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[03/16/10 - 12:06 AM]
Development Update: Tuesday, March 16
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC) |
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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) - Executive producer Brannon Braga has inked a two-year, seven-figure overall deal with 20th Century Fox Television. The pact calls for the writer/producer, who also co-created ABC's "FlashForward," to develop new series projects for the studio. Braga will also likely work on one of the studio's existing properties next season should "24" not return.
BOSTON'S FINEST (ABC) - Treat Williams ("Heartland") has joined the cast of the drama pilot, about Julia Scott (Katee Sackhoff), "a detective who teams with a disgraced ex-cop to solve crimes and untangle the conspiracy that sent him underground." He'll play Jack Holt ("rock-solid, immensely likeable"), the ex-cop's former partner who's also the father of Julia's boyfriend Christian (yet to be cast). Richard T. Jones and Will Yun Lee also star in the ABC Studios-based hour, to be directed by Gary Fleder from a script by Richard Hatem.
CUTTHROAT (ABC) - Mia Maestro ("Alias") is reportedly in talks to assume the lead role on the drama pilot, about Nina Cabrera, "an upscale Beverly Hills widow and soccer mom who runs an international drug cartel." She'd replace Roselyn Sanchez, who is departing for unspecified reasons. Escher Holloway, Jon Seda, Peggy Lipton and Sarah Wynter also star in the hour, which comes from 20th Century Fox Television and co-creators Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters. Bronwen Hughes is directing.
MATADORS (ABC) - Stephen Lang ("Avatar") is set to star opposite David Strathairn in the drama pilot, about two of Chicago's long-feuding families, the Lodaris, which populate the DA's office, and the Galloways, which run the city's most influential private law firm. He'll play Victor Galloway, the head of the latter family who regularly finds himself in court against Roman Lodari (Strathairn), the patriarch of the former clan ("a lifetime of personal and professional antagonism, but also mutual respect, fills the space between them"). Complicating matters: Victor's son Alex (Zach Gilford) is involved with Roman's daughter Juliana (Michelle Borth). Jason Behr, Jonathan Scarfe and Merle Dandridge also star in the Sony Pictures Television-based hour, which comes from creator Jack Orman and director Yves Simoneau.
NEVERMIND NIRVANA (FOX) - "My Name Is Earl" alum Ethan Suplee has scored a role on the comedy pilot, about two brothers from a traditional Indian background - one (Ravi Patel) defies his their parents' (Sakina Jaffrey, Harish Patel) expectations by dating a Caucasian woman (Rachael Leigh Cook), while the other (Utkarsh Ambudkar) agrees to enter an arranged marriage. He's believed to be playing Perry, the brothers' friend who works as a dentist with Ambudkar's character. Ajay Sahgal is behind the 20th Century Fox Television-based half-hour, to be helmed by Scott Ellis.
REAGAN'S LAW (CBS) - Donnie Wahlberg ("Runaway") and Len Cariou ("Damages") are the first to be cast in the drama pilot, about the Reagans, a multigenerational family of cops in New York City. Cariou will play Patrick Reagan, the clan's patriarch and the former chief of police. Wahlberg then is set as Brian Reagan ("a burdened man in a rumpled suit"), a detective still haunted by his experiences in Iraq. Michael Cuesta is helming the CBS Television Studios-based hour from a script by Mitchell Burgess and Robin Green.
THE ROCKFORD FILES (NBC) - Melissa Sagemiller ("Raising the Bar") is the latest addition to the network's "Rockford" revival, which stars Dermot Mulroney in the title role. She's on board as Beth Davenport ("pretty but either doesn't want to show it or doesn't quite know how, cares about her work, cares about people, maybe a bit too much of both"), a lawyer whom Rockford frequently becomes entangled with both personally and professionally. David Shore is behind the Universal Media Studios-based hour, which also stars Alan Tudyk.
STAR SEARCH (ABC, New!) - Former "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul is reportedly in talks to host a revival of the veteran talent search. Rumblings of third incarnation of the franchise - which ran in syndication from 1983 to 1995 and again on CBS from 2003 to 2004 - began back in December, with the Alphabet rumored to have given a 12-episode commitment to the project. The addition of Abdul will undoubtedly earn the series a green light however no other specifics were given.
TRUE BLOOD (HBO) - The pay channel has confirmed the vampire drama will return for its 12-episode third season on Sunday, June 13 at 9:00/8:00c. Firm dates for expected lead outs "Entourage" and "Hung" however were not given.
THE WHOLE TRUTH (ABC) - Anthony Ruivivar ("Traveler") has booked a role on the pilot, a legal drama that shows the defense - led by Jimmy Nolan (Rob Morrow) - and prosecution - led by Kathryn Pearle (Joely Richardson) - sides equally. He'll play Alejo Salazar, Nolan's longtime associate who regularly serves as his second chair. Eamonn Walker and Sean Wing also star in the hour, which comes from Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Warner Bros. Television. Alex Graves is directing off a script by Tom Donaghy.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[03/28/25 - 02:26 PM]
Universal Pictures' Global Cinematic Event "Wicked" Debuts as Streaming's #1 Film
Per preliminary Nielsen data, "Wicked" is the #1 film across all of streaming with 882 million minutes viewed for the week of March 17-23.
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[03/28/25 - 02:22 PM]
ESPN's Exclusive Coverage of Milwaukee Brewers vs. New York Yankees Game on March 27 Generated Largest National Opening Day Audience in Seven Years
The Brewers vs. Yankees game averaged 1.93 million viewers, peaking with 2.23 million viewers.
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[03/28/25 - 02:03 PM]
Video: "RoboForce: The Animated Series" - Official Trailer - Tubi Original
In 2089 Detroit, RoboForce is obsolete and has no hope of becoming heroes. That is until a mysterious code virus infects the UA101 bots, and no one besides RoboForce can stop them.
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[03/28/25 - 10:06 AM]
Mary Steenburgen Joins Netflix's "A Man on the Inside" for Season 2
Steenburgen will play Mona Margadoff, a former musician who factors heavily in the case Charles is trying to solve.
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[03/28/25 - 09:05 AM]
ESPN, Disney+ and Skydance Sports Announce New ESPN Original Series on the Kansas City Chiefs
The six-episode docuseries is expected to premiere later this year on ESPN and Disney+.
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[03/28/25 - 07:07 AM]
Discovery Channel April Programming Highlights
This April, all-new series "Red Bull Soapbox Race," premieres alongside new seasons of "Expedition Files," "Ghost Adventures," "Mysteries of the Abandoned: Hidden America," and "Street Outlaws: Locals Only."
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[03/28/25 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Stranger Things: The First Shadow" - Documentary Announcement - Netflix
Before it hits Broadway this spring, experience the making of the West End phenomenon.
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[03/28/25 - 06:01 AM]
Adult Swim Renews Acclaimed Series "Common Side Effects" for Second Season
The finale episode of the debut season of "Common Side Effects" will air this Sunday at 11:30/10:30c. on Adult Swim.
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[03/27/25 - 11:04 AM]
Part Two of FOX Nation's "Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints" to Roll Out Through the Holy Season
FOX Nation will roll out part two of its hit docudrama series beginning on Friday, April 4 and through the Easter season.
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[03/27/25 - 11:00 AM]
"Survivor" Hits Broadcast and Live Streaming Season Highs
The telecast averaged 4.50 million broadcast viewers up +7% from its season-to-date average, and up +13% from its season-to-date average live streaming on Paramount+.
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[03/27/25 - 10:06 AM]
All-New Series "Red Bull Soapbox Race" Premieres Tuesday, April 29 at 9PM on Discovery Channel
Hosted by NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. and motorsports announcer Mike Bagley, the series features amateur teams as they design and build one-of-a-kind, gravity-powered soapbox racers that compete - and crash - on intricate, downhill courses.
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[03/27/25 - 10:01 AM]
Viral Dating Series "Pop the Balloon" Is Coming Live to Netflix
Yvonne Orji will host the live edition of the series, streaming every Thursday at 8 p.m. ET beginning April 10, only on Netflix.
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[03/27/25 - 10:00 AM]
"Jeopardy! Masters" Returns Wednesday, April 30, on ABC, Following New Episodes of Pat Sajak's "Final Spin" as Host on "Celebrity Wheel of Fortune"
Hosted by "Jeopardy!" G.O.A.T. Ken Jennings, the third annual "Jeopardy! Masters" 2025 tournament will feature an expanded lineup of the top-ranked current "Jeopardy!" contestants, each competing in two action-packed games per hourlong episode for the grand prize of $500,000.
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[03/27/25 - 09:34 AM]
Lifetime Announces "The 13th Wife: Escaping Polygamy" A Two Part Movie Event Starring Felicity Huffman, Olga Petsa and Eric Johnson Premiering May 31 and June 1
The film is based on the extraordinary true story of Rena Chynoweth (played by Huffman as present day Rena and Petsa as young Rena), a brave survivor and former wife of a manipulative polygamist group leader, who escaped a life of oppression and dedicated herself to freeing others.
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[03/27/25 - 09:31 AM]
TV's #1 Original Courtroom Drama "Hot Bench" Swears in Judge Daniel Mentzer
Accomplished trial attorney Judge Daniel Mentzer will join Judge Yodit Tewolde and Judge Rachel Juarez for Season 12 this fall, bringing a new voice and views to the popular three-judge format taking on real small claims cases from courthouses across the country.
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