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[12/10/09 - 06:13 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, December 10
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!
AMERICA: THE STORY OF US (History) - Meryl Streep, Michael Douglas, Colin Powell, Brian Williams, Buzz Aldrin, Tommy Franks, Donald Trump, John Lasseter and Stevie Wonder have all been tapped to participate in the upcoming 12-part event, which will "focus on the elements that distinguish American democracy, the conflicts that shaped it and the myriad social and industrial innovations that have fueled the country's prosperity." Said talent will serve as on-camera commentators with Jane Root executive producing via her Nutopia production banner. "America" is due sometime in 2010.
DELTA BLUES (TNT) - Alfre Woodard ("Three Rivers") has joined the cast of the drama pilot, about Dwight Hendricks (Jason Lee), "a Memphis police officer who lives with his mother (Celia Weston) and moonlights as a tribute artist." She'll play "the formidable new lieutenant who tries to exercise her power over Dwight," a role presumably in second position to the hiatused "Rivers." Warner Horizon Television and Smokehouse Productions are behind the hour, which also stars Abraham Benrubi, DJ Qualls, Leonard Howz, Robyn Lively and Sam Hennings. Clark Johnson is directing from a script by Joshua Harto and Liz Garcia.
FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS (HBO) - Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement have announced via their web site their pay channel series won't be returning for a third season. "We've noticed the less we say about the future of the show, the more people want to talk about it, so in an effort to reverse this trend we are today announcing that we won't be returning for a 3rd season," said the statement. "We're very proud of the two seasons we made and we like the way the show ended. We'd like to thank everyone who helped make the show and also everyone who watched it. While the characters Bret and Jemaine will no longer be around, the real Bret and Jemaine will continue to exist." The show wrapped its second season back in March.
GLEE (FOX) - Tony-winning actress Idina Menzel ("Wicked") is reportedly in talks to recur on the back half of the show's freshman season. She would play the coach to glee club "Vocal Adrenaline," the McKinley High glee club's main competition. Menzel had already been the focus of a fan campaign to cast her as Rachel Berry's (Lea Michele) biological mother. Also signing on for a five to six episode arc is Jonathan Groff. He'll play the lead male vocalist of "Vocal Adrenaline" and a potential love interest for Rachel Berry. Groff co-starred opposite Michele in the Broadway production of "Spring Awakening."
KEEP HOPE ALIVE (FOX) - Kate Micucci ("Scrubs") has landed a role on the comedy pilot, about Jimmy (Lucas Neff), "a 25-year-old single parent 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." She'll play Mike, "an unkempt, fairly oblivious cousin of Jimmy living in a tent in the laundry room of their great-grandmother's house." Said role was originally envisioned a male. Garrett Dillahunt, Kate Micucci, 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 SIX (ABC, New!) - Merv Griffin Entertainment has landed a presentation order from the Alphabet for a new game show based on the Russian format "What? Where? When?" Said project, which has been running for 35 years in its home country, is being redubbed "The Six," after the number of contestants on the show. The late Vladimir Voroshilov created (and hosted) the series, which pits a panel of six knowledgeable persons against the viewing audience. Said experts are tasked with answering audience-submitted questions listed on a spinning horizontal wheel divided into segments. If the experts answer correctly in the allotted 60 seconds they receive a point, if they don't the audience receives a point with question's author also earning a prize. (Sample question: "They first appeared in 1908 in Mexico. There were two of them. Over time, they came closer and closer together, like wings of a black raven. Name them." Answer: "Frida Kahlo's eyebrows.") Exact format details however are still being worked out. Merv Griffin's Roy Bank is executive producing the project alongside Ukranian-born actor Alex Reznik, Jonathan Barry and Ron Ward. Dwight Smith and Michael Agbabian are the showrunners with Brian Veskosky serving as a co-executive producer.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[08/11/26 - 09:01 AM]
Chip Gaines Is Ready to Give Some "Pretty Good Advice" in New Magnolia Network YouTube Series, Premiering Aug. 17
In the series, Chip will set up his advice booth at the Silos to offer guidance, and occasionally a little tough love, to guests who stop by.
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[08/11/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "MobLand" - Season 2 Official Trailer - Paramount+
The Harrigans struggle to show a unified front as rising rivals threaten their criminal empire.
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[08/11/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story" - Official Teaser - Netflix
The first female monster from Ryan Murphy's famed anthology series is coming to Netflix September 17.
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[08/11/26 - 08:52 AM]
Video: CNN Films and Time Studios Release Trailer and Key Art for Documentary Short "Top of the World" from Julie Cohen & Betsy West
Produced in association with Montalto Pictures, Tribeca Studios and Storyville Films, the film opens in New York for a limited theatrical engagement at DCTV Firehouse Cinema from August 28 through September 3, before premiering on CNN on Monday, September 7 at 8:00/7:00c.
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[08/11/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Dang!" - Official Trailer - Netflix
After their sister Ruthie blows up her perfect life, Andrew and Eunice show her the fun in being flawed as she helps them adult in this animated sitcom.
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[08/11/26 - 07:16 AM]
Netflix's "A Different World" Reveals Brandy Theme Song
Today, Netflix announced that Grammy Award winner, Brandy Norwood, is bringing her voice to the theme song for "A Different World," releasing September 24, only on Netflix.
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[08/11/26 - 06:57 AM]
Disney+ Revs Up as the Global Streaming Home of Formula E
Spanning 21 rounds across 13 events in some of the most iconic cities around the world, the upcoming season kicks off on December 18 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and with stops in Austin, Miami, Monaco and Mexico City, culminating in the final round on July 25, 2027, in Tokyo.
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[08/11/26 - 06:46 AM]
Video: "Gentle Monster" - Official Teaser - Netflix
When a police raid shatters her life, concert pianist Lucy (Léa Seydoux) must protect her son and confront how little she knows her husband after he is accused of an unspeakable crime in this tense thriller about trust and survival.
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[08/11/26 - 06:31 AM]
First Look: Netflix's "The Body" Premieres on November 11
The upcoming eight-episode series is created by Quinn Shephard and follows a group of badly behaved Catholic school girls who begin having prophetic visions that set off mass hysteria in their town after a dance-team initiation goes wrong.
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[08/11/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: Apple TV Debuts Trailer for New Thriller "Last Seen" Starring Patrick Brammall
"Last Seen" will make its global debut on Wednesday, September 9 with two episodes, followed by a new episode every Wednesday until October 7, 2026.
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[08/11/26 - 05:03 AM]
ESPN and ABC Unveil American Express NBA Tip-Off and NBA Christmas Day Presented by State Farm Broadcast Schedules for the 2026-27 Regular Season
ESPN tips off its 2026-27 NBA regular season coverage on Wednesday, October 21, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET as the Minnesota Timberwolves and Anthony Edwards, along with newly acquired LaMelo Ball, visit the Miami Heat and two-time Kia NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who makes his Heat debut.
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[08/11/26 - 04:49 AM]
Jalen Brunson and Defending NBA Champion New York Knicks, LeBron James, Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jayson Tatum, and Cade Cunningham Headline First-Ever American Express NBA Tip-Off Tripleheader on Tuesday, Oct. 20, on NBC and Peacock
This will be the first time that a network has ever broadcast three NBA Tip-Off games.
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[08/10/26 - 05:00 PM]
She's Really Good! Demi Lovato Makes Surprise Cameo as Mitchie Torres in "Camp Rock 3" Cameo
Lovato returns to the beloved franchise as both an executive producer and will make a cameo in the new film.
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[08/10/26 - 01:46 PM]
Damon Wayans Reunites with "In Living Color" Castmate David Alan Grier on the Season Three Premiere of NBC's "St. Denis Medical"
Wayans will guest star in the role of Dr. Highland, a charming but pompous new doctor at St. Denis.
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[08/10/26 - 01:30 PM]
"Big Brother" Celebrates Historic 1,000th Primetime Episode with Surprise Guests, Fan Votes and the Summer's Biggest Twist
The historic night will feature surprise appearances from former Houseguests determined by interactive fan votes and kick off the biggest twist of the summer.
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