or


[05/19/05 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: May 18-19
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!

BRITNEY & KEVIN: CHAOTIC (UPN) - MTV has confirmed its second run of the UPN series will begin airing Thursdays at 10:00/9:00c starting May 26. Tuesday's premiere on the netlet earned UPN's best series numbers in the Tuesday, 9:00/8:00c hour since March 23, 2004 among total viewers (3.66 million), adults 18-34, adults 18-49 (1.9/5), women 18-34 and women 18-49 (2.7/6).

CRISS ANGEL: MINDFREAK/INKED (A&E) - The cable channel has confirmed its latest batch of reality entries - "Inked," about the Hart & Huntington tattoo parlor in the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, and "Criss Angel: Mindfreak," about the life of said street magician - will premiere on Wednesday, July 20 at 9:00/8:00c and 10:00/9:00c respectively. Meanwhile, the network's reality veteran "Airline" will move to Mondays at 10:00/9:00c beginning June 27.

FIREFLY (FOX) - The Sci Fi Channel has landed the repeat rights to all 15 hours of the short-lived FOX series (and basis of the upcoming "Serenity" feature film). The network's July schedule lists the series as joining its Friday lineup on July 22 at 7:00/6:00c where it will precede original episodes of "Stargate SG-1," "Stargate Atlantis" and "Battlestar Galactica."

THE GIRL IN THE CAFE (HBO) - The pay channel's latest original movie is set to premiere on Saturday, June 25 at 8:00/7:00c. Here's how HBO's press materials describe the project: "A tenderly funny and poignant love story by award-winning screenwriter Richard Curtis ("Love Actually") Directed by David Yates, the film stars Bill Nighy ("Love Actually") and Kelly Macdonald ("Finding Neverland," "Gosford Park"). THE GIRL IN THE CAF� faces perhaps the most important issue of 2005: Will this be the year when world powers seriously address the issue of world poverty once and for all? The film is a passionate plea to everyman - wrapped in a love story, a comedy and a unique drama."

HALLMARK CHANNEL MYSTERY MOVIES (Hallmark) - The "second season" of Hallmark's rotating TV movie franchises is scheduled to begin on Sunday, June 5 at 7:00/6:00c with "Mystery Woman: Vision of a Murder." The following week look for "McBride: The Doctor Is Out... Really Out" on Sunday, June 12 at 7:00/6:00c with "Jane Doe: The Wrong Face" on Sunday, June 19 at 7:00/6:00c. Six additional telefilms featuring "Mystery Woman" ("Redemption" and "Game Time"), "McBride" ("Tune in for Murder" and "Anybody Here Murder Marty?") and "Jane Doe" ("The Harder They Fall" and "Vanishing Trick") are expected to run by the end of the year.

THE HOWARD STERN SHOW (E!) - Both Spike TV and HBO are reportedly in the running to snag the rights to Howard Stern's nightly series (a collection of highlights from that day's radio broadcast), which has been running on E! since 1994. E!'s contract for the series expires at the end of the summer. Spike, where Stern is developing his animated series "Howard Stern: The High School Years," is said to be the frontrunner to land the show however E! may end of retaining its longtime staple, which runs a whopping 250 original episodes per year.

LIFETIME ORIGINAL MOVIES (Lifetime) - The cable channel has scheduled a handful of its upcoming original movies. "Cyber Seduction: His Secret Life" (previously known as "Addicted.com") is set to premiere on Monday, June 20 at 9:00/8:00c. Kelly Lynch, Jeremy Sumpter and Lyndsy Fonseca all star in the project, about a teen's (Sumpter) addition to internet porn. Next up is the previously announced docudrama "Murder in the Hamptons" on Monday, July 11 at 9:00/8:00c. It stars Poppy Montgomery, David Sutcliffe and Shawn Christian. Finally, look for the network's adapatation of "The Dive from Clausen's Pier," starring Michelle Trachtenberg and Will Estes, on Monday, July 25 at 9:00/8:00c. Lifetime's limited series "Beach Girls" is also expected to launch that night at 8:00/7:00c.

THE SHIELD (FX) - FX is moving forward with a fifth season of the series, which still has another four installments left to air in its current season. To date this season "The Shield" is averaging 3.2 million viewers overall and 2.0 million viewers among adults 18-49, up noticeably from last season's average (2.5 million overall, 1.7 million among adults 18-49).

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [may 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· AIRLINE (A AND E)
· BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (SCI FI)
· BEACH GIRLS (LIFETIME)
· BRITNEY & KEVIN: CHAOTIC (UPN)
· CRISS ANGEL: MINDFREAK (A AND E)
· CYBER SEDUCTION: HIS SECRET LIFE (LIFETIME)
· DIVE FROM CLAUSEN'S PIER, THE (LIFETIME)
· FIREFLY (FOX)
· GIRL IN THE CAFE, THE (HBO)
· HOWARD STERN: THE HIGH SCHOOL YEARS (SPIKE TV)
· INKED (A AND E)
· JANE DOE (HALLMARK)
· JANE DOE (HALLMARK)
· JANE DOE (HALLMARK)
· MCBRIDE (HALLMARK)
· MCBRIDE (HALLMARK)
· MCBRIDE (HALLMARK)
· MURDER IN THE HAMPTONS (LIFETIME)
· MYSTERY WOMAN (HALLMARK)
· MYSTERY WOMAN (HALLMARK)
· MYSTERY WOMAN (HALLMARK)
· SHIELD, THE (FX)
· STARGATE ATLANTIS (SCI FI)
· STARGATE: SG-1 (SCI FI)





[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."

[02/26/26 - 01:00 PM]
FOX Television Network Renews Hit Joel McHale Series "Animal Control" for Season Five
In addition, the first three seasons of the series are currently streaming on Netflix, and the show has been sold in territories around the world.

[02/26/26 - 10:31 AM]
More Stars Take the Stage to Present at the 98th Oscars
Javier Bardem, Chris Evans, Chase Infiniti, Demi Moore, Kumail Nanjiani and Maya Rudolph are among the featured talent.

[02/26/26 - 10:30 AM]
Video: AMC Networks Unveils Captivating Sneak Peek Scene from "The Vampire Lestat"
In the new rock and roll centric season, the Vampire Lestat goes on an electric multi-city tour while being haunted by "muses" from his wild and rebellious past.

[02/26/26 - 10:21 AM]
Feed the Children Teams Up with FOX's "Next Level Chef" to Put Child Hunger to Bed
The year-round campaign rallies the public alongside donors, volunteers, and partners to provide kids with the food and resources they need to rise and thrive every day.

[02/26/26 - 10:01 AM]
"Running Point" Season Two Returns April 23 on Netflix
Isla Gordon (Kate Hudson) is no longer the surprise choice to lead the Los Angeles Waves, she's the one everyone is watching.

[02/26/26 - 10:01 AM]
Season Three of the HBO Original Comedy Series "The Comeback" Debuts March 22
New episodes of the eight-episode season will debut weekly leading up to the series finale on Sunday, May 10.

[02/26/26 - 10:00 AM]
CBS Launches New Podcast "NCIS: Partners & Probies" Hosted by Series Stars Brian Dietzen and Diona Reasonover, Offering Fans an Inside Look at the #1 TV Franchise Worldwide
Premiering Tuesday, March 3, new episodes will roll out weekly.

[02/26/26 - 09:14 AM]
FOX Sports Assembles World-Class Broadcast Team for 2026 World Baseball Classic
Headlining FOX MLB's coverage of Team USA matchups and knockout rounds are highly acclaimed play-by-play announcers Joe Davis, Adam Amin and Kevin Kugler; expert analysts John Smoltz, A.J. Pierzynski and Adam Wainwright; and veteran reporters Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci.

[02/26/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Trailer & Key Art - "Sunny Nights" Starring Will Forte & D'Arcy Carden
After a critical acclaimed Australian debut, the darkly comedic crime drama starring Will Forte and D'Arcy Carden makes its U.S. debut on March 11 on Hulu.

[02/26/26 - 09:01 AM]
BritBox Announces April 7th Premiere for "A Taste for Murder"
The six-part crime procedural produced by Eagle Eye Drama and in association with ITV Studios stars Warren Brown, Phyllis Logan, and Cristiana Dell'Anna, and was shot on location in Croatia and Italy last year.