 |
 |
[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 |
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
[07/21/14 - 01:03 PM]
"Nixon by Nixon: In His Own Words," A Revealing Profile of the Former President, Debuts Aug. 4 on HBO
The film is presented in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of his resignation and features excerpts from his secretly recorded his private conversations.
|
[07/21/14 - 12:38 PM]
Zap! Pow! Bang! Comedy Central(R) Hits San Diego Comic-Con with Multiple Fan Events
Said offering start with back-to-back panels as Comedy Central Presents "Key & Peele" and Introduces "Moonbeam City" on Thursday, July 24.
|
[07/21/14 - 11:44 AM]
Velocity's All-New Series "Garage Squad" Helps America Rebuild and Restore Their Favorite Dream Cars
Hosted by Bruno Massel and Lauren Bohlander, the series comes to the rescue of people whose automotive projects have come to a dead end.
|
[07/21/14 - 11:32 AM]
Bleachers Named VH1's August You Oughta Know Artist
Bleachers will benefit from significant cross-platform promotion via frequent music video plays, a custom promo spot, interview on VH1's music-oriented Tuner blog, VH1's Top 20 Countdown, and much more.
|
[07/21/14 - 11:32 AM]
Academy Award Winner(R) Adrien Brody Stars in "Houdini" - Two-Night Miniseries-Event Premieres September 1 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on History(R)
Joining Brody is Kristen Connolly as Bess Houdini, the love of Harry's life and right hand when it came to some of his most amazing feats.
|
[07/21/14 - 11:22 AM]
Nat Geo WILD's No. 1 Series "The Incredible Dr. Pol" Returns Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014, at 9 PM ET/PT
Additionally, his new book, "Never Turn Your Back on an Angus Cow," hits the stands August 18, chronicling his life from childhood in the Netherlands up to the local hero he is today.
|
[07/21/14 - 10:51 AM]
Tia Maggini Joins Lifetime as Vice President, Original Movies
Most recently, Maggini was Vice President of Television for Josephson Entertainment in Los Angeles, where she was responsible for managing all areas of television development on behalf of the company.
|
[07/21/14 - 10:48 AM]
Homeowners Smash Their Way to Spectacular Renovations on DIY Network's "Sledgehammer"
The series features homeowners who think they're trying out for a home improvement show, but instead get a surprise visit from Jason Cameron who promises to fix any room they can completely demolish in 30 minutes.
|
[07/21/14 - 10:47 AM]
Six New Ways to Celebrate Shark Week 2014
Building upon last year's 11 shark-filled specials, a whopping 13 hours of new programming coupled with the live late-night talk show "Shark After Dark" will air beginning August 10.
|
[07/21/14 - 10:41 AM]
Country Rocks Your Summer on "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock," Airing Tuesday, August 5 on the ABC Television Network
Adding their chops and charm to the special are Luke Bryan, Eric Church with special guest Lzzy Hale of Halestorm, Florida Georgia Line, Brantley Gilbert, Lady Antebellum, and Blake Shelton with special guest Gwen Sebastian.
|
[07/21/14 - 10:30 AM]
Live+7-Day Playback for the Premiere Episode of "Under the Dome" Tops Last Summer's L+7 Series Premiere
CBS further spins the numbers for Monday, June 30.
|
[07/21/14 - 10:29 AM]
FXX to Air Longest Running Marathon in TV History with "The Simpsons"
For 24 hours a day, over the course of the 12 days, FXX will air 552 episodes of "The Simpsons" (through Season 25) as well as "The Simpsons Movie" (airing after episode 400), in chronological order.
|
[07/21/14 - 10:19 AM]
Bernadette Peters to Guest Star in Bravo Media's "Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce"
Peters will play Lyla's (Janeane Garofalo) mother Annie, who comes to town to help her with the kids.
|
[07/21/14 - 10:17 AM]
He'll Be Back - "Louie" Picked Up by FX for Fifth Season
The seven-episode new season from Creator/Executive Producer/Writer/Star/Director/Editor Louis C.K. will premiere in Spring 2015.
|
[07/21/14 - 10:06 AM]
Aw, Geez, FX Is Going Back to "Fargo"
The new chapter of the "Fargo" story will feature an all-new cast of characters, a new time period and a new "true crime" story that will unfold over the course of 10 episodes.
|
|
|
|
