 |
 |
[03/28/12 - 11:37 PM]
Development Update: Wednesday, March 28
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 FIRST FAMILY (Syndication) - Christopher B. Duncan and Kellita Smith are set to play President William Johnson and First Lady Katherine Johnson in the upcoming syndicated offering from Byron Allen's Entertainment Studios. The company announced a 104-episode commitment to the half-hour comedy back in January for a fall 2012 premiere. They'll be joined by Gladys Knight and Marla Gibbs as their respective mothers; Jackee Harry as the First Lady's sister; John Witherspoon as the President's father; and Khylin Rhambo, Yara Shahidi, Sayeed Shahidi and Layla Crawford as their kids. Other actors featured in the pilot, which recently completed production, include Paul Rodriguez (Dictator Rafael), Michael D. Roberts (the butler), Lee Reherman (a Secret Service agent), John Eric Bentley (also a security agent), Tucker Smallwood (an admiral), Casey Sander (a general), Tom Virtue (also a general), Adam Kulbersh (a speechwriter) and Jet as Max the Dog. (Deadline.com, THR.com)
THE GOODWIN GAMES (FOX) - Melissa Tang is the latest addition to the comedy pilot, about three siblings - Coney (Becki Newton), Jimmy (Jake Lacy) and Henry (Scott Foley) - who must heed to the idiosyncratic terms of their father's will to inherit his fortune. She'll play their late father's estate attorney, a role (Lawrence Butler) originally written as a man in his mid-40s. Felisha Terrell also stars in the 20th Century Fox Television-based half-hour, from co-creators Carter Bays, Craig Thomas and Chris Harris. Peyton Reed is directing. (Deadline.com)
THE LIFE (ABC) - Erin Cahill ("Saving Grace") has boarded the drama pilot, about Marta Walraven (Radha Mitchell), the widow of an assassinated criminal who is suddenly forced to adopt her late husband's (Anson Mount) role in order to protect her family. She'll guest star as Felicity ("killer body, trashy style, well lmeaning but oblivious"), nicknamed the Poodle, the trophy wife of Marta's kingpin father Andrei Lazarev (Rade Serbedzija). Mark Pellington is directing the ABC Studios-based hour from a script by Melissa Rosenberg. Erin Moriarty, Jaime Ray Newman, Jakob Salvati, Lee Tergesen, Luke Goss, Sterling Beaumon and Suleka Mathew also star. (Deadline.com)
MALIBU COUNTRY (ABC) - "Queer Eye" alum Jai Rodriquez has been cast in the comedy pilot, 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. He'll guest star as record label executive Jeffrey Wolfe, "an opportunistic, no-nonsense, self-made millionaire who is easily distracted." Juliette Angelo, Justin Prentice, Lily Tomlin and Sara Rue also star in the ABC Studios-based half-hour, from writer Kevin Abbott and director John Pasquin. (Deadline.com)
THE MAZE (Showtime, New!) - Peter Morgan ("The Special Relationship") is developing a new drama at the pay channel billed as "an international political thriller in the mode of 'Bourne Identity.'" No other specifics were given about the project, which Morgan will presumably write and executive produce. (THR.com)
O.C.T. (A&E, New!) - Rosario Dawson is developing a potential starring vehicle at the cable channel about the NYPD's Occult Crimes Taskforce, "which was established after the Civil War to make the New York City streets safe from practitioners of black magic, demons from another dimension and all manner of supernatural malcontents." The project is based on the graphic novel created by Dawson and David Atchison. Dawson would play the lead role of Sophia Ortiz, "a new member of the bureau who uses magic, spells, ghosts, the undead and the unnatural." Jorge Zamacona ("Outlaw") is attached to pen the script and executive produce alongside Dawson and Gale Anne Hurd ("The Walking Dead"). Atchison, who also illustrated the comic, will also receive a producing credit. (THR.com)
OVER AND OUT (CBS) - Regina Hall ("Law & Order: LA") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about Ray Barker (Martin Lawrence), a widowed father of two teenagers who, after losing his job in construction, decides to go to the police academy and become a cop at the age of 46. She'll play Katie Doyle ("cute, type-A, a perfectionist"), a fellow cop who takes an immediate shine to him. P.J. Byrne also stars in the CBS Television Studios-based half-hour, from director Fred Savage and co-creators Mike Lisbe and Nate Reger. (Deadline.com)
THE REAL ALL AMERICANS (AMC, New!) - Writer/director Nicholas Meyer ("Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country") is developing a new period drama about the true story of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School football program "created by U.S. cavalry officer Richard Henry Pratt, an abolitionist and early equal rights proponent who made a harrowing journey to the Dakota Territory in 1879 to recruit the school's first students." The Carlisle, Pennsylvania-based program featured such alums as Olympian Jim Thorpe and coach Glenn "Pop" Warner. Said hour is based on Sally Jenkins's book of the same name which Meyer will adapt and Tommy Lee Jones is in talks to direct. Harry J. Ufland is also attached as a producer. (THR.com)
UNTITLED ALEXANDER PAYNE/JIM TAYLOR PROJECT (Showtime, New!) - Oscar-winners Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor ("Sideways") are set to reteam for a potential drama at the cable channel which "will explore the impact of a new Indian Casino on its tribe members and its greater Mid-western community." No other details were given about the project. (THR.com)
AND IN OTHER NEWS... - Rebecca Creskoff will recur on "Covert Affairs" as a new mentor and confidant for Piper Perabo's Annie whose approach is the opposite of the tough-love technique used by Kari Matchett's Joan (TVGuide.com); Jordan Belfi has booked a two-episode arc on "Grey's Anatomy" as a "funny, self-deprecating and adventurous" patient (TVLine.com); Elias Koteas will guest on the season finale of "Unforgettable" as "a man whom Carrie Wells comes to believe killed her sister all those years ago" (TVLine.com); Rachael Harris is bound for "Suits" as "a representative from Harvard Law whom Louis (Rick Hoffman) must dissuade from rescinding law firm Pearson Hardman's recruiting privileges" (THR.com); Jamie Tarses has inked a new two-year overall deal with Sony Pictures Television, home to her FanFare banner since 2006 (Deadline.com); Kate McKinnon, Jessica Joy, Lauren Lapkus and Elaine Carroll are among the latest actresses testing for "Saturday Night Live" (Deadline.com); and USA has formally passed on its drama pilots "Over/Under" and "Wild Card" (Deadline.com).
|
|
|
 [march 2012]  |
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
| | | | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
[12/11/13 - 03:06 PM]
Tuesday's Cable Ratings & Broadcast Finals: "The Voice" Tops Demos, "NCIS" Leads Viewers
Plus: numbers for HGTV's "Income Property," Discovery's "A Very Amish Christmas" and Lifetime's "Dance Moms: Holiday Special."
|
[12/11/13 - 02:03 PM]
Stick a Fork in It: Ratings for "Sons of Anarchy" Finale a Winner
FX spins the numbers for Tuesday, December 10 plus confirms the show's seventh season will premiere in Fall 2014.
|
[12/11/13 - 01:26 PM]
TLC Reunites with Some of Your Favorite UK Gypsies in Two All New Specials Airing This December
Look for "A Very Merry Gypsy Christmas" on Thursday, December 19 followed by "My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding: Luck of the Irish" on Thursday, December 26.
|
[12/11/13 - 01:12 PM]
Exclusive Perofrmance by Ron Burgundy and Christopher Cross, Thursday, December 19 on "Jimmy Kimmel Live"
The two will sing Cross' classic "Ride Like the Wind."
|
[12/11/13 - 01:10 PM]
Velocity Invites Viewers to "Cars and Coffee" Every Weekday Morning
The three-hour block features the best episodes of top-rated Velocity series including "Chasing Classic Cars" and "What's My Car Worth?"
|
[12/11/13 - 01:05 PM]
Starz and Encore Honor the Great Liberator: Nelson Mandela
Mandela (1996), Mandela and de Klerk (1997) and Amandla! A Revolution in Four Part Harmony (2002) will be simulcast of both networks this Saturday, December 14.
|
[12/11/13 - 12:43 PM]
A U.S. Serviceman's Family Receives the Surprise of a Lifetime as Part of This Week's "Last Man Standing" Episode
The producers of "Last Man Standing" gave the family of real-life sailor, Petty Officer First Class Raymond McKnight, an early Christmas present.
|
[12/11/13 - 12:29 PM]
"Grimm" Sets L+3 Series Records for Biggest 18-49 Rating Increase and Biggest L+3 Overall Audience
NBC further spins the numbers for Friday, December 6.
|
[12/11/13 - 12:08 PM]
Tom Ascheim Named President, ABC Family
Ascheim, who has served as executive vice president and General Manager of Nickelodeon Television and CEO of Newsweek, will start in his new role effective immediately.
|
[12/11/13 - 12:02 PM]
Home of Hip Hop Legend Gets Major Transformation in New DIY Network Series "Rev Run's Renovation"
The 10-episode series launches Saturday, January 4 at 10:00/9:00c on the cable channel.
|
[12/11/13 - 11:49 AM]
Crackle Now Available on Apple TV
Plus: Apple TV will be the first platform to offer Crackle's content in HD.
|
[12/11/13 - 11:36 AM]
Nat Geo WILD's No. 1 Show Returns for Another Season of House Calls in "The Incredible Dr. Pol"
This season, Dr. Pol's son Charles is still home to help his parents and Dr. Brenda with the clinic, while Dr. Pol's wife, Diane, keeps the clinic in tip-top order!
|
[12/11/13 - 11:15 AM]
The Full Casts of "Melissa & Joey" and "Baby Daddy" to Participate in Live Twitter Chats During the East Coast Broadcasts of Their All-New Holiday Episodes, Tonight, Wednesday, December 11
Fans should tweet at the cast's handles directly and include #MelissaandJoeyChat or #BabyDaddyChat.
|
[12/11/13 - 11:06 AM]
A+E Networks to Launch New Network - FYI(TM)
BIO Channel will be rebranded as FYI, a contemporary lifestyle network reflecting how people actually live their lives today.
|
[12/11/13 - 11:01 AM]
"FOX NOW" Available Now for Xbox One, Supporting More Digital Platforms Than Any Other Broadcast Network Streaming App
FOX NOW allows Xbox Live Gold members to stream full episodes of FOX's popular series as well as special video content, directly from their Xbox One.
|
|
|
|
