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[02/25/08 - 03:24 PM]
Development Update: Monday, February 25
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!
1% (HBO) - Alan Taylor ("Mad Men") has come aboard to direct Michael Tolkin's drama pilot for the pay channel set in the world of biker gangs. Said hour tells the story of "Misfit," who's detailed in the casting notice as follows: "40-45, shaggy haired and maybe he's scrawny and maybe he's a slab of beef, but whatever the package, he's complicated. He's a biker, but don't let that fill you with preconceptions. Yes, he's dangerous (in the right situation), tough, uncompromising and proud, doesn't like to fight, not afraid to bleed, but he's smart, too, even if he tends to learn his lessons a little too late to apply them. By day, he's the mailroom guy for a Silicon Valley software company, and for the rich young techies, he's just a blur. But when he leaves work he gets on his Harley, puts on his jacket, and he's wearing the patch of the toughest motorcycle club in the country, the Death Rangers. And in that world, he's a knight of the realm. Threatened with expulsion from the club for sex with a brother member's Old Lady, (on a technicality) he's given the option to move to Arizona and bring order to the Carefree, Arizona, chapter, the F Troop of the Death Rangers, albeit an F Troop whose officers are all dead or in prison as a result of a meth lab explosion, Misfit proves resourceful, sometimes brutal, and in all ways a leader as he begins to bring the troubled Carefree chapter under control - though the initial respect he commands may be undermined by his instant attraction to Rhonda, the old lady/wife of fellow Death Ranger (and his host) Jacuzzi Dave." Tolkin is also executive producing the hour alongside Guymon Casady and Alex Hertzberg.
DANNY FRICKE (A&E) - Titus Welliver ("Deadwood") and Michael Mosley ("Kidnapped") have both been cast in the drama pilot, about the title character (Connie Nielsen), a detective that's sleeping with her boss who gets a big promotion and clashes with the old-school detectives who work for her. Mosley will play a well-educated cop who is a Mormon while Welliver's character wasn't specified. Cynthia Cidre is behind the Sony Pictures Television-based hour, which she's executive producing alongside Carl Beverly and Sarah Timberman of 25C Productions.
DON'T BRING FRANK (A.K.A. SOME MOTHERS DO 'AVE 'EM) (FOX) - Casting has begun on a U.S. version of the 1973-1978 BBC comedy "Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em." The project, which has been dubbed "Don't Bring Frank," centers on Frank Spencer, an over-energetic, under-coordinated guy whose every move precipitates some form of havoc. Phil Stark penned the pilot script and is executive producing alongside Paul Telegdy and Ian Moffitt for Sony Pictures Television and BBC Worldwide Productions.
EX LIFE (A.K.A. EX MEN) (CBS) - Rob Greenberg's comedy pilot, originally slated for last season, has been rolled over to this development season. CBS Paramount Network Television is behind the half-hour, which revolves around Carter Thomas. The show's casting notice further details him as: "Mid-Late 20s. A handsome, charming and funny everyman, he's completely shellshocked when his long-time girlfriend, Sara, jilts him at the altar. Carter moves into a "short-term housing" complex, where single men, much like himself, find strength in numbers. Carter befriends Gil, Frank and Stuart. Carter is delighted when Sara asks for reconciliation, and their postponed wedding is suddenly back on. However, thanks to his new friends, Carter finally realizes just how little he and Sara have in common - but the revelation comes mere moments before he says "I do"." Greenberg is also directing from his own script with Suzy Mamann Greenberg producing.
LIPSTICK JUNGLE (NBC) - The Peacock has commissioned six additional scripts of the midseason entry, which launched earlier this month. While far from a ratings juggernaut, "Jungle" ranks as the top draw among women 18-49 and women 18-34 in the Thursday, 10:00/9:00c hour. "Jungle" will wrap its initial seven-episode run on March 20 to make room for "ER's" return in April.
MY BEST FRIEND'S GIRL (CBS) - "Carpoolers" alum Tim Peper has scored one of the lead roles in the multi-camera comedy, about two male best friends who own a bike shop and whose relationship becomes complicated when one (Peper) starts dating the other's ex-wife. Mike Sikowitz is the creator of the project, which is set up at Sony Pictures Television.
UNTITLED BRENDA HAMPTON PROJECT (ABC Family) - Ron Underwood ("Holiday in Handcuffs") has signed on to direct Brenda Hampton's "Juno"-esque drama for the cable channel. The series revolves around Amy Nicholson, "a Good Girl: she's polite to her parents, dresses like a young lady, and plays the French Horn; she's intelligent, thoughtful and has a pretty good sense of self esteem. Unfortunately, Amy fell for the slick charms of teen seducer Ricky Richardson, lost her virginity during band camp over the summer, and is now pregnant. Aware that her life could be ruined by any or all of the choices facing her, Amy is wholly unsure of her next move, and for the moment is trying to navigate her regular high school routine with a terrible secret," according to the casting notice.
WOMEN'S MURDER CLUB (ABC) - The Alphabet has tapped Robert Nathan ("Law & Order") as the new showrunner of the freshman drama, which has been given the go ahead to produce the three remaining installments of its initial 13-episode order. He'll take over from executive producers Elizabeth Craft, Sarah Fain and R. Scott Gemmill, all of whom were let go earlier this month. "There are no plans to revamp the series dramatically or shift the emphasis in any way," producer 20th Century Fox Television said in a statement. "It remains a procedural focused on the four women leads who partner together to solve crimes." Production on the new episodes is set to begin next month for a potential April return.
ZIP (NBC) - Bernardo De Paula ("Rescue Me") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about a guy (Steven Weber) with no money living in Beverly Hills who, with the help of a colorful cast of accomplices, concocts one scheme after another in the hopes of making it big and securing a glamorous lifestyle for his three children. He'll play Hugo Suarez, who detailed via the casting notice as follows: "This nondescript Latino in a cut-rate suit is Trip's affable con-artist partner. He and Trip both work at a cheap men's suit outlet, but they are more focused on planning their latest con than on selling suits." Carlos Lacamara played Hugo in the original 2007 pilot. Marc Abrams, Mark Rizzo and Michael Benson are all behind the Universal Media Studios-based half-hour, which Richard Shepard is directing.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[03/13/26 - 02:41 PM]
HBO Original Series "Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness" Debuts June 26
President and Mrs. Obama wanted to honor America's 250th anniversary and celebrate the unique history of our nation on this special occasion. ...But then Larry David called.
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[03/13/26 - 01:45 PM]
ABC News Is #1 in Total Viewers in Late Night, Friday Night and Sunday Morning
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[03/13/26 - 11:00 AM]
Production Begins on the Final Season of "Mayor of Kingstown" for Paramount+
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[03/13/26 - 10:37 AM]
Bravo's "Married to Medicine" Two-Part Reunion Begins Sunday, March 22 at 9 P.M. ET/PT
Host Andy Cohen sits down with Dr. Jackie Walters, Dr. Simone Whitmore, Dr. Contessa Metcalfe, Toya Bush Harris, Quad Webb, Dr. Mimi Sanders as well as friends Dr. Heavenly Kimes, Angel Love Davis and Brandi Milton to unpack the season's biggest moments filled with emotional revelations and shocking confrontations.
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[03/13/26 - 09:36 AM]
Peacock Renews "Love Island USA" for Season Eight and Announces Premiere Dates for Upcoming Slate
"Love Island USA" returns Tuesday, June 2; while "Love Island: Beyond the Villa" is back Wednesday, April 15.
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[03/13/26 - 09:02 AM]
Video: Key Art & Trailer Debut - Hulu's "Love Overboard"
The series premieres Thursday, March 26 with all nine episodes on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally.
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[03/13/26 - 09:01 AM]
History's "The Food That Built America" Returns for Season 7 on April 19
The series explores the origin stories of America's most inspiring - and sometimes ruthless - food pioneers, visionaries, and entrepreneurs who revolutionized the culinary landscape, and created groundbreaking products that became the biggest household names in history.
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[03/13/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A bride has a feeling that something horrifying will happen at her wedding - and the closer to the altar she gets, the worse it becomes.
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[03/13/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: Hot Out the Oven - Hulu's "Pizza Movie" Trailer & Key Art
A shy college student and his reckless roommate set out on a simple mission to grab pizza, but after a strange dose of a mind-bending experimental drug, they're thrust into a chaotic night of absurd encounters, wild hallucinations, and unexpected revelations that could change their lives forever.
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[03/13/26 - 07:13 AM]
FOX Sports, Imagine Documentaries & Delirio Films Announce "Summer of '94" Premiering May 23 on FOX
The film highlights the wild journey of the 1994 USMNT, a unique group of players led by an unlikely coach who endured a grueling two-year training camp, with no professional league and no roadmap, hoping simply not to embarrass their nation at the first-ever modern World Cup hosted on American soil.
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[03/13/26 - 05:01 AM]
Video: "Temptation Island" Season 2 - Official Trailer - Netflix
Four couples at a crossroads test their bond by splitting up and sharing a villa with alluring singles looking for love in this steamy reality series.
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[03/12/26 - 09:01 PM]
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[03/12/26 - 03:18 PM]
FOX Sports Scores All-Time High Team USA World Baseball Classic Viewership
3,171,000 viewers on average watched the four Team USA World Baseball Classic Pool play games across FOX, FS1 and FOX Deportes.
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[03/12/26 - 03:01 PM]
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The network scored three of the top four and 12 of the top 20 most-watched series among all broadcast and streaming competition.
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[03/12/26 - 01:02 PM]
Video: Paramount+ Releases Official Trailer for Season Eight of "FBI True"
All 10 episodes of the new season will be available to stream at launch on on Tuesday, March 31.
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