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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!
2007-2008 SEASON PILOTS (Various) - The casts of the comedies "The Middle" and "The Hill" at ABC as well as the dramedy "Nurses" at FOX have all reportedly had their options picked up. Said development means that all three projects, despite not making the initial cut, are still under consideration for next season by their respective networks. Also getting the thumbs up: co-stars Oded Fehr and Anson Mount of the FOX medical drama "The Cure." The news means that should "The Cure" move forward, it most likely will undergo some casting changes and/or retooling.
ALIENS IN AMERICA (The CW) - "Gilmore Girls" alum Scott Patterson has joined the cast of the upcoming comedy, about the relationship between an unpopular 16-year-old boy from a Christian family in Wisconsin and an exchange student, a 16-year-old Pakistani Muslim, who comes to live with them. He'll play the father of said clan, a role originated by Patrick Breen in the pilot. No specific reason was given for the change.
AMERICAN DAD (FOX) - Executive producers Rick Wiener and Kenny Schwartz have inked a new two-year, seven-figure overall deal with the show's producer 20th Century Fox Television. The pact, which also has an option for a third year, calls for the duo to continue in their roles on the animated comedy as well as develop new series projects for the studio.
BLACK WIDOW (Lifetime, New!) - Alicia Coppola, Elizabeth Berkley, Randall Batinkoff, Tambi Locke and Brady Smith have all been cast in a new original movie for the cable channel, about a journalist (Coppola) who suspects that her close friend (Batinkoff), a millionaire real estate developer, has fallen for a woman (Berkley) who has married and murdered her previous husbands, including a software tycoon (Smith). Locke then will play a psychiatrist who introduces the lovebirds. Armand Mastroianni is directing the project, a co-production of RHI Entertainment and Larry Levinson Productions, from a script by Riley Weston. No other specifics about the telefilm were released.
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC) - Dana Delany ("Kidnapped"), Nathan Fillion ("Drive") and Lyndsy Fonseca ("How I Met Your Mother") are all reportedly in talks to join the cast of the popular dramedy. Delany would play a woman with a much younger husband (Fillion) and a teenage daughter (Fonseca) who moves to the show's Wisteria Lane. No other details about their respective roles were given. Fonseca's involvement would be concurrent with her duties on NBC's "Heroes" this fall.
LIFE (NBC) - Brent Sexton ("Deadwood") has been upped to series regular on the Peacock's upcoming drama, about an ex-cop (Damian Lewis) who rejoins the force after being wrongfully imprisoned for years. He'll continue in his role as Bobby Stark, the cop's former partner.
LIFE IS WILD (The CW) - "Everwood's" Stephanie Niznik is the latest addition to the netlet's new drama series, about a New York veterinarian (D.W. Moffett) and his second wife who move to a South African game preserve with their two sets of children. She'll play the aforementioned second wife, a beautiful and rich corporate lawyer. Judith Hoag played the role in the original pilot. As always, no specific reason was given for the change.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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