or


[02/26/10 - 12:06 AM]
Development Update: Friday, February 26
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!


90210 (The CW) - Gillian Zinser has been upped to series regular on the sophomore drama, which returns with new episodes on Tuesday, March 9. She'll continue on as tomboy surfer chick Ivy Sullivan on the teen soap, which was renewed for a third season earlier this month. It's not clear which episode will reflect her new status.


THE CAPE (NBC) - David Lyons ("ER") has been tapped as the lead role of the drama pilot, about "a former cop set up as a criminal who becomes a masked hero to clear his name and reunite with his eight-year-old son." He'll play Vince Faraday, the aforementioned cop. Simon West is helming the Universal Media Studios-based hour from a script by Tom Wheeler.


THE EVENT (NBC) - Fellow "ER" alum Laura Innes has scored a role on the drama pilot, about "a decent, regular fellow who battles against mysterious circumstances that envelope a larger conspiracy." She's believed to be playing the leader of the inmates at the Mount Inostranka Facility, a secret prison in Alaska. Said role, Neil McCann, was originally written as male. Ian Anthony Dale, Jason Ritter, Sarah Roemer, Scott Patterson and Zeljko Ivanek also star in the hour, which comes from Universal Media Studios, Steve Stark Productions and creator Nick Wauters.


FRESHMEN (ABC) - Tommy Dewey ("Roommates") and Suzy Nakamura ("Men of a Certain Age") have each landed roles on the comedy pilot, about "three first-year members of Congress (Ben Lawson, Sarah Chalke and Dewey) who live together in a Washington row house." He'll round out the trio as Cameron Graham, "an idealistic congressman from Illinois, is married to a demanding wife whose father financed his campaign and who is smitten with new roommate Jane." Nakamura then is set as Cameron's chief of staff, which was originally conceived as a man named Lance. Taran Killam also stars in the half-hour, which Pamela Fryman is directing from a script by Greg Malins. 20th Century Fox Television is producing.


LUCK (HBO) - Dennis Farina and John Ortiz are the first to be cast in the drama pilot, which is billed as "a provocative look at the worlds of horse racing and gambling told through a diverse group of characters surrounding a racetrack." Said hour centers on Chester "Ace" Bernstein, who, "after three years in prison, teams with Gus Economou (Farina), his longtime chauffeur and muscle, to craft a complex plan involving the track." Ortiz then is set as Turo Escalante, "a successful trainer with sordid reputation." Michael Mann is helming the hour from a script by David Milch. Both are executive producing alongside Carolyn Strauss and Henry Bronchtein.


MIDLAND (FOX) - Eloise Mumford ("Crash") has joined the cast of the drama pilot, about "a con artist (Jimmy Wolk) juggling two lives in two Texas cities with two different women." She's believed to be playing one of them, his girlfriend Lindsay, "the kind of approachable beauty who probably won't meet you for coffee, but will give you the nicest no you've ever heard." Kyle Killen penned the 20th Century Fox Television-based hour, to be directed by Marc Web..


MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED (FOX) - Malcolm Barrett is the latest "Better Off Ted" co-star to land a comedy pilot. He's set to play Oliver in the half-hour, about "a group of friends who once were high school superstars but now face the reality of adulthood." Said character was "once voted 'most charming' but is now pathetic and terrible with the ladies." Barrett's involvement, like Jay Harrington on NBC's "Nathan vs. Nurture" and Andrea Anders on ABC's "Mr. Sunshine," is in second position to their duties on "Ted," which is considered unlikely to return. Kaitlin Doubleday and Kathryn Hahn also star in the 20th Century Fox Television-based comedy, which was penned by David Walpert.


NEVERMIND NIRVANA (FOX) - "Past Life" alum Ravi Patel has scored a lead role on the comedy pilot, about two brothers from a traditional Indian background who struggle with their parents' expectations. He'll play one of them, Sunil "Sonny" Mattoo, who lives - and is expecting a child - with his white girlfriend (Rachael Leigh Cook). Harish Patel and Utkarsh Ambudkar also star in the half-hour, which comes from creator Ajay Sahgal and 20th Century Fox Television.


NIKITA (The CW) - Shane West ("ER") has booked the male lead on the drama pilot, about an assassin for a top-secret government organization who goes rogue (Maggie Q) and the new assassin who is trained to replace her. He'll play Michael, the agent in charge of recruitment sent to bring in the rogue Nikita. Danny Cannon is helming the hour from a script by Craig Silverstein. Warner Bros. Television is producing.


OPEN BOOKS (CBS) - Patti LuPone ("Oz") is the latest addition to the comedy pilot, about June Gage (Laura Benanti), a book editor at a boutique New York publishing house and her circle of friends. She'll play Roz, June's "tough cookie" mom. Gail Lerner is behind the Warner Bros. Television-based comedy, which James Burrows is attached to direct.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [february 2010]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· 90210 (CW)
· BETTER OFF TED (ABC)
· BETTER OFF TED (ABC)
· CAPE, THE (NBC)
· CRASH (STARZ)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· ER (NBC)
· EVENT, THE (NBC)
· FRESHMEN (ABC)
· LONE STAR (FOX)
· LUCK (HBO)
· MEN OF A CERTAIN AGE (TNT)
· MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED (FOX)
· NATHAN VS NURTURE (NBC)
· NEVERMIND NIRVANA (FOX)
· NIKITA (CW)
· OPEN BOOKS (CBS)
· OZ (HBO)
· PAST LIFE (FOX)
· ROOMMATES (ABC FAMILY)





[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+.