or


[05/09/05 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: May 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!

AMERICAN DREAM (HBO) - Comedian Louis C.K.'s sitcom pilot has been given a series order of 12 episodes by the pay channel. The project, the network's first multi-camera sitcom, revolves around a middle-class couple raising their daughter. Dave Becky, Mike Royce, Gary Halvorson and C.K. himself are the executive producers of the comedy, which is set up at HBO Independent Productions.

CELEBRITY FIT CLUB (VH1) - The second season of the popular reality series will reportedly premiere on Thursday, July 14 at 10:00/9:00c. The eight participants in the new installment are: Wendy Kaufman (the "Snapple Lady"), Willie Aames ("Charles In Charge"), Jani Lane (frontman of rock group Warrant), Phil Margera ("Viva La Bam"), Victoria Jackson ("Saturday Night Live"), Tocarra ("America's Next Top Model"), Gary Busey and Jack�e Harry ("227").

ER (NBC) - Writer/producer Dee Johnson has signed a two-year, seven-figure overall deal with Touchstone Television. The pact calls for Johnson to develop original drama projects for the studio as well as possibly join one of its existing properties.

LAW & ORDER (NBC) - Nicholas Wootton ("Blind Justice") has been tapped to replace Eric Overmyer as showrunner of the veteran drama when it returns for its 16th season this fall. In addition to Overmyer, Roz Weinman has also exited the series leaving Wootton to serve alongside remaining executive producers Matthew Penn, Dick Wolf and Peter Jankowski. No reason for the shuffle was given however both Overmyer and Weinman will maintain an association with Dick Wolf's Wolf Films in an unspecified capacity.

THE MIND OF MENCIA (A.K.A. UNTITLED CARLOS MENCIA PROJECT) (Comedy Central) - Comedian Carlos Mencia's half-hour series has been scheduled to premiere on Thursday, July 7 at 10:30/9:30c. Here's how the network's press materials describe the project: "Shot in studio and on location, Mencia's new series will be based on his unique point of view on the world as he comments on current events, does man-in-the-street films, commercial parodies and interacts with the audience."

MODERN MEN (A.K.A. THE EVOLUTION OF MAN) (The WB) - Writer/producer Marsh McCall has inked a two-year, seven-figure overall deal with Warner Bros. Television. The pact covers McCall's duties on his two pilots this development season - the WB comedy pilot "Modern Men" and an untitled pilot for CBS - should either go forward to series. Should neither get picked up, it's expected McCall will continue to develop new projects for the studio.

MTV SUMMER ORIGINAL SERIES (MTV) - The landmark 16th season of "The Real World" is currently scheduled to premiere on Tuesday, June 21 at 10:00/9:00c. This time around the series will set up shop in Austin, Texas. Meanwhile, the network has confirmed "Trippin'," "Meet the Barkers" and "The Real World/Road Rules Challenge" will wrap their current seasons on Monday, May 30; Wednesday, June 8; and Monday, June 27 respectively.

MURDER IN THE HAMPTONS (Lifetime, New!) - Poppy Montgomery ("Without a Trace"), David Sutcliffe ("Gilmore Girls") and Shawn Christian ("Summerland") are all set to star in a new telefilm for the cable channel. The "ripped from the headlines" project, which is currently in production for a July 11 premiere date, revolves around the 2001 murder of multimillionaire investment banker Ted Ammon (Sutcliffe). Montgomery plays his estranged wife Generosa while Christian plays Danny Pelosi, Generosa's construction worker lover who was later convicted for Ammon's murder. Jerry Ciccoritti ("Lives of the Saints") is directing the telefilm from a script by Robert L. Freedman ("Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows") with Barbara Lieberman and Bernard Zukerman executive producing.

ROMY AND MICHELE: IN THE BEGINNING (ABC Family) - The Alphabet's long-delayed small screen prequel to the 1997 feature film "Romy and Michele's High School Reunion" will finally premiere on Monday, May 30 at 8:00/7:00c on cable sibling ABC Family. Katherine Heigl ("Grey's Anatomy") and Alex Breckinridge ("D.E.B.S.") star in the project, playing younger versions of "Reunion" stars Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow.

SUCKERS (HBO, New!) - "Carnivale" supervising producer William Schmidt has scored a pilot commitment from the pay channel for a new one-hour dramedy about a newly single mother trying to raise her children, all of whom happen to be vampires. No other details were available about the project. Schmidt is no stranger to genre television, having created the short-lived ABC drama "Prey" as well as worked on both the WB's "Charmed" and UPN's "Special Unit 2."

YOU'RE NOT THE MAN I MARRIED (Lifetime) - Lifetime's latest reality entry has been slated to premiere on Monday, June 6 at 8:30/7:30c. "Married" features neglected wives who have their husbands compete in comedic challenges - such as approaching complete strangers at the boardwalk in Atlantic City, N.J., to tell them why they love their wife - to prove they really are the men their wives married.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [may 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL (VH1)
· BLIND JUSTICE (ABC)
· CARNIVALE (HBO)
· CELEBRITY FIT CLUB (VH1)
· CHALLENGE, THE (PARAMOUNT PLUS)
· CHARMED (WB)
· ER (NBC)
· GILMORE GIRLS (CW)
· GREY'S ANATOMY (ABC)
· LAW & ORDER (NBC)
· LIFE WITH JUDY GARLAND: ME AND MY SHADOWS (ABC)
· LUCKY LOUIE (HBO)
· MEET THE BARKERS (MTV)
· MIND OF MENCIA (COMEDY CENTRAL)
· MODERN MEN (WB)
· MURDER IN THE HAMPTONS (LIFETIME)
· REAL WORLD, THE (FACEBOOK)
· ROMY AND MICHELE: IN THE BEGINNING (ABC FAMILY)
· SPECIAL UNIT 2 (UPN)
· SUCKERS (HBO)
· SUMMERLAND (WB)
· TRIPPIN' (MTV)
· VIVA LA BAM (MTV)
· WITHOUT A TRACE (CBS)
· YOU'RE NOT THE MAN I MARRIED (LIFETIME)





[10/13/26 - 12:01 PM]
Peacock Greenlights New Series "Assassins" from Executive Producers Scarlett Johansson, Brien Meagher & Rhett Bachner
In "Assassins," a group of players compete in a ruthless game of cunning strategy and wit inspired by the massive global phenomenon played in real life around the world.

[10/13/26 - 12:01 PM]
Emmy-Winning HBO Original Comedy Series "Girls," Created by and Starring Lena Dunham, to Return for a Limited Run
Returning cast will include Dunham as Hannah, Allison Williams as Marnie, Jemima Kirke as Jessa, Zosia Mamet as Shoshanna, Andrew Rannells as Elijah.

[10/13/26 - 11:08 AM]
Video: "The Holiday Spark" - Official Trailer - The Roku Channel
Joey Graziadei and Jamie Chung find a little holiday magic in "The Holiday Spark."

[10/13/26 - 11:02 AM]
NBC Sports Announces 2026-27 Big 12 Men's Basketball Schedule Featuring 20 Games Across Peacock and NBCSN
The Big 12 conference slate begins on Wednesday, Jan. 6, with the first of three doubleheaders on Peacock and NBCSN, as Texas Tech hosts Baylor at 8 p.m. ET and UCF visits Arizona at 9 p.m. ET.

[10/13/26 - 11:02 AM]
ESPN and the Big 12 Announce Men's Basketball TV Schedule for 2026-27 Season, Tipping Off November 6
ESPN's five-week Big Monday slate begins Monday, February 1, and continues through March 1, featuring marquee conference matchups including No. 19 Kansas at No. 18 Houston, No. 18 Houston at No. 9 Texas Tech and No. 4 Arizona at No. 20 BYU.

[10/13/26 - 11:01 AM]
Video: "Narnia: The Magician's Nephew" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Greta Gerwig brings C.S. Lewis' beloved story to the screen for the first time in a sweeping adventure that invites dreamers of all ages to experience the creation of Narnia.

[10/13/26 - 10:08 AM]
Mark Harmon and Michael Weatherly Reunite This Fall on the CBS Original Series "NCIS: Origins"
The episode airs Tuesday, October 20 (10:00 PM, ET/PT) on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.

[10/13/26 - 10:01 AM]
BET Launches "Nick Cannon @ Night," Bringing Candid Conversation to Late Night, Premiering Tuesday, October 20
Hosted by Nick Cannon, BET's modern late-night conversation series brings together entertainers, creators, cultural leaders, doctors, and professionals for candid, funny, and thought-provoking conversations.

[10/13/26 - 10:00 AM]
Hulu and ESPN Announce New Documentary "Spectacle: Michael Jackson at the Super Bowl" Coming February 2027
In January of 1993, the world of sport, entertainment and broadcast was forever transformed when Michael Jackson took the stage at the Rose Bowl during the Super Bowl XXVII Halftime show.

[10/13/26 - 09:42 AM]
"From," The Terrifying Sci-Fi Horror Series, Is Coming to Netflix
Seasons 1-3 premiere October 19 on the streaming service.

[10/13/26 - 09:30 AM]
National Geographic Explorers Uncover Deep-Sea Wonders with Groundbreaking Tech as They Chase Critical Solutions to Dilemmas Facing Life Across All Five Ocean Basins in "Expedition: Saving Our Seas"
The one-hour special premieres Friday, November 13 at 9:00/8:00c on National Geographic and streams the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.

[10/13/26 - 09:30 AM]
FOX Entertainment and Hartbeat Form IP Development and Global Distribution Partnership
The pipeline launches with a slate of 25 live-action titles, spanning thriller, drama, and faith-based storytelling.

[10/13/26 - 09:17 AM]
Katherine Waterston Joins the Cast of "The Best of Us" for Paramount+
Waterston will play Amy Smith, a lawyer and the soon-to-be ex-wife of Jason (Jeremy Strong).

[10/13/26 - 09:06 AM]
Great American Media Welcomes 2027 with the 138th Rose Parade Presented by Honda
From the streets of Pasadena to living rooms across America, this treasured New Year's Day tradition will come alive with extraordinary floral artistry, stirring musical performances and spectacular pageantry.

[10/13/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: NBC Debuts Official Trailers for Monday Night Comedies "St. Denis Medical" & "The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins"
Both series return Monday, November 2 starting at 8:00/7:00c.