or


[10/07/08 - 06:24 PM]
Development Update: Tuesday, October 7
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!


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





  [october 2008]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· ABFAB (FOX)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· MXC (SPIKE TV)
· RICHES, THE (FX)
· SAMANTHA WHO? (ABC)
· WASHINGTONIENNE, THE (HBO)
· WIPEOUT (TBS)
· WISHING WELL, THE (HALLMARK)





[10/14/26 - 02:10 PM]
E! and USA Sports Announce "Live from the Orange Carpet: WNBA Finals" Hosted by Lilly Singh
The one-hour special will air live on Monday, October 19 at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT from Chase Center in San Francisco.

[10/14/26 - 12:32 PM]
With "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2," "Bass X Machina" and "Blue Eye Samurai" Season 2, Netflix Brings More Action to Animation Fans
Highlights include: Joel Kim Booster, Sherry Cola, and Jonathan Pryce join Season 2 of "Blue Eye Samurai," coming January 2027.

[10/14/26 - 12:31 PM]
Video: "Allen" - Official Teaser - Netflix
Something extraordinary is coming back.

[10/14/26 - 12:01 PM]
Apple TV Renews "Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed" for Season Two
"We are delighted to continue the story of 'Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed' and deeply grateful to Apple and our incredible cast and crew," said David J. Rosen, creator and showrunner. "This is all pretty amazing for a show whose title came from a spam email."

[10/14/26 - 11:31 AM]
Top 10 Most-Watched Prime Original Films & Series for the Week of October 5
"Carrie," "Neagley," "Reacher," "Off Campus," and "Sterling Point" led all original series worldwide.

[10/14/26 - 10:08 AM]
Thrilling BMF Championship Leads Stacked Card in Final UFC Event of 2026
UFC 335: Oliveira vs. Lopes takes place Saturday, December 12 from Las Vegas with the main card starting at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT on Paramount+.

[10/14/26 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "Cold Case Files: Murder In Paradise" - Official Trailer - Hulu
Even in paradise, no secret stays buried forever.

[10/14/26 - 10:01 AM]
"NBA on Prime" Tips Off Second Season with Exclusive Coverage of Eastern Conference Finals for First Time, Marquee Roster of On-Air Voices, and AI-Powered Broadcast Innovations
Prime Video's postseason coverage extends deeper than ever with the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament returning in April exclusively, select first- and second-round playoff games, and Prime's first-ever exclusive presentation of the Eastern Conference Finals.

[10/14/26 - 10:00 AM]
Nine Bakers Are Ready to Whisk Up Some Holiday Magic on Season Two of the Five-Week Baking Competition Series "Next Level Baker" Airing Thurs., Nov. 19 at 9/8c on FOX and Next Day Hulu!
Only one baker will rise to the top, winning $50,000 and a HexClad prize package.

[10/14/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Trailer & Key Art - Hulu's "The Mob"
Hosted by Parker Posey, "The Mob" is a high-stakes reality competition series that sends a group of celebrities to a lavish Italian villa where they will shake down, hustle and whack their way to win up to $250,000 in cash prizes.

[10/14/26 - 09:01 AM]
Prime Video Casts Additional Guest Stars in "Rose Hill"
Paul Raci, John Ralston, Kathleen Duborg, Nikki Rae Hallow, Woody Jeffreys, Carmela Zumbado, Karin Konoval, Alvina August, David A. Kaye, Anthony Konechny and Magda Apanowicz are among the latest additions.

[10/14/26 - 08:31 AM]
Award Winning Comedian Aziz Ansari Returns to the Stage with a New Netflix Stand-Up Special Coming in 2027
The special will film at the State Theatre New Jersey on October 29, 2026.

[10/14/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: Paramount+ Releases Final Season Teaser for Emmy-Nominated "Yellowjackets"
The series returns to Paramount+ with the Premium Plan on Friday, November 20.

[10/14/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Alicia's Law" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When her carefully built life comes undone, Alicia returns to practicing law and discovers that rebuilding her career also means redefining herself.

[10/14/26 - 08:01 AM]
HBO Original Documentary "Kordell Stewart / Slash & Burn" Debuts October 27
Directed by Brian Rivera, the film is the latest installment of "NFL Shorts," a collection of short documentaries made in partnership with NFL Films that explores stories connected to the game of football.