LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- The latest development news, culled from recent wire reports:
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AUSTIN GOLDEN HOUR (The CW) - David Rogers has come aboard the pilot, a real-time medical drama set in Austin, Texas. He'll play Ash, the chief resident, in the hour, which also stars Justin Hartley. CBS Paramount Network Television and Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment are behind the project, which was created by Lance Gentile and Mal Young.
CUPID (ABC) - Emmy nominee Bharat Nalluri ("Tsunami: The Aftermath") has been tapped to direct the pilot to the updated version of Rob Thomas's 1998-99 dramedy. The project, which is based at ABC Studios, will once again tell the story of a man who thinks he's been sent to earth by Zeus to help out romantically challenged souls.
EXIT 19 (CBS) - Rosie Perez, Ramon Rodriguez and Amy Farrington have all joined the cast of the Geena Davis-led drama pilot, about Gloria (Davis), a Manhattan homicide detective and single mom. Perez is set as Lorna, Gloria's Brooklyn-born partner on the police force, with Farrington as Gloria's neighbor and Rodriguez as a smart and flirty cop who works with Gloria and Lorna. ABC Studios and CBS Paramount Network Television are behind the project, which also stars Matthew Lillard. Gene Stein, Nina Wass and creator Jeffrey Bell are the executive producers.
FINNEGAN (ABC) - Gary Fleder ("October Road") is in talks to helm the drama pilot presentation, about the organized crime/vice unit in Los Angeles. Trent Jones penned the ABC Studios-based project, which also comes from fellow executive producer Francie Calfo.
THE LOCATOR (WE, New!) - Troy Dunn, a former private investigator whose career has spawned books and a website - TroytheLocator.com, which enables people to search for their loved ones - is set to be the focus of a new reality series at the cable channel. 10 half-hour episodes have been ordered of the project, which will follow Dunn as he attempts to track down the objects of his clients' searches, all solicited from said website. No production details were given about the series, which will premiere in September.
MARRIED... WITH CHILDREN/UNSOLVED MYSTERIES (Spike TV) - Financial details have emerged about the cable channel's purchase of each show's off-network run. "Married's" deal (read the story) is said to be a five-year pact worth $12 million (or about $47,000 for each of its 259 episodes) while the "Unsolved" pact (read the story) reportedly will run $26 million (or about $150,000 for each of the 175 newly re-edited episodes hosted by Dennis Farina). Said runs will begin in September and October of this year respectively.
OUTNUMBERED (FOX) - Bill English ("Cavemen") is the first to be cast on the comedy pilot, about parents struggling to raise three intelligent and curious children. He'll play the dad's younger brother. Bryan Gordon is directing the half-hour from a script by Larry Levin. The latter is also executive producing alongside Media Rights Capital's Keith Samples and Hat Trick Productions's Jimmy Mulville.
SINGLE WHITE MILLIONAIRE (CBS) - Lance Barber ("Californication") has joined the cast of the multi-camera comedy pilot, about an unassuming millionaire in his 30s (Fred Savage) who is ready to settle down. In addition, sitcom veteran James Burrows ("Back to You") has been tapped to direct the Warner Bros. Television-based half-hour from a script by creator Ricky Blitt. As for Barber, he'll play the best friend of Savage's character from college, a comptroller.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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