or


[01/27/12 - 11:33 PM]
Development Update: Friday, January 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!


AMERICANA (ABC) - Michael Seitzman's drama, "a soap set around a legendary fashion designer and his family and business," has landed a pilot order at the Alphabet. ABC Studios is behind the hour with Mark Gordon and Nicholas Pepper serving as executive producers alongside Seitzman. (Variety.com)


FRIEND ME (CBS, New!) - Alan Kirschenbaum and Ajay Sahgal have scored a pilot order from the Eye for a new multi-camera comedy about "two twenty-something guys who move from Indiana to L.A. to work for Groupon." CBS Television Studios-based The Tannenbaum Co. is behind the half-hour, which the duo will executive produce alongside Eric and Kim Tannenbaum. (Variety.com)


GUILTY (FOX) - McG ("Chuck") has signed on to direct and executive produce the New York-based drama pilot, about "a brilliant, morally questionable defense attorney who, after being falsely convicted of fraud and stripped of his legal license, uses his unorthodox methods to solve the cases he's been banned from handling and to exact revenge on the men who set him up." He'll work from a script by creator Marc Guggenheim, who's likewise executive producing alongside Greg Berlanti and Wonderland Sound and Vision's Peter Johnson. Melissa Kellner Berman of Berlanti Television also serves as a co-executive producer. (Deadline.com)


HIEROGLYPH (FOX, New!) - Feature writer Travis Beacham ("Clash of the Titans") has booked a potential drama at the network billed as an adventure soap. No other details were given about the project, which was written on spec, other than it's considered one of the finalists to land a pilot order this development cycle. (Deadline.com)


HOW TO LIVE WITH YOUR PARENTS FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE (ABC) - Claudia Lonow's semi-autobiographical comedy, about "a recently divorced single mom who moves in with her eccentric parents, a couple who's full of life but knows no boundaries," is moving forward to pilot. 20th Century Fox Television-based Imagine Television is behind the single-camera project with Brian Grazer and Francie Calfo executive producing alongside Lonow. (Deadline.com)


MAJOR CRIMES (TNT) - Graham Patrick Martin ("The Bill Engvall Show") has joined the cast of the upcoming spin-off of "The Closer." He'll play Rusty, a homeless juvenile character to be introduced in the parent series' finale. Mary McDonnell toplines the Warner Bros. Television-based hour, from executive producers Greer Shephard, James Duff and Michael M. Robin. (Deadline.com)


NASHVILLE (A.K.A. UNTITLED KHOURI & CUTLER PROJECT) (ABC) - The Callie Khouri-penned drama, "a family soap set against the backdrop of the Nashville music scene that follows one star at her peak and one on the rise," has received a pilot commitment from the network. Production however is contingent on Lionsgate Television closing a co-production deal with ABC Studios. Gaylord Entertainment's Steve Buchanan is executive producing alongside Khouri and R.J. Cutler, who's also attached to direct. (Variety.com)


THE NEW NORMAL (A.K.A. UNTITLED ADAM SZTYKIEL PROJECT) (ABC) - Adam Sztykiel's single-camera comedy, about "a group of 24-year-old guys who move to a new city, one of them choosing to stay in relationship even though his girlfriend is now 2,000 miles away," has received a showrunner-contingent pilot order from the Alphabet. Aaron Kaplan and Sean Perrone of Kaplan-Perrone Entertainment are executive producing alongside Sztykiel for 20th Century Fox Television. (Deadline.com)


THE NEW NORMAL (A.K.A. UNTITLED MURPHY & ADLER PROJECT) (NBC) - Ryan Murphy and Allison Adler's single-camera comedy, about "a blended family of a gay couple and the woman who becomes a surrogate to help them start a family," has formally been ordered to pilot. Andrew Rannells was previously cast in the 20th Century Fox Television-based project, which Murphy will direct. Dante Di Loreto is executive producing alongside the creators. (Deadline.com)


OH F---, IT'S YOU (UNTITLED BERLANTI & MALINS PROJECT) (CBS) - Greg Berlanti and Greg Malins have scored a pilot commitment for their multi-camera comedy, about "a man who realizes after a health scare that he's in love with his female best friend and business partner of 15 years." Berlanti's Warner Bros. Television-based banner is behind the half-hour, which the duo will executive produce. (Variety.com)


ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES (ABC, New!) - Steven Cragg and Brian Bradley have received a pilot order from the Alphabet for their multi-camera import of the long-running U.K. comedy, about "the misadventures of two streetwise brothers and their aging grandfather as they concoct outrageous, morally questionable get-rich-quick schemes in their quest to become millionaires." John Sullivan was behind the original incarnation, which ran for seven seasons from 1981 to 1991 on BBC One as well as an assortment of post-series specials, the last of which aired in 2003. ABC Studios then is producing the U.S. take, which Cragg and Bradley are executive producing. (Variety.com)


PARTNERS (A.K.A. UNTITLED KOHAN & MUTCHNICK PROJECT) (CBS) - David Kohan and Max Mutchnick's latest comedy, about "two lifelong male friends whose relationship is like a weird marriage that is tested when one decides to get married," has snagged a pilot commitment from the Eye. The multi-camera half-hour is set up at Warner Bros. Television. (Variety.com)


UNTITLED DAN FOGELMAN PROJECT (ABC) - Lenny Venito ("The Knights of Prosperity") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about a normal family who moves into an exclusive, lush, curiously affordable gated community in New Jersey only to find out that everyone living there but them are aliens from Planet Zabvron. He'll play the clan's father, Marty, in the ABC Studios-based half-hour, who also stars Clara Mamet, Ian Patrick, Isabella Cramp, Jami Gertz, Simon Templeman, Tim Jo and Toks Olagundoye. Chris Koch is directing from a script by Dan Fogelman. (Deadline.com)


AND IN OTHER NEWS... - NBC has reportedly passed on its Sean Hayes-led, Peter Tolan-penned comedy, while preliminary casting on the Will Gluck-produced elementary school comedy "The Yard" has been put on hold (Deadline.com); Jim Murphy is stepping down as executive producer of syndicated daytime talk show "Anderson" (Deadline.com); Shiri Appleby will recur on "Franklin & Bash" as "a smart and sassy associate who investigates possible misconduct on the part of the titular attorneys" (TVLine.com); Taylor Kinney is bound for "Castle" as the husband to returning guest star Sarah Jane Morris (TVLine.com); Morris will likewise turn up on "Once Upon a Time" as the sister of a proposed Little Red Riding Hood (TVLine.com); David Krumholtz and Mary Birdsong will both turn up in separate episodes of "Raising Hope" (TVLine.com); Matt Lauria will guest on "Person of Interest" as "a sharp, young trader at a major investment bank" in the show's 16th episode (TVLine.com); David Arquette will turn up on the season finale of "Cougar Town" as "a hotel concierge who offers to help Jules (Courteney Cox) and the gang with literally anything" (TVLine.com); and Matt Bomer is on track to guest star on "Glee" as Blaine's (Darren Criss) older brother (TVLine.com).






  [january 2012]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· AMERICANA (ABC)
· ANDERSON LIVE (SYNDICATION)
· AWESOMETOWN (ABC)
· BILL ENGVALL SHOW, THE (TBS)
· CASTLE (ABC)
· CHUCK (NBC)
· CLOSER, THE (TNT)
· COUGAR TOWN (TBS)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· FRANKLIN & BASH (TNT)
· FRIEND ME (CBS)
· GLEE (FOX)
· GUILTY (FOX)
· HIEROGLYPH (FOX)
· HOW TO LIVE WITH YOUR PARENTS (FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE) (ABC)
· KINGS OF VAN NUYS (ABC)
· KNIGHTS OF PROSPERITY, THE (ABC)
· MAJOR CRIMES (TNT)
· NASHVILLE (CMT)
· NEIGHBORS, THE (ABC)
· NEW NORMAL, THE (NBC)
· OH FUCK, IT'S YOU (CBS)
· ONCE UPON A TIME (ABC)
· PARTNERS (CBS)
· PERSON OF INTEREST (CBS)
· RAISING HOPE (FOX)
· UNTITLED SEAN HAYES PROJECT (NBC)
· YARD, THE (CANADA) (HULU)





[02/06/26 - 12:49 PM]
TBS Unveils First Superstar Guests for "Foul Play with Anthony Davis" with More A List Names to Come
LeBron James, Draymond Green, Jordan Chiles, and Rickea Jackson will kick off series premiere on Monday, April 6.

[02/06/26 - 09:16 AM]
Netflix's "Untamed" Heads to Hawaii for Season 2
Season two of the hit mystery thriller series will take place in Hawaii, as a new case brings Eric Bana's Kyle Turner to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.

[02/06/26 - 08:00 AM]
All Six Seasons of "Schitt's Creek" Arrive on HBO Max Tomorrow in the U.S.
The beloved comedy follows rich video-store magnate Johnny Rose, his soap-star wife Moira, and their two kids, son David and socialite daughter Alexis.

[02/06/26 - 07:36 AM]
Peacock Exclusively Streams "Wicked: For Good" Beginning March 20
The feature's Peacock debut will be accompanied by a sing-along version of the film and a full collection of bonus content.

[02/06/26 - 07:12 AM]
"Disaster: The Chernobyl Meltdown" Coming Soon from CNN Original Series, National Geographic International and Windfall Films
Co-produced by CNN Original Series, National Geographic EMEA and Windfall Films, the series will premiere with two episodes on Sunday, March 1 at 9:00/8:00c.

[02/06/26 - 07:01 AM]
NHL on ESPN Networks: Viewership Up Nearly 40% Year-Over-Year Through First Four Months
Through 22 games, the NHL on ESPN networks is averaging 795K viewers, +39% YoY.

[02/06/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Strangers in the Park" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A former communist militant and a "live and let live" man form an unlikely friendship on a park bench, sharing their life stories with humor and heart.

[02/06/26 - 12:31 AM]
Next on Netflix Thailand 2026: The Widest Variety of Thai Stories, All in One Place
Netflix is deepening its commitment to Thai storytelling with its most ambitious slate to date: three new series, four films, and Netflix's first local documentary feature.

[02/05/26 - 04:01 PM]
Video: "Pavane" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Three lonely strangers meet at their department store jobs and find solace in each other's company while they explore connection and the nature of love.

[02/05/26 - 02:03 PM]
Great American Media Signs Exclusive Multi-Picture Deal with Fan-Favorite Actress, Merritt Patterson
The company also announces the first film of the new deal is "Meet Me in the Margins," adapted from bestselling author Melissa Ferguson's novel of the same name.

[02/05/26 - 12:42 PM]
"20/20" Ranks No. 1 in the Two-Hour Time Period Across the Board
Hitting new season highs on January 30, "20/20" grew from the previous week in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49.

[02/05/26 - 11:31 AM]
Apple Original Films Lands Global Rights to Sundance Film Festival Selection "The Last First: Winter K2"
Director Amir Bar-Lev tells a complex, harrowing and moving story that unpacks the industry of extreme mountain climbing and its changing culture.

[02/05/26 - 11:01 AM]
HBO Original "Murder in Glitterball City," A Two-Part Documentary, Debuts February 19
Inspired by the non-fiction book "A Dark Room in Glitter Ball City" by David Dominé, the film chronicles a 2010 murder case that starts with a 911 phone call that leads police to the gruesome discovery of a body buried in the basement of a Victorian mansion.

[02/05/26 - 11:01 AM]
Video: ALLBLK Releases Trailer and Key Art for New Original Feature Film, "Deb Is Boss" Premiering Thursday, March 5
Before becoming a powerhouse music executive who launched Gucci Mane, Nicki Minaj, and French Montana, Deb Antney (Lil Mama) was a street-smart survivor navigating the dangerous underworlds of Queens, NY and Boston, MA.

[02/05/26 - 10:31 AM]
Nicolette van Dam and Bas Smit Present the Dutch Version of "Love Is Blind"
"Love Is Blind: Netherlands" arrives on Netflix in 2026.