LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- The latest development news, culled from recent wire reports:
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BREAKING THE MAGICIANS CODE: MAGIC'S BIGGEST SECRETS REVEALED/FUNNIEST MOMENTS (MyNetworkTV, New!) - The fledging network has formally renewed its Tuesday entries "Jail" and "Street Patrol" as well as given series commitments to "Breaking the Magicians Code: Magic's Biggest Secrets Revealed" and "Funniest Moments." The former, which has a 13-episode order, is a follow-up to the series of specials that ran on FOX from 1997 to 2002, repeats of which have performed well on the network. Nash Entertainment will return to produce the new installments, which will roll out on Monday nights this fall. As for "Moments," the YouTube-inspired series is simply billed as "outrageous moments caught on tape." Said hour will likewise launch this fall on Wednesday nights.
RELATIVE STRANGER (Hallmark, New!) - Eriq La Salle ("ER"), Cicely Tyson ("Madea's Family Reunion") and Michael Beach ("Third Watch") are all set to star in the upcoming original, about an angry man (La Salle) who, after abandoning his wife, children and extended family six years ago, returns home after his father's death and reunites with his family in the process. Tyson and Beach will play the mother and brother of La Salle's character respectively. Charles Burnett is directing the film from a script by Eric Haywood. Production began this week on the project for a holiday premiere. Larry Levinson, Randy Pope and Mike Moran are the executive producers with Eric Olson and Brian Martinez producing.
UNTITLED T.D. JAKES PROJECT (Syndication, New!) - CBS Television Distribution is developing a talk show strip hosted by "Dr. Phil"/Trinity Broadcasting staple T.D. Jakes, head of nondemoninational church the Potter's House. The project, which is being eyed for a fall 2009 launch, would center on such topics as relationships and family issues. Dr. Phil and Jay McGraw's Stage 29 Productions will co-produce. Jakes is also a best-selling author, whose works include "Woman, Thou Art Loosed! Healing the Wounds of the Past."
WAREHOUSE 13 (Sci Fi) - CCH Pounder ("The Shield") has scored a role on the two-hour drama pilot, about a pair of FBI agents who must investigate artifacts in a mysterious South Dakota facility. The actress, who was previously attached to the CBS drama pilot "The Tower," will play Mrs. Fredric, the director of the secret government organization charged with securing those threatening objects. Eddie McClintock, Saul Rubinek and Joanne Kelly also star in the project, which comes from co-creators D. Brent Mote, Jane Espenson and Rockne O'Bannon. Jace Alexander is directing.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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