[07/02/08 - 05:31 PM] Development Update: Wednesday, July 2 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!
90210 (The CW) - Shannen Doherty is the latest "90210" alum in talks to appear on the CW's revival of the franchise. The actress starred in the first four seasons of the series before she was infamously let go after several onset clashes. Fellow co-stars Jennie Garth and Tori Spelling are already signed on to make appearances.
CRIMINAL MINDS (CBS) - Executive producer Ed Bernero has toldEntertainment Weekly that "substantive" discussions are currently taking place between CBS and producer ABC Studios to develop a spin-off of the popular Wednesday drama. "It's safe to say there will be something soon," he says in the report. "We had talked about it from the beginning, but something always got in the way of it happening... like Mandy [Patinkin] leaving and the strike. But it's definitely gaining momentum now." As for any specifics, Bernero would only say it's unlikely to feature any of the current "Minds" cast and that they're "looking at all of the things the FBI does and how we can work that into the 'Criminal Minds' world." Said spin-off would then be set up in an upcoming installment of the series, a la the various "CSI" series and "NCIS" (from "JAG").
LIFE ON MARS (ABC) - "The Sopranos" co-star Michael Imperioli has joined the cast of the upcoming drama, about a modern-day police detective (Jason O'Mara) who, after a car crash, finds himself mysteriously sent back in time to the early 1970s. He'll play Ray Carling, a tough-guy detective who's not very politically correct. Said development marks the first news about the show's post-pilot revival under incoming executive producers Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec and Scott Rosenberg. ABC Studios and 20th Century Fox Television are co-producing.
OFF DUTY (NBC, New!) - Jason Mantzoukas ("We Used to Go Out") and Scot Armstrong ("Semi-Pro") have received a cast-contingent pilot order from the Peacock for a new single-camera comedy about cops who can't leave their job at the station. Mantzoukas penned the half-hour and will serve as a co-executive producer. Armstrong and Ravi Nandan then will executive produce via their company American Work. No other specifics were given.
