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[04/18/08 - 06:01 PM]
Development Update: Friday, April 18
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!
ALEVY PRODUCTIONS PROJECTS (New!) - Howie Mandel's Alevy Productions has lined up several new projects around town in addition to today's series commitment from NBC for "Howie Do It" (read the story). Former Brillstein-Grey executive Mike Marks ("Samantha Who?") is shepherding the company's development. On the scripted front, there's "Kill Switch," a one-hour drama at Sci Fi from writer Don Mancini ("Child's Play"). The project, which was originally developed at ABC Studios with Marc Cherry, revolves around a woman who can jump into the bodies of people about to be murdered. Universal Media Studios and Blueprint Entertainment are co-producing the script alongside Mandel and Rick Kellard ("The Closer"). Alevy also has a one-hour dramedy in the works from scribe Scott Gimple about an insurance claims worker turned doctor however no network was mentioned. And back on the reality side, NBC is said to be close to ordering a pilot presentation for "Would You Rather," a game show in which people have to choose between two equally unappealing options. Zobmondo Entertainment, Scott St. John ("Deal or No Deal") and Imagination Television are producing the project with Alevy.
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (Sci Fi) - Executive producer David Eick has inked a two-year, seven-figure overall deal with Universal Media Studios. The pact, which begins on June 1, covers his duties on his various studio-based projects, including the "Galactica" prequel "Caprica" for Sci Fi. Also in the works: "AKA," a family adventure described as "Little Miss Sunshine" meets "Thelma and Louise" from writer Kerry Ehrin ("Friday Night Lights") and an untitled hour from Dario Scardapane likened to a modern-day "Hart to Hart." It's not clear if a network is attached to the latter projects.
LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT (NBC) - Co-stars Adam Beach and Diane Neal won't be returning to the veteran drama next season, various sources confirmed this week. Both exits were believed to be mutual despite rumblings that the latter was fired. Nevertheless, it's not clear if casting will begin for new characters to fill the void in the ensemble. No mention was made about how their characters, Chester Lake and ADA Casey Novak, will be written out.
UNTITLED VICTORY FRESCO PROJECT (ABC) - Victor Fresco's untitled half-hour is the latest project to earn a presentation order from the network. The single-camera project, from 20th Century Fox Television, revolves around a moral guy trying to do the right thing in an amoral corporate world. Fresco penned the pilot and will executive produce.
THE UNUSUALS (ABC) - Stephen Hopkins ("24") has signed on to direct the pilot presentation for the project, a dramedy set at a New York police precinct. He'll work from a script by Noah Hawley. Said effort is set up at Sony Pictures Television with Peter Tolan also executive producing.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[04/17/26 - 11:46 PM]
Development Update: Week of April 13-17
Updates include: CBS eyes expansion of "Fire Country," "Sheriff Country" universe; "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" season two locks in cast; and "The Copenhagen Test," "Law & Order: Organized Crime" among latest cancellations.
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[04/17/26 - 03:01 PM]
ABC News Is #1 on Sunday Morning and Friday Night
For the third week in a row, "20/20" built on its year-ago telecast in all key target demos: Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49.
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[04/17/26 - 01:03 PM]
Fourteen Elite Survivalists Compete for National Pride and the Ultimate Cash Prize in "Naked and Afraid: Global Showdown"
Divided into seven pairs representing their homelands, survivalists' skills will be tested by three brutal and unpredictable ecosystems in South Africa's Zululand.
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[04/17/26 - 11:31 AM]
A Magical Cast Summoned for the "Wizards Beyond Waverly Place" Final Season
Jennifer Stone, Gregg Sulkin, Maria Canals-Barrera, and Selena Gomez are among the featured talent.
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[04/17/26 - 10:10 AM]
TNT Sports Announces Commentators for 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Presented by Geico First Round Games on Sunday, April 19
TNT Sports will drop the puck on its coverage of the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs featuring up to 28 First Round games.
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[04/17/26 - 09:31 AM]
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Presented by Geico Begin Saturday on ESPN
In all, 16 First Round games will play out over the first ten days on ESPN and ESPN2.
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[04/17/26 - 09:04 AM]
Video: "Glory" - Official Trailer - Netflix
In a small-town boxing hub, two brothers investigate a shocking murder while navigating a troubled reunion with their father, a renowned coach.
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[04/17/26 - 09:00 AM]
Hulu Adds "Handsome," "The Mess Around," "Prison Breaking," and "That Was Us" to Podcast Slate Beginning This Month
These new licensed additions join a growing slate of companion podcasts tied to Disney+ and Hulu's most popular series.
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[04/17/26 - 07:15 AM]
TNT Sports Acquires Multi-Year U.S. Broadcast Rights to FIA World Endurance Championship Races
A new era of endurance racing arrives in the U.S. as truTV airs three premier events in full: the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Rolex 6 Hours of São Paulo, and Lone Star Le Mans in Austin, Texas.
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[04/17/26 - 06:31 AM]
Bokeem Woodbine and Nona Parker Johnson Join Season Two of "Dexter: Resurrection" for Paramount+
In addition to Woodbine and Johnson's casting, Paramount+ recently announced that Brian Cox will join this season as "The New York Ripper," Uma Thurman will reprise her role as Charley and Dan Stevens will play "The Five Borough Killer."
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[04/17/26 - 06:14 AM]
All Roads Lead to Rome: Eternal City Tip-Off Featuring Notre Dame vs. Villanova Launches 2026-27 NCAA College Basketball Season on FOX & FS1
The contest between the two Catholic college basketball powerhouses promises to be an electric start to the 2026-27 season on FOX, with coverage highlighting the incredible atmosphere surrounding the event.
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[04/16/26 - 05:01 PM]
A Turn-of-the-Century Superpower Adventure of Goofy Misfits: "The WONDERfools" Premieres May 15
Set in 1999, "The WONDERfools" is an adventure comedy series about a group of neighborhood misfits who unexpectedly gain superpowers and must band together to take on villains threatening world peace.
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[04/16/26 - 01:11 PM]
"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" Renewed for Season 28 by NBC
The network confirmed the news on social media this afternoon.
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[04/16/26 - 12:01 PM]
NBC Sports Adds to Game and Studio Teams for WNBA Coverage Beginning May
Zora Stephenson, Noah Eagle, and Michael Grady will call games as the play-by-play voices, with LaChina Robinson as both studio host and game analyst, and Sarah Kustok as a game analyst.
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[04/16/26 - 12:01 PM]
Next on Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN - May 2026
Highlights include "Travis Japan Summer Vacation!! in the USA," "The Punisher: One Last Kill," and "The Nightmare Upstairs: What Happened to Ty and Bryn."
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