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[03/04/08 - 05:43 PM]
Development Update: February 29-March 4
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!
EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS (The CW) - Nick at Nite's purchase of the show's off-network run (read the story) is reportedly valued between $250,000 and $350,000 an episode. CBS Television Distribution will also retain two minutes of ad time per half-hour, driving the pact's total value to $36-54 million depending upon how long "Chris" runs. The four-year deal kicks off in September of 2009, the same start date of its syndicated run on local stations across the country. "Chris" joins recent additions "The George Lopez Show" and "Home Improvement," both of which have been credited with raising Nick at Nite's primetime average by 35% versus a year ago (February 2008 vs. February 2007).
FAMILY GUY (FOX) - Seth MacFarlane, Mike Henry and Rich Appel are looking to create a spin-off around Cleveland Brown, Peter Griffin's levelheaded neighbor. Dubbed "Cleveland," the trio will write and executive produce the potential half-hour with Henry reprising his "Family Guy" role. No other specifics were given about the project, which like "Family Guy" would be based at 20th Century Fox Television.
HOW TO TEACH FILTHY RICH GIRLS (The CW, New!) - Rina Mimoun ("Pushing Daisies") is set to adapt Zoey Dean's book series "How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls" for the small screen. The netlet has reportedly given a pilot order to the project, which centers on a Yale-educated young woman hired to be the live-in tutor/life coach to two rich heiresses in Palm Beach. Warner Bros. Television and Alloy Entertainment are behind the hour, which Mimoun will executive produce alongside Leslie Morgenstein and Bob Levy ("Gossip Girl").
LINCOLN HEIGHTS (ABC Family) - The cable channel is reportedly close to renewing the series for a third season. It's understood the network is eying a 10-to-12 episode order while executive producer Kathleen McGhee-Anderson and the whole cast are expected to return. Production then would start this spring for a premiere later this year.
OUTNUMBERED/SPACED (FOX, New!) - FOX is moving forward with domestic adaptations of the U.K. single-camera comedies "Outnumbered" and "Spaced." The former, which is set up at Media Rights Capital and the U.K.-based Hat Trick, revolves around a family that struggles to raise three kids who happen to be overly intelligent and rambunctious. Larry Levin ("Dr. Dolittle") is penning the U.S. version while Bryan Gordon is on board to direct. Levin then will executive produce alongside MRC's Keith Samples and Hat Trick's Jimmy Mulville. Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin created the original U.K. series. As for "Spaced," the Warner Bros. Television/Granada International-based half-hour received a put pilot commitment shortly before the WGA strike (read the story). Adam Barr ("Will & Grace") is behind the U.S. incarnation, which he's executive producing alongside Robert Green and Wonderland Sound & Vision's McG and Peter Johnson. Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright and Jessica Stevenson created the U.K. original, which revolves around a young man and woman who pose as a couple in order to rent a cheap apartment.
QUARTERLIFE (NBC) - NBC's cable sibling Bravo will air a marathon of all six episodes of the short-lived internet-to-broadcast series on Sunday, March 9 starting at 8:00 a.m. EST. The Peacock was originally set to air the series on Sunday nights at 9:00/8:00c however disastrous numbers for its February 26 premiere (1.3 rating/4 share in adults 18-49 and 3.1 million viewers overall) led the network to pull the plug after said installment.
SINGLE WHITE MILLIONAIRE (CBS, New!) - Ricky Blitt ("The Winner") has snagged a cast-contingent pilot order from the Eye for a new comedy about an unassuming millionaire in his thirties who is ready to settle down. The multi-camera project, which Blitt penned on spec, is set up at Warner Bros. Television. No other details were released.
UNTITLED HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL PROJECT (ABC, New!) - The Alphabet is developing a new "High School Musical"-themed reality competition series in which aspiring performers compete for the chance to study at a music conservatory to hone their skills. The untitled project, which is being targeted for the summer, would then feature a weekly performance/elimination with the winner going home with an unspecified prize. It's not clear how the series will tie into the Disney Channel phenomenon but appearances by the franchise's stars is said to be likely. The deal however has yet to be finalized as the network is still in discussions with a production company to handle the show. Industry publications also speculate ABC will repurpose the series for the Disney Channel however nothing has been confirmed.
UNTITLED NICK THUNE PROJECT (ABC, New!) - Actor/comedian Nick Thune ("Rob & Big") has sold a pilot script to the Alphabet about an aimless guy, to be played by Thune, who finds himself lost between childhood and adulthood after his girlfriend dumps him and his best friend gets married. The project, which he'll co-write alongside Bob Fisher ("Wedding Crashers") and helmer Ruben Fleischer, is set up at ABC Studios. The trio then will executive produce alongside 3 Arts Entertainment's Dave Becky, Michael Rotenberg and Tom Lassally and DreamWorks Television's Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[03/18/26 - 01:13 PM]
"Saturday Night Live" Launches New Short-Form Digital Original Series, "The Rundown"
Guests will stop by Studio 8H to select a favorite segment from the show's history to add to the iconic Rundown board, building an all-star episode along the way.
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[03/18/26 - 01:03 PM]
All New Series "Conspiracies & Coverups" Premieres April 1 at 10PM ET/PT on Discovery Channel
Former CIA covert intelligence officer Andrew Bustamante exposes the truth behind some of the most sensational, "ripped from the headlines" conspiracy theories in the all-new series.
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[03/18/26 - 12:32 PM]
The Ultimate Test of Survival: "Lord of the Flies" Debuts May 4 on Netflix
Innocence descends into savagery when a group of English schoolboys becomes desert island castaways in the first television adaptation of William Golding's landmark dystopian classic.
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[03/18/26 - 12:31 PM]
Darren Star & David Schulner Uncork New Napa Valley Rom-Com Series for Netflix
"Uncorked" delves into the life of a talented but self-destructive winemaker who returns to Napa for her second chance at love, legacy and that elusive 100 point wine.
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[03/18/26 - 11:59 AM]
ID's Titans of True Crime Return with New Seasons of "Homicide Hunter: American Detective with Joe Kenda" and "On the Case with Paula Zahn"
The series will premiere back-to-back beginning Wednesday, April 15 at 9:00/8:00c.
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[03/18/26 - 11:48 AM]
FOX Advertising Announces a Season-Long Major Brand Partnership with Toyota and the Reimagined FOX Primetime Series "Baywatch"
The series will showcase the Toyota Tacoma as the official Baywatch lifeguard vehicle which will be fully customized to authentically reflect the LA County lifeguard vehicles.
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[03/18/26 - 11:31 AM]
Jinkies! Netflix Casts Mckenna Grace, Tanner Hagen, Abby Ryder Fortson, Maxwell Jenkins in the Live-Action "Scooby-Doo" Series
The series will uncover how this mystery-solving crew, and their beloved dog, first teamed up to crack the haunting case that started it all.
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[03/18/26 - 10:31 AM]
TBS Orders New Season Pick-Up of "Impractical Jokers," Cable's #1 Original Series of the Year, Amid Record-Breaking Ratings
The final two episodes of season 12 air Thursday, March 19 and Friday, March 20 following NCAA coverage on TBS.
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[03/18/26 - 10:31 AM]
"Million Dollar Secret" Season 2 - Only on Netflix April 15
This season, the stakes are higher than ever as players face trickier agendas, grueling challenges and navigate the ever-changing game of deception.
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[03/18/26 - 10:01 AM]
Peacock Reveals July 16 Premiere Date & Releases First Look Images for "The Five Star Weekend"
The series stars Jennifer Garner, D'Arcy Carden, Gemma Chan, Regina Hall, Chloë Sevigny, Harlow Jane and Timothy Olyphant.
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[03/18/26 - 10:01 AM]
"Nemesis" - Official First Look, Teaser Art & Date Announcement
The series, due on May 14, is the story of two men on either side of the law, the tale of what happens when an unstoppable force (an expert criminal) meets an immovable object (a brilliant police detective).
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[03/18/26 - 10:00 AM]
Rewatch "Ready or Not" on Hulu Before the Highly Anticipated Sequel "Ready or Not 2: Here I Come" Hits Theaters This Friday
Audiences can revisit the film that started it all and get a special look for what's to come.
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[03/18/26 - 09:31 AM]
Video: "Sheng Wang: Purple" - Official Trailer - Netflix
In this special, Sheng delves into what it means to be a grown-up and explores ordinary life moments: sharing prized berries with your friends' kids, cooking with shallots, braving the ghosts in your house, finding joy in nature and much more.
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[03/18/26 - 09:28 AM]
Vice Studios Secures Worldwide Adaptation Rights for Iconic Video Game IP "Payday" Partnering with Starbreeze Entertainment to Expand the Video Game Franchise Into Film and Television
Over 15 years of continuous development have made the "Payday" name synonymous with heisting, serving a massive community of more than 50 million players.
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[03/18/26 - 09:07 AM]
"Be My Guest with Ina Garten" Welcomes Allison Janney, Jon Batiste, Hoda Kotb and Michael Barbaro in New Season
The new episodes premiere Saturday, April 11th at 12pm ET/PT on Food Network and stream the next day on HBO Max and discovery+.
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