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[02/01/08 - 06:16 PM]
Development Update: Week of January 28-February 1
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!
ABC FAMILY ORIGINAL SERIES (ABC Family) - The cable channel has firmed up its original series plans for 2008 and beyond. It's understood recently completed pilots "The Middleman" and "Roomies" have been ordered to series as has a new untitled hour from "7th Heaven" creator Brenda Hampton. "Middleman," from writer-producer Javier Grillo-Marxuach, stars Natalie Morales as a twentysomething struggling artist who's recruited by a secret agency to fight comic book-type villains alongside the title character (Matt Keeslar), a sci-fi superhero who serves as her guide. Jeremiah Chechik directed the pilot, which also stars Britt Morgan and Mary Pat Gleason. As for "Roomies," the multi-camera comedy stars Tyler Francavilla and David Weidoff as, you guessed it, roommates. Kieron Quirke and Robin French created the project, which is also executive produced by Michael Hanel and Mindy Schultheis of Acme Productions. Andy Cadiff directed the pilot. And finally, the Hampton hour is described as a teen relationship series similar in sensibility to "Juno." All three newcomers are said to have commitments of at least six episodes. "Middleman" and "Roomies" were part of a quartet of pilots ordered last year, the others being "Samurai Girl" and "Happy Campers." Hampton's project is believed to be a straight series commitment, contingent on casting the lead role.
Meanwhile in related ABC Family news, the network is in talks with Canadian broadcaster CBC to import the comedy "Sophie," about a young woman (Natalie Brown) whose picture-perfect life comes crashing down. 13 episodes have been completed of the half-hour, which bowed on January 9 on the network. Sebastian Spence, Amy Lalonde, Jeff Geddis, Mimi Kuzyk, Sara Botsford, Chantelle Chung and Catherine B�rub� also star in the project, which comes from Jocelyn Deschenes of Sphere Media Plus. The show itself is based on a French-language series that aired in Quebec before it was transplanted to the CBC. Lastly, ABC Family also confirmed a decision is expected soon on the fate of "Lincoln Heights" while "Wildfire," currently in its fourth season, won't be renewed for a fifth season.
DIRT (FX) - FX has confirmed Danny Comden ("I'm With Her") has completed a three-episode arc on the show's upcoming second season. He plays Ted Rothman, an almost-divorced president of a major TV studio who wants to rekindle a romance with Courtney Cox's character. The new season bows Sunday, March 2.
FRINGE (FOX) - Australian actress Anna Torv has scored the lead role on the two-hour drama pilot, about a young, tough FBI agent who is forced to confront the spread of unexplained phenomena and work with an institutionalized scientist whose work might be at the center of a coming storm. She'll play Olivia Warren, the agent in question. Also signing on are Blair Brown and Jasika Nicole. The former will play Nina Cord, a 16-year veteran at Prometheus Corp., a cutting-edge research facility, while Jasika Nicole is playing the recurring role of Astrid Farnsworth, a stunning federal assistant. They join the previously cast John Noble, Kirk Acevedo, Lance Reddick and Mark Valley. Alex Graves is helming the Warner Bros. Television/Bad Robot-based drama, which comes from co-creators Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and J.J. Abrams. The group also executive produces alongside Bad Robot's Bryan Burk.
UNTITLED FASHION MAGAZINE ASSISTANT PROJECT (The CW, New!) - "America's Next Top Model's" Tyra Banks and Ken Mok have scored a series commitment from the netlet for a new reality series in which aspiring assistants compete to become assistant editors at a fashion magazine. The project, which has an eight-episode commitment, is expected to begin production in April for a launch in late spring or summer. As for specifics, each episode will feature two different challenges - an individual one and a team one with the winner of the former making the pairings for the latter. Each team challenge then will focus on submitting a page for "The Book," a mock edition of the magazine, with the loser's page going in the trash and one of its members being sent home. Banks and Mok will executive produce the project via their respective banners, Bankable Productions and 10x10 Entertainment, alongside Eli Holzman, who developed "Project Runway" at Miramax Television, and Full Picture's Jane Cha and Desiree Gruber, fashion experts and managers of "Runway" host Heidi Klum. It's understood the "Runway" team came up the initial idea for the series and pitched it to the CW, who in turn paired them with Banks and Mok. Talks are underway with various magazines to sponsor the show with the editors themselves likely appearing as judges. It's not clear if Banks herself will appear on camera.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[09/30/16 - 04:27 PM]
VH1's "Black Ink Crew: Chicago" Returns for Season Two on Monday, October 3rd at 9PM ET/PT
Returning to VH1's Monday night lineup, the first season ranked as one of cable's Top 10 reality shows.
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[09/30/16 - 02:30 PM]
Gordon Ramsay's "The F Word" to Air Live in 2017 on FOX
Based on his hit U.K. series of the same name, each distinctive and fast-paced hour will combine good food and good cooking with Ramsay's passion, energy and humor into a one-of-a-kind live series.
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[09/30/16 - 01:47 PM]
Damon Gupton Joins the Cast of "Criminal Minds"
Gupton will play Special Agent Stephen Walker from the Behavioral Analysis Program which is the counterintelligence division of the FBI.
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[09/30/16 - 01:08 PM]
TV One Joins Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network for the 2016 Triumph Awards Airing Sunday, Oct. 2 at 7 P.M. ET
Actress and advocate Tichina Arnold returned to host this year's broadcast, filmed on Sunday, September 18 at the historic Tabernacle in Atlanta.
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[09/30/16 - 11:05 AM]
John Legend Guest Stars in Season Two of WGN America's Hit Series "Underground"
Legend, who also serves as executive producer on the gripping series, will portray iconic abolitionist, orator and author Frederick Douglass.
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[09/30/16 - 10:48 AM]
A New Batch of Talented Bakers Aim to "Sleigh" the Competition on New Season of "Holiday Baking Championship"
The new season kicks off Sunday, November 6 at 9:00/8:00c on Food Network.
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[09/30/16 - 10:11 AM]
Video: Showtime(R) Releases a New "Twin Peaks" Teaser Featuring Acclaimed Composer Angelo Badalamenti
Badalamenti will return as composer for the new series, which will premiere on Showtime in 2017, on-air, on demand and over the internet.
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[09/30/16 - 09:27 AM]
Olivia Williams and Harry Lloyd Join JK Simmons in Starz & MRC's Spy Thriller "Counterpart"
Plus: Academy Award(R) nominee Morten Tyldum (The Imitation Game, Passengers) will direct the first episode.
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[09/30/16 - 08:57 AM]
Thursday's Broadcast Ratings: "Grey's Anatomy" Tops Viewers, Demos for ABC
The Alphabet's mainstay and NBC's "The Blacklist" are the only series to post year-to-year gains among adults 18-49.
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[09/30/16 - 08:38 AM]
Centuries-Old Homes Return to Their Former Glory in DIY Network's "Restoring Charleston"
Premiering on Wednesday, October 5, the series follows Trent Fasnacht and his team as they tear out old additions and rotten materials to recreate homes as the first builder intended.
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[09/30/16 - 08:13 AM]
Video: Netflix's "The Ranch Part 2" Trailer Is Here
The series returns with 10 new episodes Friday, October 7, everywhere where Netflix is available.
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[09/30/16 - 08:00 AM]
"Snowfall" Ordered to Series on FX
Production on the 10-episode first season will begin in October and debut on FX in 2017.
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[09/30/16 - 07:32 AM]
Supermodel Naomi Campbell to Be Featured in a Recurring Role on FOX's New Series, "Star"
Campbell will play the role of "Rose Spencer," the beautiful, wealthy and cultivated London-born mother of "Alexandra."
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[09/30/16 - 03:43 AM]
SundanceTV Announces New Six Part Series "Liar" from Two Brothers Pictures Starring Joanne Froggatt and Ioan Gruffudd
"Liar" tells the story of a night that changes the lives of Laura Newell (Joanne Froggatt) and Andrew Ellis (Ioan Gruffudd) forever.
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[09/29/16 - 01:47 PM]
Actress Monica Potter Renovates Her Childhood Home in New HGTV Series "Welcome Back Potter"
Premiering on Tuesday, October 11, the series follows Monica, her mom, Nancy, and three outspoken sisters, Jessica, Brigette and Kerry, as they tackle the massive whole-home renovation.
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