or


[04/20/05 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: April 20
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!

AIRLINE (A&E) - The cable channel has quietly confirmed its signature reality series "Airline" will return for its third season on Monday, May 2 at 8:00/7:00c with back-to-back half-hour episodes.

FEAR FACTOR (NBC) - Executive producer/showrunner Matt Kunitz has signed a seven-figure overall deal with NBC Universal Television. The two-year pact calls for Kunitz to develop new alternative series for the studio, NBC and its cable siblings as well as continue in his duties on "Fear Factor," which is widely considered a lock to return next season.

FILMORE MIDDLE (NBC)/RED & BLUE (ABC) - ABC's "Red & Blue" and NBC's "Filmore Middle," both pilots under consideration for next season, have had their respective film dates postponed for the time being. "Red & Blue," about a liberal dad and conservative grandfather vying to win the hearts and minds of their kids and grandkids, had previously been slated to shoot on Thursday, April 28 at Walt Disney Studios while "Filmore," about disillusioned teachers at a rundown public junior high school, was targeted for Thursday, April 21 at Sony Pictures Studios. No reason was given for the delays and it appears neither will complete production in time to be considered for their respective network's fall schedule. (Note: "Filmore Middle" eventually filmed a pilot on an unspecified date.)

KOJAK (USA)/THE SHIELD (FX) - 3.26 million viewers watched "Kojak's" most recent installment on Sunday, including a solid 1.2 rating/3 share in adults 18-49. Meanwhile, "The Shield" served up 2.95 million viewers for its Tuesday, April 12 airing with a 1.4 rating/4 share among adults 18-49.

STRIP SEARCH/KEPT (VH1) - "Strip Search" and "Kept," two of VH1's latest entries into its "Celebreality" genre, have reportedly been scheduled to premiere on Sunday, May 29 at 9:00/8:00c and 10:00/9:00c respectively. The former tracks Australian Billy Cross as he forms an American male dance revue using regular guys from across the country while the latter follows former supermodel (and ex-Mrs. Mick Jagger) Jerry Hall as she whittles through 15 eligible bachelors hoping to win a six figure "allowance" while living in the lap of luxury for a year.

THIRD WATCH (NBC) - Co-creator/executive producer Edward Allen Bernero has inked a new two-year, seven-figure overall deal with Paramount Network Television. The pact, which kicks off in June, calls for Bernero to develop new projects for the studio as well as potentially join an existing Paramount show. Prior to the deal, Bernero had been developing two original projects for 20th Century Fox Television - one at CBS and another at FOX, the latter of which had a put pilot commitment. With Bernero now at Paramount, it's highly unlikely either will move forward.

WILDFIRE (ABC Family) - The cable channel's first scripted drama has been slated to premiere on Monday, June 20 at 8:00/7:00c with encores on Saturday, June 25 and Sunday, June 26 (both also at at 8:00/7:00c). The series, about a troubled girl serving time at a teen detention center (Genevieve Cortese) who is given the opportunity to start a new life when her talent with horses is recognized by a volunteer and local trainer (Greg Serano), will launch with its two-hour pilot followed by 11 weekly one-hour episodes. Micah Alberti, Ryan Sypek, Nicole Tubiola, Nana Visitor and Dennis Weaver also star.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters and Audiences Unlimited





  [april 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· AIRLINE (A AND E)
· AREA, THE (CBS)
· FEAR FACTOR (MTV)
· KEPT (VH1)
· KOJAK (USA)
· RED & BLUE (ABC)
· SHIELD, THE (FX)
· STRIP SEARCH (VH1)
· TEACHERS (NBC)
· THIRD WATCH (NBC)
· UNTITLED ED BERNERO PROJECT (FOX)
· WILDFIRE (ABC FAMILY)





[12/11/25 - 03:15 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 in All Key Target Demos
The series also saw gains on the same week last year in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49.

[12/11/25 - 11:58 AM]
Lifetime to Kick Off 2026 with Three New "Ripped from the Headlines" Movies
Kate Beckinsale, Scott Eastwood, Katie Cassidy, Luke Humphrey, Chloe Lanier, Dillon Casey, and Maddy Hillis are among the featured talent.

[12/11/25 - 11:22 AM]
A&E's New Series "Crime in Progress" Follows the Evolution of Investigations Told Exclusively Through Raw Footage Premieres January 1 at 10pm ET/PT
The story of each crime is woven together through raw, unfiltered video from the point of view of officer body cam and surveillance footage for a first-hand look at justice in action.

[12/11/25 - 11:01 AM]
New Netflix Doc Series About Jonestown Dives Into One of the Deadliest Mass Murders in American History
From Emmy-nominated director J.M. Harper comes a three-part documentary series about the events and ideas leading up to the Jonestown massacre.

[12/11/25 - 10:32 AM]
Lola Petticrew Will Join the World of "Assassin's Creed" Alongside Toby Wallace in the New Live-Action Series Adaptation of Ubisoft's Best-Selling Video Game Franchise
Netflix confirmed the news on social media this morning.

[12/11/25 - 10:31 AM]
Video: "Breakdown: 1975" - Official Trailer - Netflix
This documentary explores how a turbulent era gave rise to iconic movies like "Taxi Driver," "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "Network."

[12/11/25 - 10:01 AM]
Michelle Buteau's Final Season of "Survival of the thickest" Casts New Guest Stars Wanda Sykes, D.L. Hughley, Ashley Graham, Ronny Chieng, Wyatt Cenac, Jenna Lyons, Ice-T, and More
Buteau and co-creator Danielle Sanchez-Witzel will also make their directorial debuts.

[12/11/25 - 09:16 AM]
Paramount+ Greenlights Animated Adaptations of Acclaimed Children's Books by Mo Willems
The series orders mark the first collaborations between Paramount+ and Hidden Pigeon Company.

[12/11/25 - 09:02 AM]
"MonsterQuest" Returns January 2 to Investigate the World's Most Chilling Monster Encounters on The History Channel
Bigfoot, UFOs, hauntings and killer beasts on land and sea -are these myths, legends, folklore or real monsters lurking in the world around us?

[12/11/25 - 09:01 AM]
TLC's New Series "Suddenly Amish" Takes Six Individuals on a Dramatic and Life-Changing Journey Into Amish Culture
The series follows six non-Amish individuals on a rare journey as they leave behind their modern "English" lifestyle and step into a deeply traditional Amish community in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

[12/11/25 - 09:01 AM]
"Love During Lockup" Returns to We TV with a New Season Friday, January 16, Streaming Same Day on All Reality and AMC+
The new season features six all-new couples, including the return of fan-favorite cast member, Monique.

[12/11/25 - 09:00 AM]
Video: Prime Video Releases "Beast Games" Season Two Trailer and Reveals Epic "Survivor" Crossover
Filmed on location in Fiji - the current home of Survivor - this "Beast Games x Survivor" crossover episode marks a first-of-its-kind relationship between two global competition phenomena.

[12/11/25 - 08:32 AM]
New Season of Discovery Channel's "Expedition X" Kicks Off Wednesday, January 7 at 9PM ET/PT
In the season premiere, special guest and paranormal investigator Jack Osbourne teams up with Heather Amaro in Vulture City, AZ - a former old west gold mining village that brings new meaning to the term "ghost town."

[12/11/25 - 08:31 AM]
Peacock Releases Premiere Date and First Look Images for Season 2 of "Ted"
All episodes of Seth MacFarlane's record-breaking live-action comedic prequel return March 5, 2026 only on Peacock.

[12/11/25 - 08:27 AM]
"Love Under the Christmas Tree," Begins Production in Buffalo for Great American Christmas 2026, A Heartwarming Christmas Tale About Renewal and Second Chances, Starring Katie Leclerc and Jeremy Guilbaut
The film follows Abby (Leclerc) who inherits her Aunt Helen's cherished tree farm under the condition she spends 14 days working the farm to rediscover its true meaning.