or


[03/19/12 - 11:02 PM]
Development Update: Monday, March 19
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!


AWESOMETOWN (ABC) - Brett Gelman ("Eagleheart") has boarded the comedy pilot, 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 play Ed, a gay co-worker of Andrew's (Nick Kocher), alongside the previously cast Amanda Crew, Ben Rappaport, Dennis Miller and James Earl III. Jesse Peretz is directing the 20th Century Fox Television-based half-hour from a script by Adam Sztykiel. (Variety.com)


COUNTER CULTURE (ABC) - Kerri Kenney ("Reno 911!") has booked a lead role on the pilot, a multi-camera comedy about three aging sisters running their family diner together in West Texas. She'll play Billie Haynes ("an aging party girl"), the youngest of said trio (Margo Martindale and another yet to be cast). Doris Roberts and Luis Guzman also star in the Stephnie Weir-penned half-hour, to be directed by Ted Wass. ABC Studios and Sony Pictures Television are producing. (Deadline.com)


THE FAMILY TRAP (ABC) - Nelson Franklin ("Traffic Light") has scored the male lead on the comedy pilot, about newlyweds (Mandy Moore, Franklin) who get the opportunity of a lifetime to run a hip, new restaurant in her hometown but at the cost of bringing her closer to her needy and high maintenance parents (Stockard Channing, Kurt Fuller). He'll play said fellow, Ben, in the 20th Century Fox Television-based half-hour, which also stars Majandra Delfino and Erinn Hayes. Shawn Levy is directing from a script by Bob Fisher and Stacy Traub. (Deadline.com)


GOTHAM (ABC) - Brian Cox ("Kings") is the latest addition to the drama pilot, about Annie Travers (Megan Ketch), a cop who, after pursuing a seemingly unsolvable case, discovers a magical world that exists within New York City. He's on board as Morrill, the Alderman of Gotham who taps Annie to serve as one of his magical investigators. Barry Sloane and Lennie James also star in the 20th Century Fox Television-based hour, from writer Michael Green and director Francis Lawrence. (Deadline.com)


THE LIFE (ABC) - Anson Mount ("Hell on Wheels") is set to guest star on the drama pilot, about Marta Walraven (Radha Mitchell), the widow of an assassinated criminal who is suddenly forced to adopt her late husband's role in order to protect her family. He'll play said husband, Franklin ("handsome, jeans, T-shirt, flip flops - his work attire"), in the hour, from director Mark Pellington and writer Melissa Rosenberg. ABC Studios is behind the project, which also stars Erin Moriarty, Jaime Ray Newman, Jakob Salvati, Lee Tergesen, Luke Goss, Rade Serbedzija, Sterling Beaumon and Suleka Mathew. (Deadline.com)


NAKED TRUTH (TBS, New!) - Tom Papa ("The Marriage Ref") is set to host a potential series at the cable channel in which "Papa sits at a desk with three other comedians who form a panel to discuss and riff on topics in the zeitgeist, stories big and small, all with a comedic twist." Robert Morton ("Lopez Tonight") is executive producing the project alongside Papa and 3 Arts Entertainment's Dave Becky and Josh Lieberman. (Deadline.com)


UNTITLED RALPH LAMB PROJECT (CBS) - Jason O'Mara, Michael Reilly Burke, Michael O'Neill and James Russo have all landed roles on the pilot, a period drama about Ralph Lamb (Dennis Quaid), the cowboy-turned-Las Vegas sheriff in the 1960s. O'Mara will play middle brother Frank Lamb ("strong; competent; in a family of hard-edged men, the diplomat; college degree by mail") with Burke as D.A. Rich Reynolds ("alpha prosecutor with a burning ambition for power; never lets his principles get in the way of an opportunity; not to be trusted"); O'Neill as Mayor Ted Bennett ("bustling, energetic; a man with a vision: a bigger, brawnier Vegas"); and Russo as Anthony "Big Tuna" Cervelli ("runs Vegas for Chicago; brutal, blunt; takes out enemies with force"). O'Mara's casting is in second position to "Terra Nova," which producer 20th Century Fox Television is in talks to revive at Netflix. Carrie-Anne Moss, Michael Chiklis and Taylor Handley also star in the CBS Television Studios-based hour, from director James Mangold and co-writers Greg Walker and Nicholas Pileggi. (Deadline.com)


AND IN OTHER NEWS... - MTV will wrap the original "Teen Mom" cast - Maci, Catelynn, Amber and Farrah - following its upcoming fourth cycle (USMagazine.com); Mary Elizabeth Ellis and Justin Long will return to "New Girl" as the respective exes of Jake Johnson's Nick and Zooey Deschanel's Jess (THR.com); Matt Craven will guest on the season finale of "Alcatraz" as a character who will "provide us with some really big answers" (TVGuide.com); and Janel Parrish will be upped to series regular on "Pretty Little Liars" along the previously announced Tyler Blackburn (THR.com).






  [march 2012]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
    


· ALCATRAZ (FOX)
· AWESOMETOWN (ABC)
· COUNTER CULTURE (ABC)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· EAGLEHEART (ADULT SWIM)
· FAMILY TRAP, THE (ABC)
· GOTHAM (ABC)
· HELL ON WHEELS (AMC)
· KINGS (NBC)
· MARRIAGE REF, THE (NBC)
· NAKED TRUTH, THE (TBS)
· NEW GIRL (FOX)
· PRETTY LITTLE LIARS (ABC FAMILY)
· RED WIDOW (ABC)
· RENO 911 (COMEDY CENTRAL)
· TEEN MOM (MTV)
· TRAFFIC LIGHT (FOX)
· VEGAS (CBS)





[05/23/13 - 04:27 PM]
Wednesday's Cable Ratings: Pacers/Heat Opener Dominates for TNT
Plus: numbers for VH1's "Off Pitch," Oxygen's "Best Ink" and TLC's "The Town That Caught Tourettes?"

[05/23/13 - 03:01 PM]
NBC Completes Best May Sweep in Nine Years As Network Finishes 0.1 of Rating Point Out of First
NBC further spins the numbers for the May sweeps period.

[05/23/13 - 03:00 PM]
Syfy's "Killer Contact" (Formerly "Notorious Hauntings") to Premiere July 16 at 10 PM ET/PT
Viewers will follow a team of paranormal investigators as they research the otherworldly activity at historical sites.

[05/23/13 - 02:34 PM]
Kelly Osbourne Hosts Fan-Generated Special "Phineas and Ferb Musical Cliptastic Countdown," Premiering Friday, June 28 on Disney Channel
Leading up to the special, fans can get in on the action by voting for their favorite "Phineas and Ferb" music videos on DisneyChannel.com.

[05/23/13 - 02:15 PM]
A Can't-Miss "Katie" First: An Exclusive Hour with Howard Stern, Tuesday, May 28
Katie goes one on one with Stern in a no-holds-barred conversation about everything from his childhood, family and therapy sessions to his on-air persona and personal obsessions.

[05/23/13 - 02:14 PM]
Little Big Town to Host "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock," Airing Monday, August 12 on ABC
"It's an incredible honor to be hosting this year's CMA Fest," said Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town.

[05/23/13 - 02:02 PM]
ABC Ranks No. 1 in the May Sweep for the First Time in 13 Years in Adults 18-49
ABC further spins the numbers for the May sweeps period.

[05/23/13 - 01:54 PM]
Video: Ten Bakers Compete for $250,000 on "The American Baking Competition," Premiering Wednesday, May 29
Check out an extended trailer for the Eye's new reality series, hosted by Jeff Foxworthy.

[05/23/13 - 01:47 PM]
"The Americans" Scores - Ties As Most-Watched First Season of Any FX Drama
FX further spins the numbers for the season to date.

[05/23/13 - 01:34 PM]
VH1 Is Back on the Therapist's Couch with Season 3 of "VH1 Couples Therapy" on Wednesday June 12th at 10 PM ET/PT
Joe Francis & Abby Wilson, Flavor Flav & Elizabeth Trujillo, Chingy & Temple Poteat, Dustin Zito & Heather Marter and Caitlin Lowell & Tyler Baltierra are on tap.

[05/23/13 - 01:28 PM]
ESPN and ESPN3 Present 2013 Scripps National Spelling Bee Finals
ESPN will mark its 20th year of televising the event by presenting 14 hours of the competition live beginning Wednesday, May 29.

[05/23/13 - 12:43 PM]
Hollywood's Hottest Talent Added to Spike TV's "Guys Choice" Lineup
Seth MacFarlane, Mark Wahlberg, Vin Diesel, Jeff Bridges, Jason Sudeikis, Jackie Chan, Andrew Luck, Chrissy Teigen, Katherine Webb and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are slated to appear.

[05/23/13 - 12:30 PM]
ACC College Football Games Added to ESPN's 2013 Schedule
The season kicks off with a Thursday ESPN College Football Primetime telecast pitting North Carolina at the SEC's No. 8 South Carolina on August 29, at 6 p.m. on ESPN.

[05/23/13 - 12:12 PM]
FX Connects "The Bridge" to Viewers July 10th
Demian Bichir and Diane Kruger star in the 13-episode series, airing Wednesdays at 10:00/9:00c.

[05/23/13 - 11:37 AM]
Video: New Bar Anthem from the Cast of TBS's "Sullivan & Son"
Look for the show's second season to debut on Thursday, June 13 at 10:00/9:00c.