or


[03/19/13 - 11:25 PM]
Development Update: Tuesday, 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!


BACKSTROM (CBS/20th; W: Hart Hanson; D: TBA) - Thomas Dekker and Camryn Manheim have both been cast in the Rainn Wilson-led drama pilot, based on Leif G.W. Persson's literary hero Everett Backstrom, a homicide detective/equal-opportunity misanthrope. She'll play Police Chief Anna Holt ("shrewd, beleaguered") while he's set as Gregory Valentine ("gay, whip-smart, fence/entrepreneurial crook"), Backstrom's underworld connection. Beatrice Rosen, Dennis Haysbert, Kristoffer Polaha and Page Kennedy also star. (Deadline.com)


BAD TEACHER (CBS/Sony; W: Hilary Winston; D: Don Scardino) - Comedian Caitlin Kimball has booked a role on the comedy pilot, based on the Cameron Diaz-led feature about Meredith Davis (Ari Graynor), a foul-mouthed, gold-digging junior high school teacher. She'll play Kim ("a shy submissive type"), the student teacher to Faculty President/Meredith's nemesis Ginny Taylor-Clapp (Kristin Davis). David Alan Grier, Ryan Hansen and Sara Gilbert also star. (Deadline.com)


BOOMERANG (FOX/Warner Bros.; W: Davey Holmes; D: TBA) - S. Epatha Merkerson and Jeff Ross will both guest on the drama pilot, about the Hamiltons - dad Bill (Anthony LaPaglia), mom Margie (Felicity Huffman) and their sons Sam (Michael Stahl-David) and Carl (Patrick Heusinger), a family who serves as assassins for the federal government. She'll play Naomi, the mysterious "Primary" on their new assignment while he's set as an agency handler of operatives. Rosa Salazar and Stephanie Jacobsen also star. (Deadline.com)


DELIRIUM (FOX/20th; W: Karyn Usher; D: TBA) - Melinda McGraw ("Ben and Kate") will guest star on the drama pilot, based on Lauren Oliver's book trilogy about star-crossed lovers Alex (Daren Kagasoff) and Lena (Emma Roberts) in a world where love - a.k.a. deliria - is deemed illegal and can be eradicated with a special procedure. She'll play Lydia, the Ann Romney-esque wife of pro-procedure lobbyist Thomas Fineman (Billy Campbell). Brenda Koo, Corey Reynolds, Erin Cahill, Gregg Sulkin, Jeanine Mason and Michael Michele also star. (Deadline.com)


DO IT YOURSELF (TBS; W: Rob Long & Walt Becker; D: James Widdoes) - Parvesh Cheena ("Outsourced") has landed a role on the comedy pilot, about Nick (Ben Rappaport), a 20-something laid-off math teacher who finds himself thrust into the blue collar world when he gets a job at that most American of retail institutions: the big box home supply store. He'll play his co-worker and friend in the multi-camera project, which also stars Bill Engvall, Melora Hardin, Nicky Whelan and Ryan McPartlin. (Deadline.com)


DOUBT (ABC/Sony; W: David Shore; D: Thomas Schlamme) - Steve Coogan (Tropic Thunder) has been tapped for the lead role on the drama pilot, about Vincent J. Calzonetti, a cunning but charming ex-cop who's now a low-rent lawyer that uses his street smarts to work the system for his clients while battling his own demons. He'll star alongside the previously cast Greg Grunberg, Kacey Rohl and Rockmond Dunbar in the project. (Deadline.com)


GANG RELATED (FOX/20th; W: Chris Morgan; D: Allen Hughes) - Terry O'Quinn ("Hawaii Five-0") has boarded the drama pilot, about Ryan Lopez (Ramon Rodriguez), a gang member sent in to infiltrate the San Francisco Police Department only to be caught between his crime family ties and an increasing sense of loyalty to his new brothers in blue. He'll succeed Tom Berenger as Sam Chapel, the tough, dynamic police captain heading up the Task Force. Cliff Curtis, Inbar Lavi, Jay Hernandez, RZA, Shantel VanSanten and Sung Kang also star. (Deadline.com) (Deadline.com)


GIRLFRIEND IN A COMA (NBC/Universal; W: Liz Brixius; D: TBA) - Christina Ricci has bowed out of the comedy pilot, about Karen McNeil, a woman who unexpectedly awakens from a coma after 17 years to find she has a teenage daughter, Evie (Miranda Cosgrove). She had been set to play said title role, but opted to exit after the single-camera project's table read. It's not clear if production will stay in New York - where Ricci is based - as a result of the change. Daniel Stern and Ann Cusack also star. (Deadline.com)


IRONSIDE (NBC/Universal; W: Michael Caleo; D: Peter Horton) - Spencer Grammer ("Greek") has been cast in the drama pilot, about Robert Ironside (Blair Underwood), a San Francisco police detective who's forced to find new ways of fighting crime after being paralyzed by a gunshot. She'll play Holly ("fresh-faced; energetic"), a petite, beautiful detective who works alongside Ironside. Brent Sexton and Neal Bledsoe also star. (Deadline.com)


ONCE UPON A TIME (ABC) - The Alphabet and ABC Studios have ordered a presentation for a potential spin-off of the drama told through the point of view of Alice (of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" fame). Zack Estrin and Jane Espenson are helping spearhead the project, which would track Alice and two other new characters - Amahl ("exotic, soulful and optimistic") and The Knave ("a sardonic adventurer, a man of action, a loner and a heart-breaker") - in a post-curse world. Barbara Hershey's Cora (a.k.a. Queen of Hearts) may also potentially appear. "Once" creators Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz are penning the four-scene presentation, which is slated to begin production on April 7 in Vancouver. Estrin then would supervise the spin-off, a likely bridge between the fall and spring runs of the parent series. Kitsis and Horowitz previously floated the idea of a Mad Hatter-led spin-off however actor Sebastian Stan was not available. (Deadline.com)


RAKE (FOX/Sony; W: Peter Duncan; D: Sam Raimi) - Tara Summers ("Ringer") has been cast while Sam Raimi (Oz the Great and Powerful) has signed on to direct the drama pilot, about the chaotic and comedic life of criminal defense lawyer Keegan Joye (Greg Kinnear). Raimi will also serve as an executive producer on the pilot. As for Summers, she'll play Leanne Zander, his extremely put-upon yet no-nonsense assistant. Bojana Novakovic, David Harbour, John Ortiz, Miranda Otto and Necar Zadegan also star in the hour. (Deadline.com)


SILK ROAD (HBO, New!) - Director Ben Wheatley (Sightseers) is developing a new drama at the pay channel which he'll write, direct and executive produce. No details were given about the project other than Silk Road "is the name of an online black market, where the majority of products qualify as contraband in most jurisdictions." Mythology Entertainment's Bradley J. Fischer, Laeta Kalogridis and James Vanderbilt will executive produce alongside Wheatley with Amy Jump and Andy Starke of Rook Films serving as co-executive producers. (Deadline.com)


UNTITLED CRAIG ROBINSON PROJECT (NBC/Universal; W: Owen Ellickson; D: Steve Pink) - Jane Adams ("Hung") has joined the cast of single-camera comedy pilot, about an impulsive, good-hearted musician (Craig Robinson) who adjusts to his new life as a music teacher in a big-city middle school. She'll play Jeanette née Peter, his stressed-out junior high principal who's almost always in damage-control mode. Amanda Lund, Amandla Stenberg and Larenz Tate also star. (THR.com)


UNTITLED JH WYMAN PROJECT (FOX) (FOX/Warner Bros.; W: J.H. Wyman; D: Brad Anderson) - Mekia Cox ("Undercovers") will guest star in the pilot, a drama set in 2048 Los Angeles where robots are widely used in law enforcement and follows human detective John Kennex (Karl Urban) and his android partner Dorian (Michael Ealy). She'll play John's ex, an unspecified character. Also starring are Lili Taylor, Mackenzie Crook, Michael Irby and Minka Kelly. (Deadline.com)


AND IN OTHER NEWS... - Arielle Kebbel has been tapped to host The CW's summer dating game series "Perfect Score" (Deadline.com); Michael McGrady has booked recurring roles on Showtime's "Ray Donovan" and TNT's formerly-known-as "L.A. Noir" (Deadline.com); "Men at Work" creator Breckin Meyer has signed an overall deal with producer Sony Pictures Television (Deadline.com); and "Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23" alums Casey Johnson and David Windsor have inked a two-year overall deal with ABC Studios (Deadline.com).






  [march 2013]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· ALMOST HUMAN (FOX)
· BACKSTROM (FOX)
· BAD TEACHER (CBS)
· BEN & KATE (FOX)
· BOOMERANG (FOX)
· DELIRIUM (FOX)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· DO IT YOURSELF (TBS)
· DON'T TRUST THE BITCH IN APARTMENT 23 (ABC)
· DOUBT (ABC)
· GANG RELATED (FOX)
· GIRLFRIEND IN A COMA (NBC)
· GREEK (ABC FAMILY)
· HAWAII FIVE-0 (CBS)
· HUNG (HBO)
· IRONSIDE (NBC)
· MEN AT WORK (TBS)
· MOB CITY (TNT)
· MR ROBINSON (NBC)
· ONCE UPON A TIME (ABC)
· ONCE UPON A TIME IN WONDERLAND (ABC)
· OUTSOURCED (NBC)
· PERFECT SCORE (CW)
· RAKE (FOX)
· RAY DONOVAN (SHOWTIME)
· RINGER (CW)
· SILK ROAD (HBO)
· UNDERCOVERS (NBC)





[01/27/26 - 01:47 PM]
"America's Culinary Cup" Announces the Award-Winning Chefs Invited to Compete for the Biggest Prize in Culinary Television History
The ultimate culinary showdown premieres with a 90-minute episode following "Survivor 50" on Wednesday, March 4.

[01/27/26 - 01:46 PM]
CBS Announces Landmark Crossover Event Between Hit Daytime Dramas "Beyond the Gates" and "The Young and the Restless"
The ambitious storyline will transport six iconic residents from Y&R's Genoa City into BTG's posh gated community, Fairmont Crest, and will air on "Beyond the Gates" in June.

[01/27/26 - 01:45 PM]
CBS Announces the 10 Iconic "Survivor" Episodes Paving the "Road to 50"
Beginning Monday, February 9, the network will present 10 encore episodes from the Emmy-winning series' ground-breaking history showcasing players from the "Survivor 50" cast.

[01/27/26 - 01:23 PM]
NBC Sports' Star-Studded Cast to Present Super Bowl LX Sunday, Feb. 8 on NBC and Peacock, Headlining Biggest Day in Sports on Opening Weekend of "Legendary February"
Super Bowl LX marks NBC's 21st Super Bowl broadcast, and the second on Peacock.

[01/27/26 - 01:01 PM]
Apple TV Renews "Shrinking" for Season Four Ahead of Its Season Three Premiere
Bringing more heart and humor, the series will also see the return of cast members Christa Miller, Emmy Award nominee Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Emmy Award nominee Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell and Ted McGinley.

[01/27/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of January 19 - "The Rip" Is Right on the Money at No. 1 in This Week's Top 10
Audiences kept the suspense going as they streamed the murder-mystery thriller "His & Hers," putting the series at No. 1 on the English TV list with 17.2 million views.

[01/27/26 - 11:59 AM]
Hulu Sets Premiere Date and Title for Upcoming Nikki Glaser Comedy Special
"Nikki Glaser: Good Girl" will stream Friday, April 24 on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers and internationally.

[01/27/26 - 11:30 AM]
Starz Acquires Critically-Acclaimed Drama Series "The Listeners" Starring Rebecca Hall
Based on the novel by Jordan Tannahill, who also wrote the adaptation, the provocative, haunting drama premiered on BBC One in the U.K. to broad critical acclaim and will premiere in the U.S. exclusively in 2026.

[01/27/26 - 11:01 AM]
Richard Dormer Returns to BAFTA-Winning Drama "Blue Lights" for Season Four
Three years into their jobs as response officers, Constables Grace Ellis, Tommy Foster, and Annie Conlon are operating at their limit, facing a new threat on the streets that the police can barely control.

[01/27/26 - 10:30 AM]
Caitlin Clark to Join NBC Sports as Special Contributor for "Basketball Night in America" Before "Sunday Night Basketball" Debuts February 1 at Madison Square Garden
"I'm really excited to be part of the Basketball Night in America crew this season," said Clark. "Carmelo, Vince, and Tracy are legends of the game and Maria is a true professional. It will be really fun to join them a few times this season."

[01/27/26 - 10:10 AM]
FOX Sports and NASCAR Studios Announce New Original Documentary "We've Lost Dale Earnhardt: 25 Years Later" Premiering February 12 on FS1
The film is told through exclusive first-person accounts, rare home video, archival broadcast footage, and cinematic storytelling, revisiting the death of seven-time NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt and examining the profound ripple effects that continue to shape the sport and its culture 25 years later.

[01/27/26 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "Love Is Blind" Season 10 - Meet the Singles - Netflix
Come for the meet cutes, stay for the wedding bells. Hopeful romantics fall in love based solely on their inner beauty in this hit dating experiment.

[01/27/26 - 09:48 AM]
Zorro Is Coming to MHz Choice
Broadly appealing with a light comedic touch, the eight-episode limited series is set to premiere on MHz Choice this summer, launching June 30.

[01/27/26 - 09:24 AM]
CBS News Significantly Expands Its Roster with 19 New Contributors Covering the Worlds of Politics, National Security, Medicine, Health, Happiness, Food, Style and Much More
The new hires were announced today by Bari Weiss, editor-in-chief of CBS News, during an all-hands meeting.

[01/27/26 - 09:01 AM]
"Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen" on March 26th - First Look & Date Announcement
Netflix's limited series comes from the executive producers of "Stranger Things" and the director of "Baby Reindeer."