or


[05/21/08 - 05:23 PM]
Development Update: Wednesday, May 21
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

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!


BURN NOTICE (USA) - Creator Matt Nix has signed an overall deal with producer Fox Television Studios. The pact covers the writer/producer's duties on the cable drama as well as calls for him to develop new series projects for the studio. Already in the works is a new untitled dramedy for USA about a cop who's relegated to the "small property crimes division" only to uncover larger crimes from what initially appear to be minor infractions.


FINNEGAN (ABC) - Teri Polo ("The West wing") has booked the title role on the drama pilot, about a tough female detective who heads LAPD's organized crime and vice division. Her character, Erin Finnegan, is further detailed by the casting notice as follows: "34-42, Female, open to all ethnicities. Whip-smart, tough and complicated, she's the head of the LAPD's Organized Crime and Vice Division. Sometimes aggressive to the point of volatility, sometimes genuinely warm and charming, then, in private moments, sometimes as vulnerable as a child, she lives and works on an emotional pendulum. Her unpredictability is the one thing you can count on. Able to intimidate villains as well as her subordinates, in her 15 years with LAPD she's earned grudging respect from gangsters and FBI agents alike. Her intelligence and ferocious determination to get what she wants has driven her professional rise, but the same qualities, combined with her emotional unpredictability, have contributed to a trail of personal and relationship disasters behind her. While the details of her past are yet to be revealed, we know she's divorced from ADA Brian Clark, though they maintain a close and effective working relationship. He is the one person to whom she can reveal her insecurities. When one of her confidential informants is killed right before a major bust, Finnegan is determined to catch the men responsible for his death - going on an emotional rollercoaster ride as she steamrolls through the system, demonstrating her willingness to go anywhere and risk anything to get what she wants - justice." Gary Fleder is helming the ABC Studios-based presentation from a script by Trent Jones. Domenick Lombardozzi, Jacob Vargas, Malachi Weir, Tasha Smith and Tzi Ma also star.


MIAMI INK (TLC) - The Miami Herald reported this week the TLC staple won't be returning for a fifth season, wrapping its run at 81 episodes. According to the story, stars Ami James and Chris Nunez "declined to extend Discovery Communications' option to order more episodes of the TLC show after the network delayed signing them on for another season. He said no talks are under way to shoot more episodes of their lives as South Beach tattoo artists." The show's fourth (and now final) season is currently airing on Thursday nights at 10:00/9:00c.


ROYAL PAINS/WHITE COLLAR (USA) - The cable channel has given cast-contingent 90-minute pilot orders to both projects. Production on both pilots then is being eyed for later this summer, with "Pains" likely filming in New York. "White Collar," from Fox Television Studios and creator Jeff Eastin, is detailed by the network as follows: "The world's most creative con man escapes out of a maximum-security prison by walking out the front door to find the lost love of his life. His nemesis at the FBI tracks him down and uses him as a consultant to catch other notorious and elusive criminals."

"Royal Pains" then comes from The Firm and creator/co-executive producer Andrew Lenchewski. Rich Frank and Paul Frank are the executive producers with John Rogers producing. It's described as: "Anyone who's anyone in the Hamptons has a lawyer on retainer. Now meet the newest accessory -- the concierge doctor. Young doctor Hank Lawson had it all...thriving career, beautiful girlfriend, and swank NYC apartment. With one fateful and principled decision in the ER, Hank loses it all. Months later, single and blackballed from the medical community, Hank goes for a weekend in the Hamptons with his best friend. Crashing a party at a mega-mansion on the beach, Hank jumps into action when a guest requires medical attention that only he is able to diagnose. The next morning, Hank is summoned to another mansion. And then another. Hank's career is revived, but in a way he's not exactly happy about, as he becomes the on-call doctor for the rich, famous and infamous."


SUBURBAN SHOOTOUT (HBO) - Judy Greer ("Miss/Guided") has scored the lead role on the pilot, a dark comedy about a woman (Greer) who escapes the city for suburban bliss only to find herself caught between two rival gangs of homicidal housewives as they vie for control of their idyllic town. Greer's involvement is technically in second position to the ABC/20th Century Fox Television comedy, whose option expires on June 30. Kelly Preston, Kerri Kenney and Rachael Harris also star in the project, which Barry Sonnenfeld is directing from a script by Michelle Ashford.


WIZARD'S FIRST RULE (Syndication) - Craig Horner ("Blue Water High") and Bridget Regan ("Is He Dead?") have been tapped to star in the upcoming syndicated series, based on Terry Goodkind's book series of the same name. Horner will star as woodsman Richard Cypher, who transforms into a magical leader and joins with a mysterious woman named Kahlan (Regan) to stop a bloodthirsty, sinister tyrant. Disney-ABC Domestic Television and ABC Studios are behind the project, which has been cleared in 95% of the country for a fall launch. Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, Joshua Donen, Ned Nalle and John Shiban are the executive producers.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [may 2008]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
    


· BURN NOTICE (USA)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· FINNEGAN (ABC)
· LEGEND OF THE SEEKER (SYNDICATION)
· MIAMI INK (TLC)
· MISS/GUIDED (ABC)
· ROYAL PAINS (USA)
· SUBURBAN SHOOTOUT (HBO)
· WEST WING, THE (NBC)
· WHITE COLLAR (USA)





[07/27/26 - 10:00 AM]
Starz to Premiere Record-Breaking Biopic "Michael" on August 10, in Its Exclusive Streaming Debut
The channel will also be home to the blockbuster's exclusive television premiere on the same day at 7:00 PM ET/PT.

[07/27/26 - 10:00 AM]
CBS Announces Fall Primetime Premiere Dates for the 2026-2027 Season
The official "CBS Premiere Week" kicks off on Sunday, October 4.

[07/27/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "The Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Summer" - Official Trailer - The Roku Channel
Grab your shades - it's summer Bake Off time. Taran Killam, Michelle Buteau, Jay Pharoah, and Natasha Rothwell swap the spotlight for aprons and compete for the Star Baker title in the sun-filled tent.

[07/27/26 - 09:01 AM]
Netflix Finds Its Robert Langdon with Morgan Spector for New Series Based on Dan Brown's "The Secret of Secrets"
The upcoming series is based on the mystery thriller novel from New York Times bestselling author, Dan Brown, and the sixth installment in his "Robert Langdon" series.

[07/27/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Lioness" - Season 3 Final Trailer - Paramount+
In season three, as hidden networks, foreign operatives, and personal betrayals collide, Joe walks the line between duty and home as unseen forces circle her world, leaving her to reckon with a war that now reaches into every part of her life.

[07/27/26 - 08:01 AM]
"Myron Bolitar" Starts Production in New York
The series is inspired by Harlan Coben's most iconic and longest-running series spanning 12 books.

[07/27/26 - 05:01 AM]
Video: Global Hit Series "The Chosen" Debuts First Teaser for Season Six
Season six premieres November 15 on Prime Video, with three episodes at launch and new episodes weekly through December 6.

[07/26/26 - 11:31 PM]
Video: "The Traitors" Season 2 - Official Announcement - Prime Video India
Look for new episodes every Thursday starting August 13.

[07/26/26 - 06:51 PM]
Video: "Robot Chicken" Adult Swim 25th Anniversary Special - August 30
The special premieres on August 30, next day on HBO Max.

[07/25/26 - 05:45 PM]
Video: Prime Video Sets the Stage at San Diego Comic-Con with Defining Teaser Trailer and Premiere Date Reveal for New Series "Carrie"
All eight episodes of the hotly anticipated new series will premiere exclusively on Prime Video on October 7, in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

[07/25/26 - 04:45 PM]
Video: Prime Video Debuts "Reacher" Season Four Official Trailer and "Neagley" Teaser Trailer at San Diego Comic-Con
Also revealed during the panel conversation, Alan Ritchson announced that season five of "Reacher" is based on the 20th novel by Lee Child in the Reacher series, "Make Me."

[07/25/26 - 04:01 PM]
Video: "Silo" - Season 4 Announcement - Apple TV
The end is near. The fourth and final season of "Silo" premieres summer 2027.

[07/25/26 - 03:01 PM]
Video: Apple TV's Cyberpunk Series "Neuromancer" Hacks Into San Diego Comic-Con
The 10-episode series premieres globally on Apple TV on Friday, January 22, 2027, with two episodes, followed by one new episode every Friday through March 19, 2027.

[07/25/26 - 02:46 PM]
Video: Apple TV's "Dark Matter" Takes Over San Diego Comic-Con's Hall H to Unveil Season Two Trailer
The 10-episode second season premieres globally on Friday, August 28, 2026 on Apple TV with the first episode, followed by one new episode every Friday through October 30, 2026.

[07/25/26 - 02:31 PM]
Video: Apple Original Films Unveils Trailer for "Matchbox The Movie" at San Diego Comic-Con
The upcoming action feature, starring John Cena, premieres globally on Apple TV on Friday, October 9.