or


[03/20/09 - 06:13 PM]
Development Update: Friday, March 20
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!


THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE (The CW) - Supermodel Elle Macpherson is set to guest star on the drama pilot, about a group of models living together in a co-ed residence in New York. She'll play Claudia, a potentially recurring role, "the owner of Focus Models, the top modeling agency in New York" and "an '80s supermodel who is still in great shape and runs her business with the efficiency and toughness of a dictator." Mischa Barton, Ben Hollingsworth, Sara Paxton, Ashley Madekwe and Nico Tortorella also star in the hour, which comes from creator Adam Giaudrone and helmer Christian Duguay. CBS Paramount Network Television and Katalyst Films are co-producing.


BROTHERS (FOX) - Colton Dunn has scored a role on the comedy pilot, about a retired football player (Michael Strahan) who returns to his hometown and starts working to reconnect with his family. His role wasn't specified. Darryl Mitchell also stars in the half-hour, which comes from the Sony Pictures Television-based Tantamount. Ted Wass is directing from a script by Don Reo.


COP HOUSE (FOX) - Brett Ratner has signed on to direct and executive produce the comedy pilot, about a halfway house for troubled cops. He'll work from a script by creator Adam Resnick. In addition, Rachael Harris and Ajay Naidu have joined the cast of the half-hour, which is based at 20th Century Fox Television. She'll play "the only female cop at the house, sent there for posing nude in Hustler," while Naidu is set as "a cop with a drinking problem." Tony Hale also stars.


THE EASTMANS (CBS) - David Wilson Barnes has joined the cast of the drama pilot, about a complicated family of doctors. He'll play one of the five siblings, a cardiologist. Margaret Nagle penned the hour, which is based at Warner Bros. Television.


THE GOOD WIFE (CBS) - Christine Baranski and Chris Noth have both landed roles on the drama pilot, which revolves around a politician's wife (Julianna Margulies) who gets a job as a junior associate at a top law firm. Noth will guest star as the woman's husband, a former DA in jail because of a sex scandal. Baranski then is set as "the top litigator at the firm and in all of Chicago." Charles McDougall is helming the CBS Paramount Network Television-based hour from a script by Michelle and Robert King.


THE LAW (ABC) - Newcomer Mercedes Masohn has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, which revolves around reserve police officers for the LAPD. Her role wasn't indicated. Cedric the Entertainer and Bob Fisher co-created the half-hour, which comes from ABC Studios.


THE NEISTAT BROTHERS (HBO, New!) - The pay channel has acquired the broadcast rights to a new "innovative" documentary series from filmmakers Casey and Van Neistat ("iPod's Dirty Secret"). The project revolves around the lives and careers of the siblings, who also serve as co-executive producers. It's understood the first episode features "Van Neistat meeting his biological father while his brother makes a movie with his 9-year-old son." No premiere date was specified for the series, which has completed eight episodes. Tom Scott is the executive producer.


OFF DUTY (NBC) - Scot Armstrong and Ravi Nandin have inked a two-year first-look deal with Universal Media Studios. The pact gives the studio first crack at any of the pair's American Work banner's output. Already in the works: "Off Duty," a pilot from writer Jason Mantzoukas, as well as the script "Privates," about a dysfunctional family of Burbank-based private eyes who spend more time investigating each other than they do others, both of which are at NBC. The duo are also executive producing the pilot "Walorsky" at FOX, from creators Alessandro Tanaka and Brian Gatewood.


V (ABC) - "Lost" co-star Elizabeth Mitchell has reportedly been cast in the drama pilot, a revival of the 1980s cult franchise of the same name. It's understood she'll be playing the lead role of Erica Evans, a Homeland Security agent who discovers the Visitors' true intentions. It's not clear how said casting will affect her duties on "Lost," however speculation suggests she'll no longer continue as a series regular should the pilot move forward. Yves Simoneau is helming the Warner Bros. Television-based hour from a script by Scott Peters.


WASHINGTON FIELD (CBS) - Adam Jamal Craig has landed a role on the drama pilot, about the FBI's elite National Capital Response Squad. He'll play an unspecified character in the hour, which comes from co-creators Edward Allen Bernero, Jim Clemente and Tim Clemente. Jon Cassar is directing for CBS Paramount Network Television.


THE WHOLE 19 YARDS (CBS, New!) - Endemol USA has booked a pilot order for a new reality series in which contestants race an intense obstacle course and then answer trivia questions. Chris Hardwick ("Attack of the Show") has been tapped to host the hour, which begins production next week. Scott Einziger is the executive producer. No other specifics were released.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [march 2009]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· BEAUTIFUL LIFE, THE (CW)
· BROTHERS (FOX)
· COP HOUSE (FOX)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· EASTMANS, THE (CBS)
· GOOD WIFE, THE (CBS)
· LAW, THE (ABC)
· LOST (ABC)
· NEISTAT BROTHERS, THE (HBO)
· OFF DUTY (NBC)
· OFF DUTY (NBC)
· V (ABC)
· WALORSKY (FOX)
· WASHINGTON FIELD (CBS)
· WHOLE 19 YARDS, THE (CBS)





[03/20/26 - 02:01 PM]
CBS Has Top 2 and 11 of Top 20 Series in Live + 7-Day Multiplatform Viewership Among All Broadcast and Streaming Competition in the First Week of March
CBS has #1 series/drama ("Marshals"), #1 comedy ("Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage"), #1 primetime news program ("60 Minutes") and #1 unscripted series ("Survivor") of the week.

[03/20/26 - 01:01 PM]
"Jimmy Kimmel Live" Tops Late-Night for Third Week in a Row Among Adults 18-49
The Thursday, March 5, episode scored the show's top telecast across all three weeks among Adults 18-49 (0.21 rating), with the show's best rating in the key adult demo in four weeks.

[03/20/26 - 10:40 AM]
Discovery Channel Greenlights Seven New Series to Premiere in 2026
Highlights include new spin-offs of "Naked and Afraid" and "In the Eye of the Storm."

[03/20/26 - 10:09 AM]
"Saturday Night Live UK" Begins Historic Run on March 21
Ahead of "SNL UK's" launch tomorrow (March 21), Sky has confirmed an additional two episodes, extending the run to eight 75 minute shows.

[03/20/26 - 09:32 AM]
The Clock Never Stops in Return of Groundbreaking Culinary Competition Series "24 in 24: Last Chef Standing"
The new season premieres Sunday, April 26 at 8pm ET/PT on Food Network and streams the next day on HBO Max and discovery+.

[03/20/26 - 09:13 AM]
"Betrayal," The Hit Docuseries Based on the No. 1 True Crime Podcast, Is Coming to Primetime with All-New Stories Premiering Sunday, March 29, on ABC, and Streams Next Day on Disney+ and Hulu
Following three seasons of "Betrayal," the popular docuseries streaming on Hulu, the podcast-turned-docuseries is making the leap to primetime television, featuring a new story each week.

[03/20/26 - 09:00 AM]
A24's Oscar Nominated and Golden Globe Winning Film "Marty Supreme" Begins Streaming Exclusively on HBO Max April 24
The film stars Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A'zion, Kevin O'Leary, Tyler Okonma, Abel Ferrara, Fran Drescher, Luke Manley, and Koto Kawaguchi.

[03/20/26 - 08:31 AM]
Kevin Hart to Be Roasted Live on Netflix from the Epic Final Night of Netflix Is a Joke Fest, Hosted by Shane Gillis
The special will stream live on Netflix Sunday, May 10, 2026.

[03/20/26 - 07:13 AM]
Tubi Greenlights Sequel to Hit Original Film "R.L. Stine's Pumpkinhead"
Inspired by R.L. Stine's beloved "The Haunting Hour," the young-adult horror movies blend just the right mix of chills and thrills, delivering a frightfully fun experience.

[03/20/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Jeff Ross: Take a Banana for the Ride" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Making his Broadway debut, legendary comic Jeff Ross turns the spotlight on himself in a one-man show that is as heartfelt as it is hilarious.

[03/20/26 - 05:31 AM]
Netflix's "Assassin's Creed" Begins Production in Rome, Italy
The original story will be set in Rome 64 AD.

[03/19/26 - 06:01 PM]
Awkward Teen Moments and Heartfelt Laughs Drive Prime Video's Korean Coming-of-Age Series "Absolute Value of Romance"
The youthful Korean coming-of-age series arrives exclusively on Prime Video April 17.

[03/19/26 - 02:34 PM]
10,784,000 Viewers: World Baseball Classic Final on FOX and FOX Deportes Delivers Most-Watched WBC Telecast Ever
Viewership peaked with 12,148,000 from 10:30-10:45 PM ET on FOX.

[03/19/26 - 01:17 PM]
Maya Hawke to Star in Netflix's Series Adaptation of "The God of the Woods"
The multi-generational drama series is set in the Adirondacks, exploring the Van Laar family's dark secrets, class tensions, and the mysteries surrounding the disappearance of 13 year old Barbara Van Laar from her family's summer camp - in the wake of an earlier family tragedy that may be related.

[03/19/26 - 01:16 PM]
Renee Rapp Joins "The Morning Show" for Season 5
New network talent.