or


[12/17/09 - 06:36 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, December 17
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!


THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE (The CW) - The netlet has opted to put all five completed episodes of the series on YouTube.com with HP serving as its sponsor. "Life" was axed back in September, just two weeks into its run. At the time it was reported production was underway on its seventh episode however only five were completed. "When 'The Beautiful Life' concluded on broadcast television, we were deluged by fans imploring us to bring back 'TBL,'" executive producer Ashton Kutcher said in a statement released to the press. "Working with innovative companies like HP and YouTube, we are thrilled to be ending this year by releasing the remaining episodes of 'The Beautiful Life' and taking part in a unique marketing program that could only occur online."


CRIMINAL MINDS (CBS) - Richard Shepard, who helmed the show's 2005 pilot, has been tapped to do the same for its upcoming spin-off. In addition, he'll direct one other pilot for the Eye during the upcoming developing cycle. The spin-off, about another group of FBI profilers, is set to shoot in February and air as an episode of the parent series later this season. Ed Bernero and Chris Mundy are penning the script and executive producing alongside Mark Gordon and Deborah Spera.


DR. DONNA (USA, New!) - Liz Kruger and Craig Shapiro have booked a new drama at network billed as "a dramedy about a sports therapist." The pair will pen the script and executive produce for Sony Pictures Television. No other details however were released.


THE FRESHMAN (USA, New!) - The 1990 Matthew Broderick/Marlon Brando feature is being eyed for the small screen by the cable channel. Andrew Bergman, who wrote and directed the film, is developing a new small screen take which will once again center on "a wide-eyed NYU freshman (Broderick) who unwittingly becomes an errand boy for a Mafia boss (Brando)." The hour is set up at Sony Pictures Television with Bergman and Michael Edelstein executive producing. Sony is likewise behind three other potential remakes: "Heathers" and "Charlie's Angels" at ABC and of the film "St. Elmo's Fire" at Fox.


THE EVENT (NBC, New!) - Steve Stark ("Medium") is developing a new drama at the Peacock about "the unraveling of the greatest government cover-up in U.S. history." Nick Wauters penned the hour, which is set up at Universal Media Studios. Stark and Russ Buchholz then will also executive produce via the former's Steve Stark Productions. Also at NBC, the company is shepherding "a project based on chef Paula Deen's life story, which the two executive produce with Barry Weiner." Outside of the Peacock, Stark has an untitled hour at Lifetime about "an unconventional female psychologist embedded within the Dallas Police Department" and "Stick," about "a Chicago hockey player who, after getting suspended from the league for unruly conduct, discovers that he has a knack for helping people in trouble," at USA. Gay Walch is behind the former while Mark Altman and Steve Kriozere penned the latter.


SHAMELESS (Showtime) - Emmy Rossum, Allison Janney and Justin Chatwin have all landed roles on the pay channel's import of the veteran U.K. drama about the Gallaghers, "a working-class Chicago clan dealing with the recession." The previously cast William H. Macy plays the patriarch of said family who "usually ends up passed out on the living room floor, so their smart but unpredictable 18-year-old daughter Fiona (Rossum) is tasked with keeping her five younger brothers and sisters on the straight and narrow." Chatwin then is set as Steve, "a car thief who falls in love with Fiona," with Janney in the recurring role of "a pivotal character that will become a love interest for Macy." Mark Mylod is directing the Warner Bros. Television-based pilot from a script by Paul Abbott and John Wells.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [december 2009]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· BEAUTIFUL LIFE, THE (CW)
· CHARLIE'S ANGELS (ABC)
· CRIMINAL MINDS (CBS)
· CRIMINAL MINDS: SUSPECT BEHAVIOR (CBS)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· EVENT, THE (NBC)
· FRESHMAN, THE (USA)
· HEATHERS (PARAMOUNT)
· MEDIUM (CBS)
· NECESSARY ROUGHNESS (USA)
· SHAMELESS (SHOWTIME)
· ST. ELMO'S FIRE (NBC)
· STICK (USA)
· UNTITLED GAY WALCH PROJECT (LIFETIME)
· UNTITLED PAULA DEEN PROJECT (NBC)





[03/25/26 - 03:03 PM]
ABC Programming Update: Tuesday Night Dramas
Following the Season 2 finale of "High Potential" on April 7, "R.J. Decker" will move to the Tuesday 9 p.m. time slot beginning April 14.

[03/25/26 - 02:33 PM]
ESPN Scores Second Most-Watched NCAA Women's Second Round Ever
Through two rounds (First and Second), the 2026 Women's NCAA Tournament is averaging 628,000 viewers.

[03/25/26 - 12:01 PM]
Video: HBO Original Harry Potter Series Releases First Official Teaser and Announces Christmas 2026 Debut
"Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" will debut Christmas 2026 on HBO and will be available to stream exclusively on HBO Max where it's available, including recent launch markets Germany, Italy, and the UK & Ireland.

[03/25/26 - 11:00 AM]
CBS Media Ventures Announces Programming Slate for the 2026-2027 Broadcast Season
Said offerings include eight fan-favorite and award-winning shows and three exciting new titles.

[03/25/26 - 10:21 AM]
BET's "Love & Hip Hop: Miami" Returns for Its Explosive Midseason Premiere on Wednesday, April 8 at 8 PM ET/PT
Welcome back to the 305 - where the sun is hot, the tea is hotter, and everybody's business is everybody's business.

[03/25/26 - 10:10 AM]
Zac Brown Band to Star in "Sunday Night Baseball" Open on NBC and Peacock
The show open debuts Sunday, April 12, leading into the Cleveland Guardians-Atlanta Braves game on NBC and Peacock (7 p.m. ET) and will open "Sunday Night Baseball" each weekend for the rest of the season.

[03/25/26 - 10:01 AM]
Netflix's "A Different World" Sequel Series Adds Additional Guest Stars
The latest additions include Dawnn Lewis and Glynn Turman, who will be reprising their roles from the original series.

[03/25/26 - 09:16 AM]
Video: "The Old Stories: Moses" - Official Trailer - Wonder Project
From the creators of "House of David" - a three part companion special.

[03/25/26 - 09:05 AM]
German Political Thriller "Dangerous Truth" Debuts in U.S. Thursday, April 9 on European Streamer Viaplay
Inspired by real events surrounding the faulty intelligence that helped justify the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the six-part German thriller explores a deadly conspiracy buried within European intelligence services.

[03/25/26 - 09:04 AM]
Video: "Star City" - Official Teaser - Apple TV
Star City. Where reaching for space meant risking everything on Earth.

[03/25/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Apex" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A grieving woman pushing her limits on a solo adventure in the Australian wild is ensnared in a twisted game with a cunning killer who thinks she's prey.

[03/25/26 - 05:01 AM]
Duffy to Share Her Story as She Steps Back Into the Light in New Documentary Film for Disney+
The feature length documentary film that will follow Grammy, Brit, and Ivor Novello award-winning singer, Duffy.

[03/25/26 - 04:17 AM]
Netflix Announces the Start of Production for "Reasonable Doubts"
The limited series centers on the Sellés family, who belong to the well-off bourgeoisie, are well integrated into their city, and enjoy the esteem and respect of high society.

[03/25/26 - 03:01 AM]
Video: "Flunked" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Eddy, a math genius and small-time crook, avoids jail-time by going undercover as a teacher. His mission: to identify the kid of a major criminal.

[03/25/26 - 01:01 AM]
Video: "Should I Marry a Murderer?" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A fiancée turned key witness reveals how she stayed engaged to a man accused of murder while gathering evidence against him in this documentary series.