or


[10/07/10 - 06:15 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, October 7
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!


BLAISIN' (Science, New!) - "Top Chef" and "Iron Chef America" alum Richard Blais is set to topline a potential new series for the cable channel in which he recreates classic American dishes using modern tools and techniques. Fujisankei Communications International is behind the project, with Brant Reiter, Scott Miller and Christo Doyle executive producing. A pair of half-hour pilots for the series were recently completed in New York City.


BRIGHTON BEACH (Lifetime, New!) - The cable channel has ordered 12 episodes of a new "Jersey Shore"-esque reality series which follows a group of Russian-Americans living on Coney Island in Brooklyn. Elina Miller, Banks Tarver and Ken Druckerman are the executive producers for Left/Right, Inc. No other details were given.


THE LAST HOPE (CBS, New!) - Brian Peterson and Kelly Souders ("Smallville") are developing a new drama at the Eye loosely based on the life of "professional finder-of-lost-loves" Troy Dunn. Warner Bros. Television is behind the hour, additional details of which weren't specified. Dunn stars in the WE tv original series "The Locator," which wrapped its third season earlier this year.


PATITO FEO (MTV) - Bert V. Royal's comedy, about "the struggles of a Mexican girl from a small town thrown into the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles," has been ordered to pilot. Said half-hour is based on an Argentinean format with Royal, Yellow Brick Road Productions's Teri Weinberg ("Ugly Betty"), Hip Entertainment Group's Beatrice Acevedo and Doug Greiff serving as executive producers. Andy Fickman ("You Again") is in talks to direct.


UNTITLED CONSTANCE MCMILLEN PROJECT (ABC Family, New!) - Craig Zadan and Neil Meron are developing a telefilm at the cable channel about the life of Constance McMillen, a lesbian high school student in Mississipi who made headlines after she was "barred her from attending her prom because she wanted to bring her girlfriend as her date and wear a tuxedo." McMillen subsequently drew nationwide attention and sued the Itawamba County School District, ultimately winning a $35,000 settlement and prompting the district to follow a non-discrimination policy. John Gray ("Ghost Whisperer") is on board to write and direct the Sony Pictures Television-based project, which is in the early stages of development.


UNTITLED STEPHNIE WEIR PROJECT (ABC, New!) - Stephnie Weir has inked a two-script deal with Sony Pictures Television, which includes a half-hour comedy at ABC that "features a traditional American diner as the backdrop." The actress/writer was behind the Debra Messing-led comedy pilot "Wright vs. Wrong" at the network last season, a revised version of which never materialized.


UNTITLED WILMER VALDERRAMA PROJECT (ABC, New!) - Wilmer Valderrama is set to star in a potential project at the network billed as "a live-action comedy with a musical component." ABC has given a script commitment with a penalty attached to the half-hour, which Akiva Schaffer ("Saturday Night Live") is attached to direct from a script by Murray and Judah Miller ("American Dad"). Valderrama, Schaffer and the Millers will then all executive produce for 20th Century Fox Television.






  [october 2010]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· AMERICAN DAD (FOX)
· BLAIS OFF (SCIENCE)
· COUNTER CULTURE (ABC)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· GHOST WHISPERER (CBS)
· IRON CHEF AMERICA (FOOD)
· LAST HOPE, THE (CBS)
· LOCATOR, THE (WE)
· PATITO FEO (MTV)
· RUSSIAN DOLLS (LIFETIME)
· SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (NBC)
· SMALLVILLE (CW)
· TOP CHEF (BRAVO)
· UGLY BETTY (ABC)
· UNTITLED CONSTANCE MCMILLEN PROJECT (ABC FAMILY)
· UNTITLED WILMER VALDERRAMA PROJECT (ABC)
· WRIGHT VS WRONG (ABC)





[02/27/26 - 08:12 AM]
Paul Wesley Joins Season Three of Hit Apple TV Series "The Buccaneers"
Wesley will play the role as Frank, a mysterious but charming stranger who arrives into Nan and Mrs. St. George's world, turning it upside down.

[02/27/26 - 07:31 AM]
Peacock to Exclusively Stream Focus Features' "Hamnet" Beginning March 6
Directed by two-time Academy Award-winning director Chloé Zhao, the film tells the untold story behind one of Shakespeare's most memorable works and celebrates the power of imagination and the creative spirit.

[02/27/26 - 07:01 AM]
Prime Video Debuts First-Look Image of Ryan Hurst as Kratos and Callum Vinson as Atreus On Set of New Series "God of War"
The series is co-produced by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios in association with PlayStation Productions and Tall Ship Productions, and has received a two-season order.

[02/27/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: Netflix and Apple TV Join Forces to Stream Formula 1 Thrills
The entire new season of "Formula 1: Drive to Survive" is now on Netflix globally and Apple TV in the U.S.

[02/26/26 - 08:46 PM]
"Dandelion": Netflix Adapts "Gintama" Creator Hideaki Sorachi's Debut Work into New Anime Series
Set within the Send-Off Department of the Japanese Angel Federation, Dandelion follows "Angels" Tetsuo Tanba and Misaki Kurogane as they scramble to track down Earthbound spirits - souls unable to move on and find peace - and gently guide them to pass on.

[02/26/26 - 06:01 PM]
Video: "Still Shining" - Official Trailer - Netflix
After falling in love as teens, two young adults drift apart - only to reunite 10 years later and confront their heartbreak, growth and new challenges.

[02/26/26 - 02:46 PM]
Netflix Declines to Raise Offer for Warner Bros.
"The transaction we negotiated would have created shareholder value with a clear path to regulatory approval. However, we've always been disciplined, and at the price required to match Paramount Skydance's latest offer, the deal is no longer financially attractive, so we are declining to match the Paramount Skydance bid," said co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters.

[02/26/26 - 02:19 PM]
"Live with Kelly and Mark" Soars to Season High with Best Audience in Over a Year
"Live" has now ranked as the No. 1 talk show in syndication for 157 consecutive weeks across all key measures.

[02/26/26 - 02:08 PM]
Britbox Unveils Spring Slate with "The Lady" Starring Mia McKenna-Bruce; Premieres March 18
Other highlights include the return of "Hope Street" and the debut of "Mudtown."

[02/26/26 - 01:36 PM]
Paramount Comments on Warner Bros. Discovery Board's Determination of Paramount's Proposal as Superior
David Ellison, Chairman and CEO of Paramount, said: "We are pleased WBD's Board has unanimously affirmed the superior value of our offer, which delivers to WBD shareholders superior value, certainty and speed to closing."

[02/26/26 - 01:16 PM]
Warner Bros. Discovery Board of Directors Determines Revised Proposal from Paramount Skydance Constitutes a "Company Superior Proposal"
Under the terms of the Netflix merger agreement, this notice triggers a four business day period during which Netflix has the right to propose revisions to the Netflix merger agreement so that the PSKY proposal would cease to constitute a "Company Superior Proposal."

[02/26/26 - 01:00 PM]
FOX Television Network Renews Hit Joel McHale Series "Animal Control" for Season Five
In addition, the first three seasons of the series are currently streaming on Netflix, and the show has been sold in territories around the world.

[02/26/26 - 10:31 AM]
More Stars Take the Stage to Present at the 98th Oscars
Javier Bardem, Chris Evans, Chase Infiniti, Demi Moore, Kumail Nanjiani and Maya Rudolph are among the featured talent.

[02/26/26 - 10:30 AM]
Video: AMC Networks Unveils Captivating Sneak Peek Scene from "The Vampire Lestat"
In the new rock and roll centric season, the Vampire Lestat goes on an electric multi-city tour while being haunted by "muses" from his wild and rebellious past.

[02/26/26 - 10:21 AM]
Feed the Children Teams Up with FOX's "Next Level Chef" to Put Child Hunger to Bed
The year-round campaign rallies the public alongside donors, volunteers, and partners to provide kids with the food and resources they need to rise and thrive every day.