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[10/21/09 - 06:29 PM]
Development Update: Wednesday, October 21
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC) |
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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!
BOYFRED (ABC, New!) - Newcomers Blake Silver, Jarrod Zimmerman, Alan Schmuckler and Michael Mahler have landed a script order from the Alphabet for a new comedy about six twentysomething friends who use a web site to keep in touch after one of them moves overseas. The project, which has a penalty attached, is based on a 15-minute presentation the quartet shot last summer for $6,000. Thomas Schlamme has subsequently come on board to executive produce the half-hour, which is set up at Sony Pictures Television. As for specifics, said effort revolves around Fred, "a Web designer in Chicago whose girlfriend goes overseas, so he creates a Web site for their circle of friends to keep in touch." In addition, "many of the show's characters are involved in Chicago's music scene, and their music blogs are central to the shared Web site, Boyfred.com." Silver directed the presentation with Schmuckler, Mahler and Zimmerman starring and Schmuckler and Mahler providing original music.
FLASH FORWARD (ABC) - Marc Guggenheim has stepped down as co-showrunner of the freshman drama. The move comes as production wraps on the show's original 13 episode order, which Guggenheim was brought in to supervise alongside co-creator David Goyer. Goyer then will fly solo for the remaining 12 episodes of its 25-installment freshman run. As for Guggenheim, he'll transition to development through his overall deal with producer ABC Studios.
I'M WITH STUPID (ABC, New!) - Judy Greer ("Miss/Guided") is set to topline a new multi-comedy at the network about Kas Sienkiewicz, "a Manhattanite who has a fling with a park ranger while on safari in South Africa" who returns home to find the ranger has tracked her down where his "limited intellectual capabilities" are ultimately revealed. Elaine Szewczyk, whose novel upon which the show is based, is penning the half-hour alongside Allan Loeb. Loeb, Steven Pearl and Richard Lewis then are executive producing the project, which has a script commitment, with Szewczyk serving as a co-executive producer. ABC Studios is producing the half-hour, which was originally developed by Lionsgate Television.
OLIVE PRODUCTIONS PROJECTS (Various, New!) - Steve Buscemi, Stanley Tucci and Wren Arthur's Olive Productions has booked a pair of projects around town. At HBO there's an untitled hour from Stu Zicherman ("Six Degrees") about "a brilliant, one-time powerful politician struggling to rebuild his career and relationships with his family and friends after being brought down by a scandal." Tucci is attached to play said role. Meanwhile, TBS has ordered "Good and Evel," an animated comedy about twin brothers Jack Good and Bo Evel who were "stolen by gypsy cab drivers at birth and taught how to behave and drive badly, Bo is a career petty criminal, and Jack bends over backward to mend his brother's ways and help his dysfunctional family." "Daria" co-creator Glenn Eichler penned said half-hour, which also comes from The Gotham Group's Lee Stollman and Ellen Goldsmith-Vein. Both projects are set up at Lionsgate Television where Olive has a first-look deal. Buscemi, Tucci and Arthur then will executive produce alongside the aforementioned creators.
UNTITLED PAUL RUST PROJECT (NBC, New!) - Paul Rust ("I Love You, Beth Cooper") is set to write and star in a new comedy at the Peacock based on his stint as a Wal-Mart employee. Universal Media Studios and Conan O'Brien's Conaco banner are behind the half-hour, which will track Rust's story of graduating from the U. of Iowa, returning to his hometown of LeMars, Iowa and taking a job at Wal-Mart (to be replaced by a fictional big-box store) - "only to find that his co-workers included his former high school principal." Rust, O'Brien and David Kissinger will then serve as executive producers.
WE ARE HERE (ABC, New!) - Hilary Winston ("My Name Is Earl") is developing a new comedy at the Alphabet about "four friends from the U. of Texas, all of whom still live in Austin, but deal with the arrival of adulthood in different ways." Anthony and Joe Russo ("Community") are also on board to executive produce the half-hour for Sony Pictures Television. The network has given a script commitment to the project with a penalty attached.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[09/16/26 - 01:01 PM]
"Saturday Night Live" Adds Saidah Belo-Osagie and Grace Reiter as Featured Players to the Cast for the Upcoming 52nd Season
"SNL" returns September 26 at 11:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. PT, live on NBC and Peacock with host Jalen Brunson and musical guest KATSEYE.
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[09/16/26 - 12:50 PM]
CBS Presents "The Amazing Race: 25 Years Around the World," An "Entertainment Tonight" Special, Tuesday, Sept. 29
The one-hour special celebrates 25 years of "The Amazing Race" with memorable moments from the ET Vault, never-before-seen footage and new interviews.
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[09/16/26 - 12:46 PM]
Madonna to Open the "2026 Video Music Awards (VMAs)" with Her First "VMAs" Performance in 23 Years, Airing Sunday, Sept. 27 on CBS
Madonna last performed at the "VMAs" more than two decades ago, when Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera joined her for their now-iconic 2003 opening performance.
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[09/16/26 - 12:20 PM]
Top 10 Most-Watched Prime Original Films & Series for the Week of September 7
"Reacher," "The Grand Tour," "Sterling Point," "Off Campus," and "LOL Next" led all original series worldwide.
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[09/16/26 - 12:17 PM]
Jefferson White Joins Season Two of CBS' Hit Series "Marshals" in a Recurring Role as Jimmy Hurdstrom
White will reprise his role as fan-favorite Jimmy Hurdstrom, a good-hearted yet rough-around-the-edges ranch hand who evolved from a troubled criminal into a resilient, proud cowboy.
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[09/16/26 - 12:08 PM]
Brendan Morgan, David Tomlinson, Gerry Dee, Michelle Mylett, Lauren Chan, and Nick Stahl Join the Cast of "Heated Rivalry" Season 2
Draft picks: confirmed.
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[09/16/26 - 11:34 AM]
Investigation Discovery Chronicles the Unique Bond Between a Survivor and a Serial Killer's Ex-Wife in "The Serial Killer Connection"
Rolling out over three weeks, the three-part docuseries airs Wednesdays at 9:00/8:00c on ID beginning on October 7.
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[09/16/26 - 11:01 AM]
HBO Max Orders New Drama Series "How to Survive Without Me"
The drama, from Berlanti Productions, stars series regulars Ray Romano, Kaley Cuoco, and Joshua Jackson.
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[09/16/26 - 11:01 AM]
On the Heels of Seven Primetime Emmy Award Wins, Peacock Announces Three Additional Seasons of "The Traitors," Produced by Studio Lambert with Alan Cumming Returning as Host
Peacock concluded its most recent season of "The Traitors" with its biggest ratings to-date, as viewership surged +72% over the prior season.
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[09/16/26 - 11:01 AM]
Video: Love Is Hell. Growth Is Worse in Prime Video's Official Trailer for Season Three of "Helluva Boss"
The first part of the third season consists of seven episodes, with three episodes premiering on October 14, followed by two episodes weekly through October 28.
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[09/16/26 - 10:08 AM]
Next on Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN - October 2026
"Coven Academy," "VisionQuest," and "Phony" are among the featured premieres.
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[09/16/26 - 10:01 AM]
Video: Trailer & Key Art Debut - Hulu Original Documentary "The Swan: Behind the Mirror"
The film premieres on September 29 on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally.
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[09/16/26 - 10:01 AM]
HBO Original Comedy Special "Kate Berlant: Parmesan" Debuts October 16
Seamlessly weaving through personal stories and stream-of-consciousness epiphanies, Kate offers up razor-sharp reflections on everything from the moon, to her destructive relationship to technology, to the evolving nature of sexuality.
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[09/16/26 - 09:50 AM]
Video: They're Back on Call! "Scrubs" Debuts Its Season 2 Trailer
The two-episode premiere of the "Scrubs" revival airs Wednesday, September 30, at 8:00 p.m. EDT/PDT on ABC and streams the next day on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.
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[09/16/26 - 09:41 AM]
Breaking the Deadlock "AI: Who's in Control?" - Broadcast and Streaming Premiere October 27 on PBS
In this new episode, eight panelists face a series of challenging dilemmas.
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