[02/24/10 - 12:06 AM] Development Update: Wednesday, February 24 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!
BREAKOUT KINGS (FOX) - Domenick Lombardozzi ("The Wire") is the latest to book a role on the drama pilot, about Charlie DuChamp (Laz Alonso), "a U.S. Marshal who has hand-picked three criminals to help catch fugitives on the run." He'll play Charlie's partner, Graham Weston, who's billed as "a cop's cop." Malcolm Goodwin also stars in the 20th Century Fox Television-based hour, which comes from writers Matt Olmstead and Nick Santora. Gavin Hood is directing.
CHASE (NBC) - Kelli Giddish ("Past Life") has booked the lead role on the drama pilot, about "a U.S. Marshal who heads up a Texas unit devoted to hunting down the U.S.' most dangerous fugitives." She'll play Annie Frost, said Marshal, who's detailed as "Texan. Wholesome. Open. Lethal." Amaury Nolasco, Cole Hauser, Jesse Metcalfe and Rose Rollins also star in the hour, which comes from Warner Bros. Television-based Jerry Bruckheimer Television. Jennifer Johnson penned the script.
HAPPY ENDINGS (ABC) - "Saturday Night Live" alum Casey Wilson has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about "a couple who, after breaking up at the altar, must figure out how they and their four friends can maintain their relationship." She's on board as Penny, a "bitterly single" bridesmaid with "too much make-up." David Caspe is behind the Sony Pictures Television-based half-hour, which also stars Damon Wayans Jr. Anthony Russo and Joe Russo are co-directing.
HITCHED (CBS) - Kurtwood Smith ("Worst Week") is returning to the Eye as the veteran actor has scored a role on the comedy pilot, about "a newlywed couple (Kristin Kreuk, Jack Carpenter) dealing with their family and friends." He'll play Rachel's (Kreuk) father, Wally Reynolds, who's "the epitome of loving and solid... and nosy." Smith joins the previously cast Eugene Levy. In addition, Rob Greenberg ("How I Met Your Mother") has been tapped to helm the half-hour from a script by co-creators Josh Schwartz and Matt Miller. Warner Bros. Television is producing.
KINDREDS (NBC) - British actor Ben Chaplin ("Dorian Grey") is the first to be cast in the drama pilot, about "a curmudgeonly ex-patent lawyer and his group of misfit associates as their lives come together to form an unconventional kind of law practice." He'll play Matthew Conlon, the pilot's narrator, a biology teacher who hires the aforementioned firm to defend him in a wrongful-termination case and subsequently goes to work for them as a part-time volunteer. Bill D'Elia is helming the Warner Bros. Television-based hour from a script by David E. Kelley.
LIE TO ME (FOX) - David Graziano ("In Plain Sight") has inked a two-year, seven-figure overall deal with the show's producer 20th Century Fox Television. The pact calls for him to join the studio's "Lie to Me" as well as develop new series projects. Graziano is joining the show at the request of showrunner Shawn Ryan, which lead to the deal.
MIKE & MOLLY (CBS) - Swoosie Kurtz ("Pushing Daisies") has scored a role on the comedy pilot, about a couple who struggles with overeating. She'll play Molly's mother, Joyce Flynn, "a faded beauty in her fifties." Billy Gardell, Katy Mixon and Reno Wilson also star in the half-hour, which comes from Chuck Lorre Productions and Warner Bros. Television. Mark Roberts penned the script.
OFF THE MAP (ABC) - Valerie Cruz ("True Blood") is the latest addition to the drama pilot, about "three doctors who leave the comfort of the U.S. to work at an isolated tropical clinic." She's set as Zee, "a local nurse who's seen it all and is already over it." Caroline Dhavernas, Enrique Murciano and Martin Henderson co-star in the hour, which is set up at ABC Studios and Shondaland Productions. Jenna Bans is the creator.
SCOUNDRELS (ABC) - Vanessa Marano ("Dexter") and Carlos Bernard ("24") have both landed roles on 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 (Neal McDonough) is sentenced to a long prison term." She'll play Hope, the youngest - and most sardonic - of the West clan. Bernard then is set as Det. Sgt. Mack, "the arch-enemy of the West clan." Mae Whitman and Keith Robinson originated the roles in the project's previous incarnation, "Good Behavior." Leven Rambin and Patrick Flueger also star in the hour, which comes from ABC Studios and co-creators Lyn Greene and Richard Levine.
SOUTHERN DISCOMFORT (ABC, New!) - Chad Kultgen ("Waiting to Die") has scored a last-minute pilot order from the Alphabet for a new comedy about "a father whose life is turned upside down when his grown kids move back in with him." Kultgen penned the multi-camera half-hour, which is being supervised by sitcom veteran Rob Long. Mitch Hurwtiz, Eric Tannenbaum and Kim Tannenbaum are also executive producing via their Tantamount banner for Sony Pictures Television. ABC Studios is co-producing.
TRUE BLUE (ABC) - Eric Lange ("Lost") and Malcolm-Jamal Warner ("Sherri") have both joined the cast of the drama pilot, about "a group of San Francisco homicide detectives who reunite to solve the murder of one of their own." Lange will play the murdered cop's "rumpled, cynical" partner, Malcolm Gold, with Warner as Walker McRae, a detective on suspension. They join the previously cast Marc Blucas and Poppy Montgomery. Chris Brancato and Jon Harmon Feldman co-wrote the hour, which comes from ABC Studios. Peter Horton is directing.
[06/19/13 - 01:39 PM] TNT Bumps Newcomer "72 Hours" to Friday Nights The reality competition series, which had been airing on Thursdays at 9:00/8:00c, will relocate to Fridays effective immediately.
[06/19/13 - 12:17 PM] ESPN to Present World Series of Poker Main Event To kick off ESPN's WSOP coverage, the inaugural World Series of Poker Asia-Pacific Main Event Final Table will air on Tuesday, July 23.
