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)





[07/22/26 - 09:31 AM]
Video: "Let's Marry Harry" - Official Trailer - Netflix
With help from Alex Cooper ("Call Her Daddy") and his best friends, can Harry Jowsey ("Perfect Match") find true love and settle down in marriage?

[07/22/26 - 09:01 AM]
HBO Original Comedy Special "Whitmer Thomas: Terminal Crew of Dudes" Debuts August 14
In his second HBO stand-up special, comedian, musician, and actor Whitmer Thomas digs into his small-town Alabama upbringing... and his ongoing quest to be cool.

[07/22/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "The Chosen in the Wild with Bear Grylls" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
The new series, hosted by Bear Grylls, premieres August 9, 2026, on Prime Video with all six episodes available at launch.

[07/22/26 - 09:00 AM]
The Definitive Documentary on Global Icon Julie Andrews Is Coming to Disney+ in 2027
This definitive portrait offers an intimate and revealing look at Andrews' extraordinary journey, from her early days in British vaudeville to her meteoric rise as a global superstar.

[07/22/26 - 07:04 AM]
Investigation Discovery to Re-Examine Aileen Wuornos in New Docuseries "Unmasking a Monster: Aileen Wuornos"
The three-part docuseries will premiere on Wednesday, September 30 from 8-11PM ET/PT on ID and will be available to stream on HBO Max.

[07/22/26 - 06:01 AM]
Prime Video Announces Exclusive Access Documentary Film Following Lily Allen
The retrospective documentary will chart Lily's extraordinary journey, from the "Queen of MySpace" who changed the rules of the music industry, to the cultural force she is today.

[07/22/26 - 02:01 AM]
Video: "Big Chicken: A Fast Food Conspiracy" - Official Trailer - Netflix
In a bold 28-day experiment, comedian Mo Gilligan tours the UK and US on a fried chicken diet to uncover the impact of the craving - and industry behind it.

[07/21/26 - 04:03 PM]
FOX Saturday Baseball Delivers 2.639 Million for Seattle's Extra-Inning Win Over San Francisco
Viewership peaked with 3,383,000 viewers from 8:00-8:15 PM ET.

[07/21/26 - 03:22 PM]
FOX Sports' Presentation of FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Etches Place in Record Books as Most-Watched Soccer Telecast in U.S. History With 38,937,000 Viewers
The record-breaking Final reached its dramatic peak with 51,685,000 viewers watching from 5:45 to 6:00 PM ET as Spain secured a 1-0 victory in extra time over Argentina.

[07/21/26 - 02:22 PM]
NBC Sports Delivers Most Watched Final Round of the Open Championship Since 2022
Sunday's audience peaked at 6.1 million viewers on NBC and Peacock from 1:15-1:30 p.m. ET.

[07/21/26 - 02:03 PM]
"Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro" Series Debut Tops 5 Million Total Viewers
On linear, "Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro" was the No. 1 program of the night in both Total Viewers (4.42 million) and Adults 18-49 (0.47 rating).

[07/21/26 - 02:01 PM]
Netflix's "Untold" Returns with Three New Films
Vince Young, Rachael Gunn, and Mr. T are the latest subjects.

[07/21/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of July 13 - "Little House on the Prairie" Journeys to No. 1 in This Week's Top 10
"The Hawk" - the sports comedy starring Will Ferrell as an infamous golf legend chasing a late-career comeback on the green - debuted in the No. 3 spot on the list, swinging to 4.8 million views.

[07/21/26 - 11:02 AM]
The Big Apple Turns Red Hot When "The Real Housewives of New York City" Returns on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 8 P.M. ET/PT on Bravo
Taking on New York City this season are Sai de Silva, Erin Lichy, Jessel Taank, Carole Radziwill, Hailey Glassman, Erika Hammond and Daisy Toye.

[07/21/26 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "The Undeclared War" Season 2 - Official Trailer - Peacock Original
Set in 2024, "The Undeclared War" returns with a fresh wave of tension and drama as the elite Malware Department at GCHQ grapples with the aftermath of a devastating Russian cyber-attack.