or


[06/28/05 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: June 27-28
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!

THE 9/11 PROJECT (NBC) - The Peacock has reportedly pulled the plug on its planned eight-hour mini-series, which would have chronicled the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The decision comes despite scripts being completed by writer/producer Graham Yost and pre-production already being underway on the project, a planned co-production of Imagine Television and NBC Universal Television. No formal reason was given by NBC or Imagine however industry insiders suggest financial worries over the planned $20 million budget not to mention competition from ABC's own 9/11 project for casting and other resources were the major issues. While ABC has yet to formally announce its 9/11 project, Marc Platt ("Legally Blonde") is attached to executive produce while offers are said to be out to such actors as Harvey Keitel ("Be Cool").

COLD CASE (CBS) - Creator/executive producer Meredith Stiehm has inked a three-year overall deal with Paramount Network Television. The pact calls for her to create, develop and executive produce new series projects for the studio. The deal won't be completely exclusive however as it's understood Stiehm is expected continue in her showrunning duties on "Cold Case" for at least one more season with Paramount loaning out her services to producer Warner Bros. Television. Stiehm had previously been set up at Warner Bros. Television for the past five years.

CRASH (FX, New!) - Writer/producer Paul Haggis ("Million Dollar Baby") is looking to bring his successful feature film "Crash," a gritty drama about race relations in Los Angeles, to the small screen. Haggis, who won an Emmy for his writing on ABC's "thirtysomething," has pacted with Lions Gate Television to develop the series for cable channel FX. In addition, talks are said to be underway with Sandra Bullock, Matt Dillon, Brendan Fraser and Ludacris (among others) to reprise their roles from the feature film as well as co-writer Bobby Moresco to write the show's pilot script. Haggis then would likely serve as an executive producer along with Moresco.

DALLAS S.W.A.T. (A&E, New!) - Production is underway on a "Dallas S.W.A.T.," a pseudo-spin-off of the network's popular reality series "The First 48." "Dallas," which comes from Granada Television, tracks the day-to-day operations of the Dallas police department's high-stakes tactical unit. A&E has committed to six hours of the project, which likely launch early next year.

MTV ORIGINAL SERIES (MTV, New!) - The cable channel has detailed its latest development slate, which includes nine new projects: "Yo Mamma," from Evolution Film & Tape, features Wilmer Valderama ("That '70s Show") as he searches for the country's most outrageous trash talkers; "Welcome to Crunkville" has contestants moving in with Atlanta-based hip-hop artists The Ying Yang Twins with the chance to win the deed to their mansion; the self-titled "Omarion" features the recording artist's attempt to becoming a corporate mogul a la Sean "P. Diddy" Combs; "Mr. Rooney's Barbershop," which comes from Sony Music CEO Tommy Mottola, offers a look into the Queens, N.Y.-based barbershop where local cutters scout for hip-hop talent from the 'hood; "Homewrecker" has former "Jackass" star Ryan Dunn helping revenge-seeking viewers wreak havoc on someone's home; "There and Back" details the potential comeback of former O-Town singer Ashley Angel who is now broke, engaged and about to become a father; "Beyond Normal" tracks MTV News correspondent Gideon Yago as he helps young people whose lives have been turned upside down by crisis or conflict; "8th & Ocean" is a docu-soap about the lives of wannabe fashion models in Miami Beach; and "Ten Years Later" is a scripted comedy based on the real-life story of former public-access star Jake Fogelnest ("Squirt TV").

SCRUBS (NBC) - Buena Vista Television has cleared off-network repeats of the veteran NBC comedy on local stations covering more than 50% of the country, including 18 of the top 20 markets. Among the stations signing on for the "Scrubs" run, which starts in September 2006, are: WNYW/WWOR New York, KCAL Los Angeles, WFLD/WPWR Chicago, WPHL Philadelphia, WLVI Boston, KTVU/KICU San Francisco, KDFW/KDFI Dallas and WTTG/WDCA Washington. With 93 episodes already in the can, "Scrubs" would traditionally have begun its off-network run this fall however limited demand forced Buena Vista to delay the sale until 2006. Stations won't pay cash for the "Scrubs" episodes, but rather give three minutes of ad time per half-hour to Buena Vista for national ad sales.

UNTITLED GARY FLEDER/JAMES YOSHIMURA PROJECT (New!) - Director Gary Fleder ("Blind Justice," "The Evidence") and Peabody-winning writer James Yoshimura ("Homicide: Life on the Street") are set to team for a new drama project for Touchstone Television. The untitled project, no details of which were specified, is the result of a two-year deal Fleder recently signed with the studio and a blind script commitment Touchstone had made to Yoshimura. Said pact also sets up Fleder's Mojo Films (and his producing partner Eric Timm) at the studio.

WALKER, TEXAS RANGER (CBS) - The Eye has greenlit production on "Walker, Texas Ranger: Ring of Fire," a new two-hour revival of the 1993-2001 series. Chuck Norris, Sheree Wilson and Judson Mills will all reprise their roles for the project with Aaron Norris directing from a script by original series writers John Lansing and Bruce Cervi. As for plot specifics, "Ring of Fire" reportedly sees Walker (Norris) investigating whether one of his Ranger buddies is a serial killer - or just being framed - as well as trying to track down a teen on the run from a crime syndicate. Aaron Norris also told Daily Variety "Ring of Fire" shouldn't be considered a reunion as the action will pick up "as if we've been doing the show the whole time." He added: "Reunions are more about one-offs... I would like to do more of these." Nevertheless, there will be some changes to the "Walker" franchise, most notably a more urban feel thanks to shooting taking place in Dallas (instead of Vancouver or California) and more use of technology to assist the Rangers. Production is set to begin July 20 with Al Ruddy, Leslie Grief and the Norris brothers executive producing via Paramount Network Television.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [june 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· 8TH & OCEAN (MTV)
· 9/11 PROJECT, THE (NBC)
· BEYOND NORMAL (MTV)
· BLIND JUSTICE (ABC)
· COLD CASE (CBS)
· CRASH (STARZ)
· DALLAS SWAT (A AND E)
· EVIDENCE, THE (ABC)
· FIRST 48, THE (A AND E)
· HOMEWRECKER (MTV)
· JACKASS (MTV)
· OMARION (MTV)
· PATH TO 9/11, THE (ABC)
· SCRUBS (ABC)
· SHOP, THE (MTV)
· TEN YEARS LATER (MTV)
· THAT '70S SHOW (FOX)
· THERE & BACK: ASHLEY PARKER ANGEL (MTV)
· WALKER, TEXAS RANGER (CBS)
· WALKER, TEXAS RANGER: TRIAL BY FIRE (CBS)
· WELCOME TO CRUNKVILLE (MTV)





[06/13/26 - 12:01 PM]
FOX Sports Soars Into Record Books with Most-Watched USMNT Telecast Ever
15,986,000 viewers watched the USMNT defeat Paraguay 4-1 across FOX, FOX One and Tubi.

[06/12/26 - 02:38 PM]
ABC Delivers Most-Watched NBA Finals Through Four Games Since 1998
Game 4 averaged 20.9 million viewers and peaked with 23.2 million viewers at 11:15 p.m. ET.

[06/12/26 - 01:11 PM]
"Jimmy Kimmel Live" Is No. 1 Across Late-Night with Best Numbers Since Season Premiere Week
Rising week to week in both Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, "Jimmy Kimmel Live" matched a season best in the key Adult demo of premiere week, while drawing its largest overall audience since its season premiere week eight months ago.

[06/12/26 - 12:31 PM]
FOX Sports Scores Record Viewership with FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Match
6,309,000 viewers watched Mexico top South Africa 2-0 across FOX, FOX One and Tubi.

[06/12/26 - 11:01 AM]
"Married at First Sight" Season 20 Arrives July 12 on Peacock
See you at the altar.

[06/12/26 - 10:01 AM]
"CMA Fest Presented by SoFi" Reveals Lineup for Primetime Concert Special Airing Thursday, June 25, at 8/7c on ABC and Next Day on Hulu
The three-hour event showcases unforgettable performances, exciting collaborations and standout moments captured during the 2026 CMA Fest in Nashville, bringing fans front-row access to one of Country Music's most star-studded weekends.

[06/12/26 - 08:15 AM]
"Nightline" Ranks No. 1 Across the Board and Posts Increases Both Week to Week and Year to Year in All Key Target Demos
"Nightline" posted week-to-week increases in Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49, delivering its strongest numbers in both key Adult demos in nearly 2 1/2 years.

[06/12/26 - 07:01 AM]
Netflix's "The God of the Woods" Starts Production in Upstate New York
The highly-anticipated series adaptation of Liz Moore's New York Times' bestselling novel is now filming upstate in both the Hudson River Valley and the Adirondacks.

[06/12/26 - 06:01 AM]
Netflix Unveils First-Look Images from "Villaflor," Santiago Mitre's New Film
Based on true events, this political thriller blends espionage and historical drama, following two stories in 1977 that move in opposite directions.

[06/12/26 - 03:01 AM]
Video: "Sidemen Presents: Side-Menu" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
Ready, steady, chaos! Join the Sidemen and friends in a brand new series where they pair up to take on national dishes, judged by a special guest, to determine which contestant will become the star chef of the series.

[06/12/26 - 01:31 AM]
Video: "Gram Chikitsalay" Season 2 - Official Trailer - Prime Video
The young, idealistic and brilliant Dr. Prabhat, takes charge of a neglected Primary Health Centre in a North India Village hoping to bring about much needed changes only to realise it is he who will have to change before anything else.

[06/12/26 - 12:01 AM]
Video: "Inside the Trustor Scandal" - Official Clip - Netflix
Joachim Posener, alongside key insiders, revisits the snowballing financial scandal that followed the illegal purchase of a Swedish investment firm in the '90s - and who exposed it.

[06/11/26 - 06:01 PM]
FX's "Adults" Releases Standalone Prequel Episode Revealing Paul Baker's Origin Story
The special episode entitled "Marathon Day" will be available for fans everywhere on Friday, July 31 on FXX and Hulu at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT.

[06/11/26 - 05:01 PM]
Cross the Boundaries of the Real World Into the Spirit Realm in "The East Palace", Premiering July 17
Netflix's new Korean series asks: what if the only way to stop a royal curse was to cross into a realm of spirits?

[06/11/26 - 03:51 PM]
ESPN's Presentation of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final Game 4 Draws Largest Audience Since 2017
Game 4, which saw the Carolina Hurricanes defeat the Vegas Golden Knights 5-3 in Las Vegas to even the series at 2-2, averaged 5.3 million viewers on ABC and drew the largest Game 4 audience since 2017.