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[12/10/09 - 06:13 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, December 10
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC) |
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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!
AMERICA: THE STORY OF US (History) - Meryl Streep, Michael Douglas, Colin Powell, Brian Williams, Buzz Aldrin, Tommy Franks, Donald Trump, John Lasseter and Stevie Wonder have all been tapped to participate in the upcoming 12-part event, which will "focus on the elements that distinguish American democracy, the conflicts that shaped it and the myriad social and industrial innovations that have fueled the country's prosperity." Said talent will serve as on-camera commentators with Jane Root executive producing via her Nutopia production banner. "America" is due sometime in 2010.
DELTA BLUES (TNT) - Alfre Woodard ("Three Rivers") has joined the cast of the drama pilot, about Dwight Hendricks (Jason Lee), "a Memphis police officer who lives with his mother (Celia Weston) and moonlights as a tribute artist." She'll play "the formidable new lieutenant who tries to exercise her power over Dwight," a role presumably in second position to the hiatused "Rivers." Warner Horizon Television and Smokehouse Productions are behind the hour, which also stars Abraham Benrubi, DJ Qualls, Leonard Howz, Robyn Lively and Sam Hennings. Clark Johnson is directing from a script by Joshua Harto and Liz Garcia.
FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS (HBO) - Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement have announced via their web site their pay channel series won't be returning for a third season. "We've noticed the less we say about the future of the show, the more people want to talk about it, so in an effort to reverse this trend we are today announcing that we won't be returning for a 3rd season," said the statement. "We're very proud of the two seasons we made and we like the way the show ended. We'd like to thank everyone who helped make the show and also everyone who watched it. While the characters Bret and Jemaine will no longer be around, the real Bret and Jemaine will continue to exist." The show wrapped its second season back in March.
GLEE (FOX) - Tony-winning actress Idina Menzel ("Wicked") is reportedly in talks to recur on the back half of the show's freshman season. She would play the coach to glee club "Vocal Adrenaline," the McKinley High glee club's main competition. Menzel had already been the focus of a fan campaign to cast her as Rachel Berry's (Lea Michele) biological mother. Also signing on for a five to six episode arc is Jonathan Groff. He'll play the lead male vocalist of "Vocal Adrenaline" and a potential love interest for Rachel Berry. Groff co-starred opposite Michele in the Broadway production of "Spring Awakening."
KEEP HOPE ALIVE (FOX) - Kate Micucci ("Scrubs") has landed a role on the comedy pilot, about Jimmy (Lucas Neff), "a 25-year-old single parent raising an infant with the help of his quirky family after the mother of the baby -- with whom he had a one-night stand -- ends up on death row." She'll play Mike, "an unkempt, fairly oblivious cousin of Jimmy living in a tent in the laundry room of their great-grandmother's house." Said role was originally envisioned a male. Garrett Dillahunt, Kate Micucci, Martha Plimpton and Olesya Rulin also star in the 20th Century Fox Television-based half-hour, which Michael Fresco is directing from a script by Greg Garcia.
THE SIX (ABC, New!) - Merv Griffin Entertainment has landed a presentation order from the Alphabet for a new game show based on the Russian format "What? Where? When?" Said project, which has been running for 35 years in its home country, is being redubbed "The Six," after the number of contestants on the show. The late Vladimir Voroshilov created (and hosted) the series, which pits a panel of six knowledgeable persons against the viewing audience. Said experts are tasked with answering audience-submitted questions listed on a spinning horizontal wheel divided into segments. If the experts answer correctly in the allotted 60 seconds they receive a point, if they don't the audience receives a point with question's author also earning a prize. (Sample question: "They first appeared in 1908 in Mexico. There were two of them. Over time, they came closer and closer together, like wings of a black raven. Name them." Answer: "Frida Kahlo's eyebrows.") Exact format details however are still being worked out. Merv Griffin's Roy Bank is executive producing the project alongside Ukranian-born actor Alex Reznik, Jonathan Barry and Ron Ward. Dwight Smith and Michael Agbabian are the showrunners with Brian Veskosky serving as a co-executive producer.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[05/09/25 - 01:18 PM]
ABC News Announces Primetime Special on the Historic Election of the First-Ever American Pope
The one-hour special, "The American Pope: Leo XIV - A Special Edition of 20/20," airs tonight, Friday, May 9 on ABC.
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[05/09/25 - 12:30 PM]
FOX Greenlights "The Faithful," A Powerful Three-Week Biblical Event Series, for Broadcast Spring of 2026
This landmark drama is based on The Old Testament's Book of Genesis and told through the eyes of the courageous and passionate, yet flawed women whose descendants would shape three of the world's great faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
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[05/09/25 - 12:01 PM]
ID Announces May 19 Premiere Date for "Trapped: What Is Happening to Wendy Williams?"
The hour-long special presented by "Extra" will premiere Monday, May 19 at 8:00/7:00c on ID and will be available to stream on Max.
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[05/09/25 - 11:00 AM]
FOX Greenlights "Best Medicine," An Irreverent Medical Series Based on the Critically Acclaimed Global Hit "Doc Martin"
Wholly owned by FOX Entertainment, the series comes from executive producers Ben Silverman, Rodney Ferrell, Liz Tuccillo, Mark Crowdy and Philippa Braithwaite, and is set to debut in the 2025-2026 season.
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[05/09/25 - 10:01 AM]
Peacock Announces a Compelling, Heartwarming and Villainous Slate of New Unscripted Series
New series greenlights include "Tiffany Haddish Goes Off" and "Nelly & Ashanti: We Belong Together;" a third season of "House of Villains," along with true crime documentaries "Gilgo Beach Killer: The House of Secrets" and "The Idaho Student Murders" as well as "Epic Ride: The Story of Universal Theme Parks" docuseries.
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[05/09/25 - 10:01 AM]
Video: BET+ Original Movie - "Onyx"
Three friends try and escape the daily grind and support their friend recovering from a bad breakup by going on a rural Arizona adventure camp when they inadvertently get caught in an alien invasion.
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[05/09/25 - 09:04 AM]
Season Two of the Max Original Series "Peacemaker," From DC Studios, Debuts August 21
John Cena, Danielle Brooks, Jennifer Holland, Freddie Stroma, Steve Agee, and Robert Patrick return for season two.
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[05/09/25 - 08:51 AM]
Peacock Announces Series Pickup of Seth MacFarlane's "Ted" Animated Spin-Off
MacFarlane, Mark Wahlberg, Amanda Seyfried and Jessica Barth will all reprise their roles from the film franchise.
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[05/09/25 - 08:19 AM]
Now Filming: Hulu Original Series "Rivals" Season 2
The drama returns with an extended season of 12 episodes - and even more wit, desire, and dramatic twists.
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[05/09/25 - 07:01 AM]
"A Man on the Inside" Season 2 - Now in Production!
Created by Mike Schur, season two will see Charles (Ted Danson) going undercover at a college.
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[05/09/25 - 06:02 AM]
Lifetime Greenlights New Original Movie, "Pretty Hurts," Starring Haylie Duff, Sarah Borne, and Kaci Barker Premiering June 28 Brought to You by GSK
The film includes a storyline that highlights meningococcal disease, known as meningitis, to help educate parents of teens and young adults about the uncommon, but potentially life-threatening illness for which 16- to 23-year-olds are at increased risk.
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[05/09/25 - 05:01 AM]
Netflix Announces Its First-Ever Nordic Medical Drama Starring Sara Khorami in the Lead Role
At the emergency ward, it doesn't matter who you are - rich or poor, influencer, carpenter, or minister.
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[05/08/25 - 05:01 PM]
SO JI-SUB Returns with Cold and Intense Noir Action Series "Mercy for None", Premiering June 6
Joining him are Huh Joon-ho, Gong Myoung, Choo Young Woo, An Kil-kang, Tiger Lee, Cho Han-cheul, along with special appearances by Cha Seung Won and Lee Jun-hyuk.
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[05/08/25 - 01:01 PM]
Video: "The Survivors" - Official Trailer - Netflix
15 years ago, the loss of three young people tore this sleepy seaside town apart. Now, the mysterious death of a young woman dredges up the past.
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[05/08/25 - 12:59 PM]
Lifetime Announces New Original Movie "Dateless to Dangerous: My Son's Secret Life" Starring Jodie Sweetin, Alexander Elliot and Nikki Roumel Premiering June 21
The gripping drama deals with teens as they navigate identity, acceptance, social alienation and explores the rising subculture of incels - usually involuntarily celibate men.
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