or


[09/05/05 - 12:00 AM]
NBC Continues to Build Midseason Comedy Roster
By Brian Ford Sullivan (TFC)

LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- NBC continued to build up its unusually active midseason development slate over the weekend as the network had greenlighted the Greg Grunberg-led comedy pilot "Grand Union."

Grunberg ("Alias," "The Catch") stars as Tom McBride, a blue-collar family man who manages a local Long Island neighborhood grocery store in the project, which previously ran under the title "Father of the McBrides." Also cast in "Union" is Beth Lacke ("ER") as Grunberg's wife, Pat.

David Israel and Jim O'Doherty ("The Tracy Morgan Show," "Grounded for Life") are behind the project, which comes from NBC Universal Television and executive producer Tom Werner. It's believed Werner will produce through his Warner Bros. Television-based Werner-Gold-Miller banner along with Eric Gold and Jimmy Miller.

As for Grunberg, his involvement stems from an overall development deal the actor recently signed with the network.

Meanwhile, casting has begun on the Peacock's Tina Fey-led comedy pilot, a semi-autobiographical look at Fey's tenure on "Saturday Night Live."

Among the details revealed in the casting notice: Fey will play Lisa Lemon, the head writer of "Friday Night Bits" (the show-within-a-show), while the characters include Jack Donaghy (NBC's new VP of development), Pete Hornberger (Lisa's long-time producer and friend), Toofer (a Harvard-type staff writer), Frank (a heavy-set, working-class staff writer who butts heads with Toofer), Josh (an adorable young cast member known for his flawless impressions), Sarie (a Paris Hilton-esque assistant), Kenneth (a chirpy Clay Aiken-type NBC page) and Jonathan (Jack's nerdy assistant).

Lorne Michaels, David Miner and Joann Alfano serve as the executive producers of the NBC Universal Television/Broadway Video-based project along with Frey, who wrote the pilot script.

"Union" and the Fey project join the Peacock's already busy comedy development roster for midseason, which also includes the previously shot pilots "Filmore Middle" and "Lies and the Wives We Tell Them To" as well as the cast-contingent "I Love Faron Hitchman," "Bearaboo 2010" and untitled Mike Markowitz project.

Already on tap for midseason are the new comedies "Four Kings" and "Thick and Thin," not to mention the fifth season of "Scrubs."





  [september 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
    


· 30 ROCK (NBC)
· ALIAS (ABC)
· BARABOO 2010 (NBC)
· CATCH, THE (ABC)
· ER (NBC)
· FOUR KINGS (NBC)
· GRAND UNION (NBC)
· GROUNDED FOR LIFE (WB)
· I LOVE FARON HITCHMAN (NBC)
· LIES AND THE WIVES WE TELL THEM TO (NBC)
· SCRUBS (ABC)
· TEACHERS (NBC)
· THICK & THIN (NBC)
· TRACY MORGAN SHOW, THE (NBC)
· UNTITLED MIKE MARKOWITZ PROJECT (NBC)





[04/30/25 - 11:05 AM]
ABC Announces Summer 2025 Premiere Dates
Kicking off the summer, the 10th season of "Bachelor in Paradise" begins Monday, July 7, featuring cast members from across the franchise including Goldens joining the beach for the first time.

[04/30/25 - 11:03 AM]
"American Idol" Rocks the House with More Back-to-Back Wins
"American Idol" rocked the house on Sunday night with its first live coast-to-coast telecast, earning 5.31 million Total Viewers in Live+Same Day ratings.

[04/30/25 - 10:00 AM]
Video: Trailer And Key Art Debut - "Matteo Lane: The Al Dente Special"
Matteo Lane's comedy is like catching up with your old friend at brunch. In his latest special, he shares a glimpse into his travels, unique family background and friendships.

[04/30/25 - 09:34 AM]
The Heat Is on as Bobby Flay, Maneet Chauhan and Antonia Lofaso Battle for Grilling Glory in New Season of "BBQ Brawl"
"BBQ Brawl: Flay V. Chauhan V. Lofaso" kicks off all the action on Sunday, June 1 at 9pm ET/PT.

[04/30/25 - 09:31 AM]
Video: "Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Who really laced Tylenol with cyanide? This true-crime series examines alarming theories behind the unsolved killings - and tracks down a key suspect.

[04/30/25 - 09:31 AM]
Palm Trees, Power Moves and Plenty of Shade Hit the 305 as Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Miami" Returns Wednesday, June 11 at 9 P.M. ET/PT
The season seven cast includes returning housewives Alexia Nepola, Lisa Hochstein, Julia Lemigova, Guerdy Abraira and Larsa Pippen.

[04/30/25 - 09:01 AM]
Get Ready to Get Wild: Netflix Announces "Mating Season," A New Adult Animated Rom-Com from the Horny Minds of "Big Mouth"
"Mating Season" will debut on Netflix in 2026 and is set in the animal world starring a cast of bears, raccoons, deer, foxes and a host of other horny, lovable forest critters, as they navigate love, sexual relationships and the universal need to hook up and find a partner.

[04/30/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Trailer and Key Art Debut - Hulu Original Movie "Summer of 69"
An awkward high school senior hires an exotic dancer to help seduce her longtime crush before graduation, leading to unexpected friendship and lessons in self-confidence, acceptance and adulthood.

[04/30/25 - 08:59 AM]
The History Channel's Hit Survival Series "Alone" Heads to Africa for the First Time in Epic Season Twelve Premiering on Thursday June 12 at 9PM ET/PT
For the first time on "Alone," 10 new survivalists navigate the rugged and unforgiving Great Karoo Desert and face off against exotic animals including warthogs, scorpions, venomous snakes, baboons, Cape buffalo, wildebeest and more.

[04/30/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Duster" - Official Trailer - Max
From J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan, "Duster" premieres May 15 on Max.

[04/30/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Bad Thoughts" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A collection of hilariously disturbing stories that push the boundaries of decency in ways only Tom Segura could imagine.

[04/30/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: Prime Video Debuts Official Trailer and Key Art for "The Better Sister"
All eight episodes of the highly anticipated limited series produced by Amazon MGM Studios and Tomorrow Studios (part of ITV Studios) will premiere on Thursday, May 29 on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

[04/30/25 - 07:44 AM]
New Warm Dramedy "Chaos" Makes Exclusive US Debut Thursday, May 22, 2025 on Viaplay
With the backdrop of a dysfunctional morning show facing dwindling ratings, "Chaos" follows the chaotic life and modern love story of Lise Jensen, Denmark's morning TV star anchor.

[04/30/25 - 07:07 AM]
Peacock Exclusively Streams DreamWorks Animation's "Dog Man" Beginning May 30
Adapted from the #1 global bestselling book series by acclaimed author and illustrator Dav Pilkey, DreamWorks Animation's comedy adventure features a heart-warming cast of characters voiced by Pete Davidson, Lil Rel Howery, Isla Fisher, Lucas Hopkins Calderon and more.

[04/30/25 - 07:03 AM]
The FX, Hulu and Disney+ Global Hit Drama Series "Shogun" Is Scheduled to Begin Production of Season Two in January in Vancouver
Part two is set 10 years after the events of the first season and continues the historically-inspired saga of these two men from different worlds whose fates are inextricably entwined.