or


[01/20/06 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: January 20
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 branded "Devwatch" section. There visitors can view our listings by network, genre, studio and even development stage (ordered to pilot, cast-contingent, script, etc.). It's updated every day!

THE 17TH C.S.H./UNTITLED JOHN MASIUS PROJECT (HBO/TNT, New!) - John Masius, the Emmy-winning creator of "Providence" and "Touched by an Angel," has lined up a pair of projects on cable. The first is a half-hour comedy at HBO entitled "The 17th C.S.H." Said project takes a satirical look at medics in wartime. The other is an untitled suburban family drama at TNT and Sony Pictures Television. No other specifics about the respective projects were given.

60 MINUTE MAN (ABC) - Just one day after getting the green light to produce a pilot, writer/producers Graham Yost and Chris Brancato have found their leading man. David James Elliott ("J.A.G.") has been tapped to topline the project, about a suburban family man named John Henderson (Elliott) who, after discovering that he can't recall his actions during one hour of each day, risks his life to determine whether he's the key player in a conspiracy that could alter the course of U.S. history. Elliott's involvement is likely tied to a talent holding deal the actor signed with ABC and producer Touchstone Television nearly a year ago (read the story). Yost and Brancato wrote the pilot and will executive produce along with Brancato's producing partner Bert Salke.

THE ADVENTURES OF BIG HANDSOME GUY AND HIS LITTLE FRIEND (FOX) - The network has officially greenlighted the comedy pilot, about the real-life friendship between Hayes MacArthur and Jason Winer and how everything comes easy for the former ("the big handsome guy") but not the latter ("his little friend"). The project, which is based on the short film of the same name, is set up at 20th Century Fox Television with MacArthur and Winer writing the pilot script and co-executive producing along with executive producers Josh Sternin and Jeff Ventimilia ("Kitchen Confidential").

AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL (UPN) - The netlet has renewed the reality veteran for two additional cycles, which will keep the series on the network's schedule through the 2006-07 season. Season six of the series is set to launch with back-to-back episodes on Wednesday, March 8 at 8:00/7:00c. Said premiere will be preceded by "Where the Girls Are," a one-hour special that looks back on the show's previous contestants on Wednesday, March 1 at 8:00/7:00c.

THE ANGRIEST MAN IN SUBURBIA (CBS, New!) - Ajay Sahgal (NBC's "Nearly Nirvana") has landed a cast-contingent pilot order from CBS for a new comedy about a married stay-at-home father dealing with the pesky problems of everyday life. Sony Picture Television-based Pariah is behind the hour with Gavin Polone and Jamie Tarses executive producing along with Sahgal, who penned the pilot script.

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC) - Maria Conchita Alonso ("Kingpin") has been cast as Lucia, the mother of Eva Longoria's character Gabrielle. She'll make her first appearance in the show's February 19 installment, which sees Lucia dropping in on her daughter after leaving the latest in a string of husbands. No other details were specified.

IF YOU LIVED HERE, YOU'D BE HOME BY NOW (FOX, New!) - "Friends" alums Andrew Reich and Ted Cohen have scored a pilot order from FOX for a new single-camera comedy about a group of young friends living in a corporate housing-style apartment complex (a la Oakwood). The project is set up at CBS Paramount Network Television with Reich and Cohen writing and executive producing. The pair spent the past development season behind the failed James Van Der Beek-led comedy pilot "Three" at CBS.

IN THE SHADOW OF THE LAW (CBS, New!) - "C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation" showrunner Carol Mendelsohn has scored a pilot order from the Eye and CBS Paramount Network Television for a new drama about a group of smart legal associates trying to make partner while dealing with a host of moral, ethical and legal challenges not to mention a Gordon Gekko-esque managing partner. The project is based on Kermit Roosevelt's novel of the same name with Mendelsohn penning the pilot script. It's understood Mendelsohn will continue with her duties on "C.S.I." even if "Law" moves forward to series.

MEN IN TREES (A.K.A. UNTITLED JENNY BICKS/JAMES MANGOLD PROJECT) (ABC) - The drama project, about a thirtysomething relationship expert who gets stuck in an Alaskan town full of men soon after she discovers her own fiance has been cheating, has been given the thumbs up to produce a pilot. Jenny Bicks ("Sex and the City") is behind the Warner Bros. Television/Tree Line Film-based hour with James Mangold ("Walk the Line") now set to direct and executive produce along with his wife Cathy Konrad.

OUT OF SYNC (UPN, New!) - Lance Bass and Joey Fatone, best known as members of the boy band *NSYNC, are set to star in a potential new reality comedy hybrid at the netlet about their "Odd Couple"-esque friendship. Scott Tomlinson ("The Nick and Jessica Variety Hour") is on board to write the script to the FremantleMedia-based half-hour with UPN committing to a short presentation tape. No other details were given.

PENN & TELLER: BULLSHIT (Showtime) - The pay channel has quietly renewed the series for two additional 10-episode seasons. The announcement was made as part of the network's session at the TCA Winter Press Tour. "Bullshit" completed airing its third season this past summer. Still to be announced is the fate of "Barbershop," which concluded its freshman run in October.

THE TRAVELER (ABC, New!) - Feature writer David Digilio (the upcoming Paul Walker-led "Eight Below") is set to team with director David Nutter ("Supernatural") and Oscar-winning producers Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen ("American Beauty") for a new "Three Days of the Condor"-esque drama about two friends who are framed as terrorists by someone they both thought was their friend. The project, which has been given a pilot commitment by the Alphabet and Warner Bros. Television, would then cut between flashbacks to the trio's life together in college and their current fugitive status. Nutter, who's best known for his impressive streak of directing 11 consecutive pilots that went on to receive series orders - "Space: Above and Beyond" (1995), "Millennium" (1996), "Sleepwalkers" (1997), "Roswell" (1999), "Dark Angel" (2000), "Smallville" (2001), "Without a Trace" (2002), "Tarzan" (2003), "Jack & Bobby" (2004), "dr. vegas" (2004) and "Supernatural" (2005) - will helm the project from a script by Digilio with Cohen and Jinks executive producing via their Jinks/Cohen Co.

UNTITLED BARRY BONDS PROJECT (ESPN, New!) - Tollin/Robbins Productions is said to be close to be teaming with ESPN for a weekly documentary-style, all-access series that would follow San Francisco Giant slugger Barry Bonds over the course of the upcoming Major League Baseball season. Said project, which is targeting the Tuesday, 7:00/6:00c hour, would begin with Bonds in spring training with cameras following him throughout his day, both on and off the field. No other details were given about the project, which reportedly has been in the works since mid-December.

UNTITLED CLAUDIA GRAZIOSO/STEVEN BANKS PROJECT (ABC, New!) - Feature writers Claudia Grazioso and Steven Banks ("Are We There Yet?") are set to team with Sony Pictures Television-based producers Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly for a new "Desperate Housewives"-esque drama about a group of women who work together at the same law firm. Grazioso and Banks wrote the script to the project, which has been given a pilot order by the network, and will executive produce along with Timberman and Beverly through their 25C Productions banner.

UNTITLED GIRLFRIENDS SPIN-OFF PROJECT (UPN, New!) - The netlet is developing a spin-off of the veteran comedy as an upcoming episode of the series will be used as a backdoor pilot. Said installment will introduce a group of women in various stages of relationships with pro football players. Mara Brock-Akil and Kelsey Grammer are on board to executive produce the CBS Paramount Network Television/Grammnet Productions-based project should it move forward. UPN is no stranger to spinning off its comedies as "Cuts" began as an episode of "One on One" and "The Parkers" sprung from "Moesha."

WORST WEEK OF MY LIFE (FOX) - Feature director Adam Shankman ("The Pacifier") has signed on to direct the single-camera comedy pilot, about the week leading up to a couple's wedding with each episode focusing on a single day. Ed Decter and John Strauss ("There's Something About Mary") are behind the project, which comes from Regency Television and Hat Trick Productions. "Week" snagged a pilot order as well as two additional scripts last month (read the story).

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [january 2006]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· 17TH CSH, THE (HBO)
· 60 MINUTE MAN (ABC)
· ADVENTURES OF BIG HANDSOME GUY AND HIS LITTLE FRIEND, THE (FOX)
· AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL (VH1)
· ANGRIEST MAN IN SUBURBIA, THE (CBS)
· BARBERSHOP (SHOWTIME)
· BONDS ON BONDS (ESPN)
· CAPITAL LAW (CBS)
· CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (CBS)
· CUTS (UPN)
· DARK ANGEL (FOX)
· DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)
· DR. VEGAS (CBS)
· FRIENDS (NBC)
· GAME, THE (BET)
· HIGH BAR (ABC)
· IF YOU LIVED HERE, YOU'D BE HOME BY NOW (FOX)
· JACK & BOBBY (WB)
· JAG (CBS)
· KINGPIN (NBC)
· KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL (FOX)
· MEN IN TREES (ABC)
· MIDDLETOWN (TNT)
· MOESHA (UPN)
· NEARLY NIRVANA (NBC)
· ONE ON ONE (UPN)
· OUT OF SYNC (CW)
· PARKERS, THE (UPN)
· PENN & TELLER: BULLSHIT (SHOWTIME)
· PROVIDENCE (NBC)
· ROSWELL (UPN)
· SEX AND THE CITY (HBO)
· SMALLVILLE (CW)
· SUPERNATURAL (CW)
· SUPERNATURAL (CW)
· TARZAN (WB)
· THREE: THE DALE EARNHARDT STORY (ESPN)
· TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL (CBS)
· TRAVELER (ABC)
· WITHOUT A TRACE (CBS)
· WORST WEEK OF MY LIFE (FOX)





[03/18/24 - 01:59 PM]
Chrissy Metz, Jaime Ray Newman, Katie Lowes, and George Ferrier Join as Series Regulars for Starz's New Drama "The Hunting Wives"
Production on the thrilling new series has started in Charlotte, North Carolina.

[03/18/24 - 11:30 AM]
Video: ALLBLK Releases Trailer for the World Premiere of New Thriller, "The Influencer" Premiering Thursday, April 4
The original film stars Christina Cooper as Niecy Fields, a social media influencer on the cusp of stardom.

[03/18/24 - 10:06 AM]
E! Announces Trendsetting Guest Judges and Pioneering Disruptors for New Cutting-Edge Design Competition Series "OMG Fashun" with Julia Fox
Handcrafted is the new haute couture on "OMG Fashun" as Julia inspires pioneering fashion disruptors to upend traditional style convention, break the rules and redefine cool.

[03/18/24 - 10:00 AM]
Video: Peacock Debuts Trailer For New Original Documentary "Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal" Premiering April 1
The documentary looks at the remarkable career of the late Windham Rotunda also known as Bray Wyatt, one of the most skillful, tenacious, and creative WWE Superstars of all-time.

[03/18/24 - 10:00 AM]
NBC Is the Official Home of Competition and Games This Summer with a Slate of Powerhouse Hit Series
NBC is the summer home for both the Paris Olympic Games and high-stakes competition with a robust lineup of returning powerhouse favorites, including "America's Got Talent," "American Ninja Warrior," "Password," "The Wall" and "Weakest Link."

[03/18/24 - 09:02 AM]
Netflix Announces News About 26 Upcoming Nordic Titles - Including 12 Brand New Titles
Plus: the streamer offers new looks at "Deliver Me," "The Helicopter Heist," "Ronja the Robber's Daughter," "Billionaire Island" and season two of "Baby Fever."

[03/18/24 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver" - Official Trailer - Netflix
The rebels gear up for battle against the ruthless forces of the Motherworld as unbreakable bonds are forged, heroes emerge - and legends are made.

[03/18/24 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Disney's "Wish" - Streaming April 3rd - Disney+
Walt Disney Animation Studios' "Wish" is an all-new musical-comedy welcoming audiences to the magical kingdom of Rosas, where Asha, a sharp-witted idealist, makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force - a little ball of boundless energy called Star.

[03/18/24 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Our Living World" - Cate Blanchett - Official Trailer - Netflix
This stunning nature series narrated by Cate Blanchett explores the intelligence, resourcefulness and interconnectedness of life on our planet.

[03/18/24 - 08:00 AM]
Acorn TV Fan-Favorite "Harry Wild" Returns Monday, May 13
Season three consists of six episodes and will be available on Acorn TV in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

[03/18/24 - 08:00 AM]
Prime Video Orders "Beast Games" from MrBeast and Amazon MGM Studios
Based on his already successful YouTube show, "Beast Games" is set to become the biggest reality competition series ever with 1000 contestants competing for a $5 million dollar cash prize which will be the biggest single prize in the history of television and streaming.

[03/18/24 - 07:14 AM]
ESPN+ Original Series "Full Court Press" Presented by State Farm Featuring Caitlin Clark, Kamilla Cardoso and Kiki Rice to Premiere May 11 & 12 on ABC and ESPN+
From Iowa's historic preseason game that broke attendance records all the way through the WNBA draft in April, the series uses unparalleled access, exclusive interviews, and unique game footage, to transport audiences into the lives of these exceptional athletes.

[03/18/24 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Scoop" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Inspired by real events, this fictional dramatization gives an insider account of how the women of Newsnight secured Prince Andrew's infamous interview.

[03/18/24 - 06:01 AM]
Video: Apple TV+ Debuts Trailer for Season Two of Iconic Emmy Award-Winning Series "Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock," Premiering Globally March 29
Award-winning season two cast includes the return of Daveed Diggs alongside Ariana DeBose, Brett Goldstein, Catherine O'Hara, Adam Lambert and K-pop group aespa in guest star roles.

[03/18/24 - 04:01 AM]
Video: "Joy" - First Look Teaser - Netflix
Starring Thomasin McKenzie, James Norton and Bill Nighy, the new film based on the story of the birth of IVF.