or


[08/11/11 - 10:55 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, August 11
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 ART OF FIELDING (HBO, New!) - Chad Harbach's novel, "a tale of bucolic Americana set against the backdrop of a fictional Midwestern university that follows the fate of five people upended by an errant baseball throw," is being developed as a drama by the pay channel. Scott Rudin is spearheading the adaptation with Harbach himself serving as a consulting producer. No writing auspices were given.


BANSHEE (Cinemax, New!) - The pay channel is developing a new Pennsylvania Amish Country-set drama from executive producer Alan Ball ("True Blood") about "an enigmatic ex-con who's also an expert in martial arts [who poses] as a murdered sheriff, imposing his own brand of justice while also cooking up plans that serve his own interests." Jonathan Tropper and David Schickler co-created the hour and will executive produce alongside Ball and Peter Macdissi.


CHARLIE'S ANGLES (ABC) - Erica Durance is set to reteam with "Smallville" co-creators Miles Millar and Al Gough on the upcoming drama. She's set to guest star in an upcoming episode as Samantha Masters, "a tough-as-nails, Glock-toting CIA operative who has a bit of a romantic history with Bosley (Ramon Rodriguez)." Millar and Gough are behind the series.


FAMILY ALBUM (FOX) - The network has formally passed on Joe Port and Joe Wiseman's comedy pilot, which "takes a snapshot of the Bronsky clan as they reveal the hilarious stories behind the photo-worthy moments of life." Mike O'Malley and Rachael Harris toplined the original Shawn Levy-directed pilot, which was being retooled for a potential midseason order. It's understood the network and the producers couldn't come to terms on a revised concept for the show and the respective parties opted to walk away.


THE MUNSTERS (NBC) - Bryan Fuller is set to take another stab at reviving the 1960s sitcom, about the home life of a family of monsters. The Peacock commissioned a script for Fuller's take, "an edgier, slightly darker hour-long show," back in September however it didn't it to pilot. Universal Media Studios will once again produce.


PLAYING WITH GUNS (Comedy Central) - The cable channel has passed on the comedy pilot, about childhood friends who have grown up to become small town cops, trying to get the most out of their badges while doing the least amount of police work possible. Said effort was originally set up at Spike TV with Danny Masterson and Joey Kern in the lead roles. When Spike ultimately passed, Comedy Central took another stab at the show, filming a second pilot with Ethan Suplee taking over for Kern. Brian Robbins directed both incarnations from a script by co-creators Bob Castrone, Brian Levin and Jason Zumwalt.


PRIVATE PRACTICE (ABC) - A.J. Langer has landed a recurring role on the Shonda Rhimes-produced series. She'll play Erica, "someone from one of the Oceanside doctor's pasts." No other specifics were given.


UNTITLED DEMETRI MARTIN PROJECT (FOX, New!) - Demetri Martin is spearheading a new animated project at the network, "a family workplace comedy set in the California Redwoods." Chernin Entertainment and 20th Century Fox Television are behind the potential half-hour, which is close to a pilot presentation order. Martin then will write, executive produce - alongside Peter Chernin and Katherine Pope - and voice the lead character.


UNTITLED JEFF GARLIN PROJECT (ABC, New!) - Jeff Garlin ("Curb Your Enthusiasm") is set to star and executive produce a potential comedy at the Alphabet. Bruce McCulloch ("Carpoolers") will co-write and executive produce the half-hour alongside Garlin however no specifics were given. ABC Studios is producing.


UNTITLED RALPH LAMB PROJECT (CBS, New!) - Feature writer Nicholas Pileggi ("Goodfellas") and director James Mangold ("Walk the Line") are set to team for a potential period drama at the Eye based on the true story of Ralph Lamb, "a cowboy-turned-Las Vegas sheriff in the '60s and '70s." CBS Television Studios is behind the hour, which Pileggi will co-write with Greg Walker ("The Defenders"). They'll also executive produce alongside Cathy Konrad and Arthur Sarkissian. As for specifics, Lamb "modernized the department, brought in a modern crime lab, assembled the city's first SWAT team and oversaw the merger of the Las Vegas and the county law enforcement agencies into the Metropolitan Police Department."


WHITNEY (NBC) - Seven-time Emmy-nominee Jane Kaczmarek ("Malcolm In the Middle") has joined the cast of the freshman comedy, about Whitney (Whitney Cummings) and Alex (Chris D'Elia), a happily unmarried couple. She'll take over for Beverly D'Angelo as Patti, Whitney's outspoken mother in the half-hour, which airs on Thursday nights this fall.






  [august 2011]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· ART OF FIELDING, THE (HBO)
· BANSHEE (CINEMAX)
· CHARLIE'S ANGELS (ABC)
· CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM (HBO)
· DEFENDERS, THE (CBS)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· FAMILY ALBUM (FOX)
· MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE (FOX)
· MOCKINGBIRD LANE (NBC)
· PLAYING WITH GUNS (COMEDY CENTRAL)
· PRIVATE PRACTICE (ABC)
· SMALLVILLE (CW)
· TRUE BLOOD (HBO)
· UNTITLED DEMETRI MARTIN PROJECT (FOX)
· UNTITLED JEFF GARLIN PROJECT (ABC)
· VEGAS (CBS)
· WHITNEY (NBC)





[08/20/26 - 05:01 PM]
Netflix Levels Up Anime-Inspired Slate
"Bass X Machina," "Blue Eye Samurai," "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners," "Fool Night," "Lego One Piece," "Sakamoto Days," and "The One Piece" are among the featured titles.

[08/20/26 - 02:11 PM]
"Lanterns" Debuts Among HBO Max's Biggest Series Premieres with 9.3M Global Viewers
The light shines bright.

[08/20/26 - 02:01 PM]
Prime Video to Exclusively Stream Live-Action Drama Adaptation of "Please Save My Earth" in Autumn 2027
The series is a live-action adaptation of Saki Hiwatari's acclaimed reincarnation-themed sci-fi romance manga, which has sold over 16 million copies since its 1986 debut.

[08/20/26 - 12:31 PM]
Netflix and AMC Global Media Announce New Gritty Drama Series, "Bannerman"
The series will premiere on AMC in the US and Canada and will also be available on Netflix in the US and Canada 90 days after the premiere of the season finale on AMC.

[08/20/26 - 11:24 AM]
"Agatha Christie's Tommy & Tuppence": Modernized Crime-Solving Duo Leads BritBox's Fall 2026 Slate
BritBox heads into fall with the highly anticipated return of some of its most acclaimed crime and mystery favorites.

[08/20/26 - 11:00 AM]
CBS to Mark 25 Years Since the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks with Extensive Live Coverage and Two Primetime Specials
At 8:00 PM, Tony Dokoupil will anchor a CBS News special from Ground Zero, "9/11: We Remember," featuring three stories of survival, loss and hope.

[08/20/26 - 10:01 AM]
Headed Back to Muskoka: Prime Video Renews "Sterling Point" for a Second Season
The eight-episode series debuted on August 5 and quickly became a top series on Prime Video.

[08/20/26 - 09:45 AM]
Academy Award Nominee and Emmy Winner Steven Yeun to Lead Netflix Series "Pagans"
Yeun will play Gus: A single father struggling to raise two kids alone following his wife's death.

[08/20/26 - 09:37 AM]
AMC Global Media's September Highlights Include "The Walking Dead: Dead City," "Blue Murder Motel," "Age Inappropriate," "Hell Mode," the Return of "Season of Screams" and More!
Other offerings include Sundance Now's "Murderer Behind the Mask"; Acorn TV's "The Sommerdahl Murders"; and We TV's "Love After Lockup: The Road to Rehab."

[08/20/26 - 09:33 AM]
CNN Brings Farm Aid Live to Audiences Nationwide on Saturday, September 26 at 7PM ET
CNN's airing of the evening will include star-studded performances board member artists Willie Nelson and Family, Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews with Tim Reynolds, Margo Price, Nathaniel Rateliff and more.

[08/20/26 - 09:30 AM]
From Arcade to Animated Series: "Golden Axe" Set to Premiere Exclusively on Paramount+ Wednesday, September 16
In a hilarious homage to Sega's iconic 1989 video game, "Golden Axe" follows legendary warriors Ax Battler, Tyris Flare and Gilius Thunderhead as they reunite to save Yuria from the evil giant Death Adder, who just won't seem to stay dead.

[08/20/26 - 09:17 AM]
BET Unveils "Get Your Mind Right," A Multi-Platform Mental Health Initiative Designed to Inform, Inspire, and Connect Black Communities
Rooted in BET's longstanding commitment to uplifting and serving Black audiences, "Get Your Mind Right" reflects the urgency of advancing conversations around mental wellness while encouraging communities to seek support and connecting audiences to culturally relevant support.

[08/20/26 - 08:45 AM]
Genie Bouchard Joins ESPN for 2026 US Open
ESPN will present exclusive "first ball to last ball" coverage of the 2026 US Open beginning Sunday, August 24.

[08/20/26 - 08:34 AM]
ESPN Debuts Little League Alumni Alt-Cast of the MLB Little League Classic Presented by New York Life
Mike Monaco will handle play-by-play alongside analysts Todd Frazier and Devon Travis, with the trio calling the game on-site in Williamsport.

[08/20/26 - 08:31 AM]
Netflix Renews "America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders" for a Fourth Season
Season four will follow a fresh batch of rookie candidates, comeback hopefuls and seasoned vets across the 2026-27 season.