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[05/17/07 - 04:37 PM] The Futon's Upfront Notes: CBS & the Cw By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC) |
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LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- A round-up of the various developments from CBS and The CW's upfront presentations that may have gotten lost in the shuffle:
-- Sitcom vet Tim Doyle has been tapped as the showrunner of the CW's "Aliens in America". The development is the result of a two-year, seven-figure overall deal the writer/producer has inked with co-producer CBS Paramount Network Television. He'll assume the day-to-day operations of the series as co-creators David Guarascio and Moses Port work on fellow newcomer "The I.T. Crowd" for NBC.
-- CBS plans to recast the female lead of its newcomer "Moonlight." "The O.C.'s" Shannon Lucio played said role of Beth Turner - "a beautiful, ambitious reporter who has been covering the ongoing plague of unusual murders" - in the original pilot. It's not clear why the decision was made.
-- As previously indicated, "N.C.I.S." co-creator/executive producer Don Bellisario is exiting the series. It's understood co-executive producer Chas. Floyd Johnson and head writer Shane Brennan will take over as co-showrunners for the series' fifth season. As for Bellisario, he'll turn his focus to development for the show's producer CBS Paramount Network Television, where his overall deal is based. No specific reason was given for his exit however industry insiders suggest tension between Bellisario and the show's star, Mark Harmon, as being part of the decision.
-- "Veronica Mars" star Kristen Bell will voice the title role on the CW's "Gossip Girl." Her character is an anonymous blogger who narrates the action, exposing the characters' various secrets in the process.
-- Just eight series didn't make the cut for the Eye's 2007-2008 schedule, the least of any of the big four networks. The CW likewise only saw five shows left behind, but it programs just 13 primetime hours per week. Last season, CBS cut just six of its non-summer entries while UPN and the WB purged a combined 20 series as part of the CW merger.
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[02/20/26 - 12:01 PM] "Celebrity Jeopardy! All-Stars" Premieres March 13 on ABC, Streaming Next Day on Hulu All three prior "Celebrity Jeopardy!" champions - Ike Barinholtz, Lisa Ann Walter, and W. Kamau Bell - will attempt to defend their titles against 18 of their most competitive fellow stars.
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[02/20/26 - 11:08 AM] "The 'Burbs" Continues Hot Start on Peacock The series has generated nearly 1 billion viewing minutes on platform since its February 8 launch.
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[02/20/26 - 10:37 AM] Hallmark Renews "Mistletoe Murders" for Season 3 Sarah Drew, who also serves as executive producer, stars as Emily Lane, a small-town shop owner with a secret past.
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[02/20/26 - 09:01 AM] Video: "Strip Law" - Official Trailer - Netflix An uptight lawyer and a Vegas magician take on the city's most outrageous cases in this new adult animated comedy now streaming on Netflix.
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[02/20/26 - 07:31 AM] "Famous Last Words" Captures Interviews with Icons, Including the Late Eric Dane Conducted by Emmy Award winner Brad Falchuk, the series presents an interview with the beloved "Grey's Anatomy" and "Euphoria" star Eric Dane, which was filmed last November.
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[02/20/26 - 07:03 AM] Video: A First Look at "Descendants: Wicked Wonderland" Revealed Ahead of Disney+ Debut This Summer The teaser debuted ahead of the all-new "Descendants/ZOMBIES Worlds Collide: Concert Special," available today on Disney+.
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[02/20/26 - 06:46 AM] Paige Desorbo and Scott Evans to Host The Actor's Red Carpet: The 32nd Annual Actor Awards Official Pre-Show Live on Netflix During the pre-show, winners for Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture and Television Series will also be announced.
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[02/20/26 - 06:02 AM] TV One Presents A Definitive Tribute to an Icon with "Luther Vandross: Never Too Much" Premiering This Sunday, February 22 at 6PM/5C Hailed by critics and audiences as a moving and definitive tribute, the film honors the life, artistry, and enduring cultural impact of music legend Luther Vandross.
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[02/20/26 - 12:01 AM] "A Friend, A Murderer" Launches on Netflix on March 5, 2026 This is the story of how a series of horrific crimes affected a rural community in Denmark and how a Danish town's close-knit community was transformed into distrust and fear.
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[02/19/26 - 11:50 AM] ABC Wednesday Comedies Deliver Audience Milestones as Romance Blooms With Valentine's Day Episodes "Shifting Gears" earned 6.90 million Total Viewers and 0.99 rating among Adults 18-49, after seven days of viewing on ABC, Hulu, Hulu on Disney+ and digital platforms.
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[02/19/26 - 11:01 AM] Oscar Winners Adrien Brody, Kieran Culkin, Mikey Madison and Zoe Saldana Return to the Oscars Stage All return to the Oscars stage after winning last year in their respective acting categories.
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[02/19/26 - 10:32 AM] Baseball Returns! ESPN to Stream More MLB Spring Training Games Than Ever The offerings include four national games on ESPN, six games on ESPN Unlimited, and more than 250 out-of-market games via MLB.TV on ESPN platforms.
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[02/19/26 - 10:00 AM] Daring Dark Polish Comedy "The Stroke" Exclusive U.S. Debut Thursday, March 12, 2026 Only on European Streamer Viaplay U.S. In a fearless performance, Jacek Poniedzialek plays a celebrated culinary critic and TV personality, brilliant and caustic, who built a career skewering bourgeois taste while privately unraveling.
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[02/19/26 - 09:36 AM] Nickelodeon to Air "Bedtime Stories with Ryan," Starring Ryan Reynolds, Beginning Monday, March 2, on Nick Jr. Channel In the series, Ryan Reynolds reads new and classic bedtime stories as the tales magically come to life around him - creating a warm, playful and imaginative wind-down experience for kids and parents to enjoy together.
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[02/19/26 - 09:01 AM] Video: "STEEL BALL RUN JoJo's Bizarre Adventure" - Official Trailer - Netflix The series premieres on Thursday, March 19, 2026, only on Netflix.
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