from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, with Druski as host.
|
[06/04/26 - 09:00 AM]
Prime Video Releases First-Look Images and Premiere Date for Season Two of "Batman: Caped Crusader"
The highly anticipated returning animated noir series from DC Studios, Warner Bros. Animation, Bad Robot Productions, and 6th & Idaho will premiere all 10 episodes on Friday, July 31.
|
[06/04/26 - 08:31 AM]
Peacock Orders "The Break-In," New Mystery Series from Carnival Films and Writer Megan Gallagher
In the aftermath of a devastating home invasion, Alice Rathbone refuses to accept that the tragic event was simply random.
|
[06/04/26 - 08:05 AM]
Food Network Fires Up July with Four All-New Series, One Brand New Tournament and a Fan-Favorite Return
The BBQ charcoals will be glowing, engines will be revving, and the drama will be scorching this July on Food Network where new and returning series will combine for the network's hottest summer yet.
|
[06/04/26 - 08:01 AM]
Netflix's "Devil May Cry" Renewed for Third and Final Season!
Across two seasons, "Devil May Cry" has appeared on the Netflix Global Top 10 for four weeks with season 1 accumulating 21.7M views in 2025 and season 2 already accumulating 6.4M views in just two weeks.
|
[06/04/26 - 07:30 AM]
Tubi Announces Multi-Project Slate with Kevin "KevOnStage" Fredericks
Tubi is deepening the collaboration across formats and genres, spanning two new seasons of "Safe Space," a new scripted workplace comedy as well as his first stand-up special and original feature films on the platform.
|
|
|
|
