or


[05/07/12 - 07:05 PM]
Development Update: Series Pick Up - "1600 Penn," "Animal Practice" (NBC)
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!


1600 PENN (NBC) - The Peacock has ordered the single-camera comedy, about a dysfunctional First Family, to series. Jon Lovett, Josh Gad and Jason Winer co-created the half-hour, which Winer also directed for 20th Century Fox Television. Bill Pullman stars as President Dale Gilchrist with Jenna Elfman as his wife and stepmom to his four kids: gregarious, clumsy Skip (Josh Gad); overachiever, perfectionist Becca (Martha MacIsaac); sensitive, scrawny Xander (Benjamin Stockham); and direct, tough Marigold (Amara Miller). Andre Holland also stars as Marshall Malloy, Dale's Press Secretary and surrogate son. (Deadline.com)


ANIMAL PRACTICE (A.K.A. ANIMAL KINGDOM) (NBC) - The Justin Kirk-led comedy - about George Coleman, a veterinarian who loves animals but usually hates their owners - is the latest single-camera project to land a series commitment at the Peacock. Brian Gatewood and Alessandro Tanaka co-created the pilot, which is set up at the Universal Television-based American Work, while Anthony and Joe Russo directed and executive produced. Amy Huberman also stars as his ex-girlfriend Dorothy, who returns to his life as his new boss; with Bobby Lee and Tyler Labine as fellow vets Doug and Kim; and Kym Whitley as a nurse. (Deadline.com)

[UPDATED!] Here's NBC's official descriptions:

The Gilchrists are just the average American family dealing with all the everyday issues - like a grown kid who's forced to move back home, children who are smarter than their teachers and a stepmom (Jenna Elfman, "Dharma and Greg") desperately trying to win over the kids. They're loving, fun and a little crazy. In other words, just like everybody else. With one exception: they live in a very special house. The White House! Whether it's entertaining foreign dignitaries, sneaking away for a night out, dealing with middle school crushes or putting out fires - figuratively and sometimes literally - there's never a dull moment in the Gilchrist White House. For example, the First Son (Josh Gad, star of Broadway sensation "The Book of Mormon") is one of the administration's biggest liabilities, but also the glue that holds this family together. The President (Bill Pullman, "Independence Day," "While You Were Sleeping") knows too well that the only thing harder than being Head of State is being head of the family. Also starring are Martha MacIsaac ("Superbad"), Andre Holland ("Friends with Benefits"), Amara Miller ("The Descendants") and Benjamin Stockham ("Sons of Tucson").

"Modern Family" meets "The West Wing" in this election-year comedy from Emmy-winning executive producer/director Jason Winer ("Modern Family"). The executive producers are Winer, Gad and Jon Lovett (former White House speechwriter). Winer also directed the pilot. "1600 Penn" is produced by 20th Century Fox.

Meet Dr. George Coleman (Justin Kirk, "Weeds"), a top-dog New York veterinarian. With an unorthodox style of operating, George's success comes from his undeniable gift with animals of all kinds. That is, all but the human kind. Dorothy Crane once held the key to George's heart, but today she also holds the key to the family business as she takes over Crane Animal Hospital. Not only is she George's new boss, but her romantic history with him and her lack of experience with animals is seriously cramping his style. Dorothy is whip-smart and ambitious, and she's going to make George pay for the past. Needless to say, he's determined not to make any changes in his (animal) kingdom - which includes poker games with a resident capuchin monkey. Also starring are Tyler Labine ("Reaper," "Sons of Tucson") as Dr. Doug Jackson, a vet who's great with animals but hapless in matters of the heart, Bobby Lee ("Harold & Kumar") as Dr. Yamamoto, and newcomer Betsy Sodaro as Angela.

"Animal Practice" is a production of Universal Television and American Work Inc. The executive producers are Scot Armstrong ("The Hangover Part II," "Old School") and Ravi Nandan ("Best Friends Forever") of American Work Inc. ("Best Friends Forever") along with Emmy Award winners Joe & Anthony Russo ("Community," "Arrested Development"). "Animal Practice" was written by Brian Gatewood and Alessandro Tanaka ("The Sitter"), who also serve as executive producers. Directed by the Emmy-winning Russo brothers, "Animal Practice" is a comedy where the animals are running the asylum.






  [may 2012]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· 1600 PENN (NBC)
· ANIMAL PRACTICE (NBC)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)





[08/06/25 - 11:03 AM]
All-New Season of "Ghost Adventures: House Calls" Premieres Wednesday, August 20 at 10PM ET/PT on Discovery
Overwhelmed by invasive, terrifying and unrelenting spirit activity that continues to escalate with no end in sight, distraught homeowners are desperate for the team's help.

[08/06/25 - 10:02 AM]
FOX Enlists a New Group of All-Star Celebrity Recruits for the Fourth Season of "Special Forces: World's Toughest Test"
The fourth season of FOX's ultimate celebrity social experiment premieres Thursday, September 25.

[08/06/25 - 09:02 AM]
Video: Paramount+ Debuts Official Teaser and Key Art for "Tulsa King" Starring Oscar Nominee Sylvester Stallone
The third season of the hit original series will premiere on Sunday, September 21.

[08/06/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "The Wrong Paris" - Miranda Cosgrove and Pierson Fode - Official Trailer - Netflix
Dawn thinks she's joining a dating show in Paris, France, only to land in Paris, Texas. She has an exit plan - until sparks fly with the cowboy bachelor.

[08/06/25 - 07:13 AM]
Joanna Gaines Invites Viewers Into Her Kitchen, with "Magnolia Table: At the Farm"
For the first time, fans old and new will get episodes concurrently on Magnolia Network and Food Network, as well as streaming on HBO Max the same day.

[08/06/25 - 07:03 AM]
Video: Tubi Debuts Trailer for New Naomi Osaka Documentary, "Naomi Osaka: The Second Set" Premiering Exclusively on Tubi Sunday, August 24
The documentary film will deliver an intimate look into the life of Osaka as she navigates balancing her career with first-time motherhood and is described as a love letter to her daughter, Shai.

[08/06/25 - 07:00 AM]
Tamsin Greig and Rish Shah Join Ella Purnell as Filming Commences on the Second Season of Darkly Comic Sky and Starz Original Thriller "Sweetpea"
Killer wallflower Rhiannon Lewis is back in Season 2 of the iconically brazen and darkly comic thriller.

[08/06/25 - 06:01 AM]
Jelly Roll, Jonas Brothers, Cece Winans, Dan + Shay, and More Unite in Nashville for Stand Up to Cancer's Fundraising Special
The special will also include pre-taped segments featuring Kevin Bacon, Jamie Foxx, Tim McGraw, Zoe SaldaƱa, Keith Urban, and Reese Witherspoon.

[08/06/25 - 03:31 AM]
ESPN and the NFL Reach New Agreements to Extend NFL Draft Rights and Add NFL Content and Features to ESPN's Upcoming Direct-to-Consumer Service
Beginning with the 2026 NFL Draft, Disney+ and Hulu will also stream ESPN, ABC, and ESPN Deportes' trio of Draft presentations.

[08/06/25 - 03:16 AM]
ESPN's Direct-to-Consumer Service and Enhanced App Launching August 21
ESPN DTC will offer two plans, including an unlimited plan for $29.99/month that gives fans access to all of ESPN's linear networks.

[08/06/25 - 03:01 AM]
ESPN, WWE Reach Landmark Rights Agreement as ESPN Platforms Become Exclusive U.S. Domestic Home of All WWE Premium Live Events, Including WrestleMania, Starting in 2026
The ESPN DTC service will stream all WWE PLEs annually, in their entirety, with select simulcasting on ESPN linear platforms.

[08/06/25 - 01:02 AM]
Video: HBO Max Releases Official Trailer for the Max Original Documentary Series "Most Wanted: Teen Hacker"
The four-episode series, debuting Friday, September 5 on HBO Max, tells the unbelievable true story of a boy once named by the FBI as one of the most dangerous hackers in the world.

[08/05/25 - 05:01 PM]
ESPN to Acquire NFL Network and Other Media Assets from the NFL in Exchange for a 10% Equity Stake in ESPN
In addition to the sale of NFL Network, the NFL and ESPN are also entering into a second non-binding agreement, under which the NFL will license to ESPN certain NFL content and other intellectual property to be used by NFL Network and other assets.

[08/05/25 - 01:01 PM]
Molly Shannon Joins Will Ferrell in Netflix's "Untitled Will Ferrell Golf Series"
The series stars Will Ferrell, in his first TV comedy series, as a fictional golf legend.

[08/05/25 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10 Week of July 28: "Happy Gilmore 2" Continues to Swing Big at No. 1 in This Week's Top 10
The Yosemite National Park-set thriller "Untamed" maintained the No. 1 spot on the English TV List for a third week with another 12.2 million views added to its accumulated 59.6 million total.