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LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- The latest development news, culled from recent wire reports:
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NO KILL/SELLEVISION (NBC, New!) - Bryan Fuller ("Pushing Daisies") and Bryan Singer ("House") are set to team for a small screen take on Augusten Burroughs's book "Sellevision." Said tome detailed the lives of four people working at a fictional home shopping channel, Sellevision. Former HSN and QVC executive Mark Bozek is also on board to executive produce alongside Fuller and Singer. Bozek's Galgos Entertainment partner Russell Nuce and Singer's Bad Hat Harry executive Jason Taylor will also serve as an executive producer and producer, respectively. Singer himself is attached to direct the Universal Media Studios-based hour from a script by Fuller. Separately, Fuller has also booked a new half-hour comedy at the network and studio about a no-kill animal shelter. Dubbed simply "No Kill," the project is described as "a comedy about becoming human." BermanBraun's Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun are also on board to executive produce alongside Fuller. Both efforts are a result of Fuller's recent two-year overall deal with Universal Media Studios.
PARENTHOOD (NBC) - Maura Tierney has bowed out of the midseason drama, citing her ongoing treatments for breast cancer. "While we are saddened that Maura Tierney won't be able to continue in her current role in 'Parenthood,' our main concern is for her quick and full recovery. Our thoughts and best wishes are with her," the Peacock said in a statement. Tierney's rep likewise released a statement saying "Ms. Tierney and her doctors remain confident that the outcome of her treatments will be positive. She is deeply disappointed that she will not be able to rejoin such a highly respected, talented, fun and funny group of actors and wishes to thank Jason Katims and NBC for their patience and support." NBC, who had hoped to begin production in November, will now recast Tierney's role of Sarah, a single mom who moves back home with her parents (Bonnie Bedelia, Craig T. Nelson) to make ends meet.
SECRET MILLIONAIRE (FOX) - ABC has commissioned six new episodes of the FOX castoff, about "wealthy benefactors living incognito in impoverished communities until they reveal their real identities and donate large sums to the needy." Bruce Toms, Chris Coelen, Chris Cowan, Greg Goldman and Jean-Michel Michenaud were the executive producers of the FOX incarnation, which ran for six episodes back in December. Producer RDF USA subsequently began shopping the series around after FOX passed on a second season. It's not clear if Cowan and Michenaud's Rocket Science Laboratories will be involved in the ABC version.
TEXTS FROM LAST NIGHT (FOX, New!) - Steve Holland ("Rules of Engagement") is developing a new comedy at the network and Sony Pictures Television inspired by the blog of the same name, in which readers "post embarrassing messages that they've sent to friends, perhaps in the middle of the night or while intoxicated." Holland then will write and executive produce for Adam Sandler's studio-based Happy Madison banner using "the whole idea of racy - and sometimes embarrassing - communication, particularly among the twentysomething set" as a basis. FOX has ordered a script to the half-hour, which has a penalty attached should it not go to pilot. Separately, Penguin's Gotham Books plans to publish a compilation book of the site's messages.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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