or


[04/20/07 - 05:59 PM]
Development Update: Wednesday-Friday, April 18-20
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 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!


DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC) - "Frasier" alums Anne Flett-Giordano and Chuck Ranberg ("The Game") as well as Lori Kirkland Baker ("Freddie") are all set to join the writing staff of the dramedy next season. The trio will also serve as co-executive producers. Said additions are understood to fill the void left by exiting executive producer/co-showrunner (and fellow "Frasier" alum) Joe Keenan.


DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS (NBC, New!) - Christian Slater ("Alone in the Dark") is set to topline a potential new drama at the Peacock from writer/producers Mark Cullen and Robb Cullen ("Las Vegas"). Slater's official web site details the project as follows: "It's all about America and the things that get swept under the carpet. Im playing a charecter named 'John Manners', a journalistic investigator who pushes the envelope." Dee Johnson ("Commander-In-Chief") penned the original pilot script, which the Cullens are set to polish. The trio then will executive produce alongside Armyan Bernstein ("Children of Men") and Laurie Zaks for the ABC Television Studio and Bernstein's Beacon banner.


GHOST WHISPERER (CBS) - P.K. Simonds ("Point Pleasant") has come aboard as an executive producer of the Eye's supernatural drama. He'll serve alongside fellow executive producers John Gray, Kim Moses and Ian Sander should the series return for a third season this fall.


MICHAEL IAN BLACK DOESN'T UNDERSTAND (Comedy Central, New!) - "Stella" co-creator Michael Ian Black has booked a pilot order for a new pop culture-themed variety series which will incorporate everything from sketch comedy, field segments and studio bits. Black will host and executive produce the potential half-hour alongside Jim Biederman ("Kids in the Hall") with Michael Showalter ("Reno 911!: Miami") serving as a co-executive producer and Black's manager Ted Schachter as a producer.


SIDE ORDER OF LIFE (Lifetime) - Michael Pavone ("Prison Break") has been tapped as an executive producer on the upcoming drama series, about a young magazine photographer (Marisa Coughlan) who suddenly re-evaluates her life and impending nuptials after learning some life-altering news. He'll serve alongside executive producers Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen as well as creator/co-executive producer Margaret Nagle.


SLACKER CATS (ABC Family) - The cable channel reportedly will announce next week it has given a series order to a redeveloped version of the 2001 WB animated pilot of the same name, about two - you guessed it - slacker cats. Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley are still behind the half-hour, which was directed by Seth Kearsley ("Family Guy"). Paul Harrod ("The PJs") helmed the original five minute presentation, which was also executive produced by Jeffrey Auerbach ("Corpse Bride"), Tom Turpin ("The PJs") and Will Vinton ("The PJs") via the latter's Will Vinton Studios. IDT Entertainment and Film Roman are co-producing the ABC Family series.


TRAP TEAM (NBC, New!) - John McLaughlin ("Point Pleasant") and Dario Scardapane ("The Darkling") are developing a new drama at the network about a cop's careerlong pursuit of an elusive serial killer. Joe Carnahan ("Narc") reportedly is in talks to direct the hour, which is set up at Peter Berg and Sarah Aubrey's NBC Universal Television-based Film 44 banner. McLaughlin, Scardapane, Berg and Aubrey then will executive produce with Film 44's John Cameron serving as a co-executive producer.


UNTITLED ERIK BORK PROJECT (NBC, New!) - Erik Bork ("Just Legal") has landed a script commitment from the Peacock for a new drama about an alpha female boss who shakes up a male-dominated workplace. The untitled hour is based at Dave Bartis and Doug Liman's ("Mr. & Mrs. Smith") NBC Universal Television-based Dutch Oven banner. All three then will serve as executive producers.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [april 2007]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF (ABC)
· DARKLING, THE (USA)
· DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS (NBC)
· FAMILY GUY (FOX)
· FRASIER (NBC)
· FREDDIE (ABC)
· GAME, THE (BET)
· GHOST WHISPERER (CBS)
· JUST LEGAL (WB)
· LAS VEGAS (NBC)
· MICHAEL IAN BLACK DOESN'T UNDERSTAND (COMEDY CENTRAL)
· MR. AND MRS. SMITH (ABC)
· PJS, THE (WB)
· POINT PLEASANT (FOX)
· PRISON BREAK (FOX)
· RENO 911! (COMEDY CENTRAL)
· SIDE ORDER OF LIFE (LIFETIME)
· SLACKER CATS (ABC FAMILY)
· STELLA (COMEDY CENTRAL)
· TRAP TEAM (NBC)
· UNTITLED ERIK BORK PROJECT (NBC)





[08/17/26 - 12:01 PM]
Video: "Turning Point: Generation 9/11" - Official Trailer - Netflix
25 years after 9/11, this documentary explores how a single day shaped the next generation.

[08/17/26 - 11:31 AM]
ESPN to Exclusively Televise Chicago White Sox vs. Cleveland Guardians Game on September 16
The September 16 game replaces an ESPN MLB game that was postponed earlier this season.

[08/17/26 - 11:01 AM]
Video: First-Look at the "Reality Villains" Season Premiere of "Celebrity Weakest Link"
In each themed episode, eight celebrities from the worlds of television, sports, film, and entertainment's next generation compete to win up to $1 million for the charity of their choice.

[08/17/26 - 10:59 AM]
ESPN's Exclusive Coverage of the 2026 Little League Baseball World Series, Presented by T-Mobile Begins Aug. 19
ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC will combine to present all 38 games throughout the tournament, culminating with the Little League Baseball World Series Championship Game on Sunday, August 30, at 3 p.m. on ABC.

[08/17/26 - 10:38 AM]
FOX Sports Set to Serve Up More Women's College Volleyball on Broadcast Television Than Any Network in History
The eight FOX contests mark the most women's college volleyball matches ever aired on broadcast television by any network in a single season.

[08/17/26 - 10:16 AM]
ABC News Live Premieres New Multiplatform Streaming Programming on Disney+, Hulu and ABC News Live
"All Access with Linsey Davis," "Searched," "Burden of Proof" and "Doctor's Note" will stream on Disney+, Hulu, ABC News Live and across ABC News digital platforms and will be available on the ABC News Podcast Network.

[08/17/26 - 09:31 AM]
Video: NBC Debuts Official Trailer & First Look Images for "The Traitors: New Blood"
The first two episodes will debut Thursday, September 17 with a special two-hour extended premiere (Episodes 1 & 2) on NBC from 8:00 - 10:00 PM ET/PT.

[08/17/26 - 09:24 AM]
Guests Announced for Season 13 of "Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr." Following the Third Consecutive Emmy Award Nomination for the Acclaimed Series
The new season lineup includes actors Elizabeth Banks, Carrie Coon, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Ilana Glazer, Nikki Glazer, David Alan Grier, Ashley Judd, Randall Park, Wendell Pierce, Danny Ramirez, Natasha Rothwell, Allison Williams and Noah Wyle.

[08/17/26 - 09:01 AM]
HBO Renews "It: Welcome to Derry" for a Second Season
Brad Caleb Kane will serve as showrunner.

[08/17/26 - 09:00 AM]
The CW Network Sets Monday, October 5 Premiere for "Private Eyes West Coast" and "Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent" Season 2
Jason Priestley and Cindy Sampson star in the former, a spin-off of the popular "Private Eyes" series that ran for five seasons and licensed in more than 180 territories worldwide.

[08/17/26 - 08:31 AM]
Netflix and Spotify's The Ringer Sign Tom Pelissero to Multi-Year Agreement Across NFL Content & Coverage
Pelissero will join Netflix's broadcast team as sideline reporter, in addition to NFL Insider, across the streamer's full slate of games this season.

[08/17/26 - 08:01 AM]
Pluto TV Launches New Format, Double Feature Fridays, in Partnership with "Entertainment Tonight"
Each pairing is connected by shared talent, genre, or theme, and introduced through original "Entertainment Tonight" segments hosted by correspondent Emily Curl.

[08/17/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "A Different World" - Official Trailer - Netflix
"A Different World" returns to Hillman College with a new class stepping onto campus - and beloved faces coming home.

[08/17/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Hollywood Arts" - Official Teaser - Netflix
The next chapter in the "Victorious" universe is coming only on Netflix, October 15.

[08/17/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "The Drop: A Snowfall Saga" - Official Trailer - FX
The series follows "Snowfall" characters Wanda Bell (Gail Bean) and Leon Simmons (Isaiah John) as they fight to reinvent themselves in '90s Los Angeles, where the fallout from the crack epidemic is fueling a new game: the rise of West Coast rap.