or


[08/28/03 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: August 28
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

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

ELOISE AT CHRISTMASTIME (ABC) - The network has scheduled the second "Eloise" telefilm for Saturday, November 22 at 8:00/7:00c as part of "The Wonderful World of Disney." The new telefilm has Julie Andrews ("The Princess Diaries") and ten-year-old actress Sofia Vassilieva ("The Brady Bunch in the White House") reprising their roles from the first effort, "Eloise at the Plaza."

HOUSE RULES (TBS) - The network's entry into the home makeover genre is set to bow Friday, October 10 at 8:00/7:00c.

HUFF (Showtime) - Paget Brewster ("Andy Richter Controls the Universe") has signed on as wife to Hank Azaria in the pay channel's two-hour drama pilot. Azaria plays a psychiatrist suffering a midlife crisis. Production on the pilot, from producer-director Mike Newell ("Donnie Brasco"), is scheduled to begin in early September in Vancouver.

JOE SCHMO (Spike TV) - The reality series will actually air Tuesdays at 9:00/8:00c not Sundays at 9:00/8:00c as originally reported. The series kicks off with a special two-hour premiere on September 2. The series stars Matt Kennedy Gould, a real-life law-school dropout who's convinced he's been cast on a "Big Brother"-style reality show called "Lap of Luxury" in which the winner receives $100,000. The twist is that he's actually the focus of a big prank, as his housemates and competitors are actually actors - manipulating him for all the laughs they can get.

MERGE (Lifetime) - The Lisa Rinna-hosted makeover series kicks off Friday, October 3 at 11:00/10:00c. The show features a design team that comes in while a couple goes off on their honeymoon to "merge" their belongings for their new household.

MI-5 (A&E) - The cable channel will move the British import to Tuesdays at 9:00/8:00c beginning next week. The network also announced it will run all 16 produced episodes of the series without a break between seasons. A&E had originally planned to split the series into two eight-episode seasons. "In a very short period of time, 'MI-5' has developed an ardent and dedicated fan base," said Robert DeBitetto, the network's Sr. VP of programming, in a press release heralding the news. "We are moving the series to an earlier time to make it more accessible to a wider audience. And, in response to the critical acclaim and to maintain the momentum of the series, we have decided to air the second season immediately."

OBLIVIOUS (Spike TV) - The second season of the game show you don't know you're playing is set to bow Tuesday, September 9 at 10:00/9:00c following the new reality series "Joe Schmo."

SURVIVOR: PEARL ISLANDS (CBS) - The Eye has extended the September 18 opener of the franchise's latest installment to 90-minutes. In addition, CBS also revealed this season will have the castaways marooned with only the clothes on their backs, unbeknownst to the contestants. No luxury items, changes of clothing or bathing suits will be allowed along as in previous seasons. The show will also feature a pirate theme that includes a tribal council set featuring a re-creation of a giant Spanish fort, complete with cannons. Contestants will also use pirate-style rowboats to travel between their individual islands and various competitions.

UNTITLED JIMMY SMITS PROJECT (New!) - The former "N.Y.P.D. Blue" star has signed a development deal with Warner Bros. Television. While no specific project has materialized it's expected he'll be paired with some of Warner's biggest production talent such as Jerry Bruckheimer. Two years ago Smits signed a rich development deal with ABC ago however nothing came of it.

WUTHERING HEIGHTS (MTV) - The music channel has bumped its latest original telefilm to Sunday, September 14. The project was originally scheduled to bow on September 4.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [august 2003]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· ANDY RICHTER CONTROLS THE UNIVERSE (FOX)
· BIG BROTHER (CBS)
· BRADY BUNCH IN THE WHITE HOUSE, THE (FOX)
· ELOISE AT CHRISTMASTIME (ABC)
· ELOISE AT THE PLAZA (ABC)
· HOUSE RULES (TBS)
· HUFF (SHOWTIME)
· JOE SCHMO SHOW, THE (SPIKE TV)
· MERGE (LIFETIME)
· MI-5 (BBC AMERICA)
· NYPD BLUE (ABC)
· OBLIVIOUS (SPIKE TV)
· SURVIVOR (CBS)
· WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY, THE (ABC)
· WUTHERING HEIGHTS (MTV)





[07/11/25 - 12:45 PM]
ABC Concludes September to May Season with Top Five Shows Among Adults 18-49 Including "High Potential," "Abbott Elementary," "The Rookie," "Shifting Gears" and "9-1-1"
Continuing to lead among broadcast series, ABC's "High Potential" stood as the No. 1 new drama among Total Viewers (16.41 million) and No. 1 new show among Adults 18-49 (3.85 rating).

[07/11/25 - 11:28 AM]
"Big Brother: Summer of Mystery" Premiere Up +10% from Last Summer
Last night, season 27 premiered to nearly 3 million viewers.

[07/11/25 - 10:01 AM]
FX's "Alien: Earth" Takes Fandom to New Heights with Premium Exclusive Content Including a Companion Podcast and Innovative Immersive Experiences
"Alien: Earth," a new drama series from Noah Hawley inspired by the acclaimed feature film franchise, will premiere on Tuesday, August 12.

[07/11/25 - 10:01 AM]
CBS Unveils Fall Primetime Premiere Dates for the 2025-2026 Season
Highlights include an early return for "Watson" on Monday, October 13 in place of the previously announced "FBI" spin-off "CIA."

[07/11/25 - 10:00 AM]
The "Outlander" Universe Expands in Hall H, as Starz Returns to San Diego Comic-Con
Look for can't miss panels for "Outlander" and "Outlander: Blood of my Blood" in Hall H on Friday, July 25 and an in-depth preview of the newest saga in the Spartacus franchise, "Spartacus: House of Ashur" on Saturday, July 26 in the Indigo Ballroom.

[07/11/25 - 10:00 AM]
Adult Swim Returns to San Diego Comic-Con with "Pirate Purrrty on the Green," Must-See Panel Events, and Exclusive First Looks and Giveaways
Adult Swim will bring its famed pirate ship outside the San Diego Convention Center (5th Avenue Landing and Convention Way), this time with a feline twist!

[07/11/25 - 09:01 AM]
HBO Max to Host Fan Experiences for Upcoming Seasons of "Peacemaker" and "It: Welcome to Derry" in San Diego
The festivities include a panel in Hall H, where showrunner/writer/director and Co-Head of DC Studios James Gunn and the cast of "Peacemaker" will share new details about the upcoming season and premiere the global trailer for season two.

[07/11/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Billy Joel: And So It Goes" - Official Trailer - HBO Max
There's always a message in the music.

[07/11/25 - 06:00 AM]
"Love Island (UK)" 10th Anniversary Special Date Announcement
The special premieres in the US on Friday, July 11.

[07/11/25 - 02:01 AM]
Netflix Will Release "Death Inc." Seasons 1, 2 and 3
The series is a comedy centered around a family-run funeral home and the relationships between the eccentric characters who inhabit it.

[07/11/25 - 12:01 AM]
"Too Hot to Handle: Italy" Is Coming on July 18 Only on Netflix
A special guest will guide the contestants in the first Italian edition of the reality show.

[07/10/25 - 07:01 PM]
Video: "The Winning Try" - Official Trailer - Netflix
After his career fell apart, a disgraced rugby star finds purpose coaching his old school's team - driving them and himself toward growth and redemption.

[07/10/25 - 07:01 PM]
Video: "The Nice Guy" - Teaser Trailer #3 - Disney+
He wants out for good. But the past comes with strings.

[07/10/25 - 05:03 PM]
Meagan Good Returns to Lifetime to Executive Produce and Star in the Alluring New Thriller "I'll Never Let You Go" Alongside Antonio Cupo and Thomas Cadrot, Premiering August 16 on Lifetime
Good stars as Emily Westover, a poised and successful art gallery director whose life takes a dark turn after a brief, impulsive affair with a magnetic Italian artist, Carlo (Cupo).

[07/10/25 - 12:01 PM]
"Virgin River" Is Returning for Season 8
"On behalf of myself and the whole 'Virgin River' family, we're eternally grateful to Netflix and to the fans for allowing us to continue on this journey with these beloved characters," said showrunner Patrick Sean Smith.