 |
 |
[11/30/09 - 06:24 PM]
Development Update: Monday, November 30
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!
COUGAR TOWN (ABC) - Ryan Devlin ("Veronica Mars") has scored a recurring role on the freshman comedy. He'll play Smith, a love interest for Busy Phillipps's character. Further details about his character however weren't released.
FUNNY IN FARSI (ABC) - Barry Sonnenfeld ("Pushing Daisies") has been tapped to direct and executive produce the comedy pilot, based on Firoozeh Dumas's memoir about his experiences growing up in Newport Beach, California during the 1970s. The Alphabet originally issued the project a director-contingent order during its last development cycle. In any case, Sonnenfeld will work from a script by Jeffrey Hodes and Nastaran Dibai ("Rita Rocks") for ABC Studios. His involvement is tied to a first-look deal the director/producer inked with the studio earlier this year. The pact also called for Sonnenfeld to direct two pilots for the studio.
KEEP HOPE ALIVE (FOX) - Garrett Dillahunt ("Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about Jimmy (Lucas Neff), "a 25-year-old man raising an infant with the help of his quirky family after the mother of the baby, with whom he had a one-night stand, ends up on death row." He'll play Jimmy's dysfunctional father and boss, "who is not thrilled to find himself a grandfather and worries that the baby might carry her mom's homicidal gene." Martha Plimpton and Olesya Rulin also star in the 20th Century Fox Television-based half-hour, which Michael Fresco is directing from a script by Greg Garcia.
THE MENTALIST (CBS) - Aunjanue Ellis ("E-Ring") has booked a multi-episode arc on the sophomore drama. She'll play the CBI's "beautiful but tough" new boss, who "is brought in to restore discipline and morale to the division after the murder of three agents." Ellis takes over for Gregory Itzin's Virgil Minelli, who is being written out to accommodate the actor's return to "24" later this season. Her first episode will likely air in the spring.
RAISING THE BAR (TNT) - The cable channel has passed on ordering a third season of the legal drama. "Everyone at TNT had a great experience working on 'Raising the Bar' with Steven Bochco and the rest of the show's terrific cast and crew," said the network in a statement. "We're proud of the series and appreciate the efforts of all of the creative people who were involved. Unfortunately, ratings for 'Raising the Bar's' second season did not reach the levels required for TNT to renew the series." The network still has three episodes yet to air of the series however when or if they will be broadcast wasn't specified.
ROOSTER TALES (FOX, New!) - Matthew McConaughey is developing an animated comedy at the network based on the life of his brother Rooster. The project, to be penned by Kell Cahoon ("Psych"), follows "the world of a beer-swilling, redneck sheriff who marries a much younger woman from Mexico [only to realize] he's gained not only a wife but an entire clan - 114 members and counting." McConaughey and Cahoon will executive produce the half-hour alongside Mark Gustawes for the actor's J.K. Livin' Productions. It's understood FOX beat out TBS and Comedy Central for the project, which has a script commitment.
TOUGH TRADE (Epix) - Lucas Black ("The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift") and Cary Elwes ("Disney's A Christmas Carol") have both been cast in the drama pilot, about the Tucker family, "a Nashville music dynasty whose penchant for drink, debauchery and divorce has left it on the verge of bankruptcy." Black will play "an extremely talented guitarist and singer who could have followed in the Tucker legacy started by his grandfather (the previously cast Sam Shepard) and father (Elwes) but has no interest in pursuing a career in country music." Chris Offutt and Jenji Kohan are behind the hour, which is set up at Lionsgate Television.
UNTITLED JASON MANTZOUKAS PROJECT (FOX, New!) - Jason Mantzoukas (NBC's "Off Duty") has landed a script order from the network for a new medical comedy about "a female doctor who is unraveling at the seams." 20th Century Fox Television and The Chernin Co. are behind the half-hour, which Mantzoukas will executive produce alongside Peter Chernin and Katherine Pope.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
|
|
|
 [november 2009]  |
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
[10/20/26 - 03:19 PM]
"College GameDay Built by The Home Depot" Delivers Its Third Most-Watched Regular-Season Episode Ever from BYU
ESPN networks had 3 of the top 4 games this week, the second most-watched regular season Saturday on record (based on minutes).
|
[10/20/26 - 03:08 PM]
Ohio State's Win Over Indiana Scores Most-Watched College Football Game of the Week
Viewership peaked at 14,269,000 viewers from 3:30-3:45 PM ET on FOX.
|
[10/20/26 - 02:01 PM]
Video: "Possible Love" - Final Trailer - Netflix
A laid-off worker and his wife cross paths with a documentary filmmaker and her spouse and confront their hidden desires.
|
[10/20/26 - 01:01 PM]
FX's "American Horror Story" Sets 14th Installment on FX and Hulu
The "AHS: 13" premiere claimed a spot on Nielsen's Streaming Top 10 charts and represented Ryan Murphy's biggest launch ever on Hulu and Disney+.
|
[10/20/26 - 12:54 PM]
"Lioness" Roars to Record-Breaking Season Three
Viewership climbed every week of the eight-episode season, culminating in a series-record finale, which drew 9.7 million viewers in its first seven days, the largest audience for any episode in the show's history.
|
[10/20/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of October 12 - Get the Ransom Ready: "Animals" Takes the No. 1 Spot for a Second Week
"Below" stayed at the top of the English TV list with 21.2 million views - the highest viewership in a single week for a Canadian original title.
|
[10/20/26 - 11:01 AM]
Video: Paramount+ Releases Official Trailer for "He Said, She Said: Till Death Do Us Part"
The documentary follows a no-holds-barred custody battle between two high-powered lawyers, which extends beyond the courtroom into social media and the court of public opinion.
|
[10/20/26 - 10:58 AM]
Starz Announces Distribution Agreement Reached with Verizon
"We are pleased to have reached a mutually beneficial agreement that brings Starz's premium programming to Verizon Fios customers," said Alison Hoffman, President, Starz Networks.
|
[10/20/26 - 10:31 AM]
MGM+ Presents "Secret Service" - The Series Premieres November 22, 2026 on MGM+
Gemma Arterton, Rafe Spall, Mark Stanley, Aoife Hinds, and Avi Nash star in the series.
|
[10/20/26 - 10:02 AM]
Video: MGM+ Unveils Official Trailer for "New Wave" Featuring Music Revolutionaries from Billy Idol, The Police, Devo, Duran Duran and More
This series from This Machine Filmworks tells the fascinating story of New Wave music and the decade from 1977 to 1987 that brought alternative culture into the mainstream.
|
[10/20/26 - 09:30 AM]
Nick Kroll Tapped to Host and Executive Produce "LOL: Last One Laughing" US Edition on Prime Video
"I have loved this show in other countries and cannot wait to get the funniest people in the US together and watch them not laugh," says Kroll. "This format is pure joy and I'm thrilled to be a part of it!"
|
[10/20/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Trailer & Key Art Debut - Hulu's "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County"
The new unscripted series premieres on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the US, and Disney+ internationally on November 12.
|
[10/20/26 - 09:00 AM]
The History Channel Honors Veterans Day with Two-Hour Event "Forged by War: The Navy SEALs" Premiering Wednesday, November 11
Across two-hours this special presentation focuses on the pivotal moments that forged the U.S. Navy SEALs while reflecting on the courage, sacrifice and camaraderie shared by veterans across every branch of service.
|
[10/20/26 - 09:00 AM]
Hardy, Little Big Town and The Red Clay Strays to Perform on "New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash," Thursday, Dec. 31 on CBS
Additional performers will be announced at a later date.
|
[10/20/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Battle of the Streaming Stars" - Official Trailer - The Roku Channel
Terry Crews hosts as 12 streaming stars split into teams and battle through challenges inspired by iconic TV moments for the Golden Roku Remote.
|
|
|
|
