or


[04/21/05 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: April 21
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!

A&E ORIGINAL MOVIES (A&E, New!) - The cable channel released details on several original movies in the works at its annual upfront presentation today. Fox Television Studios and David Gerber's the Gerber Co. are behind "Flight 93," which will re-create the events on board United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001 that resulted in the fatal crash in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Nevin Shreiner is writing the script to the project using public records to document the final moments leading up to the tragedy. Also in the works is "Johnny Cash," a biopic of the singer's early life and his relationship with wife June Carter Cash from director Allison Anders and writer Joyce Eliason. The project is set up at Sofronski Productions in association with the Konigsberg Co. with Bernard Sofronski and Frank Konigsberg executive producing.

Meanwhile, Howard Braunstein and Michael Jaffe ("10.5") are behind "Touch the Top of the World," based on Erik Weihenmayer's memoir of his experiences going blind at age 13 but overcoming the odds to become a world-class mountain climber. The pair will executive produce through their Jaffe-Braunstein Films with Peter Silverman writing the script and Mark Sennet producing. An adaptation was previously in the works at ABC however did not move forward. Delia Fine is executive producing all three projects for A&E with David Craig serving as supervising producer on "Flight 93" and "Johnny Cash" and Emilio Nunez on "Touch."

In addition, A&E is shepherding "Celluloid Titans," about the relationship between filmmaking heavyweights George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. Granada Television and executive producer Jody Brockway are behind the project, which will track the friendly but competitive directors during the tipping points of their respective careers. Norman Snider is writing the script, which is expected to mirror the tone of TNT's 1999 Bill Gates/Steve Jobs original "Pirates of Silicon Valley." Finally, Ted Danson ("Becker") is set to star in "Young Knights," about an English teacher who inspires a class of under-privileged kids in New York's South Bronx by teaching them chess. Allen Hughes ("Touching Evil") is directing the Fox TV Studios-based project with Diane Nabatoff executive producing.

A&E ORIGINAL SERIES (A&E, New!) - The cable channel has committed to 10 episodes of "Random 1," a new unscripted series which features a SWAT team of do-gooders as they ambush everyday folks and attempt to solve their problems. The pilot presentation for example featured the team helping a down-on-her-luck small-town stripper land an audition with a top modeling agency in Manhattan, Andre Miller and John Chester created the project and will executive produce with A&E's Nancy Dubuc and Rob Sharenow via Random 1 Productions. Also in the works at the network is a pilot for a new reality series about the domestic life of rocker Gene Simmons as well as the previously announced "Single Again," "Little Red Man" and "Spying on Myself." In addition, A&E confimed docu-soaps "Inked" and "Criss Angel Mindfreak" will premiere in July, while "Roller Girls" is set to debut in January.

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC) - Mehcad Brooks ("Boston Public") has been cast as the son of new cast member Alfre Woodard on the hit ABC drama. Like Woodard, he'll make his first appearance in the final two episodes of this season. In addition, he'll return next season as a recurring character with an option to become a regular. No other details were released about his character.

RED & BLUE (ABC) - The Alphabet has confirmed the pilot has been delayed until midseason consideration, citing casting troubles as the chief issue. This undoubtedly was tied to the fact it was one of the last broadcast network pilots greenlighted this season, leaving it on the shallow end of the casting pool. Production then will likely resume this summer after the broadcast networks have set their fall schedules so that more actors will be available. Dan Staley, Rob Long, Michael Bostick and Tom Shadyac are behind the Touchstone Television/Shady Acres-based "Red & Blue," about a liberal father and his conservative dad who butt heads over how to raise the next generation.

SILVER BELLS (CBS, New!) - Luanne Rice's best-selling novel of the same name is set to be a new Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation at the Eye starring Anne Heche ("Everwood"). The project, which will begin production next Thursday in Los Angeles, revolves around a widow (Heche) who takes a teenage boy under her wing after he gets in an argument with his Christmas tree farmer father while they sell trees in New York and runs away. The movie then tracks the father's return the next holiday season to sell his trees and look for his son, where he crosses paths with Heche's character. Dick Lowry (who helmed the Eye's last Rice adaptation, "Follow the Stars Home") is directing the telefilm from a script by Jim McGrath with Richard Welsh and Brent Shields executive producing.

TALK SHOW DIARIES (UPN) - Richard Ruccolo ("Two Guys and a Girl") has been taped to replace Brad Rowe on the comedy pilot, about the on- and off-camera exploits of the three female hosts (Nancy Travis, Kathleen Rose Perkins, Tami Roman) of a morning talk show. He'll take over as Blake Brown, who's described in the casting notice as: "30s. A handsome man. He's the executive producer of "Friends in the Morning." However, he's under no illusion that he's the "boss" of his dynamic all-female stars. Blake has a huge crush on the formidably cool and reserved Zoe, but he can't figure out what her story - make that her sexual orientation - really is. Meanwhile, he keeps snooping around trying to get a handle on the situation, but so far he's still very much in the dark." Richard T. Jones also stars in the Touchstone Television/Coquette Productions-based project, which comes from executive producers Courteney Cox, David Arquette and Allison Gibson.

THICK & THIN (NBC) - Josh Stamberg ("A Lot Like Love"), Sharon Gless ("Queer as Folk"), Amy Halloran ("Surviving Christmas") and Chris Parnell ("Saturday Night Live") have all joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about an obese woman (Jessica Capshow) who turns thin and struggles in her relationships with her still-large family and friends. Details on their respective roles however were not specified. Martin Mull also stars in the NBC Universal Television/Broadway Video-based project, which comes from executive producers Paula Pell, Lorne Michaels and Joann Alfano. In addition, Stamberg has booked a guest starring role on the CBS drama pilot "Love Monkey." No details were given about his role on that project either.

UNTITLED JERRY BRUCKHEIMER/MARSH MCCALL PROJECT (CBS) - Jonathan Pryce ("Tomorrow Never Dies") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about three adult siblings (Jonathan Silverman, Reid Scott, Katherine Waterston) doing their best to deal with their eccentric, newly single father when their mother leaves him. Pryce will play said father in the Warner Bros. Television/Bruckheimer Television-based project, which comes from Marsh McCall, Jerry Bruckheimer and Jonathan Littman.

WILL & GRACE (NBC) - The Peacock is reportedly close to renewing the veteran comedy for an eighth season. While neither the network nor the producers have commented on any potential deal, it's expected the license fee will be less than its current estimated $5 million per episode price tag due to its ratings decline this season. Potentially holding up the deal however will be re-signing stars Debra Messing, Eric McCormack, Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally, all of whom would have to take pay cuts to come under the reduced license fee. In any case, talks are said to be much more civil than the show's previous renewal talks, which eventually saw creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick file a lawsuit against NBC in 2003 claiming that they were short-changed.

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





  [april 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· 10.5 (NBC)
· BECKER (CBS)
· BOSTON PUBLIC (FOX)
· CELLULOID TITANS (A AND E)
· CRISS ANGEL: MINDFREAK (A AND E)
· DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)
· EVERWOOD (WB)
· FLIGHT 93 (A AND E)
· FOLLOW THE STARS HOME (CBS)
· INKED (A AND E)
· JOHNNY CASH (A AND E)
· KNIGHTS OF THE SOUTH BRONX (A AND E)
· LITTLE RED MAN (A AND E)
· LOVE MONKEY (CBS)
· QUEER AS FOLK (SHOWTIME)
· RANDOM 1 (A AND E)
· RED & BLUE (ABC)
· ROLLERGIRLS (A AND E)
· SILVER BELLS (CBS)
· SINGLE AGAIN (A AND E)
· SPYING ON MYSELF (A AND E)
· TALK SHOW DIARIES (UPN)
· THICK & THIN (NBC)
· TOUCH THE TOP OF THE WORLD (A AND E)
· TOUCHING EVIL (USA)
· TWO GUYS AND A GIRL (ABC)
· UNTITLED BRUCKHEIMER & MCCALL PROJECT (CBS)
· WILL & GRACE (NBC)





[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.