[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.
[06/19/13 - 01:39 PM] TNT Bumps Newcomer "72 Hours" to Friday Nights The reality competition series, which had been airing on Thursdays at 9:00/8:00c, will relocate to Fridays effective immediately.
[06/19/13 - 12:17 PM] ESPN to Present World Series of Poker Main Event To kick off ESPN's WSOP coverage, the inaugural World Series of Poker Asia-Pacific Main Event Final Table will air on Tuesday, July 23.
