or


[04/02/10 - 12:08 AM]
Development Update: Friday, April 2
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!


HELLCATS (The CW) - Robbie Jones ("One Tree Hill") and Heather Hemmens ("The Candy Shop") are both on board the presentation, a drama set in the world of competitive college cheerleading. He's believed to be playing Luis Famosa, an "easy and laid-back, seriously unserious" member of the squad who befriends Marty (Aly Michalka), much to the chagrin of Dan (Matt Barr). Said role was originally written for someone of Cuban descent. Hemmens then is set as Alice Vandermark ("a willowy beauty with jaded New York cool"), a fellow Hellcat that suffers a hairline wrist fracture. Ashley Tisdale and Gail O'Grady co-star in the hour, which was penned by Kevin Murphy. CBS Television Studios, Tom Welling Productions and Warner Bros. Television are co-producing.


HITCHED (CBS) - Riki Lindhome has landed a role on the comedy pilot, about a twentysomething newlywed couple (Jack Carpenter, Kristin Kreuk) navigating their new life together. She's on board as Shari Ratner, the bride's best friend, "a ball buster" whose husband never speaks. Josh Schwartz and Matt Miller are behind the Warner Bros. Television-based half-hour, which also stars Eugene Levy, Kurtwood Smith and Thomas Middleditch. Rob Greenberg is directing.


HUGE (ABC Family) - Gina Torres ("Gossip Girl") is the latest addition to the series, which launches Monday, June 28 at 9:00/8:00c. She'll play Dr. Dorothy Rand in the hour, about "the lives of seven teens and the staff at a weight-loss camp, as they look beneath the surface to discover their true selves and the truth about each other." Andrew Caldwell, Ari Stidham, Ashley Holliday, Harvey Guillen, Hayley Hasselhoff, Nikki Blonsky and Zander Eckhouse also star in the ensemble.


LAW & ORDER (NBC) - S. Epatha Merkerson is departing the series after 17 seasons. Said decision comes as production is about to begin on the show's 20th season finale. Merkerson reportedly made the request in time to give her character an appropriate send-off. Earlier this week, the Peacock announced Olympic Gold Medal winning skier Lindsey Vonn would guest star on the aforementioned finale, to be written and directed by Rene Balcer. As for the future of the series, rumblings persist that a 21st season will be contingent on whether or not TNT, home to its off-network run, will extend its contract beyond season 20 which in turn will help offset the cost of production.


PRETTY LITTLE LIARS (ABC Family) - Chad Lowe ("24") has joined the cast of the upcoming drama, about "four estranged best friends who are reunited one year after their best friend and queen bee of the group, Alison, goes missing only to discover they are receiving messages from an anonymous "A" who knows all their secrets." He'll play Byron, one of the girls' (Lucy Hale) fathers, a "handsome professor that the college girls on campus all talk about when they get drunk and horny." Alexis Denisof originated the role in the pilot. No reason was given for the recasting. Ashley Benson, Laura Leighton, Nia Peeples, Shay Mitchell as Emily and Troian Bellisario also star in the project, which bows Tuesday, June 8 at 8:00/7:00c.


STRANGE BREW (FOX) - Greg Germann ("In Case of Emergency") and Damon Gupton ("Deadline") have both booked roles on the comedy pilot, about a family-owned brewery. The former will play Burt ("fit, comfortable in his Republican skin"), a president of a rival company who tries to convince patriarch Ted (Jere Burns) to sell him a piece of the business. Gupton then is set as Lester Lewis III, a third generation brewmaster who's a de facto member of the family. Aya Cash, Laurie Metcalf, Mo Mandel and Skylar Astin also star in the Warner Bros. Television-based half-hour, which Marc Buckland is directing from a script by David Kohan and Max Mutchnick.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [april 2010]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
    


· 24 (FOX)
· DEADLINE (NBC)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· GOSSIP GIRL (CW)
· HELLCATS (CW)
· HITCHED (CBS)
· HUGE (ABC FAMILY)
· IN CASE OF EMERGENCY (ABC)
· LAW & ORDER (NBC)
· ONE TREE HILL (CW)
· PRETTY LITTLE LIARS (FREEFORM)
· STRANGE BREW (FOX)





[01/20/25 - 02:01 AM]
Video: "Six Nations: Full Contact" Season 2 - First Look - Netflix
New coaches and fresh players have shaken up European rugby. As the whistle blows for the 2024 Guinness Six Nations Championship, it's anyone's to win.

[01/19/25 - 09:31 PM]
Take a Wild Ride from the Mandap Into Total Madness: "Dhoom Dhaam" Launches on Netflix on February 14
On the night of their wedding, mild-mannered Veer and spunky Koyal are unexpectedly pulled into a frenzied search for the mysterious "Charlie."

[01/19/25 - 03:17 PM]
Video: Paramount+ Debuts Official Trailer for Highly Anticipated Second Season of "1923" Premiering Sunday, February 23
In addition to Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, "1923" stars Brandon Sklenar, Julia Schlaepfer, Jerome Flynn, Darren Mann, Brian Geraghty, Aminah Nieves, Michelle Randolph, Sebastian Roché, Timothy Dalton and Jennifer Carpenter.

[01/19/25 - 01:31 PM]
FOX Sports Delivers 33.6 Million Viewers for Commanders-Lions NFC Divisional Game
Saturday's NFC Divisional showdown is projected to peak at 35.7 million viewers from 9:30-9:45 PM ET.

[01/17/25 - 07:01 PM]
Prime Video to Premiere Japanese Original Film, "Broken Rage," Directed, Written by, and Starring Takeshi Kitano, Exclusively on Prime Video on February 13
Directed, written by, and starring the legendary filmmaker Takeshi Kitano, who continues to receive worldwide acclaim, "Broken Rage" is based on his concept of exploring "comedy within a violent film."

[01/17/25 - 05:33 PM]
Video: New Trailer - "The Kardashians" Season Six
The season premieres February 6 with new episodes on Thursdays.

[01/17/25 - 05:31 PM]
Lunar New Year Must-Watch: Period Rom-Com Drama Series "Perfect Match" Premieres January 25
The series follows Madam Li (Ni Hong-jie) who moves her five beautiful daughters to the prosperous city of Bianjing to start a teahouse business.

[01/17/25 - 03:39 PM]
"Shifting Gears" Brings Tim Allen Back to ABC and Hulu in Style with 17 Million Total Audience to Date
"Shifting Gears" stood as ABC's strongest series debut in over six years - since 10/16/18 with "The Conners," and marks the most-watched ABC series premiere on streaming to date, based on views in its first seven days on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.

[01/17/25 - 12:15 PM]
CBS News Will Deliver Special Multiplatform Coverage of the Inauguration of Donald Trump on Jan. 20, 2025
John Dickerson, Maurice DuBois and Margaret Brennan will anchor "Inauguration Day in America - A CBS News Primetime Report," at 10:00/9:00c.

[01/17/25 - 10:34 AM]
Vice TV Schedules "Pitino: Red Storm Rising" Premiere
The six-part docuseries following Rick Pitino in his second season as head coach of the St. John's University men's basketball team, will premiere on Tuesday, February 11 (10:00-11:00 PM ET), with new episodes weekly.

[01/17/25 - 09:30 AM]
Video: We TV Releases Trailer and Key Art for "Love After Lockup: Crime Story"
In this new series, "Love After Lockup" cast favorites from the past and present reveal what led them to a life of crime and landed them behind bars.

[01/17/25 - 09:09 AM]
"Yellowstone" Official Podcast to Premiere on January 23
The weekly podcast, which launches on Thursday, January 23, will feature iHeartMedia's nationally-syndicated top on-air personality Bobby Bones as he dives into all things "Yellowstone," the smash-hit series.

[01/17/25 - 09:04 AM]
Oprah Winfrey to Introduce OWN's Premiere of NAACP Image Award-Nominated "Luther: Never Too Much" During OWN: Spotlight Presentation
The critically acclaimed film celebrates the vocal virtuoso and chronicles the obstacles and triumphs he had along the way to become one of the most decorated and influential artists of all time.

[01/17/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson" - Official Trailer - Netflix
The white Bronco. The gloves. The trial of the century. This documentary series investigates the shocking murder case that became a cultural phenomenon.

[01/17/25 - 09:00 AM]
Glory Returns to Rome on January 21 When "Gladiator II" Streams on Paramount+
Over the course of the 28 days following the sequel's release, the original film saw a massive 96% lift in viewership.