or


[08/03/05 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: August 2-3
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 CLOSER/WANTED (TNT) - A solid 3.7 million viewers tuned into the launch of TNT's latest original series "Wanted" on Sunday, including a 1.4 rating/4 share among adults 18-49. Nevertheless, said debut fell short of a new episode of "The Dead Zone" on USA in the 10:00/9:00c hour, which hit a season high 3.9 million viewers (1.6/5 among adults 18-49). "Wanted" however was the top cable draw among men (both 18-49 and 25-54) on the night. As for "The Closer," the show's July 25 installment drew a stellar 5.2 million viewers, once again making it the top cable draw for the week.

ER (NBC) - Co-star Sherry Stringfield has opted not to return for the show's 12th season, marking her second departure from the veteran medical drama. In a statement released to the press, Stringfield said: "I am extremely grateful for the time I spent on 'ER.' It is a wonderful show, and there are so many people I will miss. But I'm ready for new roles and new challenges." Stringfield was set to appear in only a handful of the show's episodes this season. No mention was made about how her character will be written out of the series.

HEAD CASES (FOX) - Rhea Seehorn ("I'm With Her") is the latest new addition to the drama series, about an odd-couple pairing of lawyers (Chris O'Donnell and Adam Goldberg). She'll play Nicole, the former assistant to O'Donnell's character who he recruits to join his new practice.

JOEY (NBC) - The "Friends" spin-off is set to add a new regular when its second season launches next month. The casting notice details the character, Zack, as: "Early-mid 30's. An aspiring actor who makes up for whatever he lacks in talent with ambition and drive. He's convinced he's destined for great things and is constantly planning new ways to further his career. But he's not slick or cutthroat enough, more of a dreamer who believes in himself and is relentlessly optimistic, even when he shouldn't be. Zach is impressed by Joey's talent and success and is certain that together they will take over Hollywood. Joey agrees. They are wrong."

LAGUNA BEACH: THE REAL ORANGE COUNTY (MTV) - Season two of the popular docu-reality series opened to 3.6 million viewers, up a whopping 50% from its debut last year (2.4 million on 9/28/04). Overall, "Laguna" tied the premiere of Lifetime's "Beach Girls" to become the sixth most-watched cable series last week.

THE O.C. (FOX) - Dave Bartis and Doug Liman's Hypnotic banner ("Mr. & Mrs. Smith") has inked a two-year, first-look development deal with NBC Universal Television. The pact gives the Peacock-based studio first crack at any of the company's TV projects. Hypnotic had already been set up at Universal on the film side in a non-exclusive deal (with its TV operations at Warner Bros. Television). Bartis and Liman currently serve as executive consults on FOX's "The O.C.," the pilot to which was directed by Liman and co-produced by the duo.

OPRAH WINFREY PRESENTS: PARADISE (ABC) - Salma Hayek ("After the Sunset") has been tapped to star in the Oprah Winfrey-produced mini-series, based on Toni Morrison's book of the same name. No details were given about which character she'll be playing the project, which Darnell Martin ("Oprah Winfrey Presents: Their Eyes Were Watching God") is adapting and plans to direct.

OUR HOUSE (Hallmark, New!) - Doris Roberts ("Everybody Loves Raymond") and Judy Reyes ("Scrubs") are set to topline a new upcoming original movie at the cable channel. The project centers on a lonely Beverly Hills socialite (Roberts) who opens up her mansion to homeless people after one (Reyes) saves her life. Production is set to begin today on the telefilm, which is being eyed for a May 2006 debut.

PRISON BREAK (FOX) - Creator/executive producer Paul Scheuring has inked a massive, three-year, seven-figure overall deal with 20th Century Fox Television. The pact will reportedly keep the writer/producer on the 20th-based "Break" for the length of the deal, as well as allow him to develop new projects for the studio. Brett Ratner, Matt Olmstead, Marty Adelstein and Dawn Parouse also serve as executive producers on the series, which bows on Monday, August 29.

ROCK STAR: INXS (CBS) - In addition to its recent scheduling makeover (read the story), CBS has confirmed the talent search will wrap on Tuesday, September 20 - a full two weeks before its previously targeted end date. It's not clear however how CBS and producer Mark Burnett plan to shave six installments from its initial 38-episode order. As for the VH1 deal, industry insiders indicate the cable channel paid no money for the "Rock Star" episodes with CBS simply using them as free advertising for its Tuesday and Wednesday editions.

SITUATION: COMEDY (Bravo) - The sitcom search's two-hour debut was seen by a miniscule 217,000 viewers last Tuesday. Said number was off considerably from Bravo's most-recent Tuesday launches, including season three of "Project Greenlight" (311,000) and season two of "Blow Out" (661,000).

SONS & DAUGHTERS (ABC) - Amanda Walsh ("These Girls") has been added to the cast of the midseason comedy. She'll take over for Corri English in the role of Jenna, a single mother who is the younger stepsister of Fred Goss' and Alison Quinn's characters. No reason was given for English's exit from the project, however her involvement in "Sons" maybe have been in second position to her duties on the WB's midseason drama "The Bedford Diaries."

SURFACE (NBC) - Ian Anthony Dale ("Mr. 3000") has joined the cast of the freshman drama, which bows on Monday nights this fall. He'll play Davis Lee, a Pentagon employee, on the series. It's not clear when his first appearance will be.

THE TYRA BANKS SHOW (Syndication) - John Redmann ("The Tony Danza Show") has joined the freshman syndicated offering as an executive producer. He'll serve alongside the current executive producing staff of host Banks, Benny Medina and Kerrie Moriarity. "Tyra Banks," which bows on Monday, September 12, is produced by Telepictures Productions and distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution.

USA ORIGINAL SERIES (USA) - "The Dead Zone" hit a season high of 3.9 million viewers on Sunday with a strong 1.6 rating/5 share among adults 18-49 and a 1.8/5 among adults 25-54. Said numbers were good enough to beat the much-hyped premiere of "Wanted" on TNT in the 10:00/9:00c hour. Lead-in "The 4,400" also fared well, drawing 3.5 million viewers and a 1.4/4 in adults 18-49. And Friday mainstay "Monk" continued to impress, averaging 4.7 million viewers for its July 29 episode.

WEEKENDS AT THE D.L. (Comedy Central) - The show averaged a modest 665,000 viewers for its initial Friday, Saturday and Sunday broadcasts this past weekend.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [august 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· 4400, THE (USA)
· BEACH GIRLS (LIFETIME)
· BEDFORD DIARIES, THE (WB)
· BLOW OUT (BRAVO)
· CLOSER, THE (TNT)
· DEAD ZONE, THE (USA)
· ER (NBC)
· EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND (CBS)
· FRIENDS (NBC)
· HEAD CASES (FOX)
· I'M WITH HER (ABC)
· JOEY (NBC)
· MONK (USA)
· NEWPORT HARBOR: THE REAL ORANGE COUNTY (MTV)
· OC, THE (FOX)
· OPRAH WINFREY PRESENTS: PARADISE (ABC)
· OPRAH WINFREY PRESENTS: THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD (ABC)
· OUR HOUSE (HALLMARK)
· PRISON BREAK (FOX)
· PROJECT GREENLIGHT (HBO)
· ROCK STAR (CBS)
· SCRUBS (ABC)
· SITUATION: COMEDY (BRAVO)
· SONS & DAUGHTERS (ABC)
· SURFACE (NBC)
· TONY DANZA SHOW, THE (SYNDICATION)
· TYRA BANKS SHOW, THE (SYNDICATION)
· WANTED (TNT)
· WEEKENDS AT THE DL (COMEDY CENTRAL)





[06/30/25 - 11:02 AM]
"Sinners" with Black American Sign Language (BASL) Debuts July 4 on Max in the U.S.
This groundbreaking release marks the first time a streaming platform will exclusively debut a film interpreted in BASL.

[06/30/25 - 10:38 AM]
Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest to Air July 4 on ESPN Networks
Returning to the iconic corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues on Coney Island is 16-time Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest champion, Joey Chestnut.

[06/30/25 - 10:01 AM]
NASA+ Is Coming to Netflix This Summer
Audiences now will have another option to stream rocket launches, astronaut spacewalks, mission coverage, and breathtaking, live views of Earth from the International Space Station.

[06/30/25 - 09:31 AM]
Video: "Apocalypse in the Tropics" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Through a deep examination, this documentary from Oscar nominee Petra Costa explores the profound impact of evangelism on Brazil's political landscape.

[06/30/25 - 09:23 AM]
All-New Series "Survival Mode" Premieres Monday, July 7 on NBC
Across nine episodes, the series chronicles some of the most recent devastating disasters - including the Maui wildfires, the Amtrak 501 derailment, Superstorm Sandy, and the sinking of the Costa Concordia - through firsthand accounts from survivors and rare archival footage.

[06/30/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Going, Going, Gone: The Magic of the Home Run" - Official Trailer - The Roku Channel
This one is dedicated to the dinger. Comedian Roy Wood Jr takes us on a baseball journey all about the long ball.

[06/30/25 - 09:01 AM]
"Miley Cyrus: Something Beautiful" Visual Album Coming to Disney+ and Hulu July 16
The visual album premiered June 6 at the Tribeca Festival ahead of its one-night theatrical release in the U.S. and Canada on June 12.

[06/30/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "America's Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys" - Official Trailer - Netflix
On August 19, experience the historic rise of one of the greatest teams in all of sports.

[06/30/25 - 07:26 AM]
Disney+ Adds Three New Premium Reality Commissions to Its Growing Slate of UK Unscripted Original Series
Highlights include the return of Britain's original and much-loved dating series "Blind Date", reimagined for a contemporary audience.

[06/30/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "My Oxford Year" - Official Trailer - Netflix
An ambitious American fulfilling her dream of studying at Oxford falls for a charming Brit hiding a secret that may upend her perfectly planned life.

[06/30/25 - 06:37 AM]
ESPN Reveals Special Honorees for The 2025 ESPYS Presented by Capital One Airing Wednesday, July 16, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Streaming Live on ESPN+
Oscar Robertson will receive the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage, Katie Schumacher-Cawley will receive the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, and David Walters and Erin Regan will receive the Pat Tillman Award for Service.

[06/30/25 - 01:01 AM]
Video: Netflix Unleashes Teaser for "Troll 2"
When a dangerous new troll is awakened, unleashing devastation across Norway, beloved adventurers Nora, Andreas and Captain Kris are thrust into their most perilous mission yet.

[06/29/25 - 10:31 PM]
A Secret Society, Ritualistic Killings, and a Century-Old Curse Netflix and YRF Entertainment's "Mandala Murders" Premieres July 25
"Mandala Murders" is a first-of-its-kind mythological-crime thriller that promises to pull audiences into a world where every clue leads deeper into a long-buried prophecy.

[06/27/25 - 11:48 PM]
Development Update: Week of June 23-27
Updates include: Scott Speedman to topline ABC's "RJ Decker" pilot; Joel Kim Booster to pen latest "Pitch Perfect" spin-off at Peacock; and "Doctor Odyssey," "Grosse Pointe Garden Society" among the latest cancellations.

[06/27/25 - 02:29 PM]
"Live with Kelly and Mark" Gears Up for Summer Rising Week to Week in All Key Measures
Wednesday, June 11, was the most-viewed day of the week among Total Viewers (2.164 million).