or


[02/25/10 - 12:01 AM]
Development Update: Thursday, February 25
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!


BODY OF EVIDENCE (ABC) - John Carroll Lynch ("K-Ville"), Windell Middlebrooks ("Scrubs") and Geoffrey Arend ("Trust Me") are the first to be cast in the drama pilot, about Dr. Megan Hunt, "a brilliant and tenacious neurosurgeon-turned-medical examiner." Lynch will play Bud Morris, a detective who initially butts heads with Hunt. Middlebrooks then is set as Dr. Semo Solomona, the Deputy Chief Medical Examiner (originally written for "a Samoan man whose girth brings new meaning to 'throwing his weight around the office.'"). Rounding out the trio is Arend as Dr. Elliot Gross, "boyish, geeky in an endearing way, and utterly non-threatening," another doctor at the ME's office. Chris Murphey penned the hour, which is set up at ABC Studios.


CHAOS (CBS) - Tim Blake Nelson ("The Incredible Hulk") is the latest addition to the drama pilot, about "a group of rogue CIA operatives combating bureaucratic gridlock, rampant incompetence and political infighting." He's believed to be playing Casey Malick, an ex-marine who considers himself a human weapon and expresses "little interest in people [and] content to spend his days inside a gym, or in his own head." Freddy Rodriguez and James Murray also star in the 20th Century Fox Television-based hour, which Brett Ratner is directing from a script by Tom Spezialy.


CRASH (Starz) - The pay channel has reportedly passed on a third season of the drama, based on the Oscar-winning film of the same name. Said report indicates the series "failed to meet audience expectations and led to a writeoff of $8 million derived from production costs in the fourth quarter." "Crash" wrapped its sophomore run back in December.


THE EVENT (NBC) - Scott Patterson ("Gilmore Girls") and Sarah Roemer ("Fired Up!") have both signed onto the drama pilot, about Sean (Jason Ritter), "a regular man fighting his way through the mysterious circumstances of a conspiracy to assassinate the U.S. president." She'll play Sean's girlfriend, Leila Gasiorowski, "an MIT-educated biochemist who disappears as part of the conspiracy to force her father, Mark Gasiorowski (Patterson, described as "affable, Marlboro Man good looks"), an airline pilot, to crash an airliner into the presidential retreat." Nick Wauters is behind the Universal Media Studios-based hour, which also stars Ian Anthony Dale and Zeljko Ivanek.


FRESHMEN (ABC) - "The Deep End" co-star Ben Lawson has been cast in the comedy pilot, about "three first-year members of Congress who live together in a row house in Washington." He'll play one of them, Vince Rapp, who's "classically good looking, in a 'frat president' kind of way, works out, perfect hair, etc." Lawson's involvement is in second position to the midseason drama, which isn't expected to return. Sarah Chalke and Taran Killam also star in the half-hour, which comes from creator Greg Malins. Pamela Fryman is directing for 20th Century Fox Television.


HMS (The CW) - Megan Boone ("My Bloody Valentine") has been tapped for the lead role on the drama pilot, about the freshmen class at Harvard Medical School. She'll play Nell Larson, "a first-year HMS student intimidated by her new surroundings." Also signing on as her fellow classmates are Sarah Jones ("Sons of Anarchy") as Brittany Lace ("classy, fearless, super bright, super rich") and Tasso Feldman ("CSI: NY") as Leo ("tall, arrogant"). Amy Holden Jones penned the script to the project, which also features Hayden Panettiere as a co-executive producer. CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television are co-producing.


HOW TO BE A BETTER AMERICAN (ABC) - Jason Jones ("The Daily Show With Jon Stewart") has been cast as the lead in the comedy pilot, about "a father who embarks on a journey to be a better person and drags his family along kicking and screaming." He'll play said man, Hugh Pell, in the half-hour, which comes from co-creators Brian Bradley and Steven Cragg. ABC Studios is producing.


THE ODDS (CBS) - Kelly Hu ("CSI: NY") has scored a role on the drama pilot, about two Las Vegas cops (Donald Faison, Sullivan Stapleton) who are as outrageous as the crimes they solve. She's set as Tanya Jin, an "intelligent and attractive" Assistant District Attorney who sees the best in our heroes. Kenneth Fink is helming the Warner Bros. Television-based hour, which was penned by Jeff Wadlow.


PRIME SUSPECT (NBC) - The Peacock has postponed production on the drama pilot until June. Said development is the result of casting issues as the producers have yet to find their Jane Tennison (played by Helen Mirren in the original U.K. series). Mick Jackson is attached to helm the two-hour pilot off a script by Hank Steinberg. Erwin Stoff and Paul Buccieri also serve as executive producers for Universal Media Studios and ITV Studios.


SUGARLOAF (A&E) - The cable channel is expected to formally announce today it has ordered the drama pilot to series. Matt Passmore stars in the Miami-set hour, about "a homicide detective who's run out of Chicago following a sex scandal and becomes wrapped up in a murder case." Clifton Campbell is behind the Fox Television Studios-based project, which could roll out as early as this summer. 13 episodes are set to be shot on location with Campbell executive producing alongside Gary A. Randall. Carlos Gomez, Kiele Sanchez and Uriah Shelton co-starred in the pilot, which was directed by Peter O'Fallon.


TRAFFIC LIGHT (FOX) - David Denman ("The Office") is set to star in the comedy pilot, about three best friends in Chicago who are in various stages of their relationships. He'll play Mike, "the red light," a married lawyer "who still is trying to get this male-female thing down pat." Nelson Franklin also stars in the half-hour, which comes from Bob Fisher and 20th Century Fox Television.


UNTITLED DOV DAVIDOFF/NEAL BRENNAN PROJECT (Showtime, New!) - Comedians Dov Davidoff and Neal Brennan have booked a pilot presentation order from the pay channel for a new hybrid comedy series. Chernin Entertainment and Fox 21 are behind the project, which will feature the duo as they "begin each day at a coffee shop discussing dating, relationships and other personal matters." The show then will "veer into sketches, man-on-the-street interviews and other elements to enhance the themes the two discuss." Brennan and Davidoff will co-write the pilot and executive produce alongside Peter Chernin and Katherine Pope.


WRIGHT VS. WRONG (ABC) - Andy Fickman ("Race to Witch Mountain") has been tapped to direct the comedy pilot, about a female Republican pundit and her staff. He'll work from a script by Stephanie Weir. Sony Pictures Television and Tantamount are co-producing with the latter's Eric Tannenbaum, Kim Tannenbaum and Mitch Hurwitz also serving as executive producers.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [february 2010]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· BODY OF PROOF (ABC)
· CHAOS (CBS)
· CRASH (STARZ)
· CSI: NEW YORK (CBS)
· DEEP END, THE (ABC)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· EVENT, THE (NBC)
· FRESHMEN (ABC)
· GILMORE GIRLS (CW)
· GLADES, THE (A AND E)
· HMS (CW)
· HOW TO BE A BETTER AMERICAN (ABC)
· K-VILLE (FOX)
· ODDS, THE (CBS)
· OFFICE, THE (NBC)
· PRIME SUSPECT (NBC)
· SCRUBS (ABC)
· SONS OF ANARCHY (FX)
· TRAFFIC LIGHT (FOX)
· TRUST ME (TNT)
· UNTITLED DAVIDOFF & BRENNAN PROJECT (SHOWTIME)
· WRIGHT VS WRONG (ABC)





[11/12/26 - 02:30 PM]
NBC Sports' "Coast 2 Coast Tuesday" Highlighted by Celtics-76ers Delivers NBA's Largest Pre-Christmas, Non-NBA Tip-Off Tuesday Audience Ever
Viewership peaked at 4.7 million from 8:45-9:00 p.m. ET during Boston-Philadelphia.

[11/12/26 - 12:02 PM]
Your First Look at "The Spot," A New Psychological Thriller Starring Claire Danes and Ewan McGregor
The series premieres January 13 on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.

[11/12/26 - 11:01 AM]
MTV's "Caught in the Act: Unfaithful" Renewed for Season Five
Seasons 1 through 4A of the investigative series, hosted by reality TV star Tami Roman, will also be available to stream on Paramount+ starting Wednesday, December 9.

[11/12/26 - 10:01 AM]
Milo Manheim and Jennifer Tilly Return to "School Spirits" Season Four, Maria Dizzia Upped to Series Regular in the Paramount+ Original Series
As previously announced, season four is currently in production in Canada.

[11/12/26 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "The Baddest Speechwriter of All" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Clarence B. Jones, Martin Luther King Jr.'s lawyer and speechwriter, reflects on his sacrifices for activism and the surprising truths of making history.

[11/12/26 - 10:01 AM]
Celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Iconic Comedy "I Love Lucy" with a Special Night of Programming, Thursday, Dec. 17 on CBS
The special will be followed by back-to-back colorized episodes of the classic series: "The Christmas Show" (9:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT) and "Never Do Business with Friends" (9:30-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

[11/12/26 - 09:57 AM]
Teyonah Parris Joins "Before I Let Go" as Yasmen, Alongside Danielle Brooks as Hendrix
Two powerhouse talents. Two exciting new additions. Coming to Peacock.

[11/12/26 - 09:15 AM]
Jamie Miller to Open "Kids' Choice Awards (KCAs)" with Special Performance of Viral Hit "Babydoll," Capping an Epic Celebration of Iconic Dance Crazes Through the Decades
Featuring a cast of dancers and a cameo by JYT, the high-energy opening number will celebrate some of pop culture's most memorable dance crazes across the decades before culminating in Miller's performance.

[11/12/26 - 09:10 AM]
Prime Video Welcomes CJ McCollum to "NBA on Prime" Team
In this role, McCollum will make select appearances in studio programming throughout the 2026-27 NBA season beginning tomorrow, November 13 in "NBA Nightcap."

[11/12/26 - 09:01 AM]
Netflix's "Big Mistakes" Welcomes Randall Park, Debi Mazar, T.R. Knight and Jeff Perry as Season 2 Wraps Production
Lorenzo de Moor and Poorna Jagannathan were previously announced as new recurring cast members for season 2.

[11/12/26 - 09:01 AM]
NBC Sets Newest "One Chicago" Crossover Event for Jan. 13
Over the three episodes, an unexpected suspect (in the death of a patient at Chicago Med) will be the focus of a dramatic investigation that involves characters from "Med," "Fire" and "P.D."

[11/12/26 - 09:01 AM]
Disney+ to Stream The Game Awards 2026 Live on December 10
Honoring the video game industry's most innovative games, studios and creative talent of 2026, fans will get front-row access to the night's prestigious awards, world premiere game announcements and musical performances as they happen live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

[11/12/26 - 08:45 AM]
"The View" Is Celebrating Season 30 with a Trip to Italy in May 2027
The talk show is taking viewers on an adventure to one of the world's top travel destinations, with great guests and a guided tour of the beautiful country, exploring the food, the culture and everything Italy has to offer.

[11/12/26 - 08:31 AM]
Sara Canning Is Lacing Up Her Stakes as Coach Brady in "Icebreaker," Now in Production
The new college romance drama series is based on the #1 New York Times best-selling novel by Hannah Grace.

[11/12/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Jean-Michel Basquiat" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Never-before-seen artwork, rare footage and intimate interviews with loved ones explore legendary artist Jean-Michel Basquiat's humanity beyond his work.