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[12/19/08 - 06:15 PM]
Development Update: Friday, December 19
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!
BORED TO DEATH/HOW TO MAKE IT IN AMERICA (HBO) - The pay channel has issued eight-episode commitments to both comedy pilots - the Jason Schwartzman-led "Bored to Death" and the Bryan Greenberg/Victor Rasuk-toplined "How to Make It in America." The latter half-hour revolves around Ben (Greenberg) and his friend Cam (Rasuk), enterprising twentysomethings who hustle their way through New York determined to achieve the American dream. Shannyn Sossamon and Scott "Kid" Mescudi also star in the project, which comes from creator Ian Edelman and fellow executive producers Stephen Levinson, Mark Wahlberg, Rob Weiss and Julian Farino (who also directed the pilot). "Death" then centers on Jonathan (Schwartzman), "a struggling thirtysomething Brooklyn writer with a drinking problem who, after a painful breakup with his girlfriend, decides to emulate his heroes from the novels of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett." Jonathan Ames is behind the project, which also co-stars Ted Danson and Zach Galifianakis. Sarah Condon, Dave Becky, Stephanie Davis and Troy Miller are executive producing alongside Ames. Alan Taylor helmed the pilot.
COCAINE COWBOYS (HBO, New!) - Frequent collaborators Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay are teaming up once again, this time for a drama at the pay channel about the early days of cocaine trafficking in Miami. "Cold Case" creator Meredith Stiehm has been tapped to pen the hour, which is inspired by Billy Corben's 2006 documentary of the same name. The project is set up at Bruckheimer's Warner Bros. Television-based banner, marking the first collaboration between the studio and HBO. Bruckheimer, Bay and Stiehm then will executive produce alongside Jonathan Littman with KristieAnne Reed serving as a consulting producer.
THE KARENSKYS (CBS) - Desi Lydic has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about a woman (Sasha Alexander) who returns to her hometown and is reunited with her large, eccentric family. She'll play Bernadette, the woman's sister. Mather Zickel, Tinsley Grimes and Todd Stashwick also star in the half-hour, which comes from Universal Media Studios and creator Linwood Boomer. Pamela Fryman is directing while Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun are executive producing alongside Boomer.
THE MIDDLE (ABC) - Charlie McDermott is the latest addition to the Patricia Heaton-led comedy pilot, which tells the story of a middle-class Midwestern family through the eyes of the mother (Heaton). He'll play Axel, the oldest child. DeAnn Heline and Eileen Heisler are behind the Warner Bros. Television-based half-hour, which Julie Anne Robinson is directing.
PERFECT 10 (ABC Family) - Brett Cullen ("Lost") and Peri Gilpin ("Frasier") have both joined the cast of the drama pilot, about three families dealing with the trials and tribulations of the world of competitive gymnastics. They'll play Mark and Kim Keeler, the parents of the Olympic hopefuls Becca (yet to be cast), the dedicated, focused one; and Payson (Ayla Kell), immature, happy-go-lucky one. Also signing on are Rosa Blasi and Jason Manuel Olazabal as Ronnie and Alex Cruz, parents to Kaylie (Josie Lopez, "a girl who wants to stay small and limber for her sport but is clearly growing into a woman") and Bradford (Marco James, "equally attractive but a lot more clueless"). And rounding out the third clan are single mom Chloe Kmetko (Susan Ward) and her kids Emily (Chelsea Hobbs, "perhaps the most naturally gifted gymnast, she has had only scattershot training, but was born to do this") and Brian (Wyatt Smith, "a cute smart ass who happens to be in a wheelchair with paralysis"). Holly Sorensen is behind the hour, which comes from Adam Cohen, Cara Tapper and Joanna Vernetti's Super Delicious Productions.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[11/14/25 - 02:31 PM]
Video: "Kevin Hart: Acting My Age" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Older, wiser - and still hilarious. Kevin Hart opens up about his midlife mishaps, from intimacy pills to the perils of unexpected injuries.
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[11/14/25 - 01:02 PM]
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[11/14/25 - 12:11 PM]
Video: Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Potomac" Season 10 Midseason Trailer Brings Shocking Revelations and the Return of the Grande Dame
The tease reveals Andy Cohen's visit with Karen Huger in Potomac at her home for a deeply personal and reflective conversation that will air in the season finale.
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[11/14/25 - 12:10 PM]
Bravo Picks Up New Seasons of the "Below Deck" Franchise
Bravo has picked up "Below Deck" for a 13th season and "Below Deck Mediterranean" for an 11th season.
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[11/14/25 - 12:01 PM]
Video: The Actor Awards - Official Announcement - Netflix
The only awards show exclusively for actors enters a new era! The Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG Awards) has a new name.
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[11/14/25 - 10:32 AM]
Bravo's New Series "The Valley: Persian Style" Premieres Jan. 8 at 9 P.M. ET/PT
A spinoff of "The Valley," this series follows a tight-knit group of Persian friends who have traded Beverly Hills for suburban life in the Valley.
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[11/14/25 - 10:30 AM]
"High Potential" Season 2 Premiere Scores Over 21 Million Total Viewers Across 35 Days
Season to date, the powerhouse drama continues to dominate, ranking as the No. 1 original broadcast series for the second season in a row among Adults 18-49 (2.42 rating), based on Nielsen cross-platform rankings.
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[11/14/25 - 10:05 AM]
AMC Networks' Sports Docuseries, "Rise of the 49ers," to Debut as a Limited Series Event on Sunday, February 1 and Monday, February 2 on AMC and AMC+
The limited series event explores the dramatic and iconic run of the San Francisco 49ers during the '80s and early '90s.
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[11/14/25 - 10:00 AM]
NBC's Annual "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" Celebrates the Holiday Season with Star-Studded Performances on Dec. 3
Audiences can expect a star-studded evening of festive performances from many musical guests, including Marc Anthony, Halle Bailey, Michael Bublé, Kristin Chenoweth, Laufey, New Edition, Brad Paisley, Carly Pearce, the Radio City Rockettes and Gwen Stefani.
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[11/14/25 - 09:35 AM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Rises Week to Week with 6.67 Million Total Viewers as Show Heads to Semi-Finals
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[11/14/25 - 09:31 AM]
Video: "Squid Game: The Challenge" Season 2 - Finale Trailer - Netflix
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[11/14/25 - 09:31 AM]
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[11/14/25 - 09:30 AM]
CMA and ABC Celebrate Country Music's Biggest Night with Exclusive Programming Ahead of "The 59th Annual CMA Awards"
Beginning this weekend, fans can enjoy an all-access lead-up featuring some of their favorite Country stars.
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[11/14/25 - 09:03 AM]
"Center Stage: Countdown to the CMA Awards - Special Edition of 20/20" Goes Behind the Scenes of Iconic Music City Venues, Tuesday, Nov. 18, on ABC, Streaming Next Day on Disney+ and Hulu
The one-hour special features Kenny Chesney, who brings cameras back to Nashville's famed Lower Broadway to revisit the venues where he first performed as a young man with dreams of making it big in Music City.
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[11/14/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw" Official Trailer
This holiday season on Disney+, prepare to go where no wimpy kid has gone before.
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