or


[05/26/05 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: May 25-26
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 newly revamped "Series in Development" charts. Visitors can now filter our listings by network, genre and even development stage (ordered to pilot, cast-contingent, script, etc.). It's updated every day!

ABC FAMILY PILOTS (ABC Family, New!) - The ABC cable sibling has ordered three new drama pilots for series consideration next year: "Three Moons Over Milford," about a small East Coast town in which residents literally live "for the moment" because the town is located beneath a falling comet that could destroy their world at any time; "Kyle XY," about a suburban family that takes in a mysterious teen naive to the world around him; and "Balancing Act," about a young cop who moves his family back to the inner-city neighborhood where he was raised in hopes of making a difference.

All three projects are set to begin production in July and casting is underway. Holly Goldberg Sloan ("Angels in the Outfield") and Gary Rosen ("Major Payne") are behind the Touchstone Television-based "Moons" with Laura Ziskin ("Tarzan") in talks to also come aboard as an executive producer. Also set up at Touchstone is "Kyle XY," which comes from creators Eric Bress and J. Mackeye Gruber ("The Butterfly Effect") who will executive produce along with David Himmelfarb ("My Wife and Kids") and the Benderspink banner. Finally, Seth Freeman ("Lou Grant") is behind "Act," which is set up at Disney Cable Networks Group. Meanwhile on the comedy front, the cable channel has confirmed it has passed on the pilots "East of Normal, West of Weird" and "Door to the Throne" while Carter Covington's "Just a Phase," about a teen uncertain of his sexual identity, remains in play.

ATTACK OF THE SABRETOOTH/BLOODSUCKERS (Sci Fi, New!) - July will see the premiere of two more of Sci Fi's Saturday originals. The first is "Attack of the Sabretooth" (premieres July 9), which is described as: "A resort owner in Fiji expects to get rich running a wildlife preserve stocked with previously extinct animals. Then a smilodon fatalis � a vicious, gigantic sabretooth tiger � gets loose and turns the theme park into a killing field." The other is "Bloodsuckers" (premieres July 30) and is described as: "Joe Lando (Alien Nation: The Enemy Within and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home) and Michael Ironside (Starship Troopers, TV's SeaQuest DSV) star in this high-tech adventure about intergalactic vampire-hunters."

CATTLE DRIVE/THE GIRLS NEXT DOOR (E!) - Both newcomers have been slated to premiere on Sunday, August 7 in yet-to-be-determined time periods. "Drive" tracks the children of the rich and famous (including the kids of Yahoo! CEO Terry Semel and rocker Pat Benatar) as they are sent to work a cattle drive while "Girls" is an eight-part series which chronicles the lives of Hugh Hefner's girlfriends at the Playboy Mansion.

CELEBRITY FIT CLUB/HOGAN KNOWS BEST (VH1) - The cable channel has moved up "Celebrity Fit Club's" second season premiere to Sunday, July 10 at 10:30/9:30c. Leading into the broadcast will be the series premiere of "Hogan Knows Best" at 10:00/9:00c. Both series will then air regularly on Sundays at 9:30/8:30c ("Hogan") and 10:00/9:00c ("Fit Club") respectively.

I WANT TO BE A HILTON (NBC) - The summer entry will be the latest NBC series to get repurposed on cable sibling Bravo. The series, which premieres Tuesday, June 21 on NBC, will be rebroadcast on Bravo several times next month: Thursday, June 23 at 11:00/10:00c (episodes 1 & 2), Friday, June 24 at 6:00/5:00c (episodes 1 & 2), Sunday, June 26 at 6:00/5:00c (episode 1 only) and 11:00/10:00c (episode 2 only). It's expected the remaining episodes will also get second runs on Bravo in unspecified time periods.

OVER THERE (FX) - Fox Home Entertainment plans to release the show's pilot on DVD less than a week after its Wednesday, July 27 bow on FX. (A previous report had incorrectly indicated the show would launch Friday, July 22.) As for the DVD, which streets on August 2, the single-disc release will also include a 15-minute behind-the-scenes featurette and sell for a suggested retail price of $9.98. "Over There" tracks the lives and struggles of seven American soldiers and their sergeant stationed in Iraq on their first tour of duty.

PIZZA MY HEART (ABC Family) - The cable channel's latest original movie will debut on Sunday, July 24 with broadcasts at both 7:00/6:00c and 9:00/8:00c. Here's how ABC Family's press materials describe the project: "A modern day Romeo and Juliet set in the town of Verona, New Jersey. Because of a family feud dating back to the old country, the Prestolanis and the Montebellos have taken to extremes their fight over who truly has the best pizza. The situation is about to come to a head when Joe Prestolani meets Gina Montebello and they begin a secret romance. Will the families be able to survive this union or will their pizza empires flop? Starring Michael Badalucco and Shiri Appleby, directed by Andy Wolk and executive produced by Jane Goldenring."

UNTITLED DAVID M. ISRAEL/JIM O'DOHERTY PROJECT (NBC) - Writer/producers Jim O'Doherty and David M. Israel ("The Tracy Morgan Show") have signed a two-year, seven-figure overall deal with NBC Universal Television. The pact calls for the pair to develop new half-hour projects for the studio. The duo previously were developing a semi-improved comedy at NBC proper, about the behind-the-scenes goings-on at a documentary company charged with producing fare for networks like the History Channel and the Discovery Channel. That project appears to have been shelved.

YOU'RE NOT THE MAN I MARRIED (Lifetime) - The cable channel has postponed the show's previously reported summer launch until an unspecified date in the fall. The series tracks neglected wives who have their husbands compete in comedic challenges - such as approaching complete strangers at the boardwalk in Atlantic City, N.J., to tell them why they love their wife - to prove they really are the men their wives married.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [may 2026]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· ATTACK OF THE SABRETOOTH (SCI FI)
· BLOODSUCKERS (SCI FI)
· CELEBRITY FIT CLUB (VH1)
· DOOR TO THE THRONE (ABC FAMILY)
· EAST OF NORMAL, WEST OF WEIRD (ABC FAMILY)
· FILTY RICH: CATTLE DRIVE (E)
· GIRLS NEXT DOOR, THE (E)
· HOGAN KNOWS BEST (VH1)
· I WANT TO BE A HILTON (NBC)
· JUST A PHASE (ABC FAMILY)
· KYLE XY (ABC FAMILY)
· LINCOLN HEIGHTS (ABC FAMILY)
· MOVING PICTURES (NBC)
· MY WIFE & KIDS (ABC)
· OVER THERE (FX)
· PIZZA MY HEART (ABC FAMILY)
· TARZAN (WB)
· THREE MOONS OVER MILFORD (ABC FAMILY)
· TRACY MORGAN SHOW, THE (NBC)
· YOU'RE NOT THE MAN I MARRIED (LIFETIME)





[05/12/26 - 09:00 AM]
ABC Announces Fall 2026 Primetime Schedule
For the first time in ABC history, the network has renewed their entire scripted lineup and, for the second year in a row, will increase their original scripted slate in midseason with the addition of new series "The Rookie: North."

[05/12/26 - 08:01 AM]
Hallmark Christmas Experience Announces Biggest Talent Lineup Yet and Brand-New, Immersive Ways to Make Holiday Memories
The annual tradition brings the world of Hallmark to life - and this year, there are new opportunities to step even further into the Christmas magic.

[05/12/26 - 07:30 AM]
Video: "Every Year After" Leaves the Light On for the Love Story of the Summer in Newly Released Trailer
The series will debut all episodes on June 10, with an eight-episode season, and will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories around the world.

[05/12/26 - 07:01 AM]
"The Voice" Announces Grammy Award Winning Music Icon Queen Latifah as a Coach for Season 30
Queen Latifah and Riley Green will join returning coaches Kelly Clarkson and Adam Levine.

[05/12/26 - 06:32 AM]
FOX Sports and Sesame Workshop Announce Dynamic Collaboration Ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026
As part of the collaboration, beloved characters from the legendary show will be integrated into FOX Sports' World Cup programming through special content segments, kicking off today, and rolling out across the tournament from Thursday, June 11, to Sunday, July 19.

[05/12/26 - 04:01 AM]
Video: "Poldi" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Footballer, entrepreneur, fan favorite and true community hero - Lukas Podolski reflects on his journey and what comes next in this intimate documentary.

[05/12/26 - 03:01 AM]
Video: The Netflix Effect - Netflix
10 years ago, Netflix went from entertaining audiences in about 60 countries to more than 190 in a single day.

[05/11/26 - 05:01 PM]
Video: "Jae-seok's B&B Rules!" - Official Trailer - Netflix
The guest is king - but so is the host! Yu Jae-seok opens his first B&B, where he runs things his way and treats guests to his signature games.

[05/11/26 - 04:58 PM]
Prime Video Orders "Fourth Wing" to Series
Lisa Joy, co-founder of Kilter Films and executive producer of the series, is set to direct the pilot.

[05/11/26 - 04:38 PM]
Prime Video Announces Premiere Date for "The Terminal List" Season Two Starring Chris Pratt
All eight episodes, executive produced by Chris Pratt, Antoine Fuqua, David DiGilio, and author Jack Carr, will premiere on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

[05/11/26 - 04:14 PM]
Prime Video Kicks Off 2026 "Thursday Night Football" Season with Lions at Bills, September 17
Today's announcement arrives in advance of the full-season "TNF" schedule, which will be released on Thursday, May 14.

[05/11/26 - 03:15 PM]
Prime Video Confirms Season Three Premiere Date of "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power"
The eagerly awaited third season of epic fantasy series will premiere on November 11, 2026.

[05/11/26 - 03:01 PM]
Prime Video Orders "Escorted" to Series
The eight-episode, half-hour single-camera comedy stars and is executive produced, written, and co-showrun by Emmy Award winner Brett Goldstein.

[05/11/26 - 02:46 PM]
Prime Video Orders "Rose Hill" to Series from Temple Hill
The series follows best friends and neighbors West Belmont, a rancher with commitment issues, and brooding record label owner Ford Grant, aka Forbes' "World's Hottest Billionaire," who's long carried a torch for West's sister, Rosie.

[05/11/26 - 02:31 PM]
Amazon MGM Studios Confirms Nia DaCosta to Direct Pilot and Second Episode of "Sex Criminals"
Imogen Poots and John Reynolds star in the project, based on the acclaimed Image Comics title by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky.