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[03/01/12 - 11:32 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, March 1
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!
BAD GIRLS (NBC) - Amy Smart and Karolina Wydra have both landed roles on the drama pilot, which follows the ins and outs of a group of unlikely women at a federal correctional institute. They'll play inmates Brandi ("a perfect blonde Barbie doll from Orange County") and Kelly ("oozes sex appeal and danger"), respectively. Jurnee Smollett, Rick Gonzalez and Zoe Boyle also star in the Warner Bros. Television-based hour, from director John Dahl and writer Nancy Marie Pimental. (Deadline.com)
COUNTY (NBC) - Norbert Leo Butz ("The Deep End") has joined the cast of the drama pilot, about the lives of a group of young doctors, nurses, and administrators, in a frenetic underfunded and morally compromising Los Angeles county hospital. He's set as 40-year-old intern Billy ("large and gregarious"), a former CPA who took up medicine after his wife cheated on him. Agam Darshi, Aimee Garcia, Jason Ritter, Jess Weixler and Michael B. Jordan also star in the Jason Katims-penned hour, from Universal Television. (Deadline.com)
DAKOTA (The CW) - Amber Stevens ("Greek") and Leah Renee ("The Playboy Club") are the first to be cast in the drama pilot, about a documentary filmmaker who travels back in time to the 1990s where she meets and falls in love with the rock star subject of her film only to return to present day where she must find her way back and prevent his untimely death. Stevens will play said filmmaker, Maya Beaumont ("beautiful, charming, funny"), with Renee as Kelsey O'Neal, a stunning young movie star and one of Maya's best friends. Bert V. Royal is behind the CBS Television Studios-produced hour, which is based on the successful Israeli series "Danny Hollywood." (Deadline.com)
DILFS (NBC) - Jamie-Lynn Sigler ("Entourage") has scored a role on the pilot, a multi-camera comedy about a trio of thirtysomething guys - Nick (Zach Cregger), Chris and Gary - dealing with parenthood despite the fact they haven't grown up themselves. She's set as Nick's wife Emily, who is as cute, bubbly and energetic as Nick is laid back. Jimmy Fallon, Charlie Grandy and Amy Ozols co-created the Universal Television-based half-hour, which Scott Ellis is directing off a teleplay by Grandy. (Deadline.com)
DUSTY GOES TO AWESOMETOWN (A.K.A. THE NEW NORMAL) (ABC) - Jesse Peretz ("Our Idiot Brother") is set to direct the pilot, a single-camera comedy about a group of twentysomethings in the suburbs of Seattle, a mecca for the folks who have happily put on the cruise control of life. He'll work from a script by Adam Sztykiel. Amanda Crew, James Earl III and Nick Kocher star. (THR.com)
THE GILDED LILYS (ABC) - Matt Lauira ("The Chicago Code") is the latest addition to the pilot, a period drama revolving around the family who owns New York's first true luxury hotel, the staff who work there and the people who pass through. He's set as Charlie Carnegie ("tall, dark, dashing, and very shy"), the nephew of famed steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, whom Edwin Lily (Brían F. O'Byrne) has promised the hand of his daughter - Violet (Sarah Bolger), who's in love with a servant (Matt Long). Writer K.J. Steinberg and director Brian Kirk are behind the ABC Studios-based hour, which also stars Blythe Danner, Brigid Brannagh, Madeline Zima and Maury Sterling. (Deadline.com)
GO ON (NBC) - Matthew Perry ("Mr. Sunshine") has signed on for the lead role on the comedy pilot, about an irreverent yet charming sportscaster, who after his wife dies, finds surprising solace from the members of his support group. He'll play said fellow, Ryan King ("cocky, quick with a joke; a Michael J. Fox energy"), in the half-hour, from writer Scott Silveri, director Todd Holland and Universal Television. Julie White and Suzy Nakamura also star. (Deadline.com)
LADYFRIENDS (NBC) - Minnie Driver is set to star in the comedy pilot, about two longtime female friends who are living very different lives - one has a loving husband and family, the other not so much - but couldn't live without each other. She'll play Jennifer Rensen ("40-ish, wicked smart, with imperfect hair, features, weight and life"), the latter half of said duo, joining the previously cast Andrea Anders. Driver had been under a talent holding deal with ABC but was ultimately released. Writer Kari Lizer and director Scott Ellis are behind the Warner Bros. Television-based half-hour, which also stars Danny Comden, Josh Hopkins, Rachel Dratch and Tymberlee Hill. (Deadline.com)
LAST RESORT (ABC) - David Rees Snell ("The Shield") is the latest addition to the drama pilot's sprawling cast, which includes Matt Gerald, Bruce Davison, Sahr Ngaujah, Max Adler, Andre Braugher, Autumn Reeser, Camille de Pazzis, Daisy Betts, Daniel Lissing, Dichen Lachman, Robert Patrick, Omid Abtahi and Scott Speedman. His role however wasn't specified. Sony Pictures Television is behind the hour, which follows the crew of a nuclear submarine, who, after disobeying a suspicious order become fugitives and declare themselves an independent nuclear nation. Martin Campbell is directing from a script by Karl Gajdusek and Shawn Ryan. (@ShawnRyanTV)
MALIBU COUNTRY (ABC) - Sara Rue ("Rules of Engagement") has joined the cast of the pilot, a multi-camera comedy about a woman (Reba McEntire) who divorces her broke, cheating rock star husband and moves her family from Nashville to the only asset she has left - a little house in Malibu. She's set as Kim Lassiter ("a trophy wife and a share too much person"), Reba's new next door neighbor. Writer Kevin Abbott and director John Pasquin are behind the ABC Studios-based half-hour, which also stars Lily Tomlin. (Deadline.com)
PARTNERS (CBS) - David Krumholtz ("NUMB3RS") is on track to star in the multi-camera comedy pilot, about two male architects - one straight, Charlie; one gay, Louis (Michael Urie) - whose relationship itself resembles a marriage. He'll play Charlie in the Warner Bros. Television-based half-hour, which also stars Brandon Routh, Elizabeth Regen, Lucy Davis and Sophia Bush. James Burrows is directing from a script by David Kohan and Max Mutchnick. (Deadline.com)
REBOUNDING (FOX) - Aly Michalka ("Hellcats") is the latest addition to the single-camera comedy pilot, about Danny Markle (yet to be cast), a man recovering from the death of his fiance with help from friends on his pick-up basketball team. She'll presumably play Taryn ("27, smoking hot, super secure, a female Teller"), the girlfriend of Hayes MacArthur's character, Dave Teller. Malcolm Barrett and Matt L. Jones co-star in the 20th Century Fox Television-based half-hour, from director Jason Winer and co-creators Joe Port and Joe Wiseman. (Deadline.com)
UNTITLED KARYN USHER PROJECT (FOX) - Newcomer Saxon Sharbino has booked the lead role on the pilot, a drama about the orphaned 14-year-old daughter of a CIA agent who is recruited to become an operative herself. She'll play said girl, Jane Forsythe ("earnest eyes and American freckles"), in the 20th Century Fox Television-based hour, to be directed by Brett Ratner. (Deadline.com)
THE VIAGRA DIARIES (HBO) - Goldie Hawn has dropped out of the Darren Star-penned comedy pilot, about a woman who, after her husband has a mid-life crisis at 65 and leaves her, struggles with being single for the first time in 35 years. No details were given about her exit other than it is billed as mutual. Wendi McLendon-Covey also stars in the project, to be directed by Paul Feig and based on Barbara Rose Brooker's book of the same name. (Deadline.com)
WHITE VAN MAN (ABC) - Former "The Talk" co-host Leah Remini has snagged a role on the comedy pilot, about Jack Shea (Kyle Bornheimer), a man who is forced to put his business dreams on hold in order to take over the family handyman business from his father, Tony (J.K. Simmons). She'll play Tony's sister Terry ("a Patricia Clarkson type in a bohemian shirt and head scarf"), a licensed masseuse. Remini inked a talent holding deal with the network back in October. Edi Gathegi and Johnny Pemberton also star in the ABC Studios-based half-hour, from writer Bobby Bowman and director Michael Fresco. (Deadline.com)
AND IN OTHER NEWS... - Ed Begley Jr. will guest star in two episodes of USA's upcoming drama "Common Law" (Variety.com); John de Lancie will turn up as one of the famed elders on The CW's "The Secret Circle" (TVGuide.com); Tess Harper is bound for the 19th episode of "Revenge" as a seemingly "sympathetic former corporate secretary" (TVGuide.com); and Adam Baldwin will reunite with his "Firefly" co-star on "Castle" as "a rough and tumble cop from the city's gang unit who lands a case that Castle is desperate to follow" (TVGuide.com).
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