 |
 |
[01/12/09 - 06:10 PM]
Development Update: Monday, January 12
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!
BARELY LEGAL (NBC, New!) - Hilary Duff has been tapped to star in a new half-hour comedy based on the true story of Kathleen Holtz, who in November 2007 passed the notoriously difficult California bar at age 18 to become the state's youngest lawyer. Elisa Bell ("Little Black Book") is behind the project, which comes from actor/producer Rob Morrow's ("NUMB3RS") Bits and Pieces Productions and Universal Media Studios. Duff's involvement is the result of a talent holding deal the actress recently inked with the network and studio. Bell then is penning the script and executive producing alongside Morrow.
LIGHT YEARS (The CW) - Shiri Appleby ("ER"), Kristoffer Polaha ("Valentine") and Kerr Smith ("Justice") have all joined the cast of the drama pilot, about Lux (Brittany Robertson), a foster child who, on her 16th birthday, decides to track down her slacker biological father and mother, who haven't spoken since high school when their one-night stand resulted in pregnancy. Appleby then will play said mom, morning radio host Cate Campbell (Appleby); with Polaha as her dad, bar owner Nick "Baze" Basile; and Smith as Ryan, Campbell's boyfriend and co-host on the show. Liz Tigelaar is behind the CBS Paramount Network Television-based hour, which Gary Fleder is directing.
MEN OF A CERTAIN AGE (TNT) - The cable channel has ordered 10 episodes of the Ray Romano-led/produced drama about three fortysomething college buddies (Romano, Andre Braugher and Scott Bakula) who are each coming to terms with a midlife that doesn't live up to their previous expectations. Romano and Mike Royce co-created the hour, which they'll also executive produce alongside Rory Rosegarten and Cary Hoffman for TNT Original Productions. Scott Winant directed the pilot, while Brian White and Richard Gant also star. Production is expected to begin in time for a January 2010 premiere.
STARZ AT THE TCA - The pay channel has confirmed newcomer "Party Down" and the third season of "Head Case" will both roll out on Friday, March 20. "Down," from executive producers Dan Etheridge, John Enbom, Paul Rudd and Rob Thomas, follows a Los Angeles catering team - a sextet of Hollywood wannabes (Adam Scott, Jane Lynch, Ken Marino, Lizzy Caplan, Martin Starr and Ryan Hansen) stuck working for tips while hoping for their "big break." Jerry Seinfeld, Tori Spelling, Geri Halliwell and Hugh Hefner have already signed on to make cameos on the series. Fellow freshman entry "Spartacus," a green screen remake of the Roman slave revolt tale, then is expected to bow this summer, while no decision has been made about the fate of recently wrapped "Crash."
THE WENDY WILLIAMS SHOW (Syndication) - Debmar-Mercury is officially moving forward with a national rollout of the syndicated talk show, which aired a six-week test run over the summer on Fox owned-and-operated stations in New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and Detroit. The series is a go in more than 70% of the country, including stations in all the top 20 markets. Rob Dauber will return as executive producer with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia alum Liz Koman serving as executive VP of branded marketing for the show. "Williams" will also remain in New York, home to her popular "Wendy Williams Experience" daily radio show on R&B station WBLS-FM.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
|
|
|
 [january 2009]  |
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
| | | | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
[02/26/26 - 02:46 PM]
Netflix Declines to Raise Offer for Warner Bros.
"The transaction we negotiated would have created shareholder value with a clear path to regulatory approval. However, we've always been disciplined, and at the price required to match Paramount Skydance's latest offer, the deal is no longer financially attractive, so we are declining to match the Paramount Skydance bid," said co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters.
|
[02/26/26 - 02:19 PM]
"Live with Kelly and Mark" Soars to Season High with Best Audience in Over a Year
"Live" has now ranked as the No. 1 talk show in syndication for 157 consecutive weeks across all key measures.
|
[02/26/26 - 02:08 PM]
Britbox Unveils Spring Slate with "The Lady" Starring Mia McKenna-Bruce; Premieres March 18
Other highlights include the return of "Hope Street" and the debut of "Mudtown."
|
[02/26/26 - 01:36 PM]
Paramount Comments on Warner Bros. Discovery Board's Determination of Paramount's Proposal as Superior
David Ellison, Chairman and CEO of Paramount, said: "We are pleased WBD's Board has unanimously affirmed the superior value of our offer, which delivers to WBD shareholders superior value, certainty and speed to closing."
|
[02/26/26 - 01:16 PM]
Warner Bros. Discovery Board of Directors Determines Revised Proposal from Paramount Skydance Constitutes a "Company Superior Proposal"
Under the terms of the Netflix merger agreement, this notice triggers a four business day period during which Netflix has the right to propose revisions to the Netflix merger agreement so that the PSKY proposal would cease to constitute a "Company Superior Proposal."
|
[02/26/26 - 01:00 PM]
FOX Television Network Renews Hit Joel McHale Series "Animal Control" for Season Five
In addition, the first three seasons of the series are currently streaming on Netflix, and the show has been sold in territories around the world.
|
[02/26/26 - 10:31 AM]
More Stars Take the Stage to Present at the 98th Oscars
Javier Bardem, Chris Evans, Chase Infiniti, Demi Moore, Kumail Nanjiani and Maya Rudolph are among the featured talent.
|
[02/26/26 - 10:30 AM]
Video: AMC Networks Unveils Captivating Sneak Peek Scene from "The Vampire Lestat"
In the new rock and roll centric season, the Vampire Lestat goes on an electric multi-city tour while being haunted by "muses" from his wild and rebellious past.
|
[02/26/26 - 10:21 AM]
Feed the Children Teams Up with FOX's "Next Level Chef" to Put Child Hunger to Bed
The year-round campaign rallies the public alongside donors, volunteers, and partners to provide kids with the food and resources they need to rise and thrive every day.
|
[02/26/26 - 10:01 AM]
"Running Point" Season Two Returns April 23 on Netflix
Isla Gordon (Kate Hudson) is no longer the surprise choice to lead the Los Angeles Waves, she's the one everyone is watching.
|
[02/26/26 - 10:01 AM]
Season Three of the HBO Original Comedy Series "The Comeback" Debuts March 22
New episodes of the eight-episode season will debut weekly leading up to the series finale on Sunday, May 10.
|
[02/26/26 - 10:00 AM]
CBS Launches New Podcast "NCIS: Partners & Probies" Hosted by Series Stars Brian Dietzen and Diona Reasonover, Offering Fans an Inside Look at the #1 TV Franchise Worldwide
Premiering Tuesday, March 3, new episodes will roll out weekly.
|
[02/26/26 - 09:14 AM]
FOX Sports Assembles World-Class Broadcast Team for 2026 World Baseball Classic
Headlining FOX MLB's coverage of Team USA matchups and knockout rounds are highly acclaimed play-by-play announcers Joe Davis, Adam Amin and Kevin Kugler; expert analysts John Smoltz, A.J. Pierzynski and Adam Wainwright; and veteran reporters Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci.
|
[02/26/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Trailer & Key Art - "Sunny Nights" Starring Will Forte & D'Arcy Carden
After a critical acclaimed Australian debut, the darkly comedic crime drama starring Will Forte and D'Arcy Carden makes its U.S. debut on March 11 on Hulu.
|
[02/26/26 - 09:01 AM]
BritBox Announces April 7th Premiere for "A Taste for Murder"
The six-part crime procedural produced by Eagle Eye Drama and in association with ITV Studios stars Warren Brown, Phyllis Logan, and Cristiana Dell'Anna, and was shot on location in Croatia and Italy last year.
|
|
|
|
