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[04/16/10 - 12:02 AM]
Development Update: Friday, April 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!
THE BEAR WHISPERER (Animal Planet) - The Discovery sibling has ordered three episodes of a new reality series about professional bear wrangler Steve Searles, who "uses humane tactics to help control the bear population in Mammoth Lakes, California." The network aired a special featuring Searles on January 7 that served as a backdoor pilot. LMNO Productions is the producer.
BEACH LANE (NBC) - Patton Oswalt has departed the comedy pilot, about a celebrity author (Matthew Broderick) hired by an irresponsible millionaire heir (Oswalt) to run his struggling small-town newspaper in the Hamptons. Said development comes within days of Oswalt's casting. No reason was given for the decision however producers reportedly have also offered the comedian a different part. Aimee Garcia, Henry Zebrowski and Kristen Johnston also star in the Universal Media Studios-based half-hour, which comes from creator Paul Simms and Broadway Video Television.
BURN NOTICE (USA) - The cable channel is set to announce a two-year pick-up of its Jeffrey Donovan-led franchise. The massive commitment comes as the series preps for the launch of its fourth season on Thursday, June 3 at 9:00/8:00c. Seasons five and six - both to run between 15-18 episodes - will likewise roll out in successive summers. Meanwhile, USA has also landed the off-cable rights to the drama from Fox Television Studios. Repeats of the series will air weeknights on the network beginning in October of 2011. That's in addition to MyNetworkTV's acquisition, which will see back-to-back repeats air on Wednesday nights this fall.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (DirecTV) - Emily Rios ("Men of a Certain Age") and Lynn Blackburn ("Noises Off") are both set to recur on the show's fifth season. The former will play Epyck, a rebel goth girl, with Blackburn as "a smart, tough, and dedicated teacher at East Dillon" who befriends Connie Britton's character. Said season rolls out this fall on DirecTV.
HAWAII FIVE-O (CBS) - "Lost" co-executive producer Paul Zbyszewski has signed a two-year, seven-figure overall deal with CBS Television Studios. The pact calls for the writer/producer, also the creator of ABC's short-lived "Day Break," to develop new projects for the studio as well as serve in a similar capacity on the CBS pilot "Hawaii Five-O" should it go to series.
IN TREATMENT (HBO) - Three-time Oscar nominee Debra Winger ("Terms of Endearment") is reportedly in talks to join the cast of the show's upcoming third season. She'll play one of the show's featured patients, "a former big star who is battling insecurity and fear about her career." No other details were given.
MEMPHIS BEAT (TNT) - Sunny Mabrey ("xXx: State of the Union") has booked a recurring role on the upcoming drama, which stars Jason Lee as Dwight Hendricks, "a Memphis police officer who lives with his mother (Celia Weston)" and "his intimate connection with the city and its people sets him apart from his fellow officers." She'll play Dwight's ex-wife, Charlene Campbell, a role originated by Robyn Lively in the pilot. No reason for the change was given. "Beat" launches Tuesday, June 22 at 10:00/9:00c.
PLAYING WITH GUNS (Spike TV, New!) - Danny Masterson ("That '70s Show") and Joey Kern ("Super Troopers") are set to topline a new comedy pilot at the cable channel about "childhood best friends who become police officers in their hometown for the everyday perks." Brian Robbins ("Blue Mountain State") is on board to helm the half-hour as well as executive produce via his Varsity Pictures banner alongside Sharla Sumpter Bridgett for Lionsgate Television. Bob Castrone, Brian Levin and Jason Zumwalt co-wrote the script and will serve as co-executive producers. Production is set to begin this month in Wilmington, North Carolina.
PRETTY LITTLE LIARS (ABC Family) - Janel Parrish ("Heroes") and Holly Marie Combs ("Charmed") have each landed roles on the soon-to-launch 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. Parrish will play Mona Vanderwall ("thin and attractive"), the ultrapopular friend to the show's main quartet. Combs then is set as Ella Montgomery ("attractive, well read and liberal"), the mother of Lucy Hale's character. The newcomer bows Tuesday, June 8 at 8:00/7:00c.
REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER (HBO) - The pay channel has ordered a ninth season of the veteran talk show. 35 new episodes will roll out beginning in January. That's in addition to its current 24-episode eighth season, which will run into November. To date, "Real Time" is averaging an aggregate 3.8 million viewers each week when its various encores and DVR viewership is facted in. Maher himself is in the midst of a two-year deal with the network which calls for him to host the series as well as executive produce alongside Scott Carter, Sheila Griffiths, Brad Grey, Marc Gurvitz and Billy Martin. He'll also film another stand-up special and develop a new unscripted project for the network however no specifics were given.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[04/04/25 - 10:48 AM]
Video: Watch A First Look - ID's "All Access PD: Grand Rapids" Premieres Tuesday, April 8 at 10/9c on ID
The new series offers unprecedented access to the inner workings of the Grand Rapids Police Department.
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[04/04/25 - 10:32 AM]
New Season of "Gold Rush: White Water" Premieres Friday, April 25 at 8PM ET/PT on Discovery Channel
Last year, Dustin Hurt's crew struck a 6-ounce, $70K nugget - the biggest in Gold Rush history. This season, he's risking everything for more.
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[04/04/25 - 09:01 AM]
Hit the Gas! Prime Video Releases Premiere Date and First-Look Images for Electrifying New YA Drama "Motorheads"
All 10 episodes will debut exclusively on Prime Video on Tuesday, May 20 in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
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[04/04/25 - 08:31 AM]
Peacock Exclusively Streams Blumhouse's "Wolf Man" Beginning April 18
Directed by acclaimed horror filmmaker Leigh Whannell, the film stars Christopher Abbott, Julia Garner, Sam Jaeger, Matilda Firth, Benedict Hardie and more.
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[04/04/25 - 08:01 AM]
HBO Original Film "Mountainhead," Written and Directed by Jesse Armstrong, Debuts May 31
The film finishes production this week in Park City, Utah and marks Armstrong's feature directorial debut.
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[04/04/25 - 07:45 AM]
Prime Video Greenlights "Taurasi"
The three-part docuseries chronicles the extraordinary story of basketball legend Diana Taurasi, whose relentless pursuit of greatness has transcended the boundaries of sport.
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[04/04/25 - 07:02 AM]
Video: "Earnhardt" - Larger Than Life Teaser - Prime Video
The new original series is coming to Prime Video on Memorial Day Weekend.
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[04/04/25 - 07:01 AM]
Paramount+'s New Series "MobLand" Breaks Record as Biggest Global Series Premiere Ever with 2.2 Million Global Viewers on Premiere Day
"'MobLand' is a runaway success thanks to the visionary work of Guy, Jez, Ronan and David Glasser and brought to life by the exceptional Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren who transport us into a world audiences clearly cannot get enough of," said Chris McCarthy.
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[04/04/25 - 02:26 AM]
"Rotten Legacy", Starring Jose Coronado, Premieres on Netflix May 16
In "Rotten Legacy," Federico (Jose Coronado) is forced to step away from his communication companies to recover from an illness that kept him sidelined for two years.
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[04/03/25 - 02:00 PM]
Video: Trailer and Key Art for "Not Just A Goof" Available Now
Just in time for the 30th anniversary of "A Goofy Movie," this documentary follows a young creative team tackling their first Disney feature, facing disappointment upon release, only for the film to gain a passionate following decades later.
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[04/03/25 - 12:06 PM]
Twelve Rebellious Chefs Are Set for Battle on NBC's Bold New Cooking Competition Series "Yes, Chef!" Hosted by Emmy-Award Winning Chefs Jose Andres and Martha Stewart
The series will premiere on Monday, April 28 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on NBC following "The Voice."
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[04/03/25 - 12:01 PM]
ABC Renews "9-1-1," "Grey's Anatomy," "The Rookie," "Shifting Gears" and "Will Trent" for 2025-26 Season
The network confirmed the pickups on social media this afternoon.
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[04/03/25 - 12:00 PM]
CBS to Present MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) for the First Time, Airing Live Sunday, Sept. 7 from UBS Arena, and Streaming on Paramount+
The 2024 VMAs delivered its biggest multi-network audience in four years and ranked as the most social VMAs in show history, with 66.7 million social interactions.
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[04/03/25 - 11:53 AM]
Awesomeness Aquires the Rights to "Racing Hearts," Highly Anticipated Debut Novel from Ann Adams
Set in the cinematic world of competitive rowing, "Racing Hearts" is a coming-of-age romance that follows Olympic hopeful Katherine Parker, who is sent home to Berkeley after another failed race to work with a new coach, Adrian.
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[04/03/25 - 11:00 AM]
CBS Gives First Look at "The Equalizer" Spin-Off Featuring Titus Welliver and Juani Feliz
In the episode, airing April 20, McCall is contacted by Samantha Reed, whose father, ex-CIA agent Elijah Reed, is missing.
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