or


[03/16/09 - 06:28 PM]
Development Update: Monday, March 16
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!


100 QUESTIONS FOR CHARLOTTE PAYNE (NBC) - British actress Sophie Winkleman ("Peep Show") has been cast in the title role of the comedy pilot, about a young woman (Winkleman) working at a dating service who navigates life and friendship in New York. Chris Moynihan penned the Universal Media Studios-based half-hour, the production of which was contingent on casting said role. James Burrows is directing.


AT RISK/THE FRONT (Lifetime) - John Pielmeier ("Capture of the Green River Killer") has been tapped to pen the small screen adaptations of Patricia Cornwell's bestselling crime novels while Tandem Communications has signed on as their worldwide distributor. Jim Head, Lane Bishop, Russell Werdin, Stanley M. Brooks and Cornwell herself are executive producing both projects, which follow Massachusetts state investigator Win Garano and his ambitious supervisor, state attorney Monique Lamont, as they investigate cases.


BROTHERS (FOX, New!) - Daryl "Chill" Mitchell and football legend Michael Strahan are set to star in a new comedy pilot for the network about "a retired NFL player who returns to his hometown and starts working to reconnect with his family - especially his brother (Mitchell), who is confined to a wheelchair following a car accident." Don Reo ("Everybody Hates Chris") is behind the project comes from the ever-busy Sony Pictures Television-based Tantamount banner. Reo then will executive produce alongside the company's principals Eric Tannenbaum, Kim Tannenbaum and Mitch Hurwitz. Ted Wass is attached to direct.


CANNED (ABC) - Comedian Baron Vaughn is the latest addition to the comedy pilot, about a group of friends who are fired in a corporate shake-up. He'll play an unspecified character in the half-hour, which also stars Tim Peper and Stephanie Lemelin. Kevin Etten created the half-hour, which comes from ABC Studios.


COMMUNITY (NBC) - Chevy Chase is staying in business with the Peacock, booking a role on the comedy pilot, described as "Stripes" at a community college. He'll play a student at said college who has been married five times. Chase recently completed a multi-episode arc on NBC's "Chuck," set to air later this season. Dan Harmon is behind the Sony Pictures Television-based half-hour, which Anthony and Joe Russo are directing.


EMPIRE STATE (ABC) - Beau Garrett and Mike Vogel have landed the lead roles in the drama pilot, about "a blue-collar man (Vogel) who falls in love with the beautiful and smart daughter (Garrett) of a wealthy businessman and his father's nemesis." Michael Seitzman penned the Mark Gordon-produced hour for ABC Studios. Jeremy Podeswa is directing.


THE GOOD WIFE (CBS) - Archie Panjabi has joined the cast of the Julianna Margulies-led drama pilot, about a politician's wife who gets a job at a top law firm. He'll play one of her co-workers, described as "a bisexual Bollywood Erin Brockovich." Charles McDougall is helming the hour, which comes from creators Michelle and Robert King. CBS Paramount Network Television is the studio attached.


HAPPINESS ISN'T EVERYTHING (CBS) - Oscar-winner Richard Dreyfuss is set to play dad to Jason Biggs in the comedy pilot, about adult siblings and their parents who are overly involved in each other's lives. He'll play Jerry Hamburger, the pushy, loving and funny patriarch of the family. Also singing on is Ben Schwartz as Jacky Hamburger, the explosive older brother of Jason (Biggs). James Vallely and Mitch Hurwitz are behind the half-hour, which comes from the latter's Sony Pictures Television-based Tantamount.


HOUSE RULES (CBS) - Warren Christie ("October Road") and Denzel Whitaker have joined the cast of the drama pilot, which follows the freshman class of Congress. Christie will play the House Speaker's chief of staff, who's in the midst of a love-hate relationship between a school teacher-turned-congresswoman (Zoe McLellan). Whitaker will play "a former student of the teacher who works for her part time." Michael Seitzman is behind the hour, which comes from ABC Studios and The Mark Gordon Company.


THE LAW (ABC) - "According to Jim" co-star Larry Joe Campbell has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about reserve LAPD officers. He's set as Cedric's training officer in the half-hour, which comes from co-creators Cedric the Entertainer and Bob Fisher. ABC Studios is the studio attached.


MERCY (NBC) - Jaime Lee Kirchner ("Just Legal") has joined the cast of the drama pilot, about the personal and professional lives of three nurses. She'll play one of the aforementioned trio in the Universal Media Studios-based hour, which Adam Bernstein is directing from a script by Elizabeth Heldens.


NO HEROICS (ABC) - Paul Campbell ("Knight Rider") has booked the lead role on the comedy pilot, about four B-list superheroes living among the general population. He'll play Pete (a.k.a. Chillout), their leader, "a Canadian-born superhero who can freeze small objects." Drew Pearce and Jeff Greenstein are behind the half-hour, which comes from ABC Studios.


STATE OF ROMANCE (NBC) - Lindsey Broad has scored the female lead on the comedy pilot, described as a modern "Pride and Prejudice" set in Chicago. She'll play Emily, who begins a relationship with Mike (the male lead) after they meet awkwardly on a plane. Barbara Wallace and Tom Wolfe are behind the half-hour, which is based at Universal Media Studios.


UNTITLED FRANK MILITARY PROJECT (CBS) - Rachel Nichols and Laz Alonso are the latest additions to the drama pilot, about a team of New York federal prosecutors. They'll play two members of said team. Frank Military is behind the project, which comes from CBS Paramount Network Television.


UNTITLED JEFF STRAUSS PROJECT (ABC) - Matthew Lillard and Janet Varney have both been cast in the comedy pilot, about marriage and parenthood through the eyes of three couples. They'll play halves of two of the couples in the project, which comes from creator Jeff Strauss and ABC Studios.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [march 2009]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· 100 QUESTIONS (NBC)
· ACCORDING TO JIM (ABC)
· AT RISK (LIFETIME)
· BROTHERS (FOX)
· CANNED (ABC)
· CAPTURE OF THE GREEN RIVER KILLER, THE (LMN)
· CHUCK (NBC)
· COMMUNITY (YAHOO)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· EMPIRE STATE (ABC)
· EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS (CW)
· FRONT, THE (LIFETIME)
· GOOD WIFE, THE (CBS)
· HAPPINESS ISN'T EVERYTHING (CBS)
· HOUSE RULES (CBS)
· JUST LEGAL (WB)
· KNIGHT RIDER (NBC)
· LAW, THE (ABC)
· MARRIED NOT DEAD (ABC)
· MERCY (NBC)
· NO HEROICS (ABC)
· OCTOBER ROAD (ABC)
· STATE OF ROMANCE (NBC)
· US ATTORNEY (CBS)





[05/01/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "FBI True" - Season 7 Official Trailer - Paramount+
Stream the new season of the hit docuseries May 20 on Paramount+.

[05/01/25 - 08:00 AM]
Nickelodeon Introduces All-New Animated Series "Wylde Pak," Premiering Friday, June 6
Produced by Nickelodeon Animation, "Wylde Pak" explores the dynamics of a multigenerational and multicultural blended family as half siblings Lily and Jack learn to navigate new family dynamics under one roof for the first time.

[05/01/25 - 08:00 AM]
Video: Acorn TV Releases Official Trailer for the New, Highly Anticipated Crime Drama, "Art Detectives," Starring Stephen Moyer
Set to premiere with two episodes on Monday, June 9, the six-episode series revolves around the Heritage Crime Unit, a police department hired to solve murders connected to the world of art and antiques.

[05/01/25 - 07:05 AM]
Video: Prime Video Releases Official Trailer and Key Art for "American Thunder: NASCAR to Le Mans"
The documentary - formerly known as "Garage 56" - will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide on June 12.

[05/01/25 - 06:15 AM]
Nominations Announced for "The 78th Annual Tony Awards," to Be Broadcast Live Sunday, June 8, on CBS
As previously announced, Tony, Emmy, Grammy Award winner and three-time Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo will host the 2025 Tony Awards as the show makes its return to the legendary Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

[05/01/25 - 06:01 AM]
Sherri Papini Speaks Out for the First Time in ID's Highly Anticipated Docuseries "Sherri Papini: Caught In the Lie"
The four-part docuseries will premiere across two nights on Monday, May 26 and Tuesday, May 27 from 9-11PM ET/PT on ID.

[04/30/25 - 11:05 AM]
ABC Announces Summer 2025 Premiere Dates
Kicking off the summer, the 10th season of "Bachelor in Paradise" begins Monday, July 7, featuring cast members from across the franchise including Goldens joining the beach for the first time.

[04/30/25 - 11:03 AM]
"American Idol" Rocks the House with More Back-to-Back Wins
"American Idol" rocked the house on Sunday night with its first live coast-to-coast telecast, earning 5.31 million Total Viewers in Live+Same Day ratings.

[04/30/25 - 10:31 AM]
Netflix Announces Release Date and First Look of Reality Show "Yolanthe"
The long-awaited reality show will premiere exclusively on Netflix on June 18.

[04/30/25 - 10:00 AM]
Video: Trailer And Key Art Debut - "Matteo Lane: The Al Dente Special"
Matteo Lane's comedy is like catching up with your old friend at brunch. In his latest special, he shares a glimpse into his travels, unique family background and friendships.

[04/30/25 - 09:34 AM]
The Heat Is on as Bobby Flay, Maneet Chauhan and Antonia Lofaso Battle for Grilling Glory in New Season of "BBQ Brawl"
"BBQ Brawl: Flay V. Chauhan V. Lofaso" kicks off all the action on Sunday, June 1 at 9pm ET/PT.

[04/30/25 - 09:31 AM]
Video: "Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Who really laced Tylenol with cyanide? This true-crime series examines alarming theories behind the unsolved killings - and tracks down a key suspect.

[04/30/25 - 09:31 AM]
Palm Trees, Power Moves and Plenty of Shade Hit the 305 as Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Miami" Returns Wednesday, June 11 at 9 P.M. ET/PT
The season seven cast includes returning housewives Alexia Nepola, Lisa Hochstein, Julia Lemigova, Guerdy Abraira and Larsa Pippen.

[04/30/25 - 09:01 AM]
Get Ready to Get Wild: Netflix Announces "Mating Season," A New Adult Animated Rom-Com from the Horny Minds of "Big Mouth"
"Mating Season" will debut on Netflix in 2026 and is set in the animal world starring a cast of bears, raccoons, deer, foxes and a host of other horny, lovable forest critters, as they navigate love, sexual relationships and the universal need to hook up and find a partner.

[04/30/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Trailer and Key Art Debut - Hulu Original Movie "Summer of 69"
An awkward high school senior hires an exotic dancer to help seduce her longtime crush before graduation, leading to unexpected friendship and lessons in self-confidence, acceptance and adulthood.