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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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[03/06/15 - 03:15 PM]
Introducing Your Newest Addiction: TV Land's "Younger" from Darren Star to Premiere with Two Back-to-Back Episodes on March 31st
As part of an extensive preview strategy, the first episode is now available in full On Demand, on TVLand.com, Hulu, Amazon Instant Video and iTunes.
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[03/06/15 - 01:31 PM]
Showtime(R) Releases Key Art and First Trailer for Its New Comedy Series "Happyish"
The series, premiering Sunday, April 26, stars Oscar(R) and Golden Globe(R) nominee Steve Coogan, Kathryn Hahn and Emmy(R) winner and Golden Globe nominee Bradley Whitford.
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[03/06/15 - 01:16 PM]
NBC Announces Summer Tentpole Premiere Dates, Led by the Most-Watched Summer Show of the Last Nine Years, "America's Got Talent"
Also on tap are new seasons of "American Ninja Warrior" and "Hannibal" plus the premiere of "Aquarius."
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[03/06/15 - 01:03 PM]
Date Changes for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Original Movie World Premieres
"A Bone To Pick: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery" will now premiere on Saturday, April 4 while "Garage Sale Mystery: The Deadly Room" is now due on Saturday, April 11.
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[03/06/15 - 01:01 PM]
"Supergirl" First Images Revealed as Production Begins on New Pilot for CBS from Warner Bros. Television, Based on the Characters from DC Comics
Colleen Atwood said, "In designing Supergirl, I wanted to embrace the past, but more importantly, thrust her into the street-style action hero of today."
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[03/06/15 - 01:00 PM]
Disney Channel Orders Comedy Series "Best Friends Whenever"
The project centers on teenagers Shelby and Cyd, who when a science experiment goes wrong, become unstuck in time, leaping forward and backward whenever they want - and sometimes even when they don't.
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[03/06/15 - 12:51 PM]
Showtime(R) Comedy Documentary "Knock Knock, It's Tig Notaro" to Debut on Friday, April 17
The film follows Notaro's travels as she embraces her most loyal fans by creating unique and intimate comedy experiences in their homes, backyards, barns, and basements.
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[03/06/15 - 11:31 AM]
Crews Race for Crab and Battle Monstrous Storms Like Never Before in Discovery's Hit Series "Deadliest Catch"
The 13-time Emmy Award-winning series returns for its 11th season on Tuesday, April 14 at 9:00/8:00c on the Discovery Channel.
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[03/06/15 - 10:25 AM]
"Dateline: The Real Blacklist" to Lead Into Hit Drama "The Blacklist" to Form Two-Hour Thursday-Themed Programming Block
Plus: "The Slap" will shift to 10:00/9:00c next week, replacing the hiatus-bound "Allegiance."
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[03/06/15 - 09:31 AM]
"The Odd Couple" Grows in Its Third Week - Up 13% in Viewers and 7% in Adults 18-49
CBS spins the numbers for Thursday, March 5.
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[03/06/15 - 08:53 AM]
"The Blacklist" Doubles Its Lead-In, Finishes Within a Tenth of Last Week's Fast-Affil Rating
NBC spins the numbers for Thursday, March 5.
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[03/06/15 - 08:43 AM]
Live + 3: ABC's "Secrets and Lies" Grows to a 2.1 in Adults 18-49 - Remains Sunday's Top Drama Debut
ABC further spins the numbers for Sunday, March 1.
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[03/06/15 - 08:40 AM]
Thursday's Broadcast Ratings: ABC, CBS Split the Demo Crown
The Alphabet's "American Crime" opens on top at 10:00/9:00c among total viewers and adults 18-49.
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[03/06/15 - 08:25 AM]
ABC Is Up Sharply Year to Year and Finishes No. 1 for Its 6th-Straight Thursday
ABC spins the numbers for Thursday, March 5.
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[03/06/15 - 08:02 AM]
HBO Announces Featured Artists on Game of Thrones Mixtape Vol. 2
Produced by Launch Point Records, the 15-track mixtape features diverse artists representing Game of Thrones families, leveraging themes and highlights from season 4.
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