or


[03/05/10 - 12:23 AM]
Development Update: Friday, March 5 (Part 1)
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!


2010-11 SEASON BROADCAST PILOTS (Various) - Directors have been confirmed for 15 of this year's pilots - "The Adam Carolla Show" (Michael Spiller); "Chase" (David Nutter); "It Takes a Village" (Michael Fresco); "Love Bites" (Marc Buckland); "Most Likely to Succeed" (Michael Patrick Jann); "The Pink House" (Michael Lembeck); "The Quinn-tuplets" (Mimi Leder); "Reagan's Law" (Michael Cuesta, also executive producing); "The Strip" (Beth McCarthy); "Tax Man/Untitled IRS Project" (Fred Savage); "Team Spitz" (Ted Wass); "This Little Piggy" (Ted Wass); "Traffic Light" (Chris Koch); "Untitled Medical Project" (Christopher Chulack); and "Wilde Kingdom/Untitled Will Arnett Project" (Mitch Hurwitz) - in addition to those mentioned below. Meanwhile, three others pilots have been given new monikers: Dana Carvey and Spike Feresten's improv project for FOX has been dubbed "Spoof"; Richard Hatem's cop drama starring Katee Sackhoff is running under "Boston's Finest"; and Paul Reiser's single-camera for NBC is simply "Next."


BETWIXT (The CW) - Allison Miller ("Kings") is the first to be cast in the drama pilot, about three teenagers who discover their lineage has granted them special abilities which they use to fight evil. She'll play one of them, Celine Halstead, an "ethereal beauty." Meanwhile, Christian Duguay ("The Beautiful Life") has been tapped to direct the pilot, which is being co-produced by CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television. Elizabeth Chandler penned the hour based on Tara Bray Smith's young adult novel of the same name. Carol Barbee is also on board to supervise the project alongside Paul Stupin.


BODY OF EVIDENCE (ABC) - Jeri Ryan ("Leverage") has booked a role on the drama pilot, about "a brilliant, tenacious medical examiner whose background as a neurosurgeon gives her a unique and refreshing crime-solving perspective but puts her at odds with nearly everyone." She'll play Philadelphia's first female Chief Medical Examiner, a role originally written for someone of Indian descent (Dr. Padma Krishnamurthy Noori). In addition, Nelson McCormick ("Southland") has signed on to helm the hour, which comes from ABC Studios and creator Chris Murphey. Geoffrey Arend, John Carroll Lynch and Windell Middlebrooks also star in the project, the lead role of which has been offered to Dana Delany.


EDGAR FLOATS (ABC) - Robert Patrick ("The Unit") has scored a role on the drama pilot, about a police psychologist-turned-bounty hunter. He'll play Christopher Breakey, the man's former father-in-law who hires him as a bail bondsman, where he must work alongside his ex-wife (Alicia Witt). Jace Alexander is directing the Warner Bros. Television-based project, which also stars Derek Webster. Rand Ravich penned the script.


GENERATION Y (ABC) - Sebastian Sozzi ("Law & Order: Criminal Intent") has booked the final principal role on the drama pilot, about the lives of eight young adults during a 10-year span in Austin. He'll play The Falcon, the show's "The Rebel" personality, creator Noah Hawley posted to his Twitter account. Craig Gillespie is helming the ABC Studios-based hour, whose ensemble also includes Anne Son, Daniella Alonso, Jaime King, Julian Morris, Keir O'Donnell, Kelli Garner, Mehcad Brooks and Michael Stahl-David.


HAWAII FIVE-O (CBS) - Scott Caan ("Entourage") has been tapped as the 21st century Danny "Danno" Williams in the drama pilot, an updated take on the 1968-1980 series about an elite branch of the Hawaii State Police headed by Steve McGarrett (Alex O'Loughlin). James MacArthur originated the role, "a New Jersey cop who has recently undergone an acrimonious divorce and has transferred to Hawaii to be near his 7-year-old daughter." Caan's involvement is technically as a guest star due to his series regular status on the upcoming seventh season of "Entourage." In addition, Len Wisman ("Live Free or Die Hard") has been tapped to direct and executive produce the hour, which comes from co-creators Alex Kurtzman, Peter Lenkov and Roberto Orci. Daniel Dae Kim, Grace Park and Taryn Manning also star.


OUR SHOW (A.K.A. UNTITLED LARRY CHARLES PROJECT) (NBC) - Nate Corddry, Jonathan Sadowski, Dan Bakkedahl and P.J. Byrne have all joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about "a disparate group of people who begin making episodes of their favorite sci-fi show after it ends." Corddry and Sadowski will play brothers Mike and Jack, who spearhead the group's efforts. Details on Bakkedahl and Byrne's characters weren't released. Larry Charles is helming the Warner Bros. Television/Wonderland Sound and Vision-based presentation off his own treatment.


PARKS & RECREATION (NBC) - "Party Down" co-star Adam Scott will reportedly join the cast of the Amy Poehler-led comedy next season. He'll play a love interest for Poehler's character, Leslie Knope, in the final two episodes of the current season before returning as a regular in season three. As for "Party Down," Scott, like all the actors on the Starz series, isn't locked into a long term deal. Said pact only calls for Scott to appear in up to three episodes should "Down" return for a third season. The show's sophomore cycle begins April 23.


RIDE ALONG (FOX) - Matt Lauria ("Friday Night Lights") and Devin Kelley ("Tease") have both joined the cast of the drama pilot, a police procedural set - and filmed - in Chicago. Said hour, from 20th Century Fox Television, revolves around three groups of police officers, including legendary cop Jarek Wysocki. Kelley will play Vonda Wysocki, Jarek's niece, a young beat copper who's "carried on the family tradition of becoming a cop even though her father was killed in the line of duty when she was young." Lauria then is set as Caleb Evers, a young detective - "an entertaining, tough-looking puppy dog" - who wants badly to be Jarek's next "project." It's not clear how Lauria's involvement will affect his status on "Lights." Todd Williams also stars in the project, which Charles McDougall is directing from a script by Shawn Ryan.


STRICTLY ICE DANCING (ABC, New!) - The Alphabet and BBC Worldwide Productions are looking to import the reality competition series, in which six celebrities are paired with professional ice skaters. Said effort mirrors the format of "Dancing With the Stars," which is also based on a U.K. series ("Strictly Come Dancing"). Izzie Pick will executive produce the six-episode project, which is expected to roll out later this year, with Alex Rudzinski attached as director.


TOO BIG TO FAIL (A.K.A. UNTITLED MCLEAN & NOCERA PROJECT) (HBO) - New York Times journalist Andrew Sorkin's book "Too Big to Fail: The Inside Story of How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System -- and Themselves" has reportedly been tapped as the new basis of the pay channel's docudrama about the 2008 financial meltdown. The book "chronicles the credit crisis by focusing on such figures as Richard Fuld, former chief executive of the now-bankrupt investment bank Lehman Brothers, John Mack, former CEO of Morgan Stanley, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and his predecessor Henry Paulson." HBO had previously optioned fellow New York Times journalist Joe Nocera and Vanity Fair writer Bethany McClean's tome on the same subject matter, however that book has not yet been published. Peter Gould ("Breaking Bad") has been tapped to pen the Sorkin adaptation while no other auspices were specified.


UNTITLED WYOMING PROJECT (The CW) - Alan Ruck ("Persons Unknown") and Scarlett Johnson ("EastEnders") have both joined the cast of the drama pilot, about Gideon Thorpe (Sean Faris), "a horse trainer who becomes the patriarch of a Wyoming ranch responsible for his three younger sisters after their parents die." He'll play Hollister Ames, a nemesis who wants to buy said ranch. His character is further detailed as follows: "40 and full of himself... he's wearing an over-the-top Johnny Reb jacket and cowboy boots that have never seen dirt." Johnson then, while not specified, is believed to be playing Lucy December, Gideon's chief love interest, a New Yorker that's just relocated to Wyoming in order to take care of her grandmother, who just had a stroke. Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino are behind the hour, a co-production of CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [march 2010]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· BEAUTIFUL LIFE, THE (CW)
· BLUE BLOODS (CBS)
· BODY OF PROOF (ABC)
· BOSTON'S FINEST (ABC)
· BREAKING BAD (AMC)
· CHANGELINGS (CW)
· CHASE (NBC)
· CHICAGO CODE, THE (FOX)
· DANCING WITH THE STARS (ABC)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· EDGAR FLOATS (ABC)
· ENTOURAGE (HBO)
· FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (DIRECTV)
· GIMME SHELTER (CBS)
· HAWAII FIVE-0 (CBS)
· IT TAKES A VILLAGE (ABC)
· KINGS (NBC)
· LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT (USA)
· LEVERAGE (TNT)
· LOVE BITES (NBC)
· MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED (FOX)
· MY GENERATION (ABC)
· OUR SHOW (NBC)
· PARKS & RECREATION (NBC)
· PARTY DOWN (STARZ)
· PAUL REISER SHOW, THE (NBC)
· PERSONS UNKNOWN (NBC)
· PINK HOUSE, THE (NBC)
· QUINN-TUPLETS, THE (CBS)
· RUNNING WILDE (FOX)
· SKATING WITH THE STARS (ABC)
· SOUTHLAND (TNT)
· SPOOF (FOX)
· STRIP, THE (NBC)
· TAX MAN (FOX)
· TEAM SPITZ (CBS)
· THIS LITTLE PIGGY (NBC)
· TOO BIG TO FAIL (HBO)
· TRAFFIC LIGHT (FOX)
· UNIT, THE (CBS)
· UNTITLED ADAM CAROLLA PROJECT (NBC)
· WYOMING STORY (CW)





[05/27/25 - 08:00 AM]
HBO Original "Harry Potter" Television Series Sets Cast for Roles of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley
The series has cast screen newcomers Dominic McLaughlin in the role of Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley.

[05/27/25 - 08:00 AM]
AXS TV Celebrates Father's Day Weekend with "Father Fest" - A Two-Day Marathon Highlighting Music Legends & Classic Laughs, Airing June 14 & 15 Starting at 11AM ET
Handpicked with dads in mind, Father Fest features a lineup of all-time greats from the worlds of rock, country, and comedy.

[05/27/25 - 07:01 AM]
Emmy-Winning Director R.J. Cutler's Docuseries "Esports World Cup: Level Up" Premieres June 6 on Prime Video
The series goes behind-the-scenes of the inaugural Esports World Cup (EWC) in 2024 - a defining moment in global esports, where over $60 million in prize money ignited a high-stakes, multinational battle to crown the world's top esports Club.

[05/27/25 - 06:30 AM]
Video: Ryan Reynolds Celebrates Nature's Unsung Heroes with "Underdogs" Trailer, A Boundary-Breaking Natural History Experience
From their hidden talents to their unconventional hygiene choices to their unsavory courtship rituals, "Underdogs" celebrates the unique behaviors of the animals who don't usually get to be the stars of the show.

[05/27/25 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "One Piece" Season 2 - Special Announcement - Netflix
Straw Hats! We're headed for the Grand Line! First stop: TUDUM.

[05/27/25 - 03:02 AM]
Netflix Begins Filming of Its New Adaptation: "All the Truth Behind My Lies"
The miniseries tells the story of Coco and Marín, two best friends who have been living together for years.

[05/26/25 - 01:09 PM]
Influx of Viewers Raises Global Audience to Over 90 Million for "The Last of Us"
In the U.S., the season 2 finale last night saw 3.7 million cross-platform viewers.

[05/26/25 - 01:02 PM]
17-Year High: FOX Sports Delivers 7.05 Million Viewers for Indianapolis 500
Sunday's 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 peaked at 8.4 million viewers from 4:15 PM ET - 4:30 PM ET.

[05/26/25 - 03:01 AM]
Video: "Too Hot to Handle: Spain" - Date Announcement - Netflix
A group of flirty Spanish singles expect sun, parties and steamy hookups, but they quickly learn that winning €100,000 requires giving up sex completely.

[05/26/25 - 12:31 AM]
Video: "Yolanthe" - Official Trailer - Netflix
This reality series follows Yolanthe Cabau in her glamorous new life in Los Angeles as she faces unexpected challenges and ghosts from her past.

[05/25/25 - 08:01 PM]
Video: "Dan Da Dan" Season 2 - Official Trailer 2 - Netflix
The mystery around Jiji's family boils over as Momo, Okarun and Turbo Granny investigate the strange hot spring town and its even stranger secrets.

[05/24/25 - 12:11 AM]
"The Great Indian Kapil Show" Returns to Netflix for Season 3 - This Time with Superfans!
The series returns with new episodes on Saturday, June 21.

[05/23/25 - 11:39 PM]
Development Update: Week of May 19-23
Updates include: Prime Video cancels "The Wheel of Time" after three seasons; NBC rounds out cast of comedy pilot "Stumble"; and Starz opens writers' rooms for three projects.

[05/23/25 - 08:02 AM]
ESPN Selects Top Major League Baseball Rivalries for "Sunday Night Baseball" on June 8 and June 15
The New York Yankees to host Boston Red Sox on June 8; and Los Angeles Dodgers to host San Francisco Giants on June 15.

[05/23/25 - 02:01 AM]
Video: "Grenfell: Uncovered" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Survivors, witnesses and experts tell the story of the tragic fire that engulfed a residential tower block in London - and the investigation that ensued.