[05/18/09 - 06:31 PM] Development Update: Monday, May 18 By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)
LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- The latest development news, culled from recent wire reports:
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MEDIUM (NBC) - CBS is reportedly making a push to pick up the veteran drama, which comes from its sister company CBS Television Studios. The Peacock, which unveils its 2009-10 schedule tomorrow, had been on track to order a sixth season however a dispute over the show's license fee has threatened to derail a pickup in recent weeks. The Eye has a vested interest in keeping the show alive: Lifetime currently carries the show's off-network run to the tune of $1.3 million per episode, a significant back end in today's marketplace. CBS announces its lineup on Wednesday.
THE PRICE IS RIGHT (CBS) - Host Drew Carey has inked a two-year, first-look production deal with CBS Television Studios. The pact gives the studio first crack at any of Carey's International Mammoth Television output, which he may or may not star in. Andrew Horne, a former VP of drama development for the then Paramount Television, is overseeing IMT's development as a senior VP.
THE RICKY GERVAIS SHOW (HBO, New!) - The pay channel has commissioned 13 episodes a new animated series based on Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's popular series of podcasts of the same name. The project, from Media Rights Capital ("The Life and Times of Tim") and animation house Wildbrain ("Yo Gabba Gabba"), revolves around the world of the pair's unusual friend, radio producer Karl Pilkington. Originally a radio program, Gervais and Merchant eventually morphed the show into a podcast where it went on to earn a Guinness World Record in 2007 for being the most-downloaded podcast on the Internet. As for the TV incarnation, the series will use the actual podcasts from Gervais, Merchant and Pilkington with the animation expanding upon the stories (a la "Dr. Katz: Cartoon Therapist"). The trio will also executive produce alongside Wildbrain's Bob Higgins with Lisa Ullmann serving as a co-executive producer and Craig Kellman as animation director. Production is expected to be completed by the end of the year for an early 2010 premiere date.
[06/19/13 - 01:39 PM] TNT Bumps Newcomer "72 Hours" to Friday Nights The reality competition series, which had been airing on Thursdays at 9:00/8:00c, will relocate to Fridays effective immediately.
[06/19/13 - 12:17 PM] ESPN to Present World Series of Poker Main Event To kick off ESPN's WSOP coverage, the inaugural World Series of Poker Asia-Pacific Main Event Final Table will air on Tuesday, July 23.
