or


[04/18/03 - 12:00 AM]
Pilot Update: April 18
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- The latest development news, culled from various wire reports each morning:

The Family Friendly Programming Forum is considering 15 scripts from four of the major broadcast networks for funding through its Family Friendly Script Development Fund. The Forum, which consists of 40 major national advertisers, is designed to encourage the broadcast networks to, as you might have guessed, develop more family friendly programming. Previous recipients include the WB's "Gilmore Girls" and "Family Affair," NBC's "American Dreams," as well as ABC's "Eight Simple Rules" and "Veritas: The Quest."

The fund works by giving seed money to the broadcast networks to purchase family friendly scripts deemed worthy by the Programming Forum. Those scripts that get pilot orders then return the money to the fund for the following development season. Those that then make it to series then have the group's seal of approval of being "safe" for viewers to watch with their families. The idea is that since the Programming Fund eats the cost of any failed family-friendly scripts, networks are more likely to develop programming that fits the group's profile.

Among the submitted scripts:

The WB: "Immediate Family" (Spelling TV), "Eddie's Father" (Warner Bros. TV/Pariah), "Run of the House" (Warner Bros. TV/The Tannenbaum Co.), "Exit 9" (Warner Bros. TV) and "Like Family" (Warner Bros. TV), all of which have pilot orders for fall 2003 consideration. Also submitted was "Mr. Logan" (Paramount Pictures TV), starring Bow Wow, which has been pushed back to midseason.

CBS: "Family Show" (Sony) and "Untitled Rob Long/Dan Staley Project," about a widower with two kids who works at the family bar (Paramount). Both are cast-contigent pilot orders.

NBC: "Untitled Tracy Morgan Project" (Carsey-Werner-Mandabach/NBC Studios/SNL Studios), which has received a pilot order.

While there is no limit to the number of scripts the group would deem family friendly, the amount of reimbursement money is limited to how many advertisers participate in the Fund. This year, 16 companies are participating. Previous contributors include AT&T, FedEX, Ford, Johnson & Johnson, Kellogg, PepsiCo., Sears, Sprint and Verizon.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters




  [april 2003]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· AMERICAN DREAMS (NBC)
· EDDIE'S FATHER (WB)
· EIGHT SIMPLE RULES (ABC)
· EXIT 9 (WB)
· FAMILY AFFAIR (WB)
· FAMILY SHOW (CBS)
· GILMORE GIRLS (CW)
· LIKE FAMILY (WB)
· RUN OF THE HOUSE (WB)
· SAVING JASON (WB)
· SUMMERLAND (WB)
· TRACY MORGAN SHOW, THE (NBC)
· UNTITLED LONG & STALEY PROJECT (CBS)
· VERITAS: THE QUEST (ABC)




[09/28/26 - 09:31 AM]
"Michael Che: Shot in Minnesota" - Premiering Globally on Netflix October 13
This marks the comedian's third Netflix stand-up special.
[09/28/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "La Bola Negra" - Official Trailer - Netflix
The film tells the story of three generations of men whose lives are intimately connected through desire, pain, and love.
[09/28/26 - 07:31 AM]
Peacock to Exclusively Stream Illumination's "Minions & Monsters" Beginning October 28
The film features the voices of Pierre Coffin, Allison Janney, Christoph Waltz, Jesse Eisenberg, Jeff Bridges, Zoey Deutch and more.

[09/28/26 - 07:09 AM]
"Foul Play with Anthony Davis" Returns for Hilarious New Episodes Monday, November 2 on TBS
Hosted by NBA Champion and 10-time NBA All-Star Anthony Davis, the hidden camera series features an elite lineup of celebrities and athletes pulling the ultimate pranks on their superstar friends.
[09/28/26 - 07:06 AM]
"Oasis: Don't Look Back in Anger" Streams Exclusively on Disney+ October 9
As the exclusive home of the critically acclaimed documentary, Disney+ will also host never-before-seen footage that includes material from the joint interview with Liam and Noel Gallagher, and full performances of songs "Wonderwall" and "Slide Away".
[09/28/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Paralyzed by Hope: The Maria Bamford Story" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Beloved for blurring performance and personal crisis, Maria Bamford unpacks the mental health journey behind her fearless comedy in this documentary.
[09/28/26 - 06:46 AM]
Netflix Heats Up "Icebreaker" with Daisy Jelley & Connor Simos Cast as Stassie & Nate
The new college romance drama series is based on the #1 New York Times best-selling novel by Hannah Grace.

[09/28/26 - 06:06 AM]
Bleacher Report & WWE Reach Multi-Year Global Content Partnership
Per the agreement, Bleacher Report will hold global highlight rights across WWE's programming slate with content distributed across Bleacher Report and their associated social and digital platforms.
[09/28/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Love Is Blind" Season 11: Boston - Meet the Singles - Netflix
Boston singles enter the pods to find their soulmates and get engaged sight unseen. Will they walk down the aisle or will looks get in the way of love?
[09/28/26 - 12:01 AM]
The Neighbours of Netflix's "Chumbak" Colony Are Back - Part 2 Premieres October 1
Part 2 brings a fresh set of mix-ups to the colony, putting friendships to a hilarious test as the whole neighborhood gets tangled up in it.
[09/27/26 - 05:01 PM]
Video: "Take Charge of My Heart" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A corporate heir with an artificial heart meets a woman who conducts real current. Their contract could spark his battery - and something between them.
[09/27/26 - 03:16 PM]
NBC Sports Names Announce Teams for MLB Wild Card Series Presented by Abbvie - Headlined by Red Sox-Yankees in Primetime - Beginning This Tues., Sept. 29 Across NBC, Peacock, and NBCSN
The 2026 MLB Wild Card Series will feature up to 12 games across four best-of-three series.
[09/25/26 - 02:23 PM]
ESPN Tips Off Its Coverage of the 2026 WNBA Playoffs Presented by Google Pixel
The postseason follows ESPN's most-watched WNBA regular season ever, with 29 games across ESPN networks averaging 1.37 million viewers, up 17% year-over-year.
[09/25/26 - 11:01 AM]
"Family Guy" Hulu Exclusive Halloween Special Premieres October 5 on Hulu
Brian and Stewie find themselves in Hell - not an annoying day, the actual underworld - paying for 24 seasons' worth of bad behavior.
[09/25/26 - 10:35 AM]
ESPN Delivered Its Most-Watched WNBA Regular Season Ever!
Across 29 games, the WNBA on ESPN networks averaged 1.37M viewers, up 17% year-over-year and ranking as ESPN networks' most-viewed WNBA regular season on record.