or


[08/31/09 - 06:21 PM]
Development Update: Monday, August 31
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!


24 (FOX) - Mido Hamada ("Path to 9/11") is the latest addition the show's ever-expanding season eight ensemble. He'll play the recurring role of Mehran, "the leader of a group of operatives in an Islamic country working against their president." No other details were given.


DROP DEAD DIVA (Lifetime) - "American Idol" alum Paula Abdul has filmed a cameo for the show's September 20 episode. In said installment, she appears in a dream sequence as a judge (wearing "a chunky belt and glittery skirt below a flowing top crafted from a black judge robe") who motivates Brooke Elliott's character "to sue a clothing retailer that only sells small dresses."


HOUSE (FOX) - Michael Weston is set to reprise his role as Lucas Douglas on an upcoming episode of the series, Entertainment Weekly reports. The actor recurred last season as a private eye House hires to spy on his colleagues. Said role was apparently considered for a potential spin-off series however nothing materialized.


MERCY (NBC) - "Star Trek: Voyager" alum Kate Mulgrew is set to recur on the freshman drama, about a group of nurses and their relationships. She'll continue on as Jeannie Flanagan, the alcoholic mother of the Taylor Schilling's character, after guest starring in the pilot. No other details were released.


PARKS & RECREATION (NBC) - Entertainment Weekly reports Fred Armisen has booked a guest role on the show's sophomore season. He'll play the counterpart to Amy Poehler's character from Pawnee's sister city. "Leslie arranges for [Armisen and his colleagues] to come for a visit, but they're from a city in Venezuela," co-creator Michael Schur told the publication. "They're very confused because in Venezuela the government is so powerful; their parks department travels with military escorts and motorcades and stuff. They have all the money in the world because of their oil and they [don't understand] why Pawnee's parks department is so rinky-dink."


UNITED STATES OF TARA (Showtime) - Joshua Leonard ("Humpday") is set to recur on the show's upcoming second season. He'll play Ricky, a "boho-trustifarian." No other specifics were given about the role.


UNTITLED MATT WILLIAMS PROJECT (ABC, New!) - Former ABC mainstay Matt Williams ("Home Improvement," "Roseanne") has scored a script commitment from the network for a new multi-camera comedy about "a sports psychologist and father of three who runs his office out of his home and faces the challenges of being an involved dad in today's world." Williams will pen and executive produce the half-hour alongside his Wind Dancer Productions partners Carmen Finestra and David McFadzean. ABC Studios is behind the project, which has a penalty attached if it doesn't go to pilot.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [august 2009]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· 24 (FOX)
· AMERICAN IDOL (ABC)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· DROP DEAD DIVA (LIFETIME)
· HOUSE (FOX)
· MERCY (NBC)
· PARKS & RECREATION (NBC)
· PATH TO 9/11, THE (ABC)
· STAR TREK: VOYAGER (UPN)
· UNITED STATES OF TARA, THE (SHOWTIME)
· UNTITLED MATT WILLIAMS PROJECT (ABC)





[07/08/26 - 01:00 PM]
"The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen" Is Ready To Take Center Stage in Africa With Official Greenlight for Disney Channel and Disney+
A new cast of talented young actresses stars in the movie, including Leah Sava' Jeffries as Galleria's daughter Faith, Carmen Sanchez as Chanel's sister Dior, Kaileen Chang as Ruby, and Sophie Lennon as Brooklyn.

[07/08/26 - 12:01 PM]
Top 10 Most-Watched Prime Original Films & Series for the Week of June 29
"Elle," "Off Campus," "Every Year After," "Clarkson's Farm," and "Spider-Noir" led all original series worldwide.

[07/08/26 - 11:36 AM]
Warner Bros. Television Group Receives 52 Nominations for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards
Highlights include an Outstanding Drama Series nomination for "The Pitt," and Comedy Series nods for "Abbott Elementary" and "Shrinking," and a Lead Actor nomination for Steve Carell's role in "Rooster."

[07/08/26 - 11:31 AM]
The Walt Disney Company Earns 125 Emmy Award Nominations
"The Beast in Me" and "The Oscars" led the company with nine nominations each.

[07/08/26 - 10:19 AM]
HBO Max Receives the Most Emmy Nominations with 122 Nods
"The Pitt" received 26 nominations including Outstanding Drama Series; while "Hacks" was given 25 nominations, including Outstanding Comedy Series.

[07/08/26 - 10:00 AM]
Championship June Drives Big Viewership Increases for ESPN Studio Shows
Events including the NBA Finals and Draft, the Stanley Cup Final, the Men's and Women's College World Series, FIFA World Cup and more captured the June sports scene and drove the content and discussion in ESPN's studio shows.

[07/08/26 - 09:31 AM]
Meredith Hayden Is Coming to Netflix with a New Video Podcast
"Wishbone Kitchen," a new weekly video podcast from Meredith Hayden, is coming to Netflix in August.

[07/08/26 - 08:31 AM]
78th Emmy Awards Complete Nominations List
"The Diplomat," "The Gilded Age," "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," "Paradise," "The Pitt," "Pluribus," "Slow Horses," and "Your Friends & Neighbors" will compete for Outstanding Drama Series.

[07/08/26 - 08:16 AM]
Video: "You+Me - Against the World" - Official Teaser - Prime Video
The adaptation of the book by Emma Green with Vittoria Di Savoia and Lucas Barski is coming September 18 on Prime Video.

[07/08/26 - 08:06 AM]
New Nova Series "Evolution," A BBC Studios Production with Nova and GBH for PBS and BBC, Traces the History of Life Itself
The series will premiere Wednesdays, October 14 - November 11 at 9pm ET/8c on PBS (check local listings) and stream at pbs.org/nova, NOVA on YouTube, and the PBS App.

[07/08/26 - 07:31 AM]
Video: We TV and All Reality Unveil Key Art and Trailer for New Original Unscripted Series "Age Inappropriate"
The new unscripted series explores the real lives of modern age-gap relationships.

[07/08/26 - 07:02 AM]
Heartstopper: "Ending on a Hi" Behind-the-Scenes Special - on Netflix July 24th
Through candid interviews and fan voices, it charts the show's creative journey, cultural impact, and lasting legacy - a love letter to the community it brought together.

[07/08/26 - 07:01 AM]
"Beyond Society", Created by J.A. Bayona, Arrives on Netflix in 2026
The story of Flight 571 did not end on the day the survivors were rescued from the Andes.

[07/08/26 - 06:31 AM]
Video: "Elize: Shadows of a Woman" - Official Trailer - Netflix
In this retelling of a real case, a former escort discovers her wealthy husband's infidelity and struggles to cope as betrayal poisons their marriage.

[07/08/26 - 06:01 AM]
Optum Golf Channel Games - Featuring Rory McIlroy And Scottie Scheffler - Return this December on Golf Channel and USA Network
Scheffler and McIlroy - the No. 1 and No. 2 men's players in the world - will return as playing team captains at the 2026 Optum Golf Channel Games, following Team Scheffler's narrow victory over Team McIlroy last year.