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[11/18/08 - 06:24 PM]
Development Update: Tuesday, November 18
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!


BROTHER SAM (HBO, New!) - Dan Fogler ("Balls of Fury") has been tapped to play Sam Kinison in a biopic about the life of the late comedian. Tom Shadyac ("Evan Almighty") is attached to direct and executive produce the project, which is based on the memoir of the same name (subtitled "The Short, Spectacular Life of Sam Kinison") written by Bill Kinison and Steve Delsohn, Kinison's brother and manager, respectively. Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini ("American Splendor") penned the adaptation with David Permut producing, Steve Longi as co-producer and Bill Kinison as executive producer for Permut Presentations and Shadyac's Shady Acres. The news marks the end of an eight year journey by Shadyac to produce the film, which was originally set up as a feature at Universal Pictures. Kinison himself was no stranger to HBO as his appearance on the Rodney Dangerfield-hosted "Young Comedians" special in 1984 is widely credited with launching his career.


MAKING FRIENDS WITH BLACK PEOPLE (NBC, New!) - Nick Adams's book about the state of race relations in the U.S. is set to be the focus of a potential new comedy at the Peacock. "The Game's" Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil are on board to shepherd the adaptation with the latter likely directing from a script by the former. As for specifics, "Making Friends" will center on two guys - one African-American and one white - who become close friends, but who don't necessarily see things the same way. The half-hour is set up at Universal Media Studios with Industry Entertainment's Dianne Fraser and Eryn Brown serving as co-executive producers and Adams himself receiving a co-producer credit.


UNTITLED EVAN GOLDBERG/SETH ROGEN PROJECT (Showtime, New!) - "Pineapple Express" writers/producers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have booked a potential comedy at the pay channel about the lives of three twentysomethings who learn about life and love while running a pornography shop. Newcomer Matthew Bass will pen the script and co-executive produce with Rogen and Goldberg executive producing. No other specifics were released.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





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· BROTHER SAM (HBO)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· GAME, THE (BET)
· MAKING FRIENDS WITH BLACK PEOPLE (NBC)
· UNTITLED GOLDBERG AND ROGEN PROJECT (SHOWTIME)





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