or


[02/07/06 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: February 7
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!

13 GRAVES (FOX) - Norman Reedus ("Blade II") has joined the cast of the Matthew Lillard-led drama pilot, about an ex-treasure hunter (Lillard) whose search for his missing brother puts him in the hunt for Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizzaro's fabled Incan gold. Reedus is believed to be playing Norman, who's described in the casting notice as: "Late 20s-early 30s, Caucasian. Goes by his first name only. He is cautious with people, the less they know, the better. He and his girlfriend Karen, are in Florida to search for the treasure. He brooding and guarded. Not a slick, pretty boy - he has a dark past." Dominic Sena is directing the 20th Century Fox Television-based hour from a script by creator Joel Wyman. Production is set to begin early next month in Los Angeles and Florida.

THE CUTTING EDGE 2: GOING FOR THE GOLD (ABC Family, New!) - A small-screen sequel to the 1990 D.B. Sweeney/Moira Kelly-led feature is set to premiere on the cable channel on Sunday, March 12 at 7:00/6:00c following a rebroadcast of the original film. Here's how the network's press materials describe the project: "In the sequel to the hit movie �The Cutting Edge,� Christy Carlson Romano stars as Jackie, the daughter of Doug Dorsey, a fallen hockey player, and Kate Moseley, a tough-talking ice princess, who fell in love despite their differences on the ice rink. Following in the footsteps of her parents, Jackie has worked hard to make a name for herself on the ice but after she suffers from a potentially career-ending fall, Jackie must switch to pairs skating in order to make her dream of going to the Olympics a reality. Finding a partner in extreme in-line skater Alex Harrison, the two must put aside their love-hate feelings to push themselves harder than ever before to go for Olympic glory."

DAMAGES (FOX) - Cole Hauser ("2 Fast 2 Furious") is the first to be cast in the drama pilot, about a group of Chicago-based lawyers juggling their personal lives and the ethical quandaries in their careers. He'll play one of the lead attorneys in the Jonathan Lisco-created hour, which comes from 20th Century Fox Television.

EDISON (CBS) - The long-in-the-works drama project, about a Los Angeles detective who relies on impersonations and disguises to solve crimes, has found a new home at CBS. Originally set up at USA last season, the David Hoberman-produced hour has since moved on to the Eye where it's received a pilot order from the network. In addition, John Leguizamo ("ER") has been cast in the lead role. Terri Hughes Burton and Ron Milbauer wrote the pilot script (where they'll take over for Howard Franklin, who penned the original incarnation) and will executive produce the CBS Paramount Network Television/Touchstone Television-based project along with Hoberman through his Mandeville Films banner.

HALLMARK CHANNEL ORIGINAL MOVIES (Hallmark) - The Hallmark Channel's recently released March schedule has provided premiere dates for four of the network's upcoming original projects. First up on Saturday, March 4 at 9:00/8:00c is "Jane Doe: The Harder They Fall," the sixth installment of the franchise. Saturday, March 11 at 9:00/8:00c sees the launch of "McBride: Fallen Idol," the seventh telefilm in the "McBride" franchise. On Saturday, March 18 at 9:00/8:00c look for "Mystery Woman: Wild West Mystery," the seventh "Mystery Woman" original movie. Finally on Saturday, March 25 at 9:00/8:00c there's the debut of the Doris Roberts/Judy Reyes-led original "Our House."

JERICHO (CBS) - Lennie James ("Sahara") is the first to be cast in the drama pilot, about a small town in Kansas that's dealing with life after a series of nuclear attacks destroys most of America's big cities. He'll play Rod Hawkins in the CBS Paramount Network Television-based hour, which comes from creator Stephen Chbosky. Feature helmer Jon Turteltaub ("National Treasure") is directing the pilot as well as executive producing with Chbosky through his Junction Entertainment banner.

LOOKS OF LOVE (ABC Family) - The cable channel has quietly scheduled the first four episodes of the reality series, about the staff of the Looks of Love hair salon in Los Angeles. All four installments are slated for this Saturday, February 11 beginning at 11:00/10:00c. It's not clear when the two remaining episodes of the series will air.

PLAY NICE (CBS, New!) - Fred Willard ("A Minute With Stan Hooper") is set to star in a new comedy project for the Eye and CBS Paramount Network Television, about a responsible sister and irresponsible brother who run the family toy factory together. Willard will play Roger, the toy company's owner, in the half-hour, which comes from "Everybody Loves Raymond" alums Lew Schneider, Tucker Cawley and Phil Rosenthal. Cawley and Schneider wrote the pilot script and will executive produce along with Rosenthal.

SEX, POWER, LOVE & POLITICS (CBS) - Jane Krakowski ("Ally McBeal") is the latest to join the cast of the comedy pilot, about four underachieving staffers in their mid-30s who work on Capitol Hill and live next to each other. She'll join the previously cast Jay Harrington in the Greg Malins-created project, which comes from Sony Pictures Television. No specifics about Krakowski's character were given. Pamela Fryman is directing the half-hour from a script by Malins.

THE SURREAL LIFE: FAME GAMES (VH1, New!) - The cable channel has greenlighted another spin-off of its popular "The Surreal Life" franchise in which "all-star" former housemates face off in challenges sending up the world of fame and showbiz for a $100,000 prize. Ron Jeremy, Vanilla Ice, Emmanuel Lewis, Brigitte Nielsen, Chyna Doll, Sandra "Pepa" Denton, C.C. DeVille and Traci Bingham have already signed onto the Las Vegas-based project, to be hosted by Robin Leach. The network has given a 10-episode order to "Games," which is targeting a late summer or early fourth quarter launch. "Surreal" creators Mark Cronin and Cris Abrego will executive produce the spin-off through their respective companies Mindless Entertainment and 51 Pictures.

THAT GUY (FOX) - Josh Lobis and Darin Moiselle's comedy project for FOX has been given the green light to produce a pilot. The Regency Television-based half-hour, about a 35-year-old man named Rob Fowler who decides to embrace a "second puberty" and start living his life like a 21-year-old. Lobis and Moiselle wrote the pilot script and will serve as co-executive producers. Ivan Reitman and Jackie Marcus then will executive produce through their Montecito Pictures banner.

UNTITLED DANNY COMDEN PROJECT (ABC) - Scott Caan ("Ocean's 12") has joined the cast of Danny Comden's single-camera comedy pilot for the Alphabet, about a man (Comden) who disavows his fast-paced real estate agent lifestyle to become a better person. Caan will play Dick in the Warner Bros. Television/Wonderland Sound & Vision-based half-hour, one of Danny's oldest friends, a free spirit who lives on a houseboat. Comden himself wrote the pilot script and is executive producing along with McG, Pete Aronson, Peter Johnson.

WORKING PILOT TITLES (Various) - A handful of working titles have been confirmed for several of the untitled pilots currently in development: Claudia Grazioso and Steven Banks's drama for ABC about a group of women who work together at the same law firm is now running under title "Women in Law"; The CW's "Girlfriends" spin-off about a group of women in various stages of relationships with pro football players has been branded "The Game"; Kevin Williamson's Palm Springs-based drama project for The CW is now simply titled "Palm Springs"; Joe Port and Joe Wiseman's comedy at CBS about a young couple who must deal with the wife's large extended family has been monikered "Inseparable"; and Paul Reiser's comedy (also at CBS) about an ambitious young man who takes over the family car dealership in Queens, New York is said to be using the title "Invincible."

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [february 2006]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· 13 GRAVES (FOX)
· AKA (CBS)
· ALLY MCBEAL (FOX)
· CUTTING EDGE 2, THE: GOING FOR THE GOLD (ABC FAMILY)
· DAMAGES (FOX)
· ER (NBC)
· EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND (CBS)
· GAME, THE (BET)
· HIDDEN PALMS (CW)
· HIGH BAR (ABC)
· INSEPARABLE (CBS)
· JANE DOE (HALLMARK)
· JERICHO (CBS)
· LEARNING TO FLY (ABC)
· LOOKS OF LOVE (ABC FAMILY)
· MCBRIDE (HALLMARK)
· MINUTE WITH STAN HOOPER, A (FOX)
· MYSTERY WOMAN (HALLMARK)
· OUR HOUSE (HALLMARK)
· PLAY NICE (CBS)
· SEX, POWER, LOVE & POLITICS (CBS)
· SURREAL LIFE, THE (VH1)
· SURREAL LIFE, THE: FAME GAMES (VH1)
· THAT GUY (FOX)
· UNTITLED PAUL REISER PROJECT (CBS)





[12/16/25 - 10:01 AM]
Snoop Dogg to Headline Lions-Vikings with "Snoop's Holiday Halftime Party" During NFL Christmas Gameday Live on Netflix
Snoop Dogg takes the reins at halftime, promising chart-topping tracks, plenty of holiday spirit, and special guests, making for what is sure to be an unforgettable performance.

[12/16/25 - 09:52 AM]
Video: "The Life of Chuck" - Trailer - Hulu
From author Stephen King and director Mike Flanagan, the film - starring Tom Hiddleston, Jacob Tremblay, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Karen Gillan - streams December 26.

[12/16/25 - 09:08 AM]
MGM+ Greenlights Series Adaptation of Iconic Western "The Magnificent Seven"
After a peaceful Quaker village is massacred by mercenaries working for a greedy and ruthless land baron trying to force them off the land he covets, seven gifted but flawed mercenaries are hired by the community to protect them from the land baron's hired guns.

[12/16/25 - 09:01 AM]
"Miss Austen" Returns for Season 2 on "Masterpiece"
This newest season is largely based on Gill Hornby's latest novel, "The Elopement," which further delves into the family life of Jane and Cassandra Austen.

[12/16/25 - 09:00 AM]
Meet the 11 New Survivalists and the Families Who Hold Their Fate as FOX's Survival Competition Series "Extracted" Returns for Season Two
Only one competitor and their family will endure it all and walk away with a life-changing quarter million dollar grand prize!

[12/16/25 - 09:00 AM]
CBS Announces "Christina Aguilera: Christmas in Paris," A New Holiday Special Airing Monday, Dec. 22 on CBS and Paramount+
Filmed in front of an intimate audience above the Musée du Quai Branly, Aguilera performs both holiday classics and her career hits against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower, fashioned into a shimmering Christmas tree.

[12/16/25 - 08:30 AM]
The Epic New Landmark Natural History Series, "Kingdom," Premieres Saturday, January 24 on BBC America and AMC+
The six-part series chronicles the dramatic real-life sagas of four African rival animal families - leopards, hyenas, wild dogs, and lions - as they all fight to claim a remote Zambian paradise as their home.

[12/16/25 - 08:03 AM]
HGTV Adds Over 30 Episodes of Original Content to 2026 Slate with New Series "Wild Vacation Rentals" and Renewals for "Zillow Gone Wild" and "Castle Impossible"
Coming early next year, "Nobody Wants This" actresses and comedians Sherry Cola and D'Arcy Carden will embark on an epic girls' trip of a lifetime to visit America's extraordinary vacation homes in the new HGTV series "Wild Vacation Rentals."

[12/16/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: Gather 'Round Faithfuls! Peacock Debuts Official Trailer for Season 4 of "The Traitors"
Season 4 debuts with the first three supersized episodes on Thursday, January 8 at 6pm PT/9pm ET, followed by two new episodes on Thursday, January 15, and one new episode weekly through the finale and reunion event on February 26.

[12/16/25 - 08:01 AM]
Netflix and iHeartMedia Announce Exclusive Video Podcast Partnership for Top iHeartPodcasts
More than 15 industry-leading iHeartPodcasts will stream only on Netflix including "My Favorite Murder," "The Breakfast Club," "Bobby Bones Presents: The Bobbycast," "Behind the Bastards," "The Psychology of Your 20s" and more.

[12/16/25 - 08:00 AM]
Video: HBO Max Releases Official Trailer and Key Art for Season Two of "The Pitt"
The Emmy-winning series debuts Thursday, January 8 at 9:00 p.m. ET on HBO Max.

[12/16/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: Apple TV Unveils a First Look at "Widow's Bay"
The series will make its global debut on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, with the first three episodes, followed by new episodes every Wednesday through June 17, 2026, on Apple TV.

[12/16/25 - 05:31 AM]
Video: "My Korean Boyfriend" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Five Brazilian women, each at a different stage of life and love, travel to South Korea and meet their crushes in this K-drama-inspired reality show.

[12/16/25 - 03:01 AM]
Great American Media Announces Lifestyle Series, "Jep & Jess: Beyond the Bayou," Starring Jep and Jessica Robertson, Debuting on Great American Pure Flix in 2026
The new series follows the Robertsons as they develop their Comanche Moon Ranch property, offering viewers an inside look at their journey.

[12/16/25 - 12:01 AM]
Emma Appleton, Fares Fares, Frida Gustavsson and Jakob Oftebro Star in Swedish Thriller Series "Bytet"
Set against the stunning backdrops of Stockholm's archipelago and sun-drenched Sicily, two couples agree to a holiday home swap in a last-ditch effort to save their marriages.