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[10/21/11 - 11:08 PM]
Development Update: Friday, October 21
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC) |
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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!
DILFS (NBC, New!) - Charlie Grandy ("The Office") has snagged a script order from the Peacock for a new comedy "which depicts 30-something dads struggling with not being grown up enough to parent, but they are." Universal Television-based Holiday Road is behind the half-hour with Jimmy Fallon and Amy Ozols executive producing alongside Grandy. (Variety.com)
FAT ROB (NBC, New!) - Jeremy Bronson ("Late Night with Jimmy Fallon") has sold a new comedy to the Peacock about "a former rap star who is balancing being famous and being a good father." Said half-hour comes from Fallon's Universal Television-based Holiday Road banner. Fallon then will executive produce alongside Bronson and Amy Ozols. (Variety.com)
HEART ATTACK GRILL (ABC, New!) - Rob Sheridan ("Mad Love") has landed a new comedy at the Alphabet about "a former over-eater who transforms into a skinny girl and must navigate working with her ex in a diner that caters to people who love to eat." The single-camera project comes from the ABC Studios-based Coquette Productions with the company's David Arquette and Courteney Cox executive producing alongside Sheridan. (THR.com)
MAYBE ANGELS (CBS, New!) - Krista Vernoff ("Grey's Anatomy") has sold a new legal drama to the Eye about "two angels who help their former spouses." Said hour comes from CBS Television Studios-based Timberman/Berverly Productions with its principals Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly executive producing alongside Vernoff, Mark Waters and Jessica Tuchnisky. (Deadline.com)
NICE GIRLS DON'T GET THE CORNER OFFICE (Lifetime) - Josh Berman ("Drop Dead Diva") is latest creator looking to bring Lois P. Frankel's book of the same name, which offers practical tips on how to get ahead in the workplace by identifying mistakes women make that sabotage their careers, to the small screen. ABC shot a pilot in 2007 with Jayma Mays and Jane Curtin in the lead roles from director Gail Mancuso and writers Jeff Ventimilia and Josh Sternin. FOX subsequently took a stab in 2009 with writers Rob Lotterstein, Dyanne Stempel and Jennifer Robinson at the helm. Sony Pictures Television is behind the latest half-hour take, which Berman will write and executive produce. (THR.com)
PLAYERS (HBO, New!) - Playtone's Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman are developing a new half-hour comedy at the pay channel which follows the lives of college athletes. James Evans and Darryl Scott are also on board as producers of the project, writing auspices of which weren't indicated. (THR.com)
RICK (NBC, New!) - Gerard Bradford ("Late Night with Jimmy Fallon") has landed a new comedy at the network about "a loveable doofus who is a step dad to a guy who is the same age as him." Said effort comes from the Universal Television-based Holiday Road with Jimmy Fallon and Amy Ozols executive producing alongside Bradford. (Variety.com)
UNTITLED ANDREW GURLAND PROJECT (NBC, New!) - Andrew Gurland ("The Virginity Hit") has sold a new comedy to the Peacock "based on Gurland's real life experience coming to terms with his ex-girlfriend marrying his childhood friend and the unique friendship the three of them developed." Universal Television-based Gary Sanchez Productions is behind the half-hour with the company's principals Will Ferrell and Adam McKay executive producing alongside Gurland. (Deadline.com)
UNTITLED BARNETT/BERNIER/PAPPAS PROJECT (Showtime, New!) - "Unhitched" creators Chris Pappas, Mike Bernier and Kevin Barnett are set to reteam with directors Bobby and Peter Farrelly for a new comedy at the pay channel about "a guy who is betrayed by his wife after years of marriage and he finds himself at the crossroads of a midlife crisis." Said trio will pen the half-hour which Peter Farrelly is attached to direct. Jason Felts, Justin Berfield, Michael Forman and Darryl Taja, the group's managers, will also receive executive producing credits. (Deadline.com)
UNTITLED LEAH REMINI PROJECT (ABC) - Former "The Talk" co-host Leah Remini has inked a development deal at the Alphabet and sibling ABC Studios. The pact, as is custom, calls for the group to develop a new series project around the actress. The news marks Remini's third talent holding deal in as many seasons: last year with CBS and the year prior with ABC. Since "The King of Queens" wrapped in 2007, Remini has filmed two pilots: "Married Not Dead" in 2009 and "It Takes a Village" in 2010, both for ABC. (Deadline.com)
UNTITLED NIELS MUELLER PROJECT (CBS, New!) - "The Defenders" co-creator Niels Mueller is developing a new drama at the Eye about "an ordinary man making an extraordinary impact on people's lives." Aaron Kaplan and Laura McCorkindale are also on board to executive produce alongside Mueller for CBS Television Studios. (Deadline.com)
UNTITLED TOM HERTZ PROJECT (CBS, New!) - Tom Hertz ("Rules of Engagement") has snagged a put pilot commitment from the Eye for a new multi-generational family comedy about "how people's childhoods influence the decisions they make and what they seek as adults." Sony Pictures Television-based Hertz will pen the multi-camera project and executive produce alongside Happy Madison's Doug Robinson. (Deadline.com)
WICHITA (HBO, New!) - Alan Ball ("True Blood") is developing a new drama at the pay channel about "a Kansas surgeon who inadvertently becomes the focal point of a contemporary political, cultural and ethical war." Devin Friedman - author of a 2010 article in GQ about the late Dr. George Tiller, a Wichita, Kansas, doctor who was one of the few physicians who provided late-term abortions" who was ultimately killed by anti-abortion activist Scott Roeder in 2009 - will pen the script and serve as a co-executive producer. Ball then will executive produce alongside Jimmy Miller. (THR.com)
THE WIZARD OF LIES (HBO) - John Burnham Schwartz ("Reservation Road") has been tapped to pen the pay channel's biopic of disgraced financier Bernie Madoff. Robert De Niro is attached to star in the docudrama, which is based on Diane Henriques's book of the same name, subtitled "Bernie Madoff and The Death of Trust." No other auspices were given. (Deadline.com)
AND IN OTHER NEWS... - Mena Suvari will guest on episode nine of "American Horror Story" as the infamous murder victim The Black Dahlia (TVLine.com); Dina Meyer will turn up on "90210" as a modeling agent who takes a special interest in Liam's (Matt Lanter) career (TVLine.com); Stella Maeve will guest on "Grey's Anatomy" for two episodes as "a woman who comes to Seattle Grace after her family is in a serious car crash" (THR.com); Arielle Kebbel will recur on "90210" as "a vivacious former bad girl who becomes romantically involved with one of the zip code's leading men" (TVGuide.com); Kellie Martin, Robert John Burke and Ryan Michelle Bathe are all bound for season six of "Army Wives" (TVLine.com); and Doug Savant will stop by "Hot in Cleveland" as "a senator who's caught in an uncompromising situation" (TVLine.com).
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[12/05/25 - 03:31 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 in Total Viewers
"Nightline" improved on the previous week in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, hitting nine-week highs in both measures.
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[12/05/25 - 03:30 PM]
In Anticipation of "Avatar: Fire and Ash," ABC News to Premiere Two New Specials This December
First up: "Avatar: A New Era - Special Edition of 20/20" premieres Friday, December 12 on ABC.
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[12/05/25 - 02:05 PM]
ESPN Networks Deliver Best College Football Regular Season Since 2011; "College GameDay Built by The Home Depot" Scores Most-Watched Season Ever
ESPN networks aired the most-watched game in 34 of 42 key Saturday windows, including seven of 14 noon windows, 13 of 14 late afternoon windows and all 14 prime windows.
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[12/05/25 - 12:35 PM]
2025 CFB Viewership Surges on FOX & FS1
The 2025 regular season wrapped with big numbers for "Big Noon Saturday," "Big Noon Kickoff" and more - including year-over-year gains across the board.
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[12/05/25 - 11:00 AM]
CBS Premiere Week Episodes Post Gains and Lead In Live Plus 35-Day Multiplatform Viewership
"Tracker" delivered 17.3 million viewers, up +6% versus its year-ago premiere.
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[12/05/25 - 10:05 AM]
"Landman" Booms Into a Third Season Renewal and Breaks Viewing Records on Paramount+
The second season is set to be a top three series among all original content the week of November 17 and a top two series for the week of November 24 according to Nielsen preliminary data.
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[12/05/25 - 09:45 AM]
Video: "Taylor" - A CW Documentary Special - Trailer
The special - airing Saturday, December 13 - explores the global phenomenon of Taylor Swift and digs deep across the musician's 20-year career, a period that has seen her transcend the realm of pop star to become a cultural icon like no other.
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[12/05/25 - 08:45 AM]
ESPN Delivered Most-Watched Women's College Volleyball Season on Record
Said coverage averaged 190,000 viewers, up 36% from the 2024 season.
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[12/05/25 - 08:31 AM]
Peacock Exclusively Streams Monkeypaw Productions' "Him" Beginning December 19
The film stars Marlon Wayans, Tyriq Withers, Julia Fox, Tim Heidecker, Jim Jefferies and more.
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[12/05/25 - 08:01 AM]
BET+ Original Film, "Vera's Holiday Flop," Premieres Thursday, December 18
The film stars Charity Jordan, Terri J. Vaughn, Griff, Chrissy McDaniel, Tyler Chronicles, Algebra Blessett, Jelani Akil, Scotty ATL, and Saycon Sengbloh.
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[12/05/25 - 07:01 AM]
Academy Award Winner Cillian Murphy Returns as the Legendary Gypsy Gangster Tommy Shelby in "Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man"
In select theaters March 6 and on Netflix March 20.
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[12/05/25 - 07:01 AM]
Apple's Acclaimed Comedy "Platonic" Lands Season Three Renewal
"Platonic" follows a platonic pair of former best friends approaching midlife (Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne) who reconnect after a long rift.
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[12/05/25 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Time Flies" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Fresh out of prison and low on options, two women run a fumigation business - until a shady client pulls them back into the life they fought to escape.
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[12/05/25 - 04:01 AM]
Netflix to Acquire Warner Bros. Following the Separation of Discovery Global for a Total Enterprise Value of $82.7 Billion (Equity Value of $72.0 Billion)
This acquisition brings together two pioneering entertainment businesses, combining Netflix's innovation, global reach and best-in-class streaming service with Warner Bros.' century-long legacy of world-class storytelling.
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[12/05/25 - 12:01 AM]
Video: Netflix Unveils the First Look for "Land of Sin" - Premiering on January 2, 2026
Set in the Scanian countryside, this five-part series follows the investigation of a young teenager who is found dead on the Bjäre peninsula.
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