[04/23/10 - 12:09 AM] Development Update: Friday, April 23 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!
THE 30 PERCENT (CMT, New!) - Peter Knight ("Krod Mandoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire") has booked a pilot presentation order from the cable channel for a new comedy about "a family that must adjust their lifestyle to accommodate a 30% pay cut." Said effort is one of four such presentations recently ordered by the network. Knight penned the script, which is presumably single-camera, and will executive produce.
THE CLOSER/RIZZOLI & ISLES (TNT) - As expected, TNT will pair the sixth season of its signature drama "The Closer" with newcomer "Rizzoli & Isles" on Monday nights beginning July 12. Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander star as the latter's title characters, Jane Rizzoli, a Boston detective who works closely with medical examiner Maura Isles to solve crimes. The show's 10-episode season will fill the 10:00/9:00c hour, preceded by the aforementioned "Closer."
EASTBOUND & DOWN (HBO) - Michael Pena ("Crash") and Ana de la Reguera ("Cop Out") are joining the cast of the show's second season, which sees Kenny Powers (Danny McBride) in Mexico where he joins a local baseball team. Pena will play Kenny's friend and owner of the baseball team he joins with De la Reguera as Kenny's new love interest. In addition, Steve Little will return as Stevie Janowski, who tracks Danny down in Mexico, while co-stars Katy Mixon, John Hawkes, Andrew Daly, Ben Best and Jennifer Irwin are not expected to return as full time regulars. Casting is underway for Kenny's father with production set to begin next month in Puerto Rico.
THE HARD LIFE (CMT, New!) - Bill Diamond ("Murphy Brown") has landed a scripted comedy at the network "that explores the contrast of modern parenting vs. old school parenting." He'll executive produce the pilot presentation, which is being filmed as single-camera.
MY BOYS (TBS) - The cable channel will roll out the show's fourth season on Sunday, July 25 at 10:00/9:00c. Said development marks its fourth time period in as many seasons - Mondays (season one), Thursdays (season two) and Tuesdays (season three). The new season, which will feature nine episodes, has widely been pegged as the show's last due to co-stars Jordana Spiro and Kyle Howard landing pilots this development cycle - NBC's "Love Bites" and "Perfect Couples," respectively - and the departure of Jim Gaffigan.
UNTITLED DAVID LITT PROJECT (CMT, New!) - David Litt ("The King of Queens") has sold a multi-camera effort to the cable channel about "a man seeking the empty nest and his family who is unwilling to let him have it." Gene Stein and Nina Wass are also behind the project, which has a pilot presentation commitment.
WORKING CLASS (CMT, New!) - Melissa Peterman ("The Singing Bee") is set to topline a potential new comedy at the cable channel about "a blue collar, single mom who into a home she can barely afford in an affluent neighborhood in order to provide the best life possible for her kids." Jill Cargeman ("Gary Unmarried") penned the multi-camera project, which is set to film a pilot presentation. Peterman and her manager Darris Hatch will also receive producing credits.
