[03/01/10 - 12:06 AM] Development Update: Monday, March 1 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!
ATF (CBS) - "Nip/Tuck" co-star Dylan Walsh has booked the lead role on the drama pilot, about "an ATF agent who hunts down the most dangerous criminals while trying to balance life as a father to the teenage daughter who has re-entered his life." He'll play the man in question, Jack Donovan, "a special agent with ATF long enough to consider it a lifetime commitment and had spent ten years prior to that with the Chicago PD." Michael Dinner is writing and directing the hour, which comes from CBS Television Studios, Sony Pictures Television and Timberman-Beverly Productions.
CHAOS (CBS) - Eric Close is returning to the Eye as the "Without a Trace" alum has joined the cast of the drama pilot, about "a group of rogue CIA operatives who combat bureaucratic gridlock, rampant incompetence and political infighting." He's on board as Michael Dorset, the leader of the Office Of Disruptive Services team, "a trained psychologist [who] has little regard for fools in a world he perceives to be chock full of fools." Freddy Rodriguez, James Murray and Tim Blake Nelson also star in the 20th Century Fox Television-based hour, which Brett Ratner is directing from a script by Tom Spezialy.
NIKITA (The CW) - Danny Cannon has inked a two-year overall deal with Warner Bros. Television. The pact, financial details of which weren't released, calls for the Jerry Bruckheimer staple to develop new series projects for the studio both with Bruckheimer and on his own. Cannon is already on board to helm the studio's "Nikita" pilot for The CW. In recent years, Cannon has directed the pilot to ABC's "The Forgotten" and TNT's "Dark Blue," the latter of which he co-created with Doug Jung.
NATHAN VS. NURTURE (NBC) - Joel David Moore ("Avatar") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about "a heart surgeon (Jay Harrington) who reunites with his biological father (Bill Pullman) and underachieving brothers 35 years after his adoption." He'll play Joel Bennett, "the oldest child at 30, who carries himself with the confidence and arrogance that comes with a lifetime of family praise." James Burrows is directing the Sony Pictures Television-based half-hour, which comes from co-creators David Guarascio and Moses Port.
THE ODDS (CBS) - Jacob Vargas ("Moonlight") has scored a role on the drama pilot, about cops in Las Vegas who are as outrageous as the crimes they solve. He's on board as one of them, Sergio Vargas, "the resident wise-ass and a former gangbanger (with the tats to prove it)." Donald Faison, Kelly Hu and Sullivan Stapleton also star in the hour, which comes from Warner Bros. Television. Kenneth Fink is attached to direct from a script by Jeff Wadlow.
PERFECT COUPLES (NBC) - David Walton ("100 Questions") has signed onto the comedy pilot, about three couples at various stages of their relationships. He's set as Vance, who's detailed in the script as follows: "30, intense. A guys' guy who manages also to be very sensitive. Vance is opinionated and feels he's doing everyone a service by
bluntly sharing his opinions. He's wrong. Dave's best friend, he's high maintenance, but a ton of fun. Think Vince Vaughn." Walton, whose involvement is presumably in second position to the yet-to-premiere comedy, joins the previously cast Olivia Munn. Andy Ackerman is helming the Universal Media Studios-based half-hour, which was co-created by Jon Pollack and Scott Silveri.
THE QUINN-TUPLETS (CBS) - Amber Tamblyn, Kenneth Mitchell, Sam Witwer, David Giantoli and Juliette Goglia are the first to be cast in the drama pilot, about 31-year-old quintuplets - Patrick, a cop; Joseph, a construction foreman; Rachel, a sports reporter; Martin, a school headmaster; Miriam, a doctor - who reunite after the death of their mother, who opted to have their childhood filmed as a reality show. Gogila will play Sophie Adatto, the clan's half-sister ("pretty, whip-smart, rebellious"), while the rest will play four of the aforementioned quintuplets however which ones weren't specified. Chris Kelley and Mike Kelley are behind the presentation, which is set up at CBS Television Studios.
SHIT MY DAD SAYS (CBS) - Nicole Sullivan ("Rita Rocks") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about Henry Bennett, a twentysomething who moves back in with his larger-than-life dad, Ed (William Shatner). She'll play Kathleen, the wife of Henry's brother Vince, "the self-described king and queen of condos." Justin Halpern, Patrick Schumacker, David Kohan and Max Mutchnick all co-wrote the half-hour, which is set up at Warner Bros. Television.
THE SING OFF (NBC) - The Peacock has commissioned a second season of the Nick Lachey-hosted series, which aired as a weeklong stunt back in December. "We'll be bringing 'Sing Off' back," the network's alternative executive vice president Paul Telegdy told TheWrap. "We don't know when. But we believe we've found a little gem, one we can buff up and make better." "Sing Off's" four-night, eight-hour run averaged 6.93 viewers and a 2.3 rating among adults 18-49. Deb Newmyer, Joel Gallen and Sam Weisman are the executive producers for Outlaw Entertainment, Sony Pictures Television and Tenth Planet Productions.
TEAM SPITZ (CBS) - Bob Odenkirk ("Breaking Bad") has landed a role on the comedy pilot, which "stars Rob Riggle as the bombastic new basketball coach at an upscale private school." He'll apparently play Charles Kersey, the "nervous and flop-sweaty" principal of the school. Bill Martin and Mike Schiff are behind the half-hour, a co-production of CBS Television Studios and Sony Pictures Television.
UNTITLED MEDICAL PROJECT (CBS) - Janeane Garofalo is the latest addition to the drama pilot, about "a mobile medical team that travels the U.S. helping those in need get through life-and-death medical crises." She'll play Angel, "the glue of the team, a nurse coordinator and operations manager." Garofalo joins the previously cast Amy Smart and Rachelle Lefevre. Hannah Shakespeare penned the hour, which comes from John Wells Productions and Warner Bros. Television.
THE WHOLE TRUTH (ABC) - Joely Richardson ("Nip/Tuck") has scored a lead role on the pilot, "a legal drama that shows the defense and prosecution sides equally." She's set as Kathryn Pearle, "a make-up-less beauty in a TJ Maxx pantsuit" who spearheads the prosecution. Richardson's involvement reportedly is contingent on production relocating from Los Angeles to New York should it make it to series. Tom Donaghy penned the Jerry Bruckheimer Television/Warner Bros. Television-based hour, to be directed by Alex Graves.
[06/19/13 - 01:39 PM] TNT Bumps Newcomer "72 Hours" to Friday Nights The reality competition series, which had been airing on Thursdays at 9:00/8:00c, will relocate to Fridays effective immediately.
[06/19/13 - 12:17 PM] ESPN to Present World Series of Poker Main Event To kick off ESPN's WSOP coverage, the inaugural World Series of Poker Asia-Pacific Main Event Final Table will air on Tuesday, July 23.
