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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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[11/20/18 - 01:00 PM]
"The Blacklist" Will Now Have a Two-Day/Two-Part Premiere: Thursday, Jan. 3 and Friday, Jan. 4
Plus: "Blindspot" fall finale set for December 7; while "Midnight, Texas" will shift to 8:00/7:00c on Fridays beginning December 14.
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[11/20/18 - 12:01 PM]
NBC Announces Full Line-Up of Special Celebrity Guests Appearing in "A Legendary Christmas with John and Chrissy"
Just-added special musical appearances include icon Stevie Wonder and jazz bassist-singer Esperanza Spalding.
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[11/20/18 - 11:18 AM]
Video: Official Teaser Trailer for Season 2 of Seth Rogen's "Future Man"
The comedy series returns Friday, January 11, only on Hulu.
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[11/20/18 - 11:02 AM]
Uncover New Evidence of Infamous Crimes, Mysteries and Myths in New Travel Channel Series "Legend Hunter" with Explorer Pat Spain
Premiering Tuesday, January 8, the seven-episode series showcases Spain as he uses his scientific expertise and state-of-the-art technology to investigate infamous tales of murder, theft and unexplained events.
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[11/20/18 - 10:43 AM]
FOX Sports Secures NFL Experience for Stacked FS1 Studio Roster
Former NFL standouts Eric Dickerson, DeAngelo Hall, James Harrison, TJ Houshmandzadeh, Shawne Merriman, Bart Scott, Rod Woodson and former head coach Chuck Pagano will appear regularly on FS1 and FOX Sports' digital properties.
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[11/20/18 - 10:08 AM]
TV One Launches New Entertainment Network CLEO TV on January 19, 2019
Derived from the name Cleopatra, one of the most powerful, trendsetting, rule-breaking and iconic women in history, CLEO TV will offer quality content that defies negative and cultural stereotypes of today's modern women.
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[11/20/18 - 10:00 AM]
Five-Time Emmy Award Winner Alex Duda Named Executive Producer for "The Kelly Clarkson Show"
Duda, who has an overall development deal with NBCUniversal, will executive produce the one-hour show, hosted by the Grammy Award-winning Clarkson, in September 2019.
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[11/20/18 - 09:46 AM]
MTV's "The Challenge: CT's Getting Married" Premieres December 11th
"The Challenge" All-Star CT is finally getting married to Lili, the mother of his young son, CJ.
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[11/20/18 - 09:31 AM]
Mark Your Calendars! "Teachers" Returns for Its Final Season on January 15
TV Land revealed the news via social media this morning.
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[11/20/18 - 09:29 AM]
Mixing Bourbon and Boos, Season Three of "Paranormal Lockdown" Returns to Destination America on December 4
This season will serve up an extra treat for fans with the first-ever televised paranormal investigation of the Jim Beam(R) American Stillhouse in Clermont, Ky., in response to employee claims that bourbon isn't the only spirit locked inside the massive warehouses on the property.
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[11/20/18 - 08:45 AM]
Discovery Gains Unprecedented Access at U.S.-Mexico Border in All New Series "Border Live"
The network and production company Lucky 8 have secured filming with the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations, the Transportation Security Administration and Customs and Border Protection.
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[11/20/18 - 08:32 AM]
Showtime PPV(R) Offers Blockbuster Heavyweight Fight Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury Directly to Consumers Over the Internet Via Showtime(R)
The showdown of undefeated heavyweights will air on Saturday, December 1 live at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT from Staples Center in Los Angeles.
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[11/20/18 - 08:12 AM]
Monday's Broadcast Ratings: NFL, "Dancing" Finale Push ABC in Front
The Alphabet get a boost from the Chiefs/Rams game in the Kansas City and Los Angeles markets.
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[11/20/18 - 08:03 AM]
Ovation Celebrates the Grand Finale of Its Three-Year Juggernaut "Versailles" on Saturday, December 8
The arts network will also air "Versailles: The Final Act" on Saturday, December 15.
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[11/20/18 - 07:46 AM]
ESPN's Chiefs-Rams Thriller Is "Monday Night Football's" Best Overnight Rating Since 2014
ESPN spins the numbers for Monday, November 19.
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