or


[12/17/09 - 06:36 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, December 17
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 BEAUTIFUL LIFE (The CW) - The netlet has opted to put all five completed episodes of the series on YouTube.com with HP serving as its sponsor. "Life" was axed back in September, just two weeks into its run. At the time it was reported production was underway on its seventh episode however only five were completed. "When 'The Beautiful Life' concluded on broadcast television, we were deluged by fans imploring us to bring back 'TBL,'" executive producer Ashton Kutcher said in a statement released to the press. "Working with innovative companies like HP and YouTube, we are thrilled to be ending this year by releasing the remaining episodes of 'The Beautiful Life' and taking part in a unique marketing program that could only occur online."


CRIMINAL MINDS (CBS) - Richard Shepard, who helmed the show's 2005 pilot, has been tapped to do the same for its upcoming spin-off. In addition, he'll direct one other pilot for the Eye during the upcoming developing cycle. The spin-off, about another group of FBI profilers, is set to shoot in February and air as an episode of the parent series later this season. Ed Bernero and Chris Mundy are penning the script and executive producing alongside Mark Gordon and Deborah Spera.


DR. DONNA (USA, New!) - Liz Kruger and Craig Shapiro have booked a new drama at network billed as "a dramedy about a sports therapist." The pair will pen the script and executive produce for Sony Pictures Television. No other details however were released.


THE FRESHMAN (USA, New!) - The 1990 Matthew Broderick/Marlon Brando feature is being eyed for the small screen by the cable channel. Andrew Bergman, who wrote and directed the film, is developing a new small screen take which will once again center on "a wide-eyed NYU freshman (Broderick) who unwittingly becomes an errand boy for a Mafia boss (Brando)." The hour is set up at Sony Pictures Television with Bergman and Michael Edelstein executive producing. Sony is likewise behind three other potential remakes: "Heathers" and "Charlie's Angels" at ABC and of the film "St. Elmo's Fire" at Fox.


THE EVENT (NBC, New!) - Steve Stark ("Medium") is developing a new drama at the Peacock about "the unraveling of the greatest government cover-up in U.S. history." Nick Wauters penned the hour, which is set up at Universal Media Studios. Stark and Russ Buchholz then will also executive produce via the former's Steve Stark Productions. Also at NBC, the company is shepherding "a project based on chef Paula Deen's life story, which the two executive produce with Barry Weiner." Outside of the Peacock, Stark has an untitled hour at Lifetime about "an unconventional female psychologist embedded within the Dallas Police Department" and "Stick," about "a Chicago hockey player who, after getting suspended from the league for unruly conduct, discovers that he has a knack for helping people in trouble," at USA. Gay Walch is behind the former while Mark Altman and Steve Kriozere penned the latter.


SHAMELESS (Showtime) - Emmy Rossum, Allison Janney and Justin Chatwin have all landed roles on the pay channel's import of the veteran U.K. drama about the Gallaghers, "a working-class Chicago clan dealing with the recession." The previously cast William H. Macy plays the patriarch of said family who "usually ends up passed out on the living room floor, so their smart but unpredictable 18-year-old daughter Fiona (Rossum) is tasked with keeping her five younger brothers and sisters on the straight and narrow." Chatwin then is set as Steve, "a car thief who falls in love with Fiona," with Janney in the recurring role of "a pivotal character that will become a love interest for Macy." Mark Mylod is directing the Warner Bros. Television-based pilot from a script by Paul Abbott and John Wells.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [december 2009]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· BEAUTIFUL LIFE, THE (CW)
· CHARLIE'S ANGELS (ABC)
· CRIMINAL MINDS (CBS)
· CRIMINAL MINDS: SUSPECT BEHAVIOR (CBS)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· EVENT, THE (NBC)
· FRESHMAN, THE (USA)
· HEATHERS (PARAMOUNT)
· MEDIUM (CBS)
· NECESSARY ROUGHNESS (USA)
· SHAMELESS (SHOWTIME)
· ST. ELMO'S FIRE (NBC)
· STICK (USA)
· UNTITLED GAY WALCH PROJECT (LIFETIME)
· UNTITLED PAULA DEEN PROJECT (NBC)





[04/02/26 - 12:31 PM]
Paramount+ Greenlights New Reality Series, "Team Moms," Executive Produced by Kim Kardashian and Love Island Producers, ITV
"Team Moms" launches viewers into the world of nationally competitive youth baseball via immersion into the Legendary Prep Academy in Scottsdale, Arizona's first and only baseball prep school.

[04/02/26 - 12:01 PM]
Jamie Bell and Charlie Heaton Lead a New Generation of "Peaky Blinders" and First Look of Bell as Duke Is Revealed
Jessica Brown Findlay, Lashana Lynch, and Lucy Karczewski are also on board.

[04/02/26 - 12:01 PM]
"Wizards Beyond Waverly Place" Returns for One Last Spell This Summer on Disney+ and Disney Channel
Executive producer Selena Gomez to make her directorial debut with the premiere episode.

[04/02/26 - 11:44 AM]
First-Ever "American Idol" Simulcast on ABC and Disney+ Surges Double Digits
Season to date, "American Idol" averages 5.11 million Total Viewers and stands as one of the few shows to notch year-over-year gains this season.

[04/02/26 - 11:11 AM]
Sarah Drew and Eric Johnson to Headline "When I Said I Do" (wt), The New Movie Inspired by Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black's Beloved Duet of the Same Name
The movie is set to premiere Saturday, May 23 at 8/7c as part of the network's upcoming spring "Love of a Lifetime" original movie slate.

[04/02/26 - 11:07 AM]
Thursday Night Heats Up as "9-1-1: Nashville" and "9-1-1" Soar to Best Performance of the Season
On linear over three days, "9-1-1" earned 5.94 million Total Viewers, also nearly matching the show's previous season high in January.

[04/02/26 - 11:05 AM]
Hulu's Critically Acclaimed Comedy Series "Deli Boys" Returns for a Second Season on May 28
Andrew Rannells and Kumail Nanjiani join as recurring guest stars for the second season, alongside series regulars Asif Ali, Saagar Shaikh, Poorna Jagannathan and Fred Armisen.

[04/02/26 - 10:58 AM]
ESPN to Present WNBA Expansion Draft Friday, April 3
Malika Andrews will host the special, joined by analysts Carolyn Peck and Monica McNutt.

[04/02/26 - 10:31 AM]
Louis C.K. to Headline the Hollywood Bowl May 5 as Part of Netflix Is a Joke Fest
This summer, his newest stand-up special, "Ridiculous," will premiere globally on Netflix.

[04/02/26 - 10:01 AM]
HBO Original Comedy Special "Ramy Youssef: In Love" Debuts April 17
Whether it's his marriage, being a dog parent, AI, or religion, Ramy comes at everything with his own brand of heart and humor.

[04/02/26 - 09:36 AM]
Netflix Wins Hot Package "The Corrections"; Orders Limited Drama Straight-to-Series Starring Meryl Streep
The series - from Paramount Television Studios - will be directed by Cord Jefferson, and written and adapted by author Jonathan Franzen.

[04/02/26 - 09:10 AM]
Video: "Smiling Friends" - Final Episodes Trailer - Adult Swim
Watch the final two episodes of "Smiling Friends" on Sunday, April 12.

[04/02/26 - 09:01 AM]
"Sofia the First: Royal Magic" Premieres May 25 on Disney Jr. with the First 8 Episodes Streaming Next Day on Disney+
It was also announced today that Moana, Rapunzel, Jasmine, Cinderella, Aurora and Elena of Avalor will make special appearances throughout the series, offering guidance, wisdom and support when Sofia needs it the most.

[04/02/26 - 08:35 AM]
New Faces Join "The Chi" Ensemble Cast for Its Final Season on Paramount+
Daryl Dunning II, Biko Eisen-Martin, Akilah A. Walker, Laila Odom, Liza Jessie Peterson, and Anthony B. Jenkins are among the latest additions.

[04/02/26 - 08:35 AM]
Great American Media Sets "An Accidental Arctic Christmas," Reuniting Beloved Fan Favorites Cameron Mathison and Jill Wagner, From Executive Producer Candace Cameron Bure
Maya Rose Skabar also stars in the film, which will premiere as part of the upcoming all-star Great American Christmas on Great American Pure Flix, Great American Family, and GFAM+.