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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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[09/30/26 - 10:00 AM]
Bravo Unveils Full Lineup for Bravo Fan Fest Charleston on Saturday, Oct. 24
The fun doesn't stop there as "Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen" will tape four star-studded shows from Charleston to air on Bravo and stream next day on Peacock.
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[09/30/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Katseye: Wild Hearts" Trailer & Key Art Debut
The documentary film premieres on Hulu and Disney+ October 16.
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[09/30/26 - 09:01 AM]
Prime Video Unveils Cast for Chilean Original Series "La Senora"
Amparo Noguera, Daniel Alcaíno, Carmen Gloria Bresky and Nicolás Brown star in the legal crime thriller that explores bitterness, revenge and wickedness.
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[09/30/26 - 09:00 AM]
CBS Announces Three Unscripted Series Orders
The offerings include an updated edition of "Undercover Boss" hosted by Drew Carey and two new series: "Stacks of Cash," hosted by Mike O'Malley, and "24 Hour Millionaire" (wt) from the executive producers of "Big Brother."
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[09/30/26 - 08:31 AM]
Video: Peacock Releases Premiere Date & First Look for Seth MacFarlane's "Ted: The Animated Series"
MacFarlane joins stars Mark Wahlberg, Amanda Seyfried, and Jessica Barth in the series, due on December 17.
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[09/30/26 - 08:10 AM]
HBO Max Announces New Drama Series in Development in Spain, Created by Goya Award Winners Fran Araujo and Eduard Sola
The project is inspired by the story of Tor, a remote mountain community where tragic events took place that remain unsolved to this day.
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[09/30/26 - 08:02 AM]
Video: "Love Is Blind" Season 11: Boston - Official Trailer - Netflix
Hosts Nick and Vanessa Lachey are headed to Boston with a new group of singles ready to fall for someone sight unseen and pour their hearts out in the pods. Is love enough to take them all the way?
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[09/30/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Surviving Hurricane Otis" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Wirpul and his half-brother fight to survive Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, where their brotherhood and courage turns adversity into hope.
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[09/30/26 - 07:31 AM]
It's Time for a Fresh Cut: Prime Video Unveils Premiere Date and Glimpse at "Barbershop"
The comedy series inspired by the beloved film franchise will premiere all eight episodes on February 10, 2027, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
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[09/30/26 - 07:01 AM]
The Coffin Is Closed: "Wednesday" Season 3 Has Wrapped Production
The series is a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams' years as a student at Nevermore Academy.
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[09/30/26 - 06:02 AM]
Video: Netflix Unveils Main Trailer and Release Date for "The Gift of Deceit," New Melodrama Starring Marieta Severo, Alice Wegmann, and Nanda Costta
The 10-episode series set in Rio de Janeiro premieres October 28.
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[09/30/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Collision Course" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Spain, 2013. After robbing a bank, a getaway crash reveals the hidden side of each thief, exposing betrayals and lies that began long before the heist.
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[09/30/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: Apple TV Unveils Trailer for "Small Prophets," The Captivating Comedy Created by Mackenzie Crook
The series will premiere on Apple TV with the first two episodes on October 7, 2026, excluding the U.K., where it will be available to Apple TV subscribers in 2027.
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[09/30/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "The Man with the Bag" - Official Teaser - Prime Video
He'll be back... hopefully with presents. Arnold Schwarzenegger is Santa in "The Man with the Bag." Coming to Prime Video December 2.
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[09/30/26 - 06:00 AM]
The CW Network and National Hot Rod Association Reach Multi-Year Broadcast Agreement for NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Events
Beginning in Fall 2027, The CW will be the exclusive multiplatform home for the final seven races of the season, including the world's biggest drag race at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, as well as the full six-race Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
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