or


[04/01/04 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: April 1
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

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

Looking to keep track of all the various pilots and other projects in development? Be sure to check out our detailed production chart listings by clicking here.

BRANSON'S BIG ADVENTURE (FOX, New!) - Virgin CEO Richard Branson, the self-made billionaire and hot air balloonist, is set to be the focus of a new reality series in which he'll "will whisk off a select group of America's best and brightest on the adventure of a lifetime," according to a network press release. "They will jet to international destinations and relive some of his personal experiences, tackling the types of dilemmas that help shape future billionaires. If they make decisions that impress Branson, they will continue. Each week, one candidate will be left behind on the tarmac as the rest of the group jets off to the next adventure." FOX has given a series commitment to the project, which will tape over the course of six weeks this summer for a yet to be determined amount of episodes and premiere date. "Big Adventure" was created by Lori Levin-Hyams, Laura Fuest and Tod Dahlke, who will executive produce alongside Branson.

THE CATCH (ABC) - Orlando Jones ("Evolution") has joined the cast the J.J. Abrams-produced drama pilot, an action-adventure series about a pair of bounty hunters. He'll co-star alongside Greg Grunberg in the project, which will now focus on the buddy relationship between Grunberg's and Jones' characters. Touchstone Television and Abrams' Bad Robot are behind the pilot, which was created by Abrams and Grunberg.

EVERYDAY PEOPLE (A.K.A. BROOKLYN) (HBO) - The pay channel has scheduled the telefilm, recently retitled "Everday People," for Saturday, June 26 at 8:00/7:00c. Here's how HBO's press materials describe the project: "Written and directed by Jim McKay ("Our Song," "Girls Town"), the film explores the subtleties of daily interactions among people of different colors, ethnicities, generations and classes during a single day at a struggling Brooklyn diner. What starts as just another day at work evolves into a series of small but critical moments in the lives of a diverse and complex cast of characters." Nelson George, Sean Daniel and Caldecot Chubb are the executive producers of "People," which stars Reg E. Cathey, Iris Little-Thomas, Bridget Barkan, Ron Butler, Jordan Gelber, Billoah Greene, Stephen Henderson, muMs, Sydnee Stewart.

HOT MOMMA (ABC) - Lindsay Price ("Coupling") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, which stars Gina Gershon as a cool mom raising a conservative teenage daughter. She'll play Dana, the sister and best friend of Gershon's character, in the project. Warner Bros. Television is behind the pilot, which also features Nick Lachey.

HUMOR ME (A.K.A. UNTITLED DANE COOK PROJECT) (UPN) - Justine Bateman ("Family Ties") is the latest to join the Dane Cook-led comedy pilot, which now features the title "Humor Me." Bateman plays Paula, the sister-in-law of Cook's character, who's not a big fan of his childish behavior. "Humor Me," which comes from Sony Pictures Television, stars Cook as a standup comedian who loses it all and is forced to move in with his brother (Pat Finn). Bre Blair also stars.

I HATE MY JOB (Spike TV, New!) - The cable channel has ordered eight one-hour episodes of a new reality series which follows three willing guys who abandon their careers for the chance to pursue their unfulfilled dreams. RDF Media (ABC's upcoming "The Swap") is behind the project, which opens with 10 aspiring quitters, such as a lawyer who dreams of being a record producer and a father of three who aspires to be a male model, and gives three finalists complete career makeovers as well as a boot camp-style prep for their potential new gigs. It's not clear how the initial elimination process will work, however the seven that don't make the cut won't have to quit their jobs to participate. The ensuing episodes will then track the makeover and job search of the finalists. Production is set to begin shortly on the project for a September premiere date with Timothy Duffy executive producing for Spike TV.

I MARRIED SOFIA (A.K.A. UNTITLED SOFIA VERGARA PROJECT) (ABC) - Kiddie rapper Lil Maxso has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, which is now being developed under the title "I Married Sofia." The Touchstone Television/DDJ Productions project stars Vergara as a single Latina mom from Colombia who, in order to stay in the United States, finds an American businessman and pays him to marry her.

THE SIMPSONS (FOX) - Principal voice cast members Dan Castellaneta, Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer, Yeardley Smith, Julie Kavner and Nancy Cartwright have each failed to appear for two table reads in the past few weeks, leading industry insiders to believe they plan to hold up production on the show's 2004-05 season until their new contract negotiations are completed. Each is reportedly asking for $360,000 per episode (about $8 million per 22-episode season) for their future services on the series, up from their current salaries of $125,000 an episode. The group, which last banded together in 1998 to up their then salaries of $30,000 per installment to said current pay, apparently had been in discussions with 20th Century Fox Television and Gracie Films for several months however no deal was reached. It's also not clear what the level of acrimony is between the parties. During the last work stoppage, 20th went as far as hiring casting directors in five cities to replace the voice talent.

SOMETHING THE LORD MADE (HBO) - HBO has bumped the telefilm's air date back an hour to 9:00/8:00c on Sunday, May 30. Alan Rickman and Mos Def star in the project about "the extraordinary true story of unlikely partners -- a black lab technician and a white surgeon -- who created cardiac surgery in 1940s America," according to the network's press materials.

STRIP SEARCH (HBO) - The pay channel has rescheduled the telefilm from Saturday, April 24 at 8:00/7:00c to Tuesday, April 27 at 9:30/8:30c. The project, which comes from Sidney Lumet, Tom Fontana and Barry Levinson, explore the status of individual liberties post-9/11 through two parallel stories.

UNTITLED AISHA TYLER PROJECT (CBS) - Conor Dubin ("Cold Case") is the latest to join the Aisha Tyler-led comedy pilot, which comes from Warner Bros. Television and Is or Isn't Entertainment. Adam Goldberg, Lucy Davis and Richard Kind also star in the project, which casts Tyler as a sophisticated single New Yorker who makes the move from a small, edgy fashion house to a large corporation. Dubin's role wasn't specified.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [april 2004]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
    


· CATCH, THE (ABC)
· COLD CASE (CBS)
· COUPLING (NBC)
· EVERYDAY PEOPLE (HBO)
· HOT MOMMA (ABC)
· HUMOR ME (UPN)
· I HATE MY JOB (SPIKE TV)
· I MARRIED SOFIA (ABC)
· REBEL BILLIONAIRE, THE: BRANSON'S QUEST FOR THE BEST (FOX)
· SIMPSONS, THE (FOX)
· SOMETHING THE LORD MADE (HBO)
· STRIP SEARCH (HBO)
· UNTITLED AISHA TYLER PROJECT (CBS)
· WIFE SWAP (PARAMOUNT)





[03/18/24 - 01:59 PM]
Chrissy Metz, Jaime Ray Newman, Katie Lowes, and George Ferrier Join as Series Regulars for Starz's New Drama "The Hunting Wives"
Production on the thrilling new series has started in Charlotte, North Carolina.

[03/18/24 - 11:30 AM]
Video: ALLBLK Releases Trailer for the World Premiere of New Thriller, "The Influencer" Premiering Thursday, April 4
The original film stars Christina Cooper as Niecy Fields, a social media influencer on the cusp of stardom.

[03/18/24 - 10:06 AM]
E! Announces Trendsetting Guest Judges and Pioneering Disruptors for New Cutting-Edge Design Competition Series "OMG Fashun" with Julia Fox
Handcrafted is the new haute couture on "OMG Fashun" as Julia inspires pioneering fashion disruptors to upend traditional style convention, break the rules and redefine cool.

[03/18/24 - 10:00 AM]
Video: Peacock Debuts Trailer For New Original Documentary "Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal" Premiering April 1
The documentary looks at the remarkable career of the late Windham Rotunda also known as Bray Wyatt, one of the most skillful, tenacious, and creative WWE Superstars of all-time.

[03/18/24 - 10:00 AM]
NBC Is the Official Home of Competition and Games This Summer with a Slate of Powerhouse Hit Series
NBC is the summer home for both the Paris Olympic Games and high-stakes competition with a robust lineup of returning powerhouse favorites, including "America's Got Talent," "American Ninja Warrior," "Password," "The Wall" and "Weakest Link."

[03/18/24 - 09:02 AM]
Netflix Announces News About 26 Upcoming Nordic Titles - Including 12 Brand New Titles
Plus: the streamer offers new looks at "Deliver Me," "The Helicopter Heist," "Ronja the Robber's Daughter," "Billionaire Island" and season two of "Baby Fever."

[03/18/24 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver" - Official Trailer - Netflix
The rebels gear up for battle against the ruthless forces of the Motherworld as unbreakable bonds are forged, heroes emerge - and legends are made.

[03/18/24 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Disney's "Wish" - Streaming April 3rd - Disney+
Walt Disney Animation Studios' "Wish" is an all-new musical-comedy welcoming audiences to the magical kingdom of Rosas, where Asha, a sharp-witted idealist, makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force - a little ball of boundless energy called Star.

[03/18/24 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Our Living World" - Cate Blanchett - Official Trailer - Netflix
This stunning nature series narrated by Cate Blanchett explores the intelligence, resourcefulness and interconnectedness of life on our planet.

[03/18/24 - 08:00 AM]
Acorn TV Fan-Favorite "Harry Wild" Returns Monday, May 13
Season three consists of six episodes and will be available on Acorn TV in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

[03/18/24 - 08:00 AM]
Prime Video Orders "Beast Games" from MrBeast and Amazon MGM Studios
Based on his already successful YouTube show, "Beast Games" is set to become the biggest reality competition series ever with 1000 contestants competing for a $5 million dollar cash prize which will be the biggest single prize in the history of television and streaming.

[03/18/24 - 07:14 AM]
ESPN+ Original Series "Full Court Press" Presented by State Farm Featuring Caitlin Clark, Kamilla Cardoso and Kiki Rice to Premiere May 11 & 12 on ABC and ESPN+
From Iowa's historic preseason game that broke attendance records all the way through the WNBA draft in April, the series uses unparalleled access, exclusive interviews, and unique game footage, to transport audiences into the lives of these exceptional athletes.

[03/18/24 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Scoop" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Inspired by real events, this fictional dramatization gives an insider account of how the women of Newsnight secured Prince Andrew's infamous interview.

[03/18/24 - 06:01 AM]
Video: Apple TV+ Debuts Trailer for Season Two of Iconic Emmy Award-Winning Series "Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock," Premiering Globally March 29
Award-winning season two cast includes the return of Daveed Diggs alongside Ariana DeBose, Brett Goldstein, Catherine O'Hara, Adam Lambert and K-pop group aespa in guest star roles.

[03/18/24 - 04:01 AM]
Video: "Joy" - First Look Teaser - Netflix
Starring Thomasin McKenzie, James Norton and Bill Nighy, the new film based on the story of the birth of IVF.