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[12/18/09 - 07:03 PM]
Development Update: Friday, December 18
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!


AWKWARD SITUATIONS FOR MEN (ABC, New!) - British comedian/author Danny Wallace ("Yes Man") is set to topline a potential new comedy at the Alphabet which "follows him as he moves to America with his wife, only to discover that his everyday behavior clashes with American values and constantly gets him into trouble." Wallace, Jeff and Jackie Filgo ("That '70s Show") penned the multi-camera pilot based on his book of the same name. The group will also executive produce for Warner Bros. Television alongside David Heyman of Heyday Films.


SUNSHINE CLEANING (Showtime, New!) - Screenwriter Megan Holley is bringing her 2008 feature to the pay channel's small screen. The film starred Amy Adams as Rose Lorkowski, "a single mother scraping by as a maid [who] finally improves her status by partnering with her sister, played by Emily Blunt, and opening a business cleaning gruesome crime scenes." No other specifics were given about the project, which is being developed in house by the network.


TRUE BLOOD (HBO) - "The Beast" alum Lindsay Pulsipher is the latest to join the show's ever-expanding third season cast. She'll play Crystal Norris, "a barefoot sundress-wearing woman who shares an electric connection with Jason (Ryan Kwanten) before vanishing into the forest." No other details were listed.


UNDERCOVERS (NBC) - Boris Kodjoe ("Soul Food") has been tapped as the male lead of the drama pilot, about spouses Samantha and Steven (Kodjoe) Bloom, who work together as spies. He'll join the previously cast Gerald McRaney, who plays the couple's CIA boss. J.J. Abrams and Josh Reims are behind the hour, which is based at Warner Bros. Television.


UNTITLED GREG COOLIDGE/KIRK WARD PROJECT (Cartoon Network, New!) - Greg Coolidge and Kirk Ward are developing a two-hour backdoor pilot at the cable channel about "a teenager who gets more than he bargained for when his family sponsors a Japanese exchange student on a secret mission far greater than just surviving high school." The pair penned and are executive producing the project with Chris Cowles and Chris Fenton producing. Coolidge also might direct.


UNTITLED PAM WECHSLER PROJECT (Lifetime, New!) - Prosecutor-turned-screenwriter Pam Wechsler ("Canterbury's Law") has landed a new drama at the cable channel about "a team of victim witness advocates." Sony Pictures Television is behind the hour, which is set up at the studio-based Apostle. Wechsler then will write and executive produce alongside the company's Jim Serpico and Denis Leary.


WHITE COLLAR (USA) - The cable channel has renewed the freshman drama for a second season. Creator Jeff Eastin broke this news via his Twitter account this evening, which was subsequently confirmed by network sources. No details on the size of the pickup however were given. "Collar" returns for the back half of its freshman run on Tuesday, January 19 at 10:00/9:00c.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [december 2009]  
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· AWKWARD SITUATIONS FOR MEN (ABC)
· BEAST, THE (A AND E)
· CANTERBURY'S LAW (FOX)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· SOUL FOOD (SHOWTIME)
· SUNSHINE CLEANING (SHOWTIME)
· THAT '70S SHOW (FOX)
· TRUE BLOOD (HBO)
· UNDERCOVERS (NBC)
· UNTITLED COOLIDGE & WARD PROJECT (CARTOON)
· UNTITLED PAM WECHSLER PROJECT (LIFETIME)
· WHITE COLLAR (USA)





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