or


[08/25/08 - 06:21 PM]
Development Update: Monday, August 25
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!


BLUSH: THE SEARCH FOR AMERICA'S GREATEST MAKEUP ARTIST (Lifetime) - The cable channel has commissioned a new reality series that will search for - you guessed it - "America's Greatest Makeup Artist." Laura Fuest ("The Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious") is behind the six-episode project, which follows eight such aspiring artists as they compete for the grand prize of a one-year contract with Max Factor, $100,000 in cash and work on a yet-to-be-determined magazine cover shoot. As is custom for the format, the contestants will live together in Los Angeles with elimination challenges determining who moves on each week. Casting is currently underway for hosts, mentors and judges. Connectivetissue and IMG Entertainment are co-producing the hour, with Fuest, Rob Lee and Scott Kramer executive producing.


BREAKING BAD (AMC) - Krysten Ritter ("'Til Death") has booked a recurring role on the show's upcoming second season. She'll play Jane, a cool girl with an edge who is very comfortable in her own skin and able to calm Jesse (Aaron Paul) down when he spins out of control. No other details were released.


DROP DEAD DIVA (Lifetime) - Josh Stamberg ("Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip") has landed the final principal role on the drama pilot, about Deb, a dead aspiring actress-model who is reincarnated in the body of Jane (Brooke Elliott), a chubby, brilliant attorney. He'll play J. Parker, who's detailed in the casting notice as follows: "Late 30s-Late 40s, all ethnicities and distinguished. He is Jane's boss, senior partner at the law firm. He is something of a womanizer, self-absorbed and rather dismissive of Jane's trauma after her return to work following a brush with death. He later tries, unsuccessfully, to apologize to Jane for possibly hurting her feelings when he referenced her need for self-help books." April Bowlby, Golden Brooks, Jackson Hurst and Margaret Cho also star in the Sony Pictures Television-based hour, which James Hayman is directing from a script by Josh Berman.


HUNG (HBO) - Charlie Saxton ("Lovely Bones") is the latest addition to the drama pilot, about Ray (Thomas Jane), a well-endowed struggling middle-age high school basketball coach who figures out a way to use his best asset. He'll play Damon, a fairly straight-laced and bright-eyed goth kid, in the project, which also stars Jane Adams. Alexander Payne is helming the hour from a script by co-creators Colette Burson and Dmitry Lipkin.


THE L WORD (Showtime) - Mei Melancon ("X-Men: The Last Stand") has landed a six-episode arc on the show's swan song. She'll play a new social worker in a downtown L.A. shelter. No other specifics about her role were given.


LAPD (NBC) - Benjamin McKenzie ("The O.C.") has officially joined the cast the John Wells-produced pilot, an ensemble cop drama which follows a group of officers in Los Angeles. He's set as Ben, a reserved rookie cop. Also signing on is Michael Cudlitz ("Standoff") as John, Ben's training officer. The pair join the previously cast Kevin Alejandro, Michael McGrady and Regina King. Ann Biderman penned the hour, which Christopher Chulack is directing.


MY OWN WORST ENEMY (NBC) - Bella Thorne ("Dirty Sexy Money") has scored a role on the upcoming drama, about Henry (Christian Slater), a mild-mannered suburban dad whose alter ego, Edward, is a suave spy. She'll play Ruthy, the daughter of Slater's character. Cierra Ramirez originally was cast in said role but was replaced for unspecified reasons. Earlier this month, Madchen Amick was brought in in place of Yara Martinez as Slater's wife. The series launches Monday, October 13 at 10:00/9:00c.


RITA ROCKS (Lifetime) - The Nicole Sullivan-led comedy is set to debut with a weeklong stunt beginning Monday, October 20. Episodes will air Monday through Friday at 8:30/7:30c before moving to its regular time period of Tuesdays at 8:30/7:30c the following week. Meanwhile, Natalie Dreyfuss ("Life") has joined the cast of the half-hour as Hallie, the teenage daughter of Sullivan's character. She's further detailed in the casting notice as follows: "14-16, any ethnicity. The daughter of Rita and Jay. Hallie is a pretty, terminally bored girl. Intent on pushing both the envelope and Rita's buttons as often and as hard as possible, Hallie is confrontational, especially with her mother, whom she regards as some kind of deranged tyrant - simply because Hallie has sent her boyfriend a nude picture of herself. Outraged and judgmental whenever her mom gets outraged and judgmental, Hallie is going through a rebellious phase that might last another four years or so - and that's just a little longer than World War II." Dreyfuss takes over for Lauren Collins, who played said role in the original pilot.


SURVIVING SUBURBIA (The CW) - Lorna Scott ("Wanted") has joined the cast of the MRC-produced comedy, about Keith (Bob Saget), a misanthropic family man in suburbia trying his best to be left alone. She's on board as Monica, Keith's meddlesome neighbor.


THE TONY ROCK PROJECT (MyNetworkTV) - Whitney Cummings ("Made of Honor") has joined the cast of the upcoming sketch comedy series. She'll appear in the studio alongside host Rock as well as participate in man-on-the-street segments. The newcomer launches Wednesday, October 8.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [august 2008]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· BLUSH: THE SEARCH FOR THE NEXT GREAT MAKE-UP ARTIST (LIFETIME)
· BREAKING BAD (AMC)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· DIRTY SEXY MONEY (ABC)
· DROP DEAD DIVA (LIFETIME)
· HUNG (HBO)
· L WORD, THE (SHOWTIME)
· LIFE (NBC)
· MY OWN WORST ENEMY (NBC)
· OC, THE (FOX)
· PUSSYCAT DOLLS PRESENT: GIRLICIOUS (CW)
· RITA ROCKS (LIFETIME)
· SOUTHLAND (TNT)
· STANDOFF (FOX)
· STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP (NBC)
· SURVIVING SUBURBIA (ABC)
· 'TIL DEATH (FOX)
· TONY ROCK PROJECT, THE (MYNETWORKTV)





[04/02/26 - 12:31 PM]
Paramount+ Greenlights New Reality Series, "Team Moms," Executive Produced by Kim Kardashian and Love Island Producers, ITV
"Team Moms" launches viewers into the world of nationally competitive youth baseball via immersion into the Legendary Prep Academy in Scottsdale, Arizona's first and only baseball prep school.

[04/02/26 - 12:01 PM]
Jamie Bell and Charlie Heaton Lead a New Generation of "Peaky Blinders" and First Look of Bell as Duke Is Revealed
Jessica Brown Findlay, Lashana Lynch, and Lucy Karczewski are also on board.

[04/02/26 - 12:01 PM]
"Wizards Beyond Waverly Place" Returns for One Last Spell This Summer on Disney+ and Disney Channel
Executive producer Selena Gomez to make her directorial debut with the premiere episode.

[04/02/26 - 11:44 AM]
First-Ever "American Idol" Simulcast on ABC and Disney+ Surges Double Digits
Season to date, "American Idol" averages 5.11 million Total Viewers and stands as one of the few shows to notch year-over-year gains this season.

[04/02/26 - 11:11 AM]
Sarah Drew and Eric Johnson to Headline "When I Said I Do" (wt), The New Movie Inspired by Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black's Beloved Duet of the Same Name
The movie is set to premiere Saturday, May 23 at 8/7c as part of the network's upcoming spring "Love of a Lifetime" original movie slate.

[04/02/26 - 11:07 AM]
Thursday Night Heats Up as "9-1-1: Nashville" and "9-1-1" Soar to Best Performance of the Season
On linear over three days, "9-1-1" earned 5.94 million Total Viewers, also nearly matching the show's previous season high in January.

[04/02/26 - 11:05 AM]
Hulu's Critically Acclaimed Comedy Series "Deli Boys" Returns for a Second Season on May 28
Andrew Rannells and Kumail Nanjiani join as recurring guest stars for the second season, alongside series regulars Asif Ali, Saagar Shaikh, Poorna Jagannathan and Fred Armisen.

[04/02/26 - 10:58 AM]
ESPN to Present WNBA Expansion Draft Friday, April 3
Malika Andrews will host the special, joined by analysts Carolyn Peck and Monica McNutt.

[04/02/26 - 10:31 AM]
Louis C.K. to Headline the Hollywood Bowl May 5 as Part of Netflix Is a Joke Fest
This summer, his newest stand-up special, "Ridiculous," will premiere globally on Netflix.

[04/02/26 - 10:01 AM]
HBO Original Comedy Special "Ramy Youssef: In Love" Debuts April 17
Whether it's his marriage, being a dog parent, AI, or religion, Ramy comes at everything with his own brand of heart and humor.

[04/02/26 - 09:36 AM]
Netflix Wins Hot Package "The Corrections"; Orders Limited Drama Straight-to-Series Starring Meryl Streep
The series - from Paramount Television Studios - will be directed by Cord Jefferson, and written and adapted by author Jonathan Franzen.

[04/02/26 - 09:10 AM]
Video: "Smiling Friends" - Final Episodes Trailer - Adult Swim
Watch the final two episodes of "Smiling Friends" on Sunday, April 12.

[04/02/26 - 09:01 AM]
"Sofia the First: Royal Magic" Premieres May 25 on Disney Jr. with the First 8 Episodes Streaming Next Day on Disney+
It was also announced today that Moana, Rapunzel, Jasmine, Cinderella, Aurora and Elena of Avalor will make special appearances throughout the series, offering guidance, wisdom and support when Sofia needs it the most.

[04/02/26 - 08:35 AM]
New Faces Join "The Chi" Ensemble Cast for Its Final Season on Paramount+
Daryl Dunning II, Biko Eisen-Martin, Akilah A. Walker, Laila Odom, Liza Jessie Peterson, and Anthony B. Jenkins are among the latest additions.

[04/02/26 - 08:35 AM]
Great American Media Sets "An Accidental Arctic Christmas," Reuniting Beloved Fan Favorites Cameron Mathison and Jill Wagner, From Executive Producer Candace Cameron Bure
Maya Rose Skabar also stars in the film, which will premiere as part of the upcoming all-star Great American Christmas on Great American Pure Flix, Great American Family, and GFAM+.