or


[03/30/07 - 01:40 AM]
Development Update: Friday, March 30
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!


CAVEMEN (ABC) - Relative newcomers Bill English and Kaitlin Doubleday have both joined the cast of the comedy pilot, which is based on the Geico cavemen commercials. Doubleday will play Kate, a wealthy socialite who's engaged to one of the cavemen. English then is set as Joel, an unspecified character. In addition, Bill Martin and Mike Schiff ("Grounded for Life") have come aboard to supervise the project, which was created by Joe Lawson.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Bill English (Joel), Kaitlin Doubleday (Kate), Nick Kroll (Nick)
Writer: Joe Lawson
Directors: Josh Gordon, Will Speck
Executive Producers: Bill Martin, Daniel Rappaport, Guymon Casady, Josh Gordon, Mike Schiff, Will Speck
Co-Executive Producer: Joe Lawson
Studio:


DASH 4 CASH (The CW) - Serah D'Laine ("Wicked Wicked Games"), Maulik Pancholy ("30 Rock") and newcomer Bert Belasco have all joined the cast of the pilot, a comedic take on the behind-the-scenes of a reality competition series. D'Laine will play Meredith, who's detailed in the casting notice as: "20s, gorgeous and overly sweet. She's a good Christian girl who loves Jesus, charity work, stylish clothes and sexy outfits - not necessarily in that order. Though she appears harmless and well-meaning at first, Meredith quickly manipulates Pablo and Ronnie into helping her and Dottie solve the puzzles and advance in the race, even suggesting a "secret alliance" with the boys that serves only to benefit her team."

Pancholy then is set as Pablo - "Early 20s. Large and affable with a heart of gold (think "Hurley" from Lost) and best friend to Ronnie. He's got low self-esteem, no experience with girls, and lives under the delusion that Ronnie is cool. He's never traveled outside of Washington (except for that one comic convention) and falls for Meredith and Dottie's manipulations right off the bat. Like Ronnie, Pablo also speaks in emoticons and instant message abbreviation lingo." - while Belasco is believed to be playing Durkin - "25, "a young Xzibit", he's an extremely fit, large, former LSU linebacker, who has partnered up with his old college buddy/teammate Rick. But underneath this football jock's "ladies' man" exterior, he may be harboring a secret crush on his friend. Durkin will occasionally engineer situations so that he and Rick can be physically close, which Rick finds puzzling."

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Bert Belasco (Durkin), Brianna Brown (Noelle), Johann Urb (Rick), Jonathan Chase (Michael), Jud Tylor (Dottie), Kevin Christy (Ronnie), Kyle Bornheimer (Nick), Maulik Pancholy (Pablo), Rick Hall (Calvin), Serah D'Laine (Meredith)
Writers: Boyce Bugliari, Jamie McLaughlin
Director: Betty Thomas
Executive Producers: Kelsey Grammer (Grammnet Productions), Steve Stark (Grammnet Productions)
Co-Executive Producers: Boyce Bugliari, Jamie McLaughlin
Studio: CBS Paramount Network Television


DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC) - Executive producer Joe Keenan reportedly will exit the series after its current season, which wraps production next month. It's understood the decision is based on Keenan's desire to develop his own material. To that end, he's expected to sign an overall deal with producer ABC Television Studio, however nothing formal has been announced.


GIANTS OF RADIO (CBS) - Jordan Black ("Halfway Home"), Missi Pyle ("The Wedding Bells"), Joel McHale ("The Soup"), Jackie Tohn ("Veronica Mars"), Phil Hendrie ("Teachers"), Danny Pudi ("Gilmore Girls") and creator Jason Winer have been confirmed as cast members on the pilot, a workplace comedy set behind-the-scenes of a fictional radio syndication network. The group all play hosts on three of the network's shows - Pyle and Tohn play sisters who host a "Loveline"-esque radio show, Hendrie's character is a right-wing talk show host and Winer and Black's characters host of a sports show. (McHale and Pudi's roles weren't specified.) In addition, the pilot reportedly was shot on spec for $150,000 - the fee Winer earned when he sold the pitch to producer 20th Century Fox Television. Because of the unique development of the pilot, all of the actors aren't officially "cast" in the project and deals must be struck with the respective actors - some of whom are already tied to other projects (Pyle on FOX's "Bells" on McHale on the NBC pilot "The IT Crowd") - should it move forward to series. To that end, the studio recently signed co-star Black to a talent holding deal.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Danny Pudi, Jackie Tohn, Jason Winer, Joel McHale, Jordan Black, Missi Pyle, Phil Hendrie
Writer: Jason Winer
Director: Jason Winer
Executive Producers: Jason Winer, Jon Berg, Matt Weinberg, Todd Komarnicki
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television


HELL ON EARTH (The CW) - Lamont Thompson ("The O.C.") and Dawnn Lewis ("A Different World") have both been cast in the comedy pilot, about a not-so-nice girl who gets hit by a bus and gets a second chance in life as a normal girl from the wrong side of the tracks. They'll play the girl's parents. In addition, Dennie Gordon ("30 Rock") has come aboard to direct the half-hour.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Dawnn Lewish, Kim Coles, Lamont Thompson
Writers: Jack Amiel, Michael Begler
Director: Dennie Gordon
Executive Producers:
Studio: CBS Paramount Network Television


PRIVATE PRACTICE (A.K.A. UNTITLED GREY'S ANATOMY SPIN-OFF PROJECT) (ABC) - The "Grey's Anatomy" spin-off now reportedly is running under the working title of "Private Practice."

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Amy Brenneman (Violet), Chris Lowell (Dell), Kate Walsh (Addison Shepherd), Merrin Dungey (Naomi), Paul Adelstein (Cooper), Taye Diggs (Jackson), Tim Daly (Pete)
Writer: Shonda Rhimes
Director: Michael Grossman
Executive Producers: Betsy Beers (Shondaland Productions), Shonda Rhimes (Shondaland Productions)
Studio: ABC Television Studio


UNTITLED VICTOR FRESCO PROJECT (FOX) - "According to Jim" co-star Larry Joe Campbell has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about a 10-year-old who tries to navigate life in his high-achieving, stressed family with the unorthodox help of his slightly crazy grandfather, Nate (Tom Conti). He'll play Don Atlin, the boy's father. Campbell's involvement is in second position to his duties on "Jim."

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Andrea Parker (Susan Atlin), Larry Joe Campbell (Don Atlin), Tom Conti (Nate)
Writer: Victor Fresco
Director: Marc Buckland
Executive Producers: Victor Fresco
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [march 2024]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· 30 ROCK (NBC)
· ACCORDING TO JIM (ABC)
· CAVEMEN (ABC)
· DASH 4 CASH (CW)
· DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· GIANTS OF RADIO (CBS)
· GILMORE GIRLS (CW)
· GREY'S ANATOMY (ABC)
· GROUNDED FOR LIFE (WB)
· HALFWAY HOME (COMEDY CENTRAL)
· HELL ON EARTH (CW)
· IT CROWD, THE (NBC)
· OC, THE (FOX)
· PRIVATE PRACTICE (ABC)
· SOUP, THE (E)
· TEACHERS (NBC)
· UNTITLED VICTOR FRESCO PROJECT (FOX)
· VERONICA MARS (HULU)
· WEDDING BELLS, THE (FOX)
· WICKED WICKED GAMES (MYNETWORKTV)





[03/28/24 - 11:07 AM]
HBO Original Documentary "Brandy Hellville & The Cult of Fast Fashion" Debuts April 9
The film uncovers the toxic culture of the teen brand Brandy Melville and the global ramifications of mass-produced clothing known as fast fashion.

[03/28/24 - 11:02 AM]
FX's "Welcome to Wrexham" Shifts Season Three Premiere Date
The May 2 premiere will include the first two episodes of the eight-episode season, with a new episode available each following Thursday.

[03/28/24 - 10:36 AM]
Claire Danes Will Reunite with "Homeland" Showrunner & Executive Producer Howard Gordon on the Netflix Limited Series "The Beast in Me"
A grieving author finds a new subject in a real estate mogul who was once the prime suspect in his wife's disappearance. Her investigation spirals into a game of cat and mouse that might turn deadly.

[03/28/24 - 10:32 AM]
Roku Originals Reunites "The Real Bros of Simi Valley" for New Movie; Directed by Jimmy Tatro
"The Real Bros of Simi Valley: High School Reunion" is a continuation of the beloved original series, co-created by Jimmy Tatro and Christian Pierce, which became a social media phenomenon generating over a billion views across video platforms.

[03/28/24 - 10:04 AM]
Bravo Reveals Returning Cast for "The Real Housewives of New York City" Season 15
After a successful first bite out of the Big Apple, all six ladies of Bravo's "The Real Housewives of New York City" will return for season 15, including Sai De Silva, Ubah Hassan, Erin Lichy, Jenna Lyons, Jessel Taank and Brynn Whitfield.

[03/28/24 - 10:03 AM]
Matt Barnes and Anansa Sims Give a Close-Up Look at Navigating Love, Co-Parenting, Fame and More in New Series, "The Barnes Bunch," Premiering Friday, April 19 at 10PM ET on WE tv
This endearing new series follows NBA champion and successful Podcaster, Matt Barnes, alongside his fiancée, model and reality personality, Anansa Sims, as they navigate love, forgiveness, and personal growth while reconciling their past.

[03/28/24 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "Dan Da Dan" - Official Trailer - Netflix Anime
This is the story of Momo, a high school girl from a family of spirit mediums, and her classmate Okarun, an occult freak.

[03/28/24 - 10:01 AM]
"Karamo" Renewed for Third Season in National Syndication
"Karamo" is hosted by reality television personality, author, actor, producer and activist Karamo.

[03/28/24 - 09:31 AM]
Video: "Neal Brennan: Crazy Good" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Comedian Neal Brennan riffs in this stand-up special on crypto, social media flexes, sex compliments and the link between greatness and mental health.

[03/28/24 - 09:03 AM]
ESPN+ Unveils Major League Baseball Game Schedule for March and April
ESPN+ will stream a game every day in April, featuring all thirty Major League Baseball Clubs.

[03/28/24 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Jurassic World: Chaos Theory" - Teaser Trailer - Netflix After School
Set six years after the events at Camp Cretaceous, members of "The Nublar Six" are struggling to find their footing off the islands, navigating a world now filled with dinosaurs and people who want to hurt them.

[03/28/24 - 09:01 AM]
WWE on A&E Continues with Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias Joining "WWE Rivals" & More "WWE's Most Wanted Treasures" & "Biography: WWE Legends"
Kicking off on Sunday, April 14, "WWE's Most Wanted Treasures" will feature WWE Hall of Famers Booker T, Mick Foley, and Lita as they hunt for iconic memorabilia and share the history behind some of the most famous items in WWE history.

[03/28/24 - 09:00 AM]
"The Omen" Complete Franchise, Streaming Now on Hulu
To celebrate the new theatrical release, catch up on the supernatural saga with all five films available to stream on Hulu!

[03/28/24 - 08:29 AM]
Video: Prime Video Releases the Official Trailer for Horror Anthology Series "THEM: THE SCARE" Starring Deborah Ayorinde, Luke James, Pam Grier, and More!
This second installment will consist of eight episodes and premieres on Thursday, April 25, in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

[03/28/24 - 08:16 AM]
Netflix Lights Up the Sky with 1,000 Drones to Reveal May 1 Launch Date for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Epic Saga, "Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar"
In the series, arch nemeses Mallikajaan and Fareedan are locked in a battle for succession of Heeramandi, where courtesans reign as queens.