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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!
1321 CLOVER (CBS) - Feature helmer Walt Becker ("Wild Hogs") has signed on to direct the comedy pilot, which chronicles documentary-style the lives of a typical suburban American family.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: TBA
Writers: Brad Walsh, Paul Corrigan
Director: Walt Becker
Executive Producers: Brad Walsh, Paul Corrigan
Studio: CBS Paramount Network Television
CANTERBURY'S LAW (FOX) - Julianna Margulies ("ER") and Ben Shenkman ("Love Monkey") have both joined the cast of the drama pilot, about a brash defense attorney who contends with challenges both in the courtroom and at home. Margulies will play said lead role with Shenkman as an unspecified character. In addition, Margulies will also serve as a producer on the project.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Ben Shenkman, Julianna Margulies
Writer: Dave Erickson
Director: Mike Figgis
Executive Producers: Denis Leary (Apostle Productions), Jim Serpico (Apostle Productions)
Co-Executive Producer: Dave Erickson
Producer: Julianna Margulies
Studio: Sony Pictures Television
CASHMERE MAFIA (ABC) - Frances O'Connor ("The Importance of Being Earnest") is the latest addition to the drama pilot, about four successful thirtysomething female executives in New York. She'll play one of the group, a top investment banker who is struggling to balance her roles as mother, wife and Wall Street whiz.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Frances O'Connor, Miranda Otto
Writer: Kevin Wade
Director: Peyton Reed
Executive Producers: Darren Star (Darren Star Productions), Gail Katz, Kevin Wade
Co-Executive Producer: Susie Fitzgerald (Darren Star Productions)
Studio: Sony Pictures Television
DEMONS (CBS) - Jaime Murray ("Hustle") has booked a role on the drama pilot, about an ex-Jesuit priest/psychologist (Ron Eldard) who performs exorcisms. He'll play a neurologist with a great passion for investigating the paranormal, including demonic.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Harold Perrineau, Jaime Murray, Ron Eldard (Gus)
Writer: Barbara Hall
Director: Mick Jackson
Executive Producers: Barbara Hall (Barbara Hall Productions), Joe Roth (Joe Roth Television)
Co-Executive Producer: Nina Lederman (Joe Roth Television)
Consultant: Bob Larson
Studio: CBS Paramount Network Television
DIRTY SEXY MONEY (ABC) - Glenn Fitzgerald ("Six Feet Under") has scored a role in the drama pilot, about an idealistic young lawyer (Peter Krause) who inherits the job of representing the Darlings - a rich, powerful and ethically flexible family - after his father dies. He'll play Brian Darling in the project, who's detailed as: "30s. A reverend with the Episcopal church, he is a pale, sour, whiny jerk who loathed Nick as a kid and loathes him today. Brian spitefully accused Nick's father of trying to infiltrate a family he didn't belong in, and he feels that Nick is attempting the same exact thing. Like the rest of the Darling children, Brian has some big problems he needs swept under the rug, namely the illegitimate son he's just been saddled with."
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Glenn Fitzgerald (Brian Darling), Peter Krause (Nick George), Seth Gabel (Jeremy Darling)
Writer: Craig Wright
Director: Peter Horton
Executive Producers: Craig Wright, Greg Berlanti (Berlanti Television)
Studio: ABC Television Studio
EX MEN (CBS, New!) - Rob Greenberg ("How I Met Your Mother") has snagged a pilot commitment from the Eye for a new comedy about a newly single guy who is taken under the wing of a group of more experienced guys. He'll write and executive produce the single-camera half-hour, which is based at CBS Paramount Network Television.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: TBA
Writer: Rob Greenberg
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Rob Greenberg
Studio: CBS Paramount Network Television
FOOTBALL WIVES (ABC) - Kiele Sanchez ("Lost") is in talks to join the cast of the drama pilot, about - you guessed it - the wives of professional football players. She's set to play the pregnant wife of a rising football star, a good-natured woman with a secret.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Brian White (Kyle), Gabrielle Union (Chardonnay Lane), Kiele Sanchez, Lucy Lawless (Tanya)
Writer: Marco Pennette
Director: Bryan Singer
Executive Producers: Ann McManus (Shed Productions), Bert Salke (Brancato-Salke Productions), Bryan Singer (Bad Hat Harry Productions), Chris Brancato (Brancato-Salke Productions), Eileen Gallagher (Shed Productions), Marco Pennette, Maureen Chadwicke (Shed Productions)
Studio: ABC Television Studio
K-VILLE (FOX) - Deran Sarafian ("House") has signed on to direct the drama pilot, about cops in post-Katrina New Orleans. He'll work from a script by creator Jonathan Lisco.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Cole Hauser
Writer: Jonathan Lisco
Director: Deran Sarafian
Executive Producers: Jonathan Lisco
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television
A LIFE INTERRUPTED (Lifetime, New!) - Lea Thompson ("Jane Doe") is set to star in a new original movie for the cable channel, about the life of Debbie Smith, a rape survivor who successfully lobbied for the passage of anti-rape legislation designed to eliminate the backlog of untested DNA kits. The legislation, known as "The Debbie Smith Act," is expected to put about 70,000 rapists behind bars. Incendo Productions and Anne Carlucci Productions are behind the project, which Stefan Pleszcynski is directing from a script by John Wierick. Jean Bureau, Stephen Greenberg and Anne Carlucci are the executive producers with Josee Mauffette and Serge Denis producing. Production is set to be completed in time for a Monday, April 23 air date at 9:00/8:00c.
Commitment: In production
Cast: Lea Thompson (Debbie Smith)
Writer: John Wierick
Director: Stefan Pleszcynski
Executive Producers: Anne Carlucci, Jean Bureau, Stephen Greenberg
Producers: Josee Mauffette, Serge Denis
Studios: Anne Carlucci Productions, Incendo Productions
HOW TO LOOK GOOD NAKED (Lifetime, New!) - "Queer Eye" co-host Carson Kressley has signed on to host a potential new reality series at the network, in which women receive makeovers without resorting to interventions like plastic surgery, dieting or exercise. The half-hour project, which is based on the successful British program of the same name, then is more about boosting self-confidence and learning how to feel good about yourself. In the U.K. original, participants agree early on to allow their picture to be taken in their underwear, with the image then projected on the side of a building. Passersby then are asked evaluate the larger-than-life projection as many generally shower praise on various aspects of the figure, much to the woman's surprise. Greg Goldman, Alex Fraser and Riaz Patel are executive producing the project, a co-production of RDF Media and Maverick Television.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Carson Kressley (Host)
Writer: TBA
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Alex Fraser, Greg Goldman, Riaz Patel
Studio: Maverick Television, RDF Media
THE MASTERSONS OF MANHATTAN (NBC) - Jonathan Cake ("Six Degrees") has scored a pair of roles on the comedy pilot, a serialized soap about a wealthy family in New York, revolving around two socialite sisters. He'll play identical twin brothers Roger and Marshall, the former of which is married to one of the Masterson sisters (Natasha Richardson) while the latter is the other sister's deceased husband.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Jonathan Cake (Roger/Marshall), Natasha Richardson
Writer: Gary Janetti
Director: James Burrows
Executive Producers: Gary Janetti
Studio: NBC Universal Television Studio
THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE (CBS) - Kari Lizer, the show's creator and executive producer, has inked a massive three-year, high seven-figure overall deal with Warner Bros. Television. The pact will cover her duties on the sitcom through the 2009-10 season as well as any development during the period.
PHILADELPHIA GENERAL (FOX) - Sara Rue ("Less Than Perfect") has joined the cast of the pilot, a comedic drama about the lives and loves of a team of nurses. She's understood to be playing Chris Korenek, who's described in the casting notice as: "Mid 20s. Girl-next-door pretty with an easy smile, sweet and a bit naive. She's married to her high school sweetheart, a cop, but things are a little staid. Chris dreams of something more but is somewhat passive and na�ve. With her sixth sense for medicine, Chris would make a wonderful doctor. Her yearning for more stimulation in her humdrum life may lead her to break her marriage vows."
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Ramon Rodriguez (Patrick Quinn), Sara Rue (Chris Korenek)
Writers: Andy Stern, Samantha Goodman
Director: P.J. Hogan
Executive Producers: Ann McManus (Shed Productions), Barry Josephson (Josephson Entertainment), Eileen Gallagher (Shed Productions), P.J. Hogan
Co-Executive Producers: Andy Stern, Samantha Goodman
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television
WOMEN'S MURDER CLUB (ABC) - Aubrey Dollar ("Point Pleasant") has landed one of the principal roles in the drama pilot, about four girlfriends - a homicide detective, a medical examiner, an up-and-coming newspaper reporter and a young assistant district attorney - who solve tough murder cases in San Francisco. She'll play Cindy Thomas, said crime reporter, who's further detailed in the casting notice as: "Another one of the group of four friends is crime reporter. Cindy Thomas, 20s, quick and adorable. Self-conscious and indecisive in social settings, she is confident and aggressive on the job. Cindy is known for using unorthodox methods to help her friends solve crimes. She is "a woman who has no problem getting in the governor's face for a story," but "can't say no to a guy she's been dating for barely a month"."
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Aubrey Dollar (Cindy Thomas), Paula Newsome (Claire Washburn)
Writers: Elizabeth Craft, Sarah Fain
Director: Brett Ratner
Executive Producers: Brett Ratner (Rat Television), Elizabeth Craft, James Patterson, Joe Simpson, Sarah Fain
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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