 |
 |
[12/10/09 - 06:13 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, December 10
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!
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
|
|
|
 [december 2009]  |
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
[09/23/18 - 10:28 AM]
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: ABC, FOX Share Demo Crown with College Football
The Alphabet however edges the evening among total viewers.
|
[09/23/18 - 10:04 AM]
College Football Week 4: ABC's "Saturday Night Football" Leads in Prime-Time
ESPN spins the numbers for Saturday, September 22.
|
[09/22/18 - 08:35 AM]
Friday's Broadcast Ratings: "Dateline" Sparks Another NBC Victory
The Peacock takes home top honors in total viewers and adults 18-49.
|
[09/21/18 - 11:59 AM]
FX Networks Bringing "What We Do in the Shadows" and "Archer" to New York Comic Con
FX will present an exclusive screening of its new vampire comedy "What We Do in the Shadows," followed by a spirited discussion with Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi and Paul Simms.
|
[09/21/18 - 11:15 AM]
Josh Segarra, Michael-Leon Wooley, Katerina Tannenbaum, and Tia Carrere Join RuPaul Charles in Netflix Comedy Series "AJ and the Queen"
The series is written by Michael Patrick King and RuPaul Charles who will both serve as executive producers.
|
[09/21/18 - 11:12 AM]
Video: Sony Crackle Releases Season Three Trailer and Key Art for Original Drama Series, "StartUp," Set to Debut with All 10 Episodes on Thursday, November 1
Joining the talented ensemble this season are Academy Award-winner and guest star Mira Sorvino, as NSA Agent Rebecca Stroud who has come to investigate ArakNet.
|
[09/21/18 - 10:04 AM]
"Mysteries of the Abandoned" Returning for Season Three Tuesday, October 2nd at 9PM on Science Channel
The series features stories behind some of the world's most amazing engineering marvels, why they were built, and why they were eventually no longer of use.
|
[09/21/18 - 10:03 AM]
"Saturday Night Live" Adds Ego Nwodim as Featured Player
"SNL" also added Alan Linic, Alison Gates, Eli Mandel and Bowen Yang as writers.
|
[09/21/18 - 09:12 AM]
Video: YouTube Original Series "Wayne" Debuts Teaser Trailer for New Action Comedy Series
The series will launch on YouTube Premium in January 2019.
|
[09/21/18 - 09:12 AM]
"Queen of the World," Landmark Documentary on Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Debuts Oct. 1, Exclusively on HBO in the U.S.
The documentary tells the story of how the Commonwealth and its growth have been a central focus and passion throughout Her Majesty's life.
|
[09/21/18 - 09:04 AM]
Video: "Battlefish" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Off the coast of Oregon, fishermen are taking to the high seas to cash in on the world's most valuable fishery: albacore tuna.
|
[09/21/18 - 09:01 AM]
Melissa Joan Hart & Sean Astin to Star in "No Good Nick," A New Live Action Comedy Series for Netflix
The series revolves around a family that welcomes a 13-year-old into their family before realizing she is a street-smart con artist with a secret agenda.
|
[09/21/18 - 09:00 AM]
A&E Network Orders 450 Additional Hours of "Live PD" - #1 Series on Cable Friday and Saturday Nights - From MGM's Big Fish Entertainment
Totaling 450 hours, the deal extends the series' run into 2019, with the new order bringing the number of commissioned episodes to 293 to date.
|
[09/21/18 - 08:27 AM]
Thursday's Broadcast Ratings: CBS, "Big Brother" Top All-Repeat Competition
The Eye's summer mainstay is the only original last night.
|
[09/21/18 - 08:04 AM]
Video: "Adam Sandler: 100% Fresh" - Date Announcement - Netflix
Adam Sandler's new comedy special comes to Netflix on October 23.
|
|
|
|
