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[10/07/08 - 06:24 PM]
Development Update: Tuesday, October 7
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!
ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS (FOX, New!) - Christine Zander ("Samantha Who?") is developing a domestic take on the infamous U.K. comedy, about the friendship of two boozy, over-40 best friends who are desperate to stay hip and youthful. The project, which has script commitment with a penalty attached, is set up at Mitch Hurwitz, Eric Tannenbaum and Kim Tannenbaum's Sony Pictures Television-based Tantamount banner. Jennifer Saunders, the mind behind the U.K. original, along with Ian Moffitt will also executive produce via BBC Worldwide Productions. ABC was the last network to take a stab at importing the show nearly a decade ago with Roseanne Barr and Carrie Fisher in the roles made famous by Saunders and Joanna Lumley.
THE RICHES (FX) - The cable channel confirmed this week the Minnie Driver/Eddie Izzard-led drama won't return for a third season. The news had been widely expected as its strike-shortened sophomore run experienced a significant 44% drop in the key 18-49 demographic. Dmitry Lipkin was behind the hour, which was co-produced by Fox Television Studios, FX Productions and Maverick Television.
THE WASHINGTONIENNE (HBO) - Rachael Taylor, Amanda Walsh and Bitsie Tulloch have scored the lead roles in the Sarah Jessica Parker-produced comedy, about the professional and personal lives of three smart, sophisticated 28-year-old girls working on Capitol Hill. Taylor will play Jackie, "a recent transplant from New York who has decided to pursue a career as a speechwriter but first must work her way up from the intern desk"; with Tulloch as April, her mentor friend from college "who has been on the Hill since graduation and lives a prematurely middle-age lifestyle with a boyfriend who seems more in love with his flashy senator boss than with her"; and Walsh as Laura, "a small-town girl whose workaholic ways often come at the expense of a social life and who is constantly defending her Republican views to her liberal friends." Also signing on is David Furr as April's boyfriend Tom, an aide to a charismatic senator. Susanna Fogel and Joni Lefkowitz penned the pilot script based on Jessica Cutler's semi-autobiographical book. Vanessa Taylor was previously attached to pen the adaptation. Parker, Parker's producing partner Alison Benson, Sarah Condon and Stacy Traub are the executive producers.
WIPEOUT (ABC) - Japanese broadcaster Tokyo Broadcasting System has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles against ABC, alleging "Wipeout" is "a blatant copycat" of several of its classic Japanese competition series, including "Takeshi's Castle," "Sasuke" and "Kuniochi." Spike TV's "MXC" and G4's "Ninja Warrior" feature footage from "Castle" and "Sasuke," respectively, here in the U.S. "ABC's willful and wrongful use of Plaintiff's shows to create 'Wipeout' is egregious, inexcusable and not to be tolerated," the complaint reads. Among its claims: ABC bought search terms such as "MXC" on Google to help drive traffic to the official "Wipeout" page and a memo from Alphabet executive VP Howard Davine indicating producers to "carefully scrutinize" whether licensing foreign formats "is necessary or appropriate." A separate lawsuit against producer Endemol is also said to be pending.
THE WISHING WELL (Hallmark, New!) - Ernest Borgnine, Jordan Ladd and Sally Kellerman are set to star in a new original movie at the cable channel about a reporter (Ladd) sent to Slow Creek, Illinois, to write a fluff piece on the local wishing well, which ends up having an impact on her life. Borgnine then plays a local innkeeper with Kellerman as a waitress/the unofficial town therapist. David Jackson is directing the movie, from a script by Steven H. Berman with Larry Levinson executive producing and Brian Gordon and Susan McGuire producing.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[03/26/26 - 09:30 AM]
New Docuseries "Building Back America's Trades" Premieres April 11 on Magnolia Network
The series chronicles the stories of students, mentors, and teachers as they remake the trades industry and themselves.
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[03/26/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "The Testament of Ann Lee" - Trailer - Hulu
The Amanda Seyfried-led film from writer-director Mona Fastvold streams on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ March 31.
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[03/26/26 - 09:01 AM]
ESPN and World Series of Poker Reach Multi-Year Agreement to Bring Main Event Back to ESPN Beginning This Summer
ESPN will deliver over 100 hours of comprehensive, multiplatform coverage of the WSOP Main Event ($10,000 No-Limit Hold'em World Championship) from 1A of the Main Event beginning July 2 on the ESPN App.
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[03/26/26 - 09:01 AM]
Sonya Walger Signs on to Recur as Freya in Prime Video's "God of War" from Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios
Freya is a Vanir goddess and princess who practices powerful, ancient magic.
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[03/26/26 - 09:00 AM]
Hosted by Johnny Knoxville, The Iconic Reality Competition "Fear Factor" Is Coming Back with a Two-Week Special Event Designed to Push Contestants Further Than Ever
"Fear Factor: 48 Hours of Fear" premieres with Part 1 on Thursday, May 14 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) and Part 2 on Thursday, May 21 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.
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[03/26/26 - 08:31 AM]
WWE & Tony Hinchcliffe Partner with Netflix on "Kill Tony: WrestleMania"
The comedy special will premiere exclusively on Netflix on Monday, April 20, as part of a massive double event alongside the annual Raw after WrestleMania.
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[03/26/26 - 08:31 AM]
Video: "Untold: The Shooting at Hawthorne Hill" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A heated dispute between an equestrian trainer and his student spirals into a grisly act of violence in this twisty true-crime documentary.
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[03/26/26 - 08:12 AM]
Video: Disney+ Releases "Raising Chelsea" Trailer, Featuring Never-Before-Seen Footage of Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo's Parenthood Journey
The trailer provides viewers with a glimpse of the couple's world as they prepare to navigate parenthood for the first time.
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[03/26/26 - 08:05 AM]
Video: Tubi Serves Up Scares with the Trailer for "Hive," A New Thriller Starring Xochitl Gomez and Aaron Dominguez, Premiering Friday April 17th
The horror-thriller is about a strict, anxious teenager (Xochitl Gomez) who loses the child she's babysitting and must brave a sinister force hiding in plain sight among the children in the playground.
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[03/26/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Stranger Things: Tales from '85" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Winter. Hawkins. 1985. Welcome back to a town crawling with secrets, where beloved heroes are facing fresh mysteries... and an all-new breed of strange.
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[03/26/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: Prime Video Reveals Official Trailer for Highly Anticipated Series, "The House of the Spirits"
The first three episodes premiere April 29, with new episodes released weekly, culminating with the series' final three episodes on May 13.
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[03/26/26 - 07:07 AM]
ESPN to Air Celebrating "Pat Summitt: Live Reunion Special," Presented by Eli Lilly and Company, on March 29
The one-hour television special, produced by Omaha Productions, celebrates the remarkable life and lasting impact of Pat Summitt, the iconic Tennessee women's basketball head coach who won eight national championships and helped transform the sport.
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[03/26/26 - 07:05 AM]
TLC's "90 Day Fiance" Returns with a Brand-New Cast and High Stakes Love Stories
The new season premieres Sunday, May 10 at 8pm ET/PT on TLC.
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[03/26/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Running Point" - Season 2 Official Trailer - Netflix
With the championship in sight, Isla must summon all her heart and hustle to outmaneuver chaos in both the locker room and the boardroom.
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[03/26/26 - 07:01 AM]
Paramount+ Sets April 14 Premiere for Original Five-Part Docuseries on American Soccer Legend Clint Dempsey
Through exclusive interviews of Dempsey, those closest to him, and the game's legends with whom he shared the stage, "You Don't Know Where I'm From, Dawg" examines one of the most unique and fiery professional athletes the United States has ever produced.
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