or


[04/27/11 - 11:20 PM]
Development Update: Wednesday, April 27
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!


BLACK JACK (Comedy Central) - Ving Rhames has been tapped for the title role on the comedy pilot, about Black Jack (Rhames) "who, after 20 years as the most kick-ass special ops agent the U.S. government has had on its payroll, finally goes too far and is de-commissioned." Michael Starrbury penned the script while David Gordon Green is attached to direct. Rhames's casting lifts said contingency off the pilot's production. Danny McBride, Jody Hill and Matt Reilly are also executive producing alongside Green and Starrbury.


THE FIRM (NBC, New!) - eOne Television and Paramount Pictures are developing a small screen take on John Grisham's book-turned-Tom Cruise-led-feature of the same name. Lucas Reiter penned the pilot to the project, which was originally developed by CBS but stalled in the script stage. The eOne incarnation however has already been cleared for 22 episodes on Sony's AXN networks in more than 125 territories around the world with NBC in talks to carry the series domestically. As for specifics, "The Firm" will follow Mitch McDeere (Cruise in the film) and his family as they emerge from the Federal Witness Protection Program after 10 years, "determined to reclaim their lives and their future [but] soon find that past dangers are still lurking and new threats are everywhere." Casting is underway for a July production start in Canada. Grisham and Reiter are executive producing alongside John Morayniss, Michael Rosenberg and Noreen Halpern.


GAME CHANGE (HBO) - Sarah Paulson, Peter MacNicol and Justin Gaston are the latest additions to the project, a docudrama about John McCain's (Ed Harris) and Sarah Palin's (Julianne Moore) failed 2008 presidential campaign. Paulson will play McCain's senior campaign adviser Nicolle Wallace with MacNicol as McCain's campaign manager Rick Davis and Gaston as Levi Johnston, who fathered the baby of Palin's teenage daughter Bristol (Melissa Farman). Jamey Sheridan, Larry Sullivan, Ron Livingston and Woody Harrelson also star in the film, from director Jay Roach, writer Danny Strong and executive producers Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman.


METRO (NBC) - Oscar-winner Stephen Gaghan has signed a two-year overall deal with 20th Century Fox Television. The pact will cover his duties on the aforementioned pilot - a drama depicting a complex web of crime, policework and politics in Los Angeles, starring Jimmy Smits, Danny Pino, Noah Emmerich and Madchen Amick - should it move forward to series. He'll also develop new series projects for the studio via his Unsupervised Television banner, to be run by Suzanne Joskow. Already in the works are two efforts at FOX: a Washington, D.C. drama and an animated comedy.


NCIS (CBS) - Cote de Pablo has inked a new two-year deal to continue on the veteran Eye drama. She'll reportedly receive a significant salary bump to about $120,000 per episode - on par with the show's other female cast member, Pauley Perrette - as well as a sizable cash bonus. Said development means all the show's principal cast members - de Pablo, Perrette, Sean Murray, Michael Weatherly, David McCallum and Mark Harmon - are locked up for next season.


THE OFFICE (NBC) - Former co-executive producers Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg have inked a two-year, seven-figure overall deal with ABC Studios. The duo, who penned the upcoming Justin Timberlake/Cameron Diaz feature "Bad Teacher," will develop new projects for the studio via their Quantity Entertainment banner.


UNDERCOVER BOSS (CBS) - A half-hour companion series - "featuring updates on the CEOs and employees, as well as previously unseen footage" - is reportedly being shopped as part of the show's off-network package by CBS Television Distribution. Said run is being targeted for a fall 2012 bow on both cable business news outlets as well as general entertainment channels. Production is underway on a pilot for the series with Stephen Lambert executive producing via his Studio Lambert banner.






  [april 2011]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· BLACK JACK (COMEDY CENTRAL)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· FIRM, THE (NBC)
· GAME CHANGE (HBO)
· METRO (NBC)
· NCIS (CBS)
· OFFICE, THE (NBC)
· UNDERCOVER BOSS (CBS)





[09/24/26 - 02:02 PM]
Tubi Announces New Original Docuseries "Just One Before I Die" Offering an Inside Look at the Buffalo Bills Fanbase
All episodes premiere for free exclusively on Tubi on Wednesday, October 21.

[09/24/26 - 12:25 PM]
ABC News Wins Across the Board in Late Night and Friday Night
"20/20" ranks as Friday's No. 1 newsmagazine in Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49, drawing its largest audience in two months and growing year to year in all key measures.

[09/24/26 - 12:01 PM]
"The Graham Norton Show" Returns with All-New Episodes Thursday, October 1 on BBC America
Episodes will also be available to stream on AMC+, Acorn TV, and All Reality.

[09/24/26 - 12:00 PM]
Presenters Announced for the "2026 Video Music Awards (VMAs)" Airing Sunday, Sept. 27 on CBS
Alex Warren, Belmont Cameli, Brandon Sklenar, Charli xcx, Ciara Miller, David Corenswet, Ella Bright, Isabel May, Jeff Probst, Rachel Dratch, Teyana Taylor, Troye Sivan, and Tyla are among the featured talent.

[09/24/26 - 11:29 AM]
Marquee Championship Doubleheader Leads UFC Return to Madison Square Garden Streaming on Paramount+ Saturday, November 14
In the main event, newly crowned undisputed UFC heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane looks to make his first title defense against No. 4 ranked contender Josh Hokit.

[09/24/26 - 10:02 AM]
"The Beast in Me" Returning for a Second Season on Netflix as Netflix and Howard Gordon Forge Creative Partnership
Executive producer Claire Danes will reprise her Emmy-nominated role as Aggie Wiggs.

[09/24/26 - 10:01 AM]
What's New on HBO Max This October
Streaming premieres include "The Housemaid" (October 9), "The Death of Robin Hood" (October 16), and "The Invite" (October 23).

[09/24/26 - 10:01 AM]
Netflix Announces Sesame Street Expansion, New Shows from the World of "Gabby's Dollhouse," "Puppy Pirates" and More For Preschoolers and Kids
Highlights include "Gabby's Dollhouse: Makers and Bakers," hosted by Laila Lockhart Kraner as Gabby, as talented young baker-and-maker duos take on whimsical crafting and baking challenges judged by Aidy Bryant, Justin Willman and Melissa VillaseƱor.

[09/24/26 - 10:01 AM]
AMC Global Media Returns to New York Comic Con's Main Stage with Standout Panels and Never-Before-Seen Previews
"Kill Jackie," "Yaga," "Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches," "The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon," and "The Boulet Brothers' Dragula" are among the featured properties.

[09/24/26 - 09:31 AM]
Netflix Hosts First UK Upfront
New commissions include scripted series "Witch Hunt" and comedy entertainment "Hot or Cold."

[09/24/26 - 09:16 AM]
Video: "SCTV: The Greatest Show You've Never Heard Of" - First Look - Netflix
Legendary "SCTV" cast members reunite in this documentary for a funny and heartfelt celebration of how a scrappy Canadian sketch show made comedy history.

[09/24/26 - 09:15 AM]
Video: "Elsbeth" Season 4 Official Trailer - CBS
The new season premieres Thursday, October 8 on CBS.

[09/24/26 - 09:01 AM]
Pluto TV's Double Feature Fridays Celebrates Halloween with a Month of Killer Movie Pairings of Fan-Favorite Frights and New Indies
Every Friday, audiences can settle in for two films back-to-back, featuring thrilling thematic pairings of modern favorites alongside indie films making their free streaming debut on the platform, offering some familiar tricks and new treats for audiences this Halloween.

[09/24/26 - 09:00 AM]
Former Two-Time UFC Champion Valentina Shevchenko Delivers a Knockout Twist on MTV's "The Challenge: Cutthroat"
Shevchenko catches the players off guard with a surprise Trial By Combat, putting the fate of the teams in jeopardy.

[09/24/26 - 08:46 AM]
Video: "Black Doves" Season 2 - Official Trailer - Netflix
As spy Helen navigates life as the prime minister's wife and Sam faces a deadly ultimatum, an attack on Reed pulls them into a desperate hunt for answers.