or


[02/09/10 - 06:44 PM]
Development Update: Tuesday, February 9
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!


24 (FOX) - Billy Ray ("State of Play") has been tapped to pen the feature incarnation of the veteran FOX series. Said project will reportedly take Jack Bauer to Europe however no other specifics were given. Kiefer Sutherland is expected to star and executive produce the effort alongside Howard Gordon and Brian Grazer. Production however is contingent on the fate of the television series as filming a feature while the show is active is considered high unlikely. It's understood FOX could make the call on a ninth season as early as the month's end in order to give producers enough lead time to give the series an appropriate conclusion. Nevertheless, the option still exists for producer 20th Century Fox Television to shop the show elsewhere.


CHAOS (CBS) - Brett Ratner has formally signed on to direct the drama pilot, about "rogue CIA operatives who combat bureaucratic gridlock, rampant incompetence and political infighting." Ratner was already on board to executive produce the hour, which comes from creator Tom Spezialy and 20th Century Fox Television.


CHASE (NBC) - Rose Rollins ("The L Word") is the first to be cast on the drama pilot, about "a high-priority fugitive-apprehension team in South Texas." She's believed to be playing Daisy Ogbaa, the group's weapons/tactical specialist. Jennifer Johnson is behind the hour, which comes from Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Warner Bros. Television.


THE CLEVELAND SHOW (FOX) - Co-creator Rich Appel has inked a new three-year, seven-figure overall deal with 20th Century Fox Television. The pact continues Appel's 15-year run at the studio, which he began in 1994 as a staff writer on "The Simpsons." He'll continue as showrunner on the animated comedy, which is already in production on its second season, for the foreseeable future.


DATING IN THE DARK (ABC) - The Alphabet has ordered a second season of the dating series, in which couples date in total darkness before being shown their potential mate. Six new episodes will roll out this summer with Tom Shelly returning as executive producer for Endemol USA and Talpa Content USA. Casting has been underway since December however the formal announcement wasn't made until this week.


FRESHMEN (ABC)/LIVIN' ON A PRAYER (CBS) - "How I Met Your Mother" executive producer Pamela Fryman has been tapped to helm both pilots, which come from fellow "Mother" producers Carter Bays, Craig Thomas, Joe Kelly, Kourtney Kang and Greg Malins. The Malins-penned "Freshmen" revolves around three newly elected members of Congress - two men and one woman - who wind up sharing an apartment in Washington, D.C. The remaining quartet are behind "Prayer," about a Pittsburgh couple who are mulling the next stage of their relationship. Both series come from 20th Century Fox Television.


HAPPY ENDINGS (ABC) - Joe and Anthony Russo ("Community") have signed on to direct the comedy pilot, about a couple that breaks up at the altar, forcing them and their group of friends to figure out how to maintain their friendships after the split. David Caspe penned the single-camera half-hour, which is set up at FanFare Productions and Sony Pictures Television.


LEAPFROG (ABC) - Jennifer Finnigan ("Close to Home") has been tapped to star in the comedy pilot, about sisters at different stages of their romantic relationships. She'll play Maddie, who's in a happy, long-term relationship with Ben but isn't married. Joanna Garcia co-stars as her sister Mia who gets pregnant and marries Casey, her boyfriend of seven and a half weeks. Shana Goldberg-Meehan is behind the multi-camera half-hour, which is set up at Warner Bros. Television.


NATHAN VS. NURTURE (NBC)/OPEN BOOKS (CBS) - Sitcom guru James Burrows ("Gary Unmarried") is set to direct both pilots, which come from Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros. Television, respectively. Laura Benanti stars in the Gail Lerner-penned "Open Books," about a book editor at a small boutique publishing house in New York. "Nature," from David Guarascio and Moses Port, then revolves around a 35-year-old heart surgeon who decides to search for his biological parents only to find they had three more kids and kept them.


ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY (TLC) - The cable channel has commissioned a second season of the reality series, about an obese family of four that weigh a collective 1,400 pounds. The show wrapped its freshman run last month. 12 new episodes are expected to roll out beginning in July. Chris Coelen, Julia Silverton and Mike Duffy are behind the project, which comes from RDF USA.


PLEADING GUILTY (FOX) - Hart Hanson ("Bones") has signed on as an executive producer of the drama pilot, about an ex-cop-turned-attorney who works as a partner at a powerful Chicago law firm. The project, which is apparently cast-contingent, is based on Scott Turow's novel of the same name. Hanson then will supervise Jason Tracey, who penned the adaptation, and continue on as showrunner if it's ultimately ordered to series. Jon Avnet, Katherine Pope and Peter Chernin also serve as executive producers for 20th Century Fox Television with Avnet also attached to direct.


PRIME SUSPECT (NBC) - Mick Jackson (HBO's "Temple Grandin") is on board to direct the pilot, about a courageous female detective who investigates complex mysteries in a politically explosive big city. Hank Steinberg is behind the hour, which is based on the U.K. series of the same name. Erwin Stoff and Paul Buccieri also serve as executive producers for ITV Studios and Universal Media Studios.


RIDE ALONG (FOX) - Charles McDougall ("The Good Wife") has been tapped to helm the Shawn Ryan-penned pilot, about one of Chicago's toughest cops as he struggles to clean up the corruption in town. 20th Century Fox Television is behind the hour, which recently cast Todd Williams in a supporting role.


SCOUNDRELS (ABC) - Patrick Flueger ("The 4400") is the latest addition to the upcoming drama, about "the matriarch (Virginia Madsen) of a family of criminals who decides it's time for her brood to go straight after her husband is sentenced to a long prison term." He'll play "twin brothers Logan, the only honest member of the family who is about to graduate from law school, and the not-so-smart Cal, a classic career criminal." Patrick Adams originated the dual role in "Good Behavior," ABC's previous incarnation of the project. Lyn Greene and Richard Levine are behind the hour, which is set up at ABC Studios and South Pacific Pictures.


UNTITLED PAUL REISER PROJECT (NBC, New!) - Paul Reiser ("Mad About You") is on track to return to the Peacock. The network is reportedly close to ordering a pilot for a new single-camera comedy from the comedian, about a group of male friends. Reiser penned the Warner Bros. Television-based half-hour on spec and would executive produce alongside Jonathan Shapiro ("Life"). No other specifics were given.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [february 2010]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· 24 (FOX)
· 4400, THE (USA)
· BETTER WITH YOU (ABC)
· BONES (FOX)
· CHAOS (CBS)
· CHASE (NBC)
· CHICAGO CODE, THE (FOX)
· CLEVELAND SHOW, THE (FOX)
· CLOSE TO HOME (CBS)
· COMMUNITY (YAHOO)
· DATING IN THE DARK (ABC)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· FRESHMEN (ABC)
· GARY UNMARRIED (CBS)
· GOOD BEHAVIOR (ABC)
· GOOD WIFE, THE (CBS)
· HAPPY ENDINGS (ABC)
· HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (CBS)
· L WORD, THE (SHOWTIME)
· LIFE (NBC)
· LIVIN' ON A PRAYER (CBS)
· NATHAN VS NURTURE (NBC)
· ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY (TLC)
· OPEN BOOKS (CBS)
· PAUL REISER SHOW, THE (NBC)
· PLEADING GUILTY (FOX)
· PRIME SUSPECT (NBC)
· SCOUNDRELS (ABC)
· SIMPSONS, THE (FOX)
· TEMPLE GRANDIN (HBO)





[02/24/26 - 09:31 AM]
Netflix's "Untold" Returns with Four New Films
Premiering weekly, these gripping, character-driven stories feature raw, first-person perspectives from those at the heart of the action - revealing the determination, setbacks, and surprising truths that unfold behind the scenes.

[02/24/26 - 09:05 AM]
CBS Sports Reaches Agreement for Paramount+ to Become Exclusive U.S. English-Language Home of All Concacaf Women's Competitions Through 2030
Across four distinct competitions featuring club and national team matches, CBS Sports will present more than 250 games with every match on Paramount+ and select matches co-airing on CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo Network.

[02/24/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Great British Baking Show: Juniors" - Official Trailer - The Roku Channel
Host Harry Hill welcomes talented junior bakers to the iconic Baking Show tent, where judges Liam Charles and Ravneet Gill will crown Britain's best junior baker.

[02/24/26 - 09:01 AM]
Season Two of "Secrets Declassified with David Duchovny" Premieres March 17 on The History Channel
This season, Duchovny leads viewers through an examination of the highest intellect.

[02/24/26 - 09:01 AM]
Let's Go Bananas! ESPN and Disney+ to Deliver More Banana Ball Games Than Ever as Collaboration Expands
More than 15 additional games will air across ESPN networks, highlighted by a first-ever national showcase on ABC from Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon, one of the largest Banana Ball events ever staged.

[02/24/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "The Count of Monte Cristo" Official Trailer
Tune in for the broadcast premiere on Sunday, March 22 at 10:00/9:00c only on "Masterpiece" on PBS.

[02/24/26 - 08:00 AM]
Video: Paramount+ Debuts Official Trailer for "The Madison" Starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell
The six-episode debut season premieres globally on Saturday, March 14, with three episodes exclusively on the service.

[02/24/26 - 07:05 AM]
MGM+ Renews Hit Romantic Adventure Drama Series "Robin Hood" for Season Two
The 10-episode season will go into production at PFI Studios in Serbia this summer.

[02/24/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Pride and Prejudice" - Official Teaser - Netflix
Jane Austen's beloved classic returns in a faithful adaptation by Dolly Alderton, starring Emma Corrin as Elizabeth Bennet and Jack Lowden as Mr Darcy.

[02/24/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: Apple TV Debuts Trailer for Season Five of "For All Mankind"
The 10-episode fifth season will make its global debut on Apple TV with one episode on Friday, March 27, followed by one new episode every Friday through May 29.

[02/24/26 - 06:11 AM]
Paramount Confirms Submission of Revised Proposal to Acquire Warner Bros. Discovery
This submission follows a period of engagement with WBD after it received a seven-day waiver under its merger agreement with Netflix, Inc. to engage with Paramount.

[02/24/26 - 05:16 AM]
Warner Bros. Discovery Confirms Receipt of Revised Proposal from Paramount Skydance
"Following engagement with PSKY during the seven-day limited waiver period, we received a revised PSKY proposal to acquire WBD, which we are reviewing in consultation with our financial and legal advisors," the Board said in a statement.

[02/24/26 - 05:01 AM]
Prime Video to Exclusively Premiere "Nippon Sangoku" S1 on April 5, 2026
The story depicts the near future of Japan, where revolution arose from nuclear war, natural disasters, and corrupt governance, where civilization has collapsed.

[02/23/26 - 04:01 PM]
Video: "Ready or Not Texas" - Official Teaser - Netflix
No plans, just vibes. When two best friends and their crew set off for Texas on an entirely unscripted adventure, there's no telling what's coming next.

[02/23/26 - 03:55 PM]
NBCUniversal's Presentation of Milan Cortina Olympics Dominates Media Landscape & Delivers Largest Winter Games Audience Since 2014
Sunday's Closing Ceremony provided a spectacular culmination as more than 215 million Americans (215.6 million through February 17) tuned in across NBCUniversal's platforms for "Legendary February."