or


[09/17/13 - 11:35 PM]
Development Update: Tuesday, September 17
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 40S (CBS, New!) - Jonathan Groff ("Happy Endings") has scored a put pilot order from the Eye for a single-camera comedy "which explores the trials and tribulations of that special time in life for a group of friends living on the same street." ABC Studios is behind the half-hour, home to his overall deal. (Deadline.com)


DELIVERANCE CREEK (Lifetime/Warner Horizon; W: Melissa Carter; D: Jon Amiel) - Jon Amiel (ABC Family's "Twisted") has been tapped to helm and executive produce the two-hour backdoor pilot, "set at the end of the Civil War and follows Belle Barlowe as she faces uncertainty as she attempts to defend her family's land by any means necessary." Melissa Carter penned the hour and is also executive producing alongside Nicholas Sparks and Theresa Park of Nicholas Sparks Productions for Warner Horizon Television. Elise Henderson will also serve as a co-executive producer. (THR.com)


THE FINAL GIRLS (ABC Family, New!) - Actress Jamie Lee Curtis, writer Jeff Dixon and director Steve Miner are set to team for a new drama about "a group of girls who have, in essence, survived their own personal horror stories and are brought together by a mysterious older woman (Curtis) to channel the stress and scars of their experience for some greater good." All three then would presumably serve as executive producers on the project should it move forward to pilot. (Deadline.com)


HOUDINI (History/Lionsgate; W: Nicholas Meyer; D: Uli Edel) - Evan Jones ("October Road") has joined the cast of the mini-series, which will trace the arc of ace magician Houdini's (Adrien Brody) life from desperate poverty to worldwide fame. He'll play Jim, "a shy but passionate fan of Houdini's who meets his hero while working at a magic store" and goes on to become his assistant in the project, which also stars Kristen Connolly as Houdini's wife Bess. (THR.com)


MANZO'D WITH CHILDREN (Bravo, New!) - The cable channel is reportedly moving forward with a pilot to a "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" spin-off featuring Caroline Manzo and her husband Albert as well as their three children (Lauren, Albie and Chris) and Manzo's sister. While no auspices were given, Lucilla D'Agostino Kuzminski, Nate Green, Rebecca Toth Diefenbach and Valerie Haselton of "New Jersey" producer Sirens Media will presumably executive produce the project. (Deadline.com)


NEVER LOOK AWAY (NBC, New!) - Matt Venne ("Bag of Bones") is developing a small screen take on Linwood Barclay's novel of the same name, about "an award-winning journalist whose life is turned upside down as he discovers the truth about his missing wife, the town they live in, and even himself." Sony Pictures Television is behind the hour with Sheldon Turner and Jennifer Klein also executive producing via their studio-based Vendetta Productions. (Deadline.com)


UNTITLED NICHOLE MILLARD/KATHRYN PRICE PROJECT (ABC, New!) - Screenwriters Kathryn Price and Nichole Millard (Fallen) have sold a new drama to the Alphabet about "two female detectives in San Francisco who are being partnered up again after one took a break to start a family and the secret that came between them." Mark Gordon and Nick Pepper are also on board to executive produce via their ABC Studios-based the Mark Gordon Co. (Deadline.com)


THE WHOLE SHEBANG (FOX, New!) - Jason Micallef (Butter) has set up a potential drama at the network about "a newly single soccer mom who inherits a rundown male strip club and unexpectedly finds herself at the center of a dysfunctional, makeshift family that helps her take charge of her life." Warner Bros. Television is behind the hour, which has a put pilot commitment, with actress Jennifer Garner executive producing via her studio-based Vandalia Films. (Deadline.com)


AND IN OTHER NEWS... - Dana Powell has been cast as Cam's (Eric Stonestreet) sister on "Modern Family," whom he shares a little bit of a competitive relationship (TVLine.com); Emily Wickersham has booked a three-episode arc - with an option to become a series regular - on "NCIS" as Bishop, "a bright, educated, athletic, attractive, fresh-faced, focused and somewhat socially awkward new agent" (TVLine.com); Rita Moreno has been tapped as the spicy grandmother of Lisette (Justina Machado) on NBC's "Welcome to the Family" (TVGuide.com);

Jon Tenney will reprise his "The Closer" role of Fritz Howard on "Major Crimes" as well as direct an upcoming installment (TVLine.com); Robert Knepper will guest as the FBI's latest target on "The Blacklist" (TVLine.com); Bailey Noble's Adilyn Bellefleur has been upped to series regular on the final season of "True Blood" (THR.com); and Lea Thompson will visit "CSI" as "a defense criminalist and will work very closely during her episode with Elisabeth Shue's Finlay" (TVGuide.com).






  [september 2013]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· 40S, THE (CBS)
· BAG OF BONES (A AND E)
· BLACKLIST, THE (NBC)
· CLOSER, THE (TNT)
· CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (CBS)
· DELIVERANCE CREEK (LIFETIME)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· FINAL GIRLS, THE (ABC FAMILY)
· HAPPY ENDINGS (ABC)
· HOUDINI (HISTORY)
· MAJOR CRIMES (TNT)
· MANZO'D WITH CHILDREN (BRAVO)
· MODERN FAMILY (ABC)
· NCIS (CBS)
· NEVER LOOK AWAY (NBC)
· OCTOBER ROAD (ABC)
· REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW JERSEY, THE (BRAVO)
· TRUE BLOOD (HBO)
· TWISTED (ABC FAMILY)
· UNTITLED MILLARD & PRICE PROJECT (ABC)
· WELCOME TO THE FAMILY (NBC)
· WHOLE SHEBANG, THE (FOX)





[02/05/26 - 02:03 PM]
Great American Media Signs Exclusive Multi-Picture Deal with Fan-Favorite Actress, Merritt Patterson
The company also announces the first film of the new deal is "Meet Me in the Margins," adapted from bestselling author Melissa Ferguson's novel of the same name.

[02/05/26 - 12:42 PM]
"20/20" Ranks No. 1 in the Two-Hour Time Period Across the Board
Hitting new season highs on January 30, "20/20" grew from the previous week in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49.

[02/05/26 - 11:31 AM]
Apple Original Films Lands Global Rights to Sundance Film Festival Selection "The Last First: Winter K2"
Director Amir Bar-Lev tells a complex, harrowing and moving story that unpacks the industry of extreme mountain climbing and its changing culture.

[02/05/26 - 11:01 AM]
HBO Original "Murder in Glitterball City," A Two-Part Documentary, Debuts February 19
Inspired by the non-fiction book "A Dark Room in Glitter Ball City" by David Dominé, the film chronicles a 2010 murder case that starts with a 911 phone call that leads police to the gruesome discovery of a body buried in the basement of a Victorian mansion.

[02/05/26 - 11:01 AM]
Video: ALLBLK Releases Trailer and Key Art for New Original Feature Film, "Deb Is Boss" Premiering Thursday, March 5
Before becoming a powerhouse music executive who launched Gucci Mane, Nicki Minaj, and French Montana, Deb Antney (Lil Mama) was a street-smart survivor navigating the dangerous underworlds of Queens, NY and Boston, MA.

[02/05/26 - 10:31 AM]
Nicolette van Dam and Bas Smit Present the Dutch Version of "Love Is Blind"
"Love Is Blind: Netherlands" arrives on Netflix in 2026.

[02/05/26 - 10:12 AM]
"Martha Graham Dance Company: We Are Our Time" Premieres March 27, 2026 on PBS
As the Graham Company nears its landmark 100th anniversary, "We Are Our Time" offers a rare behind-the-scenes portrait of the company, exploring Graham's legacy through the dancers who embody her work today.

[02/05/26 - 10:03 AM]
ABC's Juggernaut Tuesday Scores More Wins
"High Potential's" January 20 episode jumped to 12.98 million Total Viewers and a 2.17 rating among Adults 18-49 after seven days of viewing on ABC, Hulu, Hulu on Disney+ and digital platforms, scoring a series high among Total Viewers.

[02/05/26 - 10:01 AM]
HBO Original Comedy Series "Rooster," Starring Steve Carell, From Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses, Debuts March 8
A comedy set on a college campus centering on an author's (Carell) complicated relationship with his daughter (Charly Clive).

[02/05/26 - 10:01 AM]
Small State, Big Drama. Secrets Rise with the Tide on "The Real Housewives of Rhode Island," Premiering on Thursday, April 2 at 9 P.M. ET/PT
The series will move to its regular timeslot on Sundays at 9:00/8:00c on April 5.

[02/05/26 - 09:31 AM]
CNN Original Series Releases First Look and Introduces "Craig Ferguson: American on Purpose"
"Any chance I get to remind my fellow Americans that we are still the best idea for a country anyone has ever had I'm going to take it. My eagle is still bald and my banner is still spangled with stars," said Ferguson.

[02/05/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Predator: Badlands" - Trailer - Hulu
Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, the film streams on Hulu and with Hulu on Disney+ February 12.

[02/05/26 - 09:00 AM]
Date Announcement: Will Forte & D'Arcy Carden's "Sunny Nights" Comes to Hulu
After a critical acclaimed Australian debut, the darkly comedic crime drama starring Will Forte and D'Arcy Carden makes its U.S. debut on March 11 on Hulu.

[02/05/26 - 08:31 AM]
Video: Peacock Releases Teaser and Premiere Date for Upcoming Original Series "The Miniature Wife"
All episodes of the series starring Elizabeth Banks and Matthew Macfadyen will premiere on April 9, 2026 only on Peacock.

[02/05/26 - 08:29 AM]
Video: "The Forsytes" Official Trailer
Don't miss the U.S. premiere of this highly anticipated drama Sunday, March 22 on PBS.