or


[05/15/09 - 10:53 PM]
ABC Renews "True Beauty," Adds Four Newcomers
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- ABC lit a few more fires on Friday as the network has renewed its midseason reality series "True Beauty" and ordered four more pilots to series.

"Beauty," from executive producers Tyra Banks and Ashton Kutcher, features "six stunning females and four handsome males who will live together in a spectacular Los Angeles mansion as they undergo a series of challenges to determine who is truly the most beautiful." The twist: they're actually being judged on their "inner" beauty. Vanessa Minnillo hosted the hour with Cheryl Tiegs and Nol Marin also serving as judges.

Over on the newcomer front, comedies "Awesome Hank" and "The Middle" and dramas "Eastwick" and "The Forgotten" got the go ahead on Friday evening. Earlier today, four other pilots - "Happy Town," "Cougar Town," "The Associates" and (now officially) "V" - also got the series green light.

The group, along with "Flash Forward," "Modern Family" and import "Copper," brings the Alphabet's freshman total 11 scripted series.

Here's the official descriptions of the latest additions:

AWESOME HANK (Warner Bros. Television): "Sometimes scaling back is the best way to get ahead. Wall Street legend Hank Pryor (Kelsey Grammer) and his wife Tilly (Melinda McGraw) have been living the high life in New York City. That is until Hank is forced out of his CEO job and has to move his family back home to the small town of River Bend. A self-made man, Hank is used to running the show, but now that he's lost almost everything, can he learn how to hang with his family? The Pryors have had to seriously downsize their lives even their king-sized bed won't fit in their modest new home. Tilly's not too pleased to be back in the same zip code as her family especially her badgering brother Grady (David Koechner). Hank's offbeat son Henry (Ryan Wynott) worries about fitting in with a new crowd and his daughter Maddie (Macey Cruthird) would rather talk on her cell phone than be anywhere near her Dad. But every great businessman knows that the key to success is to turn setbacks into opportunities. Hank has big plans to get ahead in business... and to reconnect with his family. It may take a while for an industrial giant to figure out how to mingle with the little people like his family but Hank's up for the challenge. Like that smaller bed... Turns out that wasn't such a bad idea after all. Starring Kelsey Grammer (Frasier), this hilarious family comedy mixes genuine, heart-warming moments with Grammer's trademark blustery humor. The series is written by Everybody Loves Raymond's three-time Emmy Award-winner Tucker Cawley, and co-executive produced by Grammer along with The Life & Times of Tim's Mike Clements and Tom Werner. After many years of living the so-called good life, the Pryor Family is about to discover that downsizing just might be the key to living it up!" James Burrows directed the multi-camera project from a script by Tucker Cawley.

EASTWICK (Warner Bros. Television): "Single-handedly, housewives accomplish astonishing things... and together, watch out. In the seaside village of Eastwick, this might just be evidence of their inner-witch rising to the surface. Until today, Roxanne (Rebecca Romijn), Kat (Jaime Ray Newman) and Joanna (Lindsay Price) didn't get along because of their preconceived notions of each other. Roxanne was the flaky artist, Kat was a doormat wife and mom, and Joanna the uptight local reporter. But after a weird encounter in the park coupled with a few margaritas, these three have suddenly become fast friends. Now, a mysterious stranger's arrival in town will bring them even closer and test them in ways they'd never imagined. Daryl Van Horne (Paul Gross) is an irresistible package of wealth, charisma and bad boy sex appeal. If he's not buying up a local business, he's attempting to seduce one (or all) of these ladies, physically and professionally. What's even more dangerous, he's unleashing their supernatural powers. But by igniting their heart's desires, he might just be opening Pandora's box. This small New England town will be turned upside down by these witches coming into their own. Though bad for a few locals, it's still the best thing to happen in Eastwick in centuries. The X-Files director/producer David Nutter and writer Maggie Friedman (Once and Again) conjure up a devilish blend of Desperate Housewives and Charmed that explores the hidden depths of women. Based on John Updike's celebrated best-seller and the hit movie, Eastwick is brimming with romance, mystery and wicked charm, offering a tempting vision of the ultimate wish-fulfillment fantasy." Ashley Benson, Johann Urb, Jon Bernthal, Sara Rue and Veronica Cartwright round out the drama's ensemble cast.

THE FORGOTTEN (Warner Bros. Television): "Gone but not forgotten. That's what they say. But what if a killer took your life and your name? Every city has its share of unidentified murder victims. When standard police procedure fails to give them a name, that's when the Identity Network steps in. A group of dedicated, amateur detectives, the members of the Identity Network attempt to reconstruct the pieces of these John and Jane Doe's lives from what little evidence is left behind. Each episode is narrated by a "body" who watches the team as they pursue the tantalizingly difficult challenge of figuring out who this victim once was. Why would anyone volunteer for such a grim task? As new recruit Tyler Davies (Anthony Carrigan) quickly discovers, each of the members of the team has his or her own reasons for volunteering for the Network. Alex Donovan (Rupert Penry-Jones) is a former cop, whose 11-year-old daughter was kidnapped and has never been found. Linda Manning (Reiko Aylesworth), the woman who runs the network from her home, is a virtual recluse whose husband is a convicted murderer. Walter Bailey (Bob Stephenson) does stake outs when he's not blowing his cover. Candace Butler (Michelle Borth) hates her day job. She also happens to have a special gift for putting people at ease even the prickly Tyler, a talented sculptor with a background in forensics. Follow these committed amateur investigators as they race against time to piece together the stories of these dead people's lives and ultimately, hopefully, their murders. The Forgotten is an evocative and powerful new procedural combining the victims' flashbacks with the team's emotional drive to bring them justice. Together with writer Mark Friedman, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Danny Cannon (CSI) deliver the most mesmerizing crime drama of the season." Rochelle Aytes also co-stars.

THE MIDDLE (Warner Bros. Television): "Forget about athletes, movie stars and politicians. Parents are the real heroes but Frankie Heck (Patricia Heaton), well she's some kind of superhero. A loving wife and mother of three, she's middle class in the middle of the country and is rapidly approaching middle age. Frankie and her husband, Mike (Neil Flynn), have lived in Jasper, Indiana their whole lives. A man of few words (every one a zinger), Mike is a manager at the town quarry and Frankie is the third-best used car salesman (out of the three) at the local dealership. She may not be a high-powered career woman, but when it comes to her family, she'll go to just about any length. And with kids like these, she had better. There's Axel (Charlie McDermott), her semi-nudist teenage son conceived with Guns N' Roses playing a significant role; Sue (Eden Sher), the awkward teenage daughter who fails at everything with great gusto; and their seven-year-old son Brick (Atticus Shaffer), whose best friend is his back-pack. From executive producers/writers Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline (How I Met Your Mother, Committed, Murphy Brown) comes a single-camera comedy about raising a family and lowering your expectations." Julie Anne Robinson directed the single-camera comedy from a script by DeAnn Heline and Eileen Heisler.





  [may 2009]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· COUGAR TOWN (TBS)
· DEEP END, THE (ABC)
· EASTWICK (ABC)
· FLASH FORWARD (ABC)
· FORGOTTEN, THE (ABC)
· HANK (ABC)
· HAPPY TOWN (ABC)
· MIDDLE, THE (ABC)
· MODERN FAMILY (ABC)
· ROOKIE BLUE (ABC)
· TRUE BEAUTY (ABC)
· V (ABC)





[05/08/26 - 11:01 AM]
NBC Announces Four Series Orders for the 2026-27 Season
Dramas "Line of Fire" and "The Rockford Files" and comedies "Newlyweds" and "Sunset P.I." are on tap.

[05/08/26 - 10:50 AM]
"Law & Order" to Return for Season 26 on NBC
The network confirmed the news on social media this morning.

[05/08/26 - 09:26 AM]
"FOX College Football Friday" Returns to Primetime with Biggest Season Yet
The network's strongest Friday night slate to-date features elite matchups across partner conferences - with appearances from the defending national champion Indiana Hoosiers, projected Top-25 matchups, and culminating with the Mountain West Championship.

[05/08/26 - 09:18 AM]
TNT Sports Delivers Its Most-Watched MLB Regular Season Start Since 2015
The Yankees/Mariners season opener on March 31 delivered 562,000 viewers and peaked at 735,000, making it the most watched opener on TBS since 2012.

[05/08/26 - 09:02 AM]
ABC Renews "R.J. Decker" for Second Season
Get your flip flops and your lawn flamingos ready.

[05/08/26 - 08:30 AM]
Video: Trailer & Key Art Debut - Hulu's "Not Suitable For Work"
The series will premiere with three episodes on June 2, then two episodes weekly until the finale on June 23, only on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally.

[05/08/26 - 08:01 AM]
ABC Announces Summer 2026 Premiere Dates and Unscripted Renewals
New seasons of "Celebrity Family Feud," "Press Your Luck," and "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" will join the previously announced newcomer "Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro."

[05/08/26 - 07:31 AM]
Video: "James." - Official Trailer - Netflix
A raw and honest look at the man behind Colombia's iconic No. 10 on his road to the 2026 World Cup.

[05/08/26 - 07:16 AM]
CNN Film "Why We Dream" to Premiere Memorial Day at 8PM ET/PT
The film chronicles the final generation of World War II veterans as they return to France and is produced by Delta Air Lines' Window Seat Studios in partnership with Vice Media's Pulse Films.

[05/08/26 - 07:01 AM]
"Forever" Season 2 Starts Production in Los Angeles
Additionally, Malaika Guttoh is set to join the cast as a series regular with Avery Wills Jr. and Tre McBride joining as recurring guests.

[05/08/26 - 02:31 AM]
Netflix Announces Standalone Sequel to Global Hit "La Palma"
"Florida" (working title) picks up just hours after the volcanic eruption on the island of La Palma, shifting the focus to a Norwegian community in Florida that is still unaware that a devastating tsunami is on its way.

[05/07/26 - 04:01 PM]
Video: "Viral Hit" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When he accidentally goes viral after a brawl, a weak and broke teen realizes livestreaming fights against delinquents could change his life.

[05/07/26 - 02:00 PM]
Class Is in Session: FOX Announces New Celebrity Game Show "Nation's Dumbest" - The Only Competition You Don't Want to Win
Taking attendance as host is acclaimed comedian Jack Whitehall, who presides over the chaos as contestants relive the highs and humiliations of school life - from pop quizzes and report cards to recess and parent teacher conferences - all while trying to stay out of last place.

[05/07/26 - 01:10 PM]
ESPN Debuts Short Documentary "Messi: The Forgotten Tape / Messi: La Cinta Olvidada"
Debuting Sunday, May 10 at 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, the documentary highlights the pivotal moment that helped shape Lionel Messi's international future and altered the trajectory of global football.

[05/07/26 - 12:21 PM]
FOX Television Network Renews "Murder in a Small Town" for Season Three
Joining the cast is Peter Gallagher as Rod Finlayson, a charismatic, uber-independent, capable yet unreliable figure.