or


[06/29/05 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: June 29
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 4,400/THE DEAD ZONE (USA) - USA's summer entries "The 4,400" and "The Dead Zone" continued to impress on Sunday with 4.1 million and 3.8 million viewers respectively tuning in. Among adults 18-49, "The 4,400" averaged a 1.7 rating/5 share with "The Dead Zone" pulling in a 1.6 rating/4 share.

CHARMED (The WB) - Kaley Cuoco ("8 Simple Rules") has quickly found a new home as the actress is set to join the cast of "Charmed" during its upcoming eighth season. She'll play a young witch who's guided by the Charmed ones (Alyssa Milano, Holly Marie Combs and Rose McGowan). She's not the only newcomer to the show this season however as actor/musician Mark McGrath signed on to do a multi-episode arc earlier this year.

THE CLOSER/INTO THE WEST (TNT) - 5.3 million viewers tuned into "The Closer's" most recent installment on Monday, on par with last week's numbers (5.57 million on 6/20/05). Among adults 18-49 and adults 25-54, the June 27 episode drew 1.75 million viewers and 2.24 million viewers respectively. Meanwhile, part three of the network's limited series "Into the West" was seen by 4.1 million viewers on Friday, down 14.58% from part two on June 17 (4.8 million). Overall, both series are expected to help TNT finish the month of June ahead of both the WB and UPN in total viewers, households, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54. Currently, TNT is averaging 3.3 million viewers (1.4 million among adults 18-49) through Sunday followed by UPN (2.6 million overall, 1.36 million among adults 18-49) and the WB (2.3 million overall, 1.24 million among adults 18-49).

THE SHIELD (FX) - Writer/producer Glen Mazzara has inked a two-year, seven-figure overall deal with 20th Century Fox Television. The pact, which has an option for a third year, calls for Mazzara to develop original projects for the studio.

TOLLIN-ROBBINS PRODUCTIONS - The prolific producing house - who's behind the WB's "Smallville," "One Tree Hill" and "What I Like About You" as well as the upcoming "Crumbs" on ABC and "Inconceivable" on NBC - has inked a one-year overall deal with NBC Universal Television. The pact sets up producers Mike Tollin and Brian Robbins (as well as development executives Joe Davola and Shelly Zimmerman) at the studio where they'll develop original projects. The company had been set up at Touchstone Television for the past two years with their overall deal there expiring last month.

THE TRUTH ABOUT JOEY ICE CREAM/WINDFALL (NBC, New!) - NBC is getting a jump on its development for midseason as the network has greenlighted pilots for the dramas "The Truth About Joey Ice Cream" and "Windfall." The latter is a retooled version of the FOX pilot of the same name about a group of young adults who win a record $386 million dollar lottery jackpot and find that the prize isn't all that it's cracked up to be. Luke Perry, Jason Gedrick, Sarah Wynter, Tembi Locke, Jon Foster, Alice Greczyn, Lana Parrilla, Sarah Jane Morris, D.J. Cotrona, Jaclyn Desantis and Malinda Williams all starred in the original version with Laurie McCarthy and Gwendolyn Parker executive producing for Regency Television. The Peacock plans to revamp the script and make some casting changes although it's not clear which cast members (if any at all) will be carried over to the new version. Co-creator Gwendolyn Parker however will not be involved with the NBC version, having moved on to a position on "Without a Trace."

Meanwhile, writer/director Paul Haggis ("Crash") is behind "The Truth About Joey Ice Cream." The project, which is set up at NBC Universal Television, revolves around two Irish brothers who grow up against a backdrop of organized crime in the Hell's Kitchen area of New York. Haggis and Bobby Moresco co-wrote the pilot script on spec with Haggis attached to direct. In addition, Mark Harris is on board as a co-executive producer with Jeff King ("EZ Streets") in talks to serve as a producer.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [june 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· 4400, THE (USA)
· BLACK DONNELLYS, THE (NBC)
· CHARMED (WB)
· CLOSER, THE (TNT)
· CRUMBS (ABC)
· DEAD ZONE, THE (USA)
· EIGHT SIMPLE RULES (ABC)
· INCONCEIVABLE (NBC)
· INTO THE WEST (TNT)
· ONE TREE HILL (CW)
· SHIELD, THE (FX)
· SMALLVILLE (CW)
· WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU (WB)
· WINDFALL (NBC)
· WITHOUT A TRACE (CBS)





[02/12/26 - 02:34 PM]
ABC's Thursday Night Dramas Dominate as "9-1-1," "9-1-1: Nashville" and "Grey's Anatomy" Jump to Biggest Multiplatform Audience Since Their Season Premieres
The January 29 episodes of all three series rose to their biggest Total Viewer audience since their season premieres after seven days of viewing on ABC, Hulu, Hulu on Disney+ and digital platforms.

[02/12/26 - 01:30 PM]
Video: Official Trailer for the Highly Anticipated Drama "CIA" Starring Tom Ellis and Nick Gehlfuss, Now Available
When by-the-book FBI Special Agent Bill Goodman (Nick Gehlfuss) is loaned out to a clandestine CIA/FBI task force, he finds himself teamed up with secretive and roguish CIA Agent Colin Glass (Tom Ellis).

[02/12/26 - 01:00 PM]
"Saturday Night Live's" 51st Season Returns Feb. 28 with Three Back-to-Back Shows
Connor Storrie will host on February 28, followed by Ryan Gosling on March 7.

[02/12/26 - 12:49 PM]
Video: Trailer & Key Art Debut - Hulu Original "Shoresy" Season 5
The hockey comedy returns on February 21 with all six new episodes premiering exclusively on Hulu, and on Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S.

[02/12/26 - 12:12 PM]
Video: "America's Culinary Cup" Official Trailer Premieres March 4, 2026
Welcome to "America's Culinary Cup," where the best chefs in the country compete under the eyes of Padma Lakshmi, Michael Cimarusti, and Wylie Dufresne.

[02/12/26 - 12:02 PM]
Critically Acclaimed Series "The Way Home" Returns for Final Season on April 19
Bianca Melchior joins the cast along with Hallmark fan favorites Gabriel Hogan and Dan Jeannotte.

[02/12/26 - 11:01 AM]
"Duck Dynasty: The Revival" Returns for Season 2 on March 7 at 10pm ET/PT on A&E
Across the 10-episode season, Willie and Korie return with their signature wit and down-home charm as they navigate the ever-evolving future of Duck Commander, support their children through marriage, parenthood, and new business ventures as they work to preserve the family legacy.

[02/12/26 - 10:01 AM]
Date Announcement: "Dinosaur" Season 2
The charming Scottish series returns for season two on February 25 on Hulu.

[02/12/26 - 09:31 AM]
Video: "Taylor Tomlinson: Prodigal Daughter" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Taylor Tomlinson takes her fans to church with hilarious confessions about dating in her 30s, her dream assistant and why she refuses to use AI.

[02/12/26 - 09:31 AM]
New Preschool Series "Beddybyes" and "Magicampers" Set to Premiere on Disney+ and Disney Jr. in March 2026
They'll premiere on Monday, March 2 and Monday, March 23, respectively.

[02/12/26 - 09:02 AM]
Paramount+ Set to Premiere Men's College Basketball Documentary Series "Made for March" on Saturday, April 4
The series will feature unprecedented off-court access, exclusive game footage and interviews, and coverage of key regular season, conference and postseason matchups in the Big 12 and Big Ten.

[02/12/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "The Plastic Detox" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When six couples embark on a plastic detox within their homes, it changes their families forever.

[02/12/26 - 09:01 AM]
"Tribunal Justice" Season Three Premieres on Prime Video on March 2, 2026
Created and executive produced by judicial icon Judge Judy Sheindlin, "Tribunal Justice" will be available to stream exclusively on Prime Video in the U.S., UK, and Germany with new episodes available every weekday.

[02/12/26 - 09:00 AM]
Peacock Releases Premiere Date and First Look Images for Upcoming Original Drama Series "M.I.A."
The crime drama series from Bill Dubuque and Karen Campbell will premiere on May 7, 2026.

[02/12/26 - 08:53 AM]
FOX Entertainment Names Sophie Leonard Executive Vice President, Unscripted at FOX Television Network
Leonard will lead the creative strategy, development, and production of FOX's unscripted portfolio, working closely with internal teams and creative partners to build bold, premium formats and large-scale franchises designed to resonate with broad audiences and travel globally.