or


[02/09/05 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: February 9
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 newly revamped "Series in Development" charts. Visitors can now filter our listings by network, genre and even development stage (ordered to pilot, cast-contingent, script, etc.). It's updated every day!

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (FOX) - Coming on the heels of FOX's announcement today regarding its Sunday lineup (read the story), industry insiders have confirmed the network has cut the show's second season order to 18 episodes. The news means "Arrested" will wrap its sophomore season in April, just in time for "American Dad" to take over the show's current 8:30/7:30c slot on May 1. Through 10 airings this season, "Arrested" has averaged 6.06 million viewers. Said number is surprisingly down 7.20% from its average after 10 episodes last season (6.53 million) despite the move to the post-"Simpsons" slot.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (Sci Fi) - Sci Fi Wire, the news service of the cable channel, has confirmed the network has committed to a second season of the successful Friday drama (read the story). Full details however have yet to be hammered out, such as how many episodes will be produced, which cast members will return and when the second season will commence. Look for an official press release from the network shortly.

MONK (USA) - Friday's latest installment drew 5.0 million viewers, up 21.95% from last week (4.1 million) and just shy of its 2005 premiere (5.51 million on 1/21/05). Said installment also drew a 1.5 rating/5 share in adults 18-49, tying "Battlestar Galactica" for the top spot among cable networks in the key demographic.

POOCH CAFE (New!) - Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner's NBC Universal Television-based Hazy Mills Productions ("Situation: Comedy") has optioned the TV rights to Paul Gilligan's comic strip of the same name, about a local watering hole where a group of dogs gather to discuss such issues as tail-chasing and cat surveillance. The pair are developing the project as a half-hour primetime animated series and plan to pitch the various broadcast networks shortly.

UNTITLED DEXTER MORGAN PROJECT (Showtime, New!) - The pay channel is developing a new offbeat series based on Jeff Lindsay's series of "Dexter" novels, about a highly respected lab technician for the Miami Dade Police Department who also happens to be a sociopathic serial killer. With the help of his foster father though, a pragmatic police officer, Dexter learns to channel his drive, killing only people who deserve to die. The pilot will be based on "Darkly Dreaming Dexter," the first Dexter Morgan novel, in which he faces off against a fellow serial killer who terrorizes the area with a string of gruesome killings of prostitutes. Emmy-winning writer James Manos, Jr. ("The Sopranos") is on board to pen the pilot script with John Goldwyn and Sara Colleton executive producing.

UNTITLED DONALD TRUMP PROJECT (ABC, New!) - The Alphabet is developing a two-hour biopic about the life of "The Apprentice" host. Said project would explore the last 25 years of Trump's tumultuous life - from the Atlantic City casino wars to his tabloid relationships with stunning supermodels - using Gwenda Blair's 2001 book "The Trumps: Three Generations That Built an Empire" as a basis. Casting has already begun on the project with John David Coles ("Desperate Housewives") set to direct from a script by Keith Curran. Robert Greenwald and Barbara Lieberman, both telefilm veterans, are attached to executive produce. As no doubt expected given the content, Trump himself will not be involved in the untitled project.

UNTITLED HENRY CHO PROJECT (ABC) - Barry Kemp, the writer/producer behind Kevin Sorbo's comedy pilot "Bobby Cannon," has been brought in to executive produce comedian Henry Cho's project for the Alphabet. Kemp replaces David Janollari on the comedy, which revolves around Cho's experiences as a Korean-American born and raised in Tennessee. Cho and writer Matt Goldman created the project, which is set up at Touchstone Television. Cho himself signed a two-year talent holding deal with ABC back in January 2004 (read the story).

UNTITLED MENUDO PROJECT (New!) - Ben Silverman ("Nashville Star") is looking to revive the 1980s bilingual boy band through an "American Idol"-style competition. To that end, Silverman's Reveille banner has pacted with Menudo Entertainment principals Jeffrey Weiner and Barry Solomon to develop the project, which would also track the creation of its first album, a la "Making the Band." Menudo, which has gone through over 30 incarnations over the years, is best known for launching the careers of both Ricky Martin and Marc Anthony. Silverman is expected to begin shopping the project to the various networks starting this week.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [february 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· AMERICAN DAD (TBS)
· AMERICAN IDOL (ABC)
· APPRENTICE, THE (NBC)
· ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (NETFLIX)
· BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (SCI FI)
· BOBBY CANNON (ABC)
· DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)
· DEXTER (SHOWTIME)
· MAKING THE BAND (MTV)
· MONK (USA)
· NASHVILLE STAR (NBC)
· SIMPSONS, THE (FOX)
· SITUATION: COMEDY (BRAVO)
· SOPRANOS, THE (HBO)
· TRUMP UNAUTHORIZED (ABC)
· UNTITLED HENRY CHO PROJECT (ABC)





[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.