 |
 |
[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 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
[04/29/26 - 04:01 PM]
"American Idol" Scores 5.3 Million Total Viewers with Biggest Audience in Over 2 Months During Taylor Swift Night
Monday's episode was the No. 1 entertainment program on the night among Total Viewers (5.34 million) and Adults 18-49 (0.42 rating).
|
[04/29/26 - 02:41 PM]
Record Breaker! ESPN Airs Most-Viewed First Round Game 5 Ever on Cable, Extending Milestone Run of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Philadelphia Flyers-Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday averaged 2 million viewers, up 190% vs. ESPN's First Round Game 5 average last year.
|
[04/29/26 - 12:17 PM]
First-of-Its-Kind Competition Reality Series "Designed to Last" Begins Streaming May 5
Hosted by Maria Menounos, the Hulu series follows three teams of architects, engineers, and inventors as they compete in 10-hour build challenges, modifying tiny homes to withstand specific environmental hazards.
|
[04/29/26 - 10:31 AM]
Netflix Announces the Emmy Nominated Masterpiece, "Bad Thoughts," Tom Segura's Dark and Twisted Comedic Series, Will Return for Its Second Season on May 24
In this six-episode dark comedic series, Tom Segura navigates unthinkable situations and fantasies within a cinematic world.
|
[04/29/26 - 10:01 AM]
Netflix Announces New Adult Animated Comedy Series "Dad's House"
In small-town suburban Australia, thirteen year old child of divorce, Sean, spends every second weekend with his laidback, but well meaning dad, Ian.
|
[04/29/26 - 10:01 AM]
HBO Original Documentary "The A List: 15 Stories from Asian and Pacific Diasporas" Debuts May 13
The film is a tapestry of personal vignettes from across the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities in America.
|
[04/29/26 - 09:46 AM]
Netflix Wins Romantic Drama "Lovesick," Orders Hot Package Straight-to-Series
The straight-to-series Netflix drama stars Danes as Annika, a renowned breast cancer surgeon whose world changes after receiving her own cancer diagnosis.
|
[04/29/26 - 09:13 AM]
CNN FlashDoc "Behind the Bob: Vogue's Anna Wintour" Now Streaming on CNN App
The documentary special is now streaming at CNN.com/Watch and on the CNN app for streaming subscribers and will air Sunday, May 3 at 8pm ET on CNN, just one night before the iconic Met Gala.
|
[04/29/26 - 09:05 AM]
"The Other Bennet Sister" Premiere: BritBox Shines a Light on Austen's Overlooked Heroine This May
Other highlights include "Twenty Twenty Six," "I Literally Just Told You," and "QI."
|
[04/29/26 - 09:01 AM]
Celebrate Sir David Attenborough's 100th Birthday with "Ocean with David Attenborough"
The world's preeminent natural historian turns 100 on May 8.
|
[04/29/26 - 09:01 AM]
Season 2 of "Ransom Canyon" Returns to Netflix on Thursday, July 23, 2026
The new season of the beloved western drama, starring Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly, features eight brand new episodes.
|
[04/29/26 - 09:00 AM]
Video: The Main Stage Is Set - Trailer and Guest Judges Revealed for "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars" Season 11 Premiering May 8 on Paramount+
Brian Tyree Henry, Bronwyn Newport, Christina Ricci, Cooper Koch, Evan Mulrooney, Gina Gershon, Jamal Sims, Janelle James, Juno Temple, Kate Hudson, La Toya Jackson, Law Roach and Reneé Rapp will serve as celebrity guest judges for the eleventh season.
|
[04/29/26 - 08:28 AM]
First Look at Adam Scott, Michelle Monaghan and Robert De Niro in "The Whisper Man," Premiering August 28th
When his eight-year-old son is abducted, a widowed crime writer looks to his estranged father, a retired former police detective, for help, only to discover a connection with the decades-old case of a convicted serial killer known as "The Whisper Man."
|
[04/29/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: Peacock Debuts First Look Teaser & New July 9 Premiere Date for "The Five Star Weekend"
The series stars Jennifer Garner, D'Arcy Carden, Gemma Chan, Regina Hall, Chloë Sevigny, Harlow Jane and Timothy Olyphant.
|
[04/29/26 - 08:00 AM]
TLC Unveils New Season of "90 Day: The Last Resort" as Six Couples Face Make-or-Break Moments in an English Castle
This season, "90 Day Fiance" couples Jenny and Sumit, Shekinah and Sarper, Kara and Guillermo, Paola and Russ, Thais and Patrick, and Rebecca and Zied have all reached relationship breaking points.
|
|
|
|
