 |
 |
[09/17/10 - 07:09 PM]
Development Update: Friday, September 17
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!
CASTLE (ABC) - Lee Tergesen has been tapped as a new antagonist on the crime procedural. He'll play Gates, "a shrewd, hardened, and violent felon who becomes the prime suspect in this season's big '3XK' serial-killer investigation." Tergesen will make his first appearance on the show's seventh episode.
THE COUNCIL OF DADS (FOX, New!) - Peter Tolan ("Rescue Me") has booked yet another project, this time a half-hour comedy at FOX. Said effort, based on the non-fiction book by Bruce Feiler (subtitled "My Daughters, My Illness, and the Men Who Could Be Me"), revolves around a man who, after being diagnosed with rare, life-threatening cancer, assembles six of his closest friends - each with their area of expertise - who agree to help raise his young twin daughters following his death. Tolan is writing and executive producing the Sony Pictures Television-based project, which has a $1.5 million pilot production commitment. Feiler will serve as a consultant on the adaptation.
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC) - Nancy Travis ("The Bill Engvall Show") has snagged a role on the show's upcoming seventh season. She'll play the mother of Brian Austin Green's character. Travis's casting comes on the heels of John Schneider being tapped as Green's father. Both parents make their debut on the series come episode seven.
MY FORMERLY HOT LIFE (ABC, New!) - Stephanie Dolgoff's bestselling memoir is being eyed for the small screen at ABC. Julie Anne Robinson ("The Middle") is attached to direct and executive produce the potential single-comedy, "a comedic look at the good, the bad, and the ugly moments in a woman's life as she adjusts to the realization that she is no longer forever 21." Dolgoff and Christy Fletcher and Rebecca Gradinger of Fletcher & Co. will serve as co-executive producers. No writer or studio was indicated.
PERSON OF INTEREST (CBS, New!) - J.J. Abrams's latest entry has found a home at CBS. The drama is being penned by Jonah Nolan, who co-wrote "The Dark Knight" and "The Prestige" alongside his director brother, Christopher. No details were given about the crime thriller other than it is set up at Abrams's Warner Bros. Television-based Bad Robot. Abrams, Nolan and Bryan Burk will then executive produce.
SPARTACUS: BLOOD & SAND (Starz) - Andy Whitfield is departing the series as the actor been advised by his doctors to immediately resume aggressive treatment for a recurrence of cancer. "It's with a deep sense of disappointment that I must step aside from such an exceptional project as Spartacus, and all the wonderful people involved. It seems that it is time for myself and my family to embark on another extraordinary journey. Thank you sincerely for the support so far," said Whitfield in a statement.
While Whitfield's exit places season two, originally targeted for September 2011, in limbo, the show's six-episode prequel "Gods of the Arena" is still on track for a January premiere. "Right now, we just want to extend our concern and support to Andy and his family," said Starz's Carmi Zlotnik in the network's portion of the statement. "We will address our programming plans at some later date."
SQUIRRELS (The CW, New!)/UNTITLED COOPER & LEVIN PROJECT (CBS, New!) - Former "Brothers & Sisters" showrunners Jennifer Levin and Sherri Cooper-Landsman have set up a pair of drama projects. First up at CBS as an untitled hour about "a 45-year-old mom of three whose neurosurgeon husband kills himself, leaving her in financial ruin and forcing her to go back to complete the surgical residency she never finished, only now her oldest son is her supervising resident." Richard Shepard, Sean and Bryan Furst are also on board to executive produce, the former of which may direct.
Then at The CW there's "Squirrels," about a woman who, "following a whirlwind affair over graduation weekend with the hottest guy in her med school class, makes a radical decision to give up a plum surgical residency in Chicago in order to be near him, and takes the only remaining spot at UCLA -- psychiatry, a field which she has no belief in." Carol Mendelsohn and Julie Weitz are likewise attached to executive produce. Both hours come from CBS Television Studios.
THAT'S A RECORD (NBC, New!) - Jimmy Fallon is set to executive produce a new game show pilot for the Peacock in which users attempt unusual world records. Chris Hardwick ("Web Soup") is hosting the project, which is based on the Universal Record Database, a website devoted to said feats. Fallon frequently features such efforts on "Late Night," such as the number of bunnies snuggled in a hammock or the fastest time a robot can decorate a cupcake. JD Roth and Todd A. Nelson of 3 Ball Productions are also attached.
TRUE LIES (ABC, New!) - A small screen take on James Cameron's 1994 feature of the same name, about a super-spy (Arnold Schwarzenegger in the film) whose family discovers his real job, has found a home at ABC. Rene Echevarria ("Castle") is penning the adaptation which he'll executive produce alongside Cameron and his Lightstorm Entertainment banner for 20th Century Fox Television. The Alphabet has given a script commitment to the project with a penalty attached should it not go to pilot.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
|
|
|
 [september 2010]  |
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
| | | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
[05/09/25 - 01:18 PM]
ABC News Announces Primetime Special on the Historic Election of the First-Ever American Pope
The one-hour special, "The American Pope: Leo XIV - A Special Edition of 20/20," airs tonight, Friday, May 9 on ABC.
|
[05/09/25 - 12:30 PM]
FOX Greenlights "The Faithful," A Powerful Three-Week Biblical Event Series, for Broadcast Spring of 2026
This landmark drama is based on The Old Testament's Book of Genesis and told through the eyes of the courageous and passionate, yet flawed women whose descendants would shape three of the world's great faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
|
[05/09/25 - 12:01 PM]
ID Announces May 19 Premiere Date for "Trapped: What Is Happening to Wendy Williams?"
The hour-long special presented by "Extra" will premiere Monday, May 19 at 8:00/7:00c on ID and will be available to stream on Max.
|
[05/09/25 - 11:00 AM]
FOX Greenlights "Best Medicine," An Irreverent Medical Series Based on the Critically Acclaimed Global Hit "Doc Martin"
Wholly owned by FOX Entertainment, the series comes from executive producers Ben Silverman, Rodney Ferrell, Liz Tuccillo, Mark Crowdy and Philippa Braithwaite, and is set to debut in the 2025-2026 season.
|
[05/09/25 - 10:01 AM]
Peacock Announces a Compelling, Heartwarming and Villainous Slate of New Unscripted Series
New series greenlights include "Tiffany Haddish Goes Off" and "Nelly & Ashanti: We Belong Together;" a third season of "House of Villains," along with true crime documentaries "Gilgo Beach Killer: The House of Secrets" and "The Idaho Student Murders" as well as "Epic Ride: The Story of Universal Theme Parks" docuseries.
|
[05/09/25 - 10:01 AM]
Video: BET+ Original Movie - "Onyx"
Three friends try and escape the daily grind and support their friend recovering from a bad breakup by going on a rural Arizona adventure camp when they inadvertently get caught in an alien invasion.
|
[05/09/25 - 09:04 AM]
Season Two of the Max Original Series "Peacemaker," From DC Studios, Debuts August 21
John Cena, Danielle Brooks, Jennifer Holland, Freddie Stroma, Steve Agee, and Robert Patrick return for season two.
|
[05/09/25 - 08:51 AM]
Peacock Announces Series Pickup of Seth MacFarlane's "Ted" Animated Spin-Off
MacFarlane, Mark Wahlberg, Amanda Seyfried and Jessica Barth will all reprise their roles from the film franchise.
|
[05/09/25 - 08:19 AM]
Now Filming: Hulu Original Series "Rivals" Season 2
The drama returns with an extended season of 12 episodes - and even more wit, desire, and dramatic twists.
|
[05/09/25 - 07:01 AM]
"A Man on the Inside" Season 2 - Now in Production!
Created by Mike Schur, season two will see Charles (Ted Danson) going undercover at a college.
|
[05/09/25 - 06:02 AM]
Lifetime Greenlights New Original Movie, "Pretty Hurts," Starring Haylie Duff, Sarah Borne, and Kaci Barker Premiering June 28 Brought to You by GSK
The film includes a storyline that highlights meningococcal disease, known as meningitis, to help educate parents of teens and young adults about the uncommon, but potentially life-threatening illness for which 16- to 23-year-olds are at increased risk.
|
[05/09/25 - 05:01 AM]
Netflix Announces Its First-Ever Nordic Medical Drama Starring Sara Khorami in the Lead Role
At the emergency ward, it doesn't matter who you are - rich or poor, influencer, carpenter, or minister.
|
[05/08/25 - 05:01 PM]
SO JI-SUB Returns with Cold and Intense Noir Action Series "Mercy for None", Premiering June 6
Joining him are Huh Joon-ho, Gong Myoung, Choo Young Woo, An Kil-kang, Tiger Lee, Cho Han-cheul, along with special appearances by Cha Seung Won and Lee Jun-hyuk.
|
[05/08/25 - 01:01 PM]
Video: "The Survivors" - Official Trailer - Netflix
15 years ago, the loss of three young people tore this sleepy seaside town apart. Now, the mysterious death of a young woman dredges up the past.
|
[05/08/25 - 12:59 PM]
Lifetime Announces New Original Movie "Dateless to Dangerous: My Son's Secret Life" Starring Jodie Sweetin, Alexander Elliot and Nikki Roumel Premiering June 21
The gripping drama deals with teens as they navigate identity, acceptance, social alienation and explores the rising subculture of incels - usually involuntarily celibate men.
|
|
|
|
