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[09/21/07 - 06:49 PM]
Development Update: Week of September 17-21
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC) |
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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!
DE LA HOYA/MAYWEATHER 24/7 (HBO) - HBO has quietly ordered a second season of the "24/7" series, this time focusing on Floyd Mayweather's upcoming bout against Ricky Hatton on December 8. The new season will bow on Sunday, November 18 at 10:00/9:00c with additional episodes on November 25, December 2 and Thursday, December 6 - all at 10:00/9:00c. The original four-episode effort drew an average of 4.7 million viewers when all of its weekly airings were factored in.
EAST BOUND AND DOWN (HBO) - The pay channel has commissioned five episodes (in addition to its pilot) of the single-camera comedy, about a burned-out professional baseball pitcher (Danny McBride) who returns to his hometown in the North Carolina, where the only job he can find is as a substitute gym teacher. McBride himself co-wrote the pilot alongside Ben Best and Jody Hill, the latter of which directed. The trio will also executive produce the series with Chris Henchy, Adam McKay and Will Ferrell via their Gary Sanchez Productions banner. Katy Mixon, John Hawkes and Andrew Daly also star.
ELEVENTH HOUR (CBS, New!) - Jerry Bruckheimer is importing the Patrick Stewart-led U.K. series for the Eye in what's being billed as the biggest TV pact this development season. The network has given a put pilot commitment to the Warner Bros. Television-based project, including a $4 million pilot and potentially 12 additional episodes at a license fee of $1.75 million. The series, which ran in the U.S. on BBC America in December of last year, revolves around a special science adviser to the government (Stewart) who, with his feisty female bodyguard in tow, saves people from the worst abuses of science. Mick Davis ("The Invisible") is penning the U.S. version with Danny Cannon ("CSI: Crime Scene Investigation") attached to direct. The pair then will executive produce alongside Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman and Granada International Media's Robert Green.
FAMILY MAN (TNT) - Annie Potts ("Joan of Arcadia"), Jennifer Aspen ("Mr. Woodcock"), Brendan Sexton ("Black Hawk Down") and Sean O'Bryan ("Private Practice") have all joined the cast of the drama pilot, about John Parker (William H. Macy), a respected member of the community who heads a dysfunctional gang of burglars at night. Potts will play John's wife with Sexton as his nephew, O'Bryan as his dim bulb younger brother and Aspen as his pole dancing younger sister. Macy and Steven Schacter are behind the Sony Pictures Television-based hour, which they're executive producing alongside Storyline Entertainment's Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.
FOOBAR (ABC, New!) - Filmmaker Alice Wu ("Saving Face") is developing a new drama at the Alphabet about the lives of workers at a major software company who are pushing the boundaries of the tech world at the same time that they're learning to be adults. The semi-autobiographical project is set up at Sony Pictures Television and Neil Moritz's Original Films. ABC has given a script commitment to the hour, which Wu will write and executive produce alongside Moritz.
HACKETT (FOX) - Tony winner Christian Hoff has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about a bad-boy literary luminary (Donal Logue) who escapes his disgraced career teaching at Yale only to find himself among the ultra-PC ranks of teachers at an Ohio public high school. Hell play Eugene Wolgemoth, who's detailed in the casting notice as follows: "Early 30s-Early 40s. Very capable, good at his job, he is "the new breed of public education bureaucrat; exudes strength, lives for his job, and is Hackett's number one nemesis. Hopelessly P.C., super-sensitized, a perfectly put together metrosexual. And thoroughly threatened by Hackett". At the school, he strives to create a warm, inclusive, non-judgmental environment." Hoff replaces Jim Rash, who originally was cast in the role.
MAD MEN (AMC) - The cable channel is reportedly close to ordering a second season of the Lionsgate-based series, which would roll out next summer. The newcomer opened to 1.6 million viewers on July 19 before falling to 841,000 viewers for its most recent episode. The network however indicates viewership is actually up 31% in households when all airings are factored in. Nevertheless, for its nine Thursday, 10:00/9:00c airings, "Men" has averaged 1.1 million viewers, including 430,000 adults 18-49. Should the renewal come through, production will remain in L.A. and not move to New York as speculated by industry insiders.
THE OAKS (FOX) - British actresses Gina McKee and Sienna Guillory are the latest to join the cast of the drama, about the intertwined stories of three families -- a young couple who have just lost a child in 1968, a family of four in 1988 and a pregnant couple in 2008 -- who live in the same house and are haunted by a restless spirit. The latter is set as Jessica, the 2008 couple's neighbor. She's further detailed in the casting notice as: "Early-Mid 30s. Although she has Asperger syndrome (condition on the Autistic spectrum), you could not tell anything is wrong with her right away. She is Dan and Hollis's beautiful, friendly, chatty, guileless neighbor. She has lived next door her whole life, though she still believes that one day, once she acquires "independent living skills," she'll move out. She well remembers Dan from their school days, but he's uncomfortable about something in their past and clearly doesn't want to go down that road." McKee then is set as the wife in the 1988 family, Molly - "Early-Mid 40s. She's a harried wife and mother of two (an 8 years old daughter and 14 years old son) who is struggling to keep passion alive in her marriage. She lives in The Oaks house in 1987, and her looks, clothing and attitude reflects this (she has the full '80s aerobics outfit). The bloom is definitely off the rose in her relationship with her husband Frank, and their attempts to schedule sex don't usually go as planned, but they are devoted to one another. She is perplexed and disturbed by Lucy's recent bad behavior, which is supposedly dictated by a never-seen imaginary friend, Amelia."
PARANOID (FX, New!) - Feature writer Jim Uhls ("Fight Club") has booked a new drama at the cable channel about a modern-day surveillance agent who himself may be spied upon. The Shephard/Robin Co. was initially set to co-produce the project, but has instead opted to focus on its TNT pilot "Truth in Advertising." Nevertheless, Uhls penned the pilot script and will executive produce alongside his wife and producing partner Yalda Uhls.
RAFFIK (FOX, New!) - Anthony Horowitz's drama script - originally commissioned last month by Sony Pictures Televison (read the story) - has landed at FOX. The project, which is tentatively dubbed "Raffik," revolves around an Albanian detective sent to the U.S., where his enthusiasm for everything American inspires and baffles his new Los Angeles police partners. Horowitz is shepherding the hour alongside Darren Star for the studio. FOX has given the project a script order with a penalty attached if it doesn't go to pilot.
SHARK (CBS) - Orla Brady has scored a multi-episode arc on the series, about defense attorney-turned-prosecutor Sebastian Stark (James Woods). She'll play the ex-wife of Woods's character, originally played by Lindsay Frost in the pilot. No reason for the casting change was given.
THE SHIELD (FX)/THE UNIT (CBS) - Shawn Ryan has inked a massive three-year, eight-figure overall deal with 20th Century Fox Television. The pact sets up his Midd Kid Productions banner at the studio where he'll develop new series projects with his company chief/former Fox Television Studios executive Marney Hochman Nash. Currently an executive producer on "The Shield" and "The Unit," Ryan will also serve as the initial showrunner of the FOX newcomer "The Oaks." Production on said project's pilot is set to begin in November.
UNTITLED RUSSELL PETERS PROJECT (FOX, New!) - Comedian Russell Peters has landed a script commitment from FOX for a new comedy based on his life growing up in a working-class South Asian household. Last season, Peters was the subject of a pilot script at FOX and Warner Bros. Television from Tom Brady and executive producers Tom Werner, Eric Gold and Jimmy Miller. Peters then will shepherd the project alongside his manager brother, Clayton Peters at CPI Management Services.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[11/07/25 - 03:00 PM]
Peacock Renews "Love Island: Beyond the Villa" for Season Two
The cast of season two includes Bryan Arenales, Gracyn Blackmore, Jeremiah Brown, Clarke Carraway, Amaya Espinal, Hannah Fields, Pepe Garcia, Iris Kendall, TJ Palma, Andreina Santos, Chris Seeley, Belle-A Walker, Coco Watson and Taylor Williams and other islanders from season seven.
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[11/07/25 - 10:31 AM]
Video: Rockstar Lestat Is Ready for His Close-Up in New Behind-the-Scenes Teaser from Season Three of AMC Networks' Critically Acclaimed Series - "The Vampire Lestat" Debuts 2026 on AMC and AMC+
Resentful of the perfunctory portrayal in the trashy bestseller "Interview with the Vampire," the Vampire Lestat (Sam Reid) sets his story straight in a way only the Vampire Lestat can - by starting a band and going on tour.
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[11/07/25 - 10:00 AM]
Nate Bargatze to Host New Game Show, "The Greatest Average American"
The series premieres Wednesday, February 25 (9:02-10:02 p.m. EST), on ABC and next day on Hulu.
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[11/07/25 - 09:02 AM]
From Shiz to Studio 6B: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" Celebrates "Wicked" Week Nov. 16-19
"The Tonight Show's" week-long celebration will feature a magical lineup of the film's stars and special musical moments.
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[11/07/25 - 08:36 AM]
Super Bowl XLIV Champion Quarterback Drew Brees Joins FOX Sports as NFL Game Analyst
Brees is set to make his debut on Sunday, November 16 on FOX.
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[11/07/25 - 08:30 AM]
Nominations Revealed for "The 68th Annual Grammy Awards," A Celebration of a Landmark Year in Music
The Grammy Awards will return to Los Angeles' Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, February 1, 2026 (8:00-11:30 PM, live ET/5:00-8:30 PM, live PT) and will broadcast live on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+.
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[11/07/25 - 08:03 AM]
Video: Prime Video Announces Release Date And Debuts Teaser Trailer For Season Two of "The Night Manager"
The first three episodes will debut on Sunday, January, 11, 2026, on Prime Video, with one new episode releasing every Sunday, until the season finale on Sunday, February 1.
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[11/07/25 - 07:31 AM]
Netflix Announces "Win the Mall" (W/T) Competition Series
Over eight episodes, 10 teams of expert shoppers face off against each other as they attempt to gain control of storefronts, increase their spending power, and outmaneuver their rivals.
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[11/07/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "The Stringer: The Man Who Took The Photo" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A former Saigon photo editor reveals a secret he's been plagued with for 52 years, setting off a gripping two-year investigation into the truth behind one of the Vietnam War's most iconic photographs.
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[11/07/25 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "LEGO Marvel Avengers: Strange Tails" - Official Trailer
Purr-pare for a pawe-some adventure.
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[11/06/25 - 11:36 PM]
Video: "The Family Man" Season 3 - Official Trailer - Prime Video
Outlawed and on the run, Srikant Tiwari faces sinister forces threatening to ignite chaos in Northeast India, uncovering a conspiracy that could plunge the nation into war.
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[11/06/25 - 07:01 PM]
Video: "Stranger Things 5" - First Five Minutes - Netflix
With Hawkins under lockdown, El in hiding and danger lurking at every turn, the entire party unites with a single goal: to hunt and kill Vecna.
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[11/06/25 - 02:15 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 in Total Viewers and Adults 25-54
"Nightline" was up on the previous week by double digits in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49.
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[11/06/25 - 02:09 PM]
OWN's "Love & Marriage: Huntsville" Back with New Episodes Starting November 15
Also, this December OWN presents the first-ever holiday specials for "Love & Marriage: Huntsville" and "Reality with the King," both hosted by executive producer Carlos King.
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[11/06/25 - 11:28 AM]
Love, Lies & High Stakes Drama: Viaplay Announces Must-See December U.S. Premieres
Highlights include the new true crime documentary series "Murdering Love."
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