[08/14/08 - 06:39 PM] Development Update: Thursday, August 14 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!
ARMY WIVES (Lifetime) - Creator Katherine Fugate is the latest executive producer to depart the popular cable drama. Her exit comes on the heels of Nick Thiel being tapped as showrunner earlier this year in place of Dee Johnson. "'Army Wives' is a fantastic tribute to the real life heroes serving in our armed forces and I'm so happy to have been a part of it," Fugate said in a statement about her departure. "With the show such an established hit, now seems like a logical time for me to step away and focus on developing new projects." Producer ABC Studios also released a short statement saying: "Katherine is incredibly talented, and we're grateful for her work in creating 'Army Wives.' We are very happy to have had the opportunity to work with her."
CELEBRITY COME DINE WITH ME (NBC, New!) - Granada America is developing a new reality series at the Peacock in which celebrities play host to a dinner party for four of their famous friends. The guests then will judge the party on its presentation, food and entertainment value with the winner receiving $20,000 for the charity of his or her choice. It's understood casting is underway on the project, which is based on an international format, for a potential five-episode weeklong run in December.
MICHAEL & MICHAEL HAVE ISSUES (Comedy Central) - Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter's comedy has been ordered to pilot by the cable channel. The half-hour project sees the pair hosting a show within a show in which they address issues that they have with themselves, each other and the world at large. Josh Pais ("Assassination of a High School President") has also been cast in the pilot as "Jim Biederman," the executive producer of the show within the show. Black and Showalter are executive producing "Issues" alongside the real Jim Biederman.
MY OWN WORST ENEMY (NBC) - Madchen Amick ("Kidnapped") has joined the cast of the upcoming drama, about Henry (Christian Slater), a mild-mannered suburban dad whose alter ego, Edward, is a suave spy. She'll play Lily Spivey, Henry's wife. Yara Martinez was originally cast in the role. No reason has given for the change. Amick's casting marks the latest behind-the-scenes shuffling on the newcomer - John Eisendrath was recently upped to executive producer/showrunner over creator Jason Smilovic, who's taking a back seat in the day-to-day operations on the series.
UNTITLED LEAH REMINI PROJECT (Syndication, New!) - Leah Remini is reportedly teaming with CBS Television Distribution for a potential syndicated series hosted by "The King of Queens" alum. It's not clear however if said effort, targeted for the fall of 2009, will be a traditional talk show. The company is also shepherding efforts by Valerie Bertinelli and Bishop T.D. Jakes for next season.
