or


[01/04/10 - 06:43 PM]
Development Update: Monday, January 4
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!


1-8-7 DETROIT (ABC) - Jason Richman's drama script has been picked up to pilot by the Alphabet. The hour "follows the exploits of Motor City homicide detectives, as seen through the eyes of a fictitious documentary crew." ABC Studios is behind the project, which also comes from David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman's Mandeville Films. The pair then are executive producing alongside Richman.


ENLIGHTENED (HBO) - Luke Wilson, Diane Ladd, Amy Hill and Charles Esten are the latest additions to the comedy pilot, about Amy (Laura Dern), "a self-destructive woman who after a meltdown has a spiritual awakening and becomes determined to live an enlightened life, creating havoc at home and work." Wilson will play Levi, "Amy's unkempt ex-husband who has a drug problem," with Ladd (Dern's real life mom) as Amy's mother, "who takes in her daughter as a house guest after her crisis"; Hill as "the head of human resources at Amy's workplace"; and Esten in the recurring role of "Amy's boss and former lover who triggers her meltdown when he has her transferred." Mike White wrote and will direct the half-hour, which also stars Sarah Burns.


GREY'S ANATOMY (ABC) - Kim Raver has been upped to series regular on the veteran drama. The actress made her debut on the ninth episode this season as Teddy Altman, "a new cardio surgeon brought in by her former Army colleague Owen (Kevin McKidd)." She'll continue on in said role in all but one of the show's remaining episodes this season.

Separately, creator Shonda Rhimes has set up a trio of projects at producer ABC Studios via her overall deal. The offerings include "Year to Year," a "marriage-oriented drama" from J.J. Philbin ("Heroes"); "Off the Map," a medical drama from Jenna Bans ("Grey's Anatomy"); and "Love and Death," a "San Francisco-set romantic crime drama" from Mark Wilding ("Grey's Anatomy"). Rachel Eggebeen ("PU-239") was recently tapped as a development executive for Rhimes and Betsy Beers's Shondaland banner.


LIGHTS OUT (FX) - Catherine McCormack and Stacy Keach have both joined the cast of the upcoming drama, about Patrick "Lights" Leary (Holt McCallany), "an aging former heavyweight boxing champion who struggles to support his wife, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, and three daughters after his fighting days are over." They'll play the man's wife and father in the project, which Clark Johnson directed from a script by Justin Zackham. They'll take over for Melora Hardin and Kevin Conway, who originated the roles in the pilot. Fox TV Studios and FX Productions are co-producing the hour, which is executive produced by Zackham, Warren Leight, Phillip Noyce and Ross Fineman.


MERCY (NBC) - "Dawson's Creek" alum James Van Der Beek is set to recur on the freshman drama as "the hospital's new womanizing ICU chief who harbors a dark secret." Said role, which could become a regular, is set to begin at the start of its back nine order.


RETIRED AT 35 (TV Land) - Casey Wilson, Jessica Walter, Matt Champagne, George Wyner, Jere Burns, Faye DeWitt and Christine Ebersole have all joined the cast of the multi-camera comedy pilot, about David (Johnathan McClain), "a successful young businessman who decides to leave the New York rat race behind and move into his father Alan's (George Segal) Florida retirement home." They join the previously cast McClain, Segal, Josh McDermott as David's best friend and Ryan Michelle Bathe as David's love interest. As for the newcomers, Wilson will play David's sister with Walter as David's mom; Ebersole as a potential love interest for Alan; Champagne as Amy's boyfriend; Wyner as Alan's best friend; and Burns and DeWitt as unspecified characters. Chris Case is behind the half-hour, which comes from fellow executive producers Michael Hanel and Mindy Schultheis.


TRUE BLOOD (HBO) - Kevin Alejandro ("Southland") has scored a role on the show's heavily populated third season. He'll play Jesus, "a Latino orderly who is taking care of Ruby Jean Reynolds (Alfre Woodard) at her care facility and becomes involved with her son, Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis)." While Alejandro will appear in the majority of the show's third season episodes, said duties remain in second position to "Southland."


UNTITLED ADAM CAROLLA PROJECT (NBC, New!) - Adam Carolla is set to topline a potential new single-camera comedy at the network about "a contractor and father whose life is turned upside down when his wife leaves him." Carolla is penning the half-hour alongside Kevin Hench as well as executive producing alongside Jon Pollack, Jimmy Kimmel, Daniel Kellison, James Dixon, Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun. Universal Media Studios is the studio attached with the aforementioned's companies Jackhole Industries and BermanBraun producing.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [january 2010]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· DAWSON'S CREEK (WB)
· DETROIT 187 (ABC)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· ENLIGHTENED (HBO)
· GREY'S ANATOMY (ABC)
· LIGHTS OUT (FX)
· LOVE & DEATH (ABC)
· MERCY (NBC)
· OFF THE MAP (ABC)
· RETIRED AT 35 (TV LAND)
· SOUTHLAND (TNT)
· TRUE BLOOD (HBO)
· UNTITLED ADAM CAROLLA PROJECT (NBC)
· YEAR TO YEAR (ABC)





[07/30/25 - 09:06 AM]
TNT Unveils Impressive Guest Star Lineup for Season Two of "The Librarians: The Next Chapter"
Dominic Monaghan, Jeremy Swift, Josh Gates, Stefan Kapicic, Oliver Dench and more around bound for the show's sophomore run.

[07/30/25 - 09:06 AM]
ABC News Studios Announces Three New True Crime Docuseries to Premiere in August, Streaming Exclusively on Hulu
"Capturing Their Killer: The Girls on the High Bridge," "Stalking Samantha: 13 Years of Terror" and "Ruby Red Handed: Stealing America's Most Famous Pair of Shoes" are all on tap in the coming month.

[07/30/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Trailer & Key Art Debut - Hulu's "The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox"
A limited series inspired by the story of how Amanda Knox was wrongfully convicted for the tragic murder of her roommate, Meredith Kercher, and her 16-year odyssey to set herself free.

[07/30/25 - 07:16 AM]
Video: Apple TV+ Debuts Trailer for Peanuts Special "Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical"
Discover the magic of summer camp as Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the gang break out in original songs by Emmy Award nominees Jeff Morrow and Ben Folds, plus Broadway veterans Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner in the first Peanuts musical in over three decades.

[07/30/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "The Dead Girls" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Based on Jorge Ibargüengoitia's novel, the series tells how the Baladro sisters built a brothel empire and became merciless killers in 1960s Mexico.

[07/30/25 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Her Mother's Killer" Season 2 - Sneak Peek - Netflix
With Mejía in prison, Analía and Pablo look to their future. But a relentless new enemy threatens to destroy everything they've built.

[07/30/25 - 03:01 AM]
Video: "Fantasy Football Ruined Our Lives" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When a member of their fantasy football league vanishes on his wedding day, a motley group of friends recount the lead-up to his chaotic bachelor party.

[07/29/25 - 04:00 PM]
Video: Teaser Trailer & Poster - Korean Hulu Original "Tempest"
The new spy thriller with an international cast, including Gianna Jun, Gang Dongwon, John Cho and more, is launching with three episodes on September 10 on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally.

[07/29/25 - 02:26 PM]
Discovery Channel August Programming Highlights
This August, the all-new series "Truck Dynasty" premieres alongside new seasons of "Deadliest Catch," "Contraband: Seized at the Border," "Bering Sea Gold," "Mysteries of the Abandoned," and "Expedition X."

[07/29/25 - 12:32 PM]
"Inside the Worlds of Epic Universe" to Air Wednesday, Aug. 20 at 9 P.M. ET/PT on NBC and Next Day on Peacock
Hosted by Joe Manganiello, the one-hour special celebrates the debut of Universal Orlando Resort's Universal Epic Universe and explores the imagination, innovation and storytelling behind the groundbreaking new theme park.

[07/29/25 - 12:07 PM]
Video: "Songs & Stories with Kelly Clarkson" - NBC
Get an exclusive first look at the new four-part behind-the-scenes series, featuring Gloria Estefan, Jonas Brothers, Lizzo and Teddy Swims.

[07/29/25 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10 Week of July 21: "Happy Gilmore 2" Finds Its Happy Place at No. 1 in This Week's Top 10
Mystery thriller "Untamed" spent another week at No. 1 on the English TV List.

[07/29/25 - 11:46 AM]
ABC Airs Another of Its Most-Watched WNBA Games Ever: Indiana Fever vs Chicago Sky Averaged 1.5 Million Viewers, Up 17% from Last Year's ABC Average
Said audience peaked with 1.7 million viewers.

[07/29/25 - 11:30 AM]
Chilling Crime Thriller Based on the Unbelievable Real-Life Case, "Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story," Set to Premiere on Thursday, August 28, Exclusively on AMC+
Additionally, a three-part Sundance Now original true crime docu-series about the ordeal, "Chloe Ayling: My Unbelievable Kidnapping," will premiere with all episodes on Thursday, September 25, exclusively on Sundance Now and AMC+.

[07/29/25 - 11:00 AM]
ABC Announces Fall 2025 Premiere Dates on the Heels of Scoring the Top 5 Programs in Adults 18-49 for the 2024-2025 Season
New series "9-1-1: Nashville" and returning series "9-1-1" and "Grey's Anatomy" will now premiere Thursday, October 9.