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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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[09/21/17 - 02:16 PM]
"Saturday Night Live" Rolls Out Season 43 with Star-Studded 3-Week Lineup on Sept. 30, Oct. 7 & 14
Gal Gadot and Kumail Nanjiani are on tap alongside the previously announced Ryan Gosling.
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[09/21/17 - 01:08 PM]
Mark Hamill, Lena Headey and David Bradley Join the Cast of Guillermo del Toro's "Trollhunters" for Season 2
In February, del Toro announced a second season of 13 episodes would debut in late 2017.
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[09/21/17 - 01:01 PM]
Boxing's Heavyweight Resurgence Continues on Showtime(R)
The network announced today coverage of unified heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua's upcoming WBA and IBF world title defense against top-rated mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev on Saturday, October 28.
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[09/21/17 - 11:00 AM]
Two-Time Tony Award Winner Matthew Broderick Cast as the Narrator in FOX's Live Musical Event, "A Christmas Story Live!," Airing Sunday, December 17, on FOX
As the narrator, Broderick will play the grown-up Ralphie Parker, who looks back with love and humor on his favorite childhood Christmas.
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[09/21/17 - 11:00 AM]
David Lim Upped to Series Regular on New CBS Drama Series "S.W.A.T."
Lim portrays Victor Tan, a relatively new S.W.A.T. officer who made his name in the Hollywood division before advancing to the heights of the LAPD and Metro S.W.A.T.
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[09/21/17 - 09:07 AM]
Netflix Has Picked Up "BoJack Horseman" for a Fifth Season
Will Arnett voices BoJack, the failed legendary '90s sitcom star from the favorite family sitcom Horsin' Around, who has been trying to find his way through a muddle of self-loathing, whisky and failed relationships.
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[09/21/17 - 08:20 AM]
Wednesday's Broadcast Ratings: NBC, "America's Got Talent" Win Summer Finale Showdown
The Peacock holds off "Big Brother" on CBS and "MasterChef" on FOX.
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[09/21/17 - 08:02 AM]
"Comic Book Men" Season 7 Premieres Sunday, October 22 at Midnight on AMC
Guests this season include Method Man, Robert Englund and more!
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[09/21/17 - 08:01 AM]
"AMC Visionaries: Robert Kirkman's Secret History of Comics" Will Premiere as a Two-Night Television Event on Sunday, November 12th at 11:00PM ET/PT and Monday, November 13th at 10:00PM ET/PT
The six-part one-hour documentary series takes a deeper look into the stories, people and events that have transformed the world of comic books.
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[09/21/17 - 08:00 AM]
"Michael Jackson's Halloween," A New One-Hour Animated Special, to Be Broadcast Friday, Oct. 27 on CBS
The special will feature the voices of actors Christine Baranski, Kiersey Clemons, Alan Cumming, George Eads, Brad Garrett, Lucy Liu, Jim Parsons and Lucas Till.
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[09/21/17 - 07:22 AM]
CMT Partners with Louisiana Community and Technical Colleges and Louisiana Calling in Statewide Push Encouraging Residents to Pursue Higher Education
Louisiana native and rising country star Courtney Cole was on-hand for the announcement, where she committed to return to her home state for an eight-stop community college tour in 2018.
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[09/21/17 - 07:02 AM]
An All-New "The Great American Baking Show" Debuts This December on ABC
Ayesha Curry and Anthony "Spice" Adams will host the new season.
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[09/21/17 - 06:10 AM]
Video: "Def Comedy Jam 25" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Dave Chappelle, Martin Lawrence, Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, Adele Givens, Tracy Morgan, Sheryl Underwood, D.L. Hughley and many more celebrate one of comedy's greatest institutions.
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[09/20/17 - 02:45 PM]
Comedy Central Launches Global Podcast Network Featuring Brand Extensions of Comedy Central's Hit Franchises and New Original Content
Comedy Central's late night hit "The Jim Jefferies Show" will debut "The Jim Jefferies Show Podcast" today, and it will be available for download and streaming worldwide across Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, and other digital platforms.
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[09/20/17 - 01:18 PM]
A&E Network to Premiere New Nonfiction Limited Series "The Eleven" on Thursday, October 19 at 9PM ET/PT
The six-part limited series follows investigators as they reexamine the murders of 11 teenage girls after discovering a confession letter from current inmate and convicted murderer Edward Harold Bell.
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