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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 signature "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!
ACTION NEWS (FOX) - Ty Burrell ("Out of Practice") has scored a role on the comedy pilot, about a local news station. He'll play Roger Crezyzewki, who's detailed in the casting notice as: "30-35. Roger Crezyzewki (pronounced Kre-shoov-ski) is a top-notch reporter who wants to come in out of the cold and be an anchorman, but there are certain things, starting with his name, that just don't make him anchorman material. He is sarcastic, quick-witted and jaded. Bad things always seem to happen to Roger. He has a long friendship with Patty; some might even suspect a crush."
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Aimee Garcia (Montana Stevens), Fred Willard (Marsh McGinley), Kelsey Grammer (Chuck Tatham), Patricia Heaton (Patty Carr), Paul Campbell (Nate Resink), Ty Burrell (Roger Crezyzewki)
Writers: Christopher Lloyd, Steven Levitan
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Christopher Lloyd (Levitan-Lloyd Productions), Steven Levitan (Levitan-Lloyd Productions)
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television
AMERICAN FAMILY (ABC) - Stephanie Childers ("Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip") has been tapped as the female lead in the comedy pilot, about a modern family. She'll play the mother of said clan, which includes her husband (Charles Esten) and three kids.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Ashley Rickards (Julia), Charles Esten, Colin Ford (Caleb), Raymond Ochoa (Will), Stephanie Childers
Writers: Dave Ronn, Jay Scherick
Director: John Fortenberry
Executive Producers: Dave Ronn, Jay Scherick
Studio: Sony Pictures Television
BABYLON FIELDS (CBS) - "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" alum Jamey Sheridan is the latest addition to the drama pilot, about a Long Island town where the dead come to life. He'll play Ernie Wunch, a resurrected bullying, wife-beater.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Amber Tamblyn (Janine Wunch), Jamey Sheridan (Ernie Wunch), Ray Stevenson (Carl Tiptree)
Writers: Gerald Cuesta, Michael Atkinson
Director: Michael Cuesta
Executive Producers: Gerald Cuesta, Michael Atkinson, Michael Cuesta
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television
DASH 4 CASH (The CW) - Betty Thomas ("The Loop") has come aboard to direct the pilot, a comedy that spoofs the reality genre.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: TBA
Writers: Boyce Bugliari, Jamie McLaughlin
Director: Betty Thomas
Executive Producers: Kelsey Grammer (Grammnet Productions), Steve Stark (Grammnet Productions)
Studio: CBS Paramount Network Television
GREY'S ANATOMY (ABC) - Consulting producer Marti Noxon has been upped to executive producer on the popular Alphabet drama. The writer/producer, who has an overall deal with producer ABC Television Studio, will serve alongside fellow executive producers Shonda Rhimes, Krista Vernoff, Mark Gordon and Betsy Beers.
N.S.A. INNOCENT (FOX) - Billy Brown ("E-Ring") and Jesse James ("The Flyboys") have both joined the cast of the drama pilot, about an everyman (Stephen Moyer) who finds himself caught up against his will in the world of espionage. James will play Andrew Fisher, the son of Moyer's character. He's detailed in the casting notice as follows: "16. Paul and Kate's son. A basically decent kid who has begun hanging out with the wrong crowd. He gets caught up in a drug bust with a friend in Mexico and frantically calls his dad when he ends up in a Mexican prison." Brown then, while not specified, is believed to be playing Wicks: "Late 30's-Mid 40's, any ethnicity. NSA agent. A man with a good sense of humor and a bit of an attitude (a la Tommy Lee Jones), who thinks he is a stud. A company man in love with his job. He is in your face, intimidating, sees the world as black and white."
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Billy Brown (Wicks), Jesse James (Andrew Fisher), Stana Katic (Baker), Stephen Moyer (Paul Fisher)
Writers: Bob Cochran, David Ehrman
Director: Jon Cassar
Executive Producers: Bob Cochran (Real Time Productions), David Ehrman, Howard Gordon (Real Time Productions), Joel Surnow (Real Time Productions)
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television
SAM I AM (ABC) - Christina Applegate ("Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy"), Jean Smart ("24") and Tim Russ ("Star Trek: Voyager") have all been cast in the comedy pilot, about a woman (Applegate) with amnesia who has to rediscover her life. Applegate will play said lead role with Smart as her self-absorbed mother and Russ as Frank, an unspecified character.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Christina Applegate (Sam), Jean Smart, Jennifer Esposito (Angela), Tim Russ (Frank)
Writers: Cecelia Ahern, Don Todd
Director: Robert Duncan McNeil
Executive Producers: Don Todd, Peter Traugott (Brillstein-Grey Television)
Producer: Cecelia Ahern
Studio: ABC Television Studio
SKIP TRACER (CBS) - Diedrich Bader ("The Drew Carey Show") is the latest addition to the drama pilot, about a man (Stephen Dorff) who locates missing people. He's set as Parker Tuffey, his loyal friend and colleague.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Beverly D'Angelo (Donna King), Diedrich Bader (Parker Tuffey), Jackie Burroughs (Florence), Martha Higareda (Jennifer), Stephen Dorff (Skip Tracer)
Writers: Mitchell Burgess, Robin Green
Director: Stephen Frears
Executive Producers: Mitchell Burgess, Robin Green, Stephen Dorff, Stephen Frears, Tucker Tooley (Media Talent Group)
Studio: CBS Paramount Network Television
UNTITLED GREY'S ANATOMY SPIN-OFF PROJECT (ABC) - Amy Brenneman ("Judging Amy") and Merrin Dungey ("Alias") have both joined the all-star cast of the spin-off, which centers on Kate Walsh's character. They'll play Violet and Naomi, respectively, mostly likely the previously announced female psychiatrist and a female fertility specialist characters. Brenneman's involvement is likely tied to a talent holding deal the actress signed with the network and studio last year (read the story).
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Amy Brenneman (Violet), Chris Lowell, Kate Walsh (Addison Shepherd), Merrin Dungey (Naomi), Paul Adelstein, Taye Diggs, Tim Daly
Writer: Shonda Rhimes
Director: Michael Grossman
Executive Producers: Betsy Beers (Shondaland Productions), Mark Gordon (The Mark Gordon Company), Shonda Rhimes (Shondaland Productions)
Studio: ABC Television Studio
VIVA LAUGHLIN (CBS) - Melanie Griffith ("Twins") is set to guest star on the drama pilot, which centers on a man (Lloyd Owen) dreaming of opening a casino in Laughlin, Nevada. She'll play a smart and conniving sexpot who has a romantic past with him, a potentially recurring role.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Carter Jenkins (Jack), D.B. Woodside (Marcus), Ellen Woglom (Cheyenne), Eric Winter (Det. Peter Carlyle), Hugh Jackman (Guest Star), Lloyd Owen (Ripley Holden), Madchen Amick, Melanie Griffith (Guest Star), P.J. Byrne
Writer: Bob Lowry
Director: Gabriele Muccino
Executive Producers: Bob Lowry, Gabriele Muccino, Hugh Jackman (Seed Productions), John Palermo (Seed Productions), Paul Telegdy (BBC Worldwide Productions), Peter Bowker
Studios: CBS Paramount Network Television, Sony Pictures Television
WILDLIFE (NBC) - Newcomer J.P. Walker has landed a role on the pilot, a workplace comedy set at a zoo. No specifics about his character were released.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Brooke D'Orsay (Missy), Christopher Sieber (Jim), J.P. Walker, Mo Collins, Philip Baker Hall (Arnie)
Writers: David Israel, Jim O'Doherty
Director: Tucker Gates
Executive Producers: Conan O'Brien (Conaco Productions), David Israel, David Kissinger (Conaco Productions), Jeff Ross (Conaco Productions), Jim O'Doherty
Studio: NBC Universal Television Studio
WOMEN'S MURDER CLUB (ABC) - Fellow newcomer Elizabeth Ho has scored a role on the pilot, a drama about four girlfriends - a homicide detective, a medical examiner, an up-and-coming newspaper reporter and a young assistant district attorney - who solve tough murder cases in San Francisco. She's set as Yuki Castellano, who's described in the casting notice as: "Mid-Late 20s, Asian or Hispanic, female, driven and an extrovert. Yuki is an Assistant District Attorney. A standout in law school, and aggressive when it comes to excelling on the job, Yuki is eager to test her mettle in the courtroom. She admires Jill and would like nothing more than to become one of Jill's group of friends."
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Angie Harmon (Lindsay Boxer), Aubrey Dollar (Cindy Thomas), Elizabeth Ho (Yuki Castellano), Laura Harris (Jill Bernhardt), Paula Newsome (Claire Washburn), Rob Benedict (Owen), Tyrees Allen (Warren Jacobi)
Writers: Elizabeth Craft, Sarah Fain
Director: Scott Winant
Executive Producers: Brett Ratner (Rat Television), Elizabeth Craft, James Patterson, Joe Simpson, Sarah Fain, Scott Winant
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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