or


[04/14/05 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: April 14
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!

ABC'S 2005-06 SEASON PILOTS (ABC) - The Alphabet has confirmed various pilot title changes as well as given monikers to several untitled projects: the Brenda Blethyn-led, Holly Hester-produced comedy pilot about a middle-aged woman (Blethyn) who leaves her family life for a divorce and a job now features the title "Carol Potter Gets a Life"; Freddie Prinze Jr.'s comedy pilot at the network is now simply being called "Freddie"; Chris Kattan's workplace comedy has been branded "Enough About Me"; Mark Torgrove and Paul Kaplan's couples comedy "Play Mates" is now titled "Play Dates"; Fred Goss and Nick Holly's previously untitled comedy presentation, about siblings dealing with their respective families, has been titled "Sons & Daughters"; and the untitled Peter Dinklage-led comedy pilot now runs under the title "Testing Bob."

FOX'S 2005-06 SEASON PILOTS (FOX) - FOX has confirmed a trio of name changes for its 2005-06 season pilots: the Lonely Island Guys sketch comedy presentation has been titled "Awesometown"; the Chris O'Donnell and Adam Goldberg-led legal drama pilot "Crazy Lawyers" is now called "Head Cases"; and Paul Scheuring's prison break drama pilot has been shortened to just "The Break." In addition, FOX has apparently passed on two of its sketch comedy pilots ("The Barenaked Ladies Variety Show" and "The Davey Gee Show") while drama pilot presentation "Anatomy of an Affair" has reportedly been scrapped.

MASTERS OF DOOM (Showtime, New!) - Writer/producer Naren Shankar ("C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation") is developing an original movie about John Carmack and John Romero, the creators of the video game phenomenon "Doom." David Kushner's book "Masters of Doom" will serve as the basis of the project, which Shankar will adapt and executive produce. The telefilm then is expected to track the pair's rags-to-riches story as well as how the game changed the gaming industry with its release in 1993 and the controversies that followed.

MY LIFE WITH FRED DURST (New!) - Bischoff-Hervey Entertainment and producer Scott Sternberg have pacted with Limp Bizkit front man Fred Durst to develop a one-hour hybrid talk show/docu-soap around the recording artist/sometimes actor ("Revelations"). The project, which will begin formal pitches at various networks next week, will feature Durst conducting interviews with celebrities as well as his life as a father, businessman and musician. Eric Bischoff, Jason Hervey, Patrick Panzerella and Sternberg then will serve as executive producers of the project, additional details of which weren't specified.

NBC'S 2005-06 SEASON PILOTS (NBC) - Dan Mazer's untitled comedy pilot presentation, which takes a look at everyday America, has now been titled "American Lives"; the Janeane Garofalo-led comedy pilot about the life of poker champ Annie Duke has been retitled once more to "Deal"; both Tina Fey's and Dave Flebotte's comedy pilots (the latter of which is now titled "Goody's") have had filming pushed back to June and are now targeted for midseason slots; and Fred Goss and Nick Holly's other comedy pilot presentation (which also comes from NBC Universal Television and Lorne Michaels & JoAnn Alfano's Broadway Video), a partly improvised show about three families living on cul-de-sac, has been branded "The Weekend."

SOUTH BEACH (UPN) - Sara Foster ("D.E.B.S.") has joined the cast of the drama pilot, about three young adults whose dreams and aspirations lead them to Miami. No details however were given about her character. Vanessa L. Williams and Marcus Coloma also star in the project, which is set up at Nuyorican Productions, Flame Television and Paramount Network Television and comes from executive producers Philip Levens, Jennifer Lopez, Tony Krantz, Simon Fields and Matt Cirulnick.

THE STUDIO (A.K.A. THE LOT) (UPN) - The drama pilot, about a group of twentysomething assistants with big dreams working on a Hollywood studio backlot, is now being developed under the title "The Studio." Gina Gershon, Jessica Lucas and Kelly Overton all star in the Warner Bros. Television/Silver Pictures-based project, which is executive produced by Dana Baratta, Joel Silver, Jennifer Gwartz and Danielle Stokdyk.

UNTITLED RICH APPEL PROJECT (CBS) - The comedy pilot, about a divorced couple who remain best friends and share custody of their kids, has reportedly been shelved by CBS. No reason was given for the decision or if it will be shot later this year for possible midseason 2006 consideration. Rich Appel ("King of the Hill") is behind the project, which is set up at 20th Century Fox Television.

THE WB'S 2005-06 SEASON PILOTS (The WB) - The Frog has revealed two title changes from its 2005-06 pilot slate: the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced drama pilot "Dog Town Laywers," which stars Don Johnson and Jay Baruchel, has now been branded "Just Legal"; and the Liz Tuccillo-produced drama pilot about four adults sisters in New York City has been retitled from "Sisters" to "Related."

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [april 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· ANATOMY OF AN AFFAIR (FOX)
· AWESOMETOWN (FOX)
· BARENAKED LADIES VARIETY SHOW, THE (FOX)
· CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (CBS)
· DAVEY GEE SHOW, THE (FOX)
· DEAL (NBC)
· DOG BITES MAN (COMEDY CENTRAL)
· ENOUGH ABOUT ME (ABC)
· FREDDIE (ABC)
· GOODY'S (NBC)
· HEAD CASES (FOX)
· JUST LEGAL (WB)
· KING OF THE HILL (HULU)
· MARSHA POTTER GETS A LIFE (ABC)
· MASTERS OF DOOM (USA)
· MY EX-LIFE (CBS)
· PLAY DATES (ABC)
· PRISON BREAK (FOX)
· RELATED (WB)
· REVELATIONS (NBC)
· SONS & DAUGHTERS (ABC)
· SOUTH BEACH (UPN)
· STUDIO, THE (UPN)
· TESTING BOB (ABC)
· WEEKEND, THE (NBC)





[02/27/26 - 03:00 PM]
"Survivor 50" Premiere Wins the Night Posting CBS' Most-Watched Wednesday Since 2022
Said premiere averaged 5.06 million viewers, peaking with 6.18 million.

[02/27/26 - 01:28 PM]
Paramount to Acquire Warner Bros. Discovery to Form Next-Generation Global Media and Entertainment Company
The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies and is expected to close in Q3 2026, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory clearances and approval by WBD shareholders, with a vote expected in the early spring of 2026.

[02/27/26 - 12:30 PM]
The Jaw-Dropping Fifth and Final Season of Starz's Hit Drama Series, "Power Book III: Raising Kanan" Set to Premiere June 12
To date, the series has accumulated over 21 billion minutes viewed across all episodes and remains one of Starz's top-performing series.

[02/27/26 - 09:12 AM]
Team USA Hockey Olympic Gold Medalists Hilary Knight, Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes to Appear Together on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" on Monday, March 2
The episode will also feature guests Nicole Kidman, Luke Thompson and a cooking demo by Chef Mario Carbone.

[02/27/26 - 08:12 AM]
Paul Wesley Joins Season Three of Hit Apple TV Series "The Buccaneers"
Wesley will play the role as Frank, a mysterious but charming stranger who arrives into Nan and Mrs. St. George's world, turning it upside down.

[02/27/26 - 07:31 AM]
Peacock to Exclusively Stream Focus Features' "Hamnet" Beginning March 6
Directed by two-time Academy Award-winning director ChloƩ Zhao, the film tells the untold story behind one of Shakespeare's most memorable works and celebrates the power of imagination and the creative spirit.

[02/27/26 - 07:01 AM]
Prime Video Debuts First-Look Image of Ryan Hurst as Kratos and Callum Vinson as Atreus On Set of New Series "God of War"
The series is co-produced by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios in association with PlayStation Productions and Tall Ship Productions, and has received a two-season order.

[02/27/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: Netflix and Apple TV Join Forces to Stream Formula 1 Thrills
The entire new season of "Formula 1: Drive to Survive" is now on Netflix globally and Apple TV in the U.S.

[02/26/26 - 08:46 PM]
"Dandelion": Netflix Adapts "Gintama" Creator Hideaki Sorachi's Debut Work into New Anime Series
Set within the Send-Off Department of the Japanese Angel Federation, Dandelion follows "Angels" Tetsuo Tanba and Misaki Kurogane as they scramble to track down Earthbound spirits - souls unable to move on and find peace - and gently guide them to pass on.

[02/26/26 - 06:01 PM]
Video: "Still Shining" - Official Trailer - Netflix
After falling in love as teens, two young adults drift apart - only to reunite 10 years later and confront their heartbreak, growth and new challenges.

[02/26/26 - 02:46 PM]
Netflix Declines to Raise Offer for Warner Bros.
"The transaction we negotiated would have created shareholder value with a clear path to regulatory approval. However, we've always been disciplined, and at the price required to match Paramount Skydance's latest offer, the deal is no longer financially attractive, so we are declining to match the Paramount Skydance bid," said co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters.

[02/26/26 - 02:19 PM]
"Live with Kelly and Mark" Soars to Season High with Best Audience in Over a Year
"Live" has now ranked as the No. 1 talk show in syndication for 157 consecutive weeks across all key measures.

[02/26/26 - 02:08 PM]
Britbox Unveils Spring Slate with "The Lady" Starring Mia McKenna-Bruce; Premieres March 18
Other highlights include the return of "Hope Street" and the debut of "Mudtown."

[02/26/26 - 01:36 PM]
Paramount Comments on Warner Bros. Discovery Board's Determination of Paramount's Proposal as Superior
David Ellison, Chairman and CEO of Paramount, said: "We are pleased WBD's Board has unanimously affirmed the superior value of our offer, which delivers to WBD shareholders superior value, certainty and speed to closing."

[02/26/26 - 01:16 PM]
Warner Bros. Discovery Board of Directors Determines Revised Proposal from Paramount Skydance Constitutes a "Company Superior Proposal"
Under the terms of the Netflix merger agreement, this notice triggers a four business day period during which Netflix has the right to propose revisions to the Netflix merger agreement so that the PSKY proposal would cease to constitute a "Company Superior Proposal."