or


[05/11/09 - 06:12 PM]
Development Update: May 8-11
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 BILL ENGVALL SHOW (TBS) - Stephen Dunham ("What I Like About You") has booked a recurring role on the show's upcoming third season. He'll play Engvall's brother Kenny, "a likable ne'er-do-well who gets by on his charm," a role which has an option to become a series regular. The new season of "Engvall" rolls out this summer.


THE BONNIE HUNT SHOW (Syndication) - Daniel Kellison ("Jimmy Kimmel Live") has been upped to executive producer on the Telepictures-produced series. Currently serving as an executive consultant, he'll now take over the show's reins from current showrunner David Perler. There he'll serve alongside fellow executive producers Hunt, Don Lake and Jim Paratore. Kellison is a veteran of both daytime and late-night, having helped launch "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" and "The Man Show," in addition to his stints on "The Late Show With David Letterman" and "Kimmel."


GARY UNMARRIED (CBS) - Executive producers Ed Yeager and Ric Swartzlander have departed the series over creative differences. The news marks the latest overhaul of the series, which is on the bubble for a second season. Co-executive producer Ira Ungerleider and consulting producer Rob Des Hotel are reportedly on track to take over the series should it return. Des Hotel joined the series after its 13th episode, which also saw co-stars Ed Begley Jr. and Jaime King dropped in favor of refocusing the show on Gary's (Jay Mohr) relationship with his ex-wife (Paula Marshall).


HOW TO MAKE IT IN AMERICA (HBO) - Eddie Kaye Thomas ("'Til Death") has joined the cast of the upcoming comedy, about two enterprising twentysomethings (Bryan Greenberg, Victor Rasuk) who hustle their way through New York determined to achieve the American dream. He'll continue on as a guy who went to high school with Greenberg's character who "now runs a hedge fund and is extremely rich but wants to be cool -- at any price," a role which he guest-starred as in the pilot.


LEGALLY MAD (NBC) - The Peacock has formally passed on the David E. Kelley-penned drama pilot, about a father and daughter who work together at a Chicago law firm. The network's decision triggers a seven-figure penalty to Warner Bros. Television, which will likely be rolled into another project at the studio. Kristin Chenoweth, Charity Wakefield, Hugh Bonneville, Jon Seda, Loretta Devine and Kurt Fuller co-starred the hour, which was helmed by Kenny Ortega.


SUPERNATURAL (The CW) - Misha Collins, who currently recurs as hapless family man Jimmy Novak-turned otherworldly angel Castiel, has been upped to series regular for the show's fifth season. No other specifics about his full-time status were released.


UNTITLED JAMIE OLIVER PROJECT (ABC, New!) - The Alphabet has ordered six episodes of a new reality series in which British chef Jamie Oliver gives healthy makeovers to some of the unhealthiest places in America. Ryan Seacrest and his self-titled banner are behind the hourlong project, which is loosely based on Oliver's U.K. effort "Jamie's School Dinners," in which the chef set out to improve kids' nutrition at schools. The U.S. incarnation however will expand to tackle workplaces and other avenues for change. While no air date has been set, it's believed the untitled project will roll out at midseason.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [may 2009]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· BILL ENGVALL SHOW, THE (TBS)
· BONNIE HUNT SHOW, THE (SYNDICATION)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· GARY UNMARRIED (CBS)
· HOW TO MAKE IT IN AMERICA (HBO)
· JAMIE OLIVER'S FOOD REVOLUTION (ABC)
· LEGALLY MAD (NBC)
· MAN SHOW, THE (COMEDY CENTRAL)
· ROSIE O'DONNELL SHOW, THE (SYNDICATION)
· SUPERNATURAL (CW)
· 'TIL DEATH (FOX)
· WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU (WB)





[12/06/25 - 02:46 PM]
Paramount and UFC Announce New Seasons of "Dana White's Contender Series" and "The Ultimate Fighter"
Beginning in 2026, Paramount+ in the U.S., Latin America, and Australia will become the exclusive home for all episodes of both series.

[12/06/25 - 02:27 PM]
Video: "School Spirits" Returns - Paramount+ Drops First Look at Season Three Premiering January 28
The date was unveiled alongside first look images at today's Paramount+ CCXP panel in São Paolo, Brazil featuring series lead and executive producer Peyton List.

[12/06/25 - 02:12 PM]
Video: Oscar-Nominee Paul Giamatti Surprises Fans at CCXP and Reveals Exclusive Scene from "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy"
The series will premiere globally with two episodes on Thursday, January 15 on Paramount+, and in Japan on Tuesday, January 23.

[12/06/25 - 10:47 AM]
Hulu Debuts First-Look Images from "The Testaments" Out of Brazil Comic Con
"The Testaments," a new chapter from the showrunner and executive producers of "The Handmaid's Tale," is coming in April 2026 to Hulu.

[12/06/25 - 10:31 AM]
Video: Date Announcement & Teaser Debut - Hulu's "Paradise" Season 2
The second season of the Emmy Award-nominated series premieres Monday, February 23 with three episodes, followed by new episodes weekly on Hulu and Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the US and Disney+ internationally.

[12/05/25 - 03:31 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 in Total Viewers
"Nightline" improved on the previous week in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, hitting nine-week highs in both measures.

[12/05/25 - 03:30 PM]
In Anticipation of "Avatar: Fire and Ash," ABC News to Premiere Two New Specials This December
First up: "Avatar: A New Era - Special Edition of 20/20" premieres Friday, December 12 on ABC.

[12/05/25 - 02:05 PM]
ESPN Networks Deliver Best College Football Regular Season Since 2011; "College GameDay Built by The Home Depot" Scores Most-Watched Season Ever
ESPN networks aired the most-watched game in 34 of 42 key Saturday windows, including seven of 14 noon windows, 13 of 14 late afternoon windows and all 14 prime windows.

[12/05/25 - 12:35 PM]
2025 CFB Viewership Surges on FOX & FS1
The 2025 regular season wrapped with big numbers for "Big Noon Saturday," "Big Noon Kickoff" and more - including year-over-year gains across the board.

[12/05/25 - 11:00 AM]
CBS Premiere Week Episodes Post Gains and Lead In Live Plus 35-Day Multiplatform Viewership
"Tracker" delivered 17.3 million viewers, up +6% versus its year-ago premiere.

[12/05/25 - 10:05 AM]
"Landman" Booms Into a Third Season Renewal and Breaks Viewing Records on Paramount+
The second season is set to be a top three series among all original content the week of November 17 and a top two series for the week of November 24 according to Nielsen preliminary data.

[12/05/25 - 09:45 AM]
Video: "Taylor" - A CW Documentary Special - Trailer
The special - airing Saturday, December 13 - explores the global phenomenon of Taylor Swift and digs deep across the musician's 20-year career, a period that has seen her transcend the realm of pop star to become a cultural icon like no other.

[12/05/25 - 08:45 AM]
ESPN Delivered Most-Watched Women's College Volleyball Season on Record
Said coverage averaged 190,000 viewers, up 36% from the 2024 season.

[12/05/25 - 08:31 AM]
Peacock Exclusively Streams Monkeypaw Productions' "Him" Beginning December 19
The film stars Marlon Wayans, Tyriq Withers, Julia Fox, Tim Heidecker, Jim Jefferies and more.

[12/05/25 - 08:01 AM]
BET+ Original Film, "Vera's Holiday Flop," Premieres Thursday, December 18
The film stars Charity Jordan, Terri J. Vaughn, Griff, Chrissy McDaniel, Tyler Chronicles, Algebra Blessett, Jelani Akil, Scotty ATL, and Saycon Sengbloh.