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[03/05/10 - 12:23 AM]
Development Update: Friday, March 5 (Part 1)
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC) |
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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!
2010-11 SEASON BROADCAST PILOTS (Various) - Directors have been confirmed for 15 of this year's pilots -
"The Adam Carolla Show" (Michael Spiller);
"Chase" (David Nutter);
"It Takes a Village" (Michael Fresco);
"Love Bites" (Marc Buckland);
"Most Likely to Succeed" (Michael Patrick Jann);
"The Pink House" (Michael Lembeck);
"The Quinn-tuplets" (Mimi Leder);
"Reagan's Law" (Michael Cuesta, also executive producing);
"The Strip" (Beth McCarthy);
"Tax Man/Untitled IRS Project" (Fred Savage);
"Team Spitz" (Ted Wass);
"This Little Piggy" (Ted Wass);
"Traffic Light" (Chris Koch);
"Untitled Medical Project" (Christopher Chulack); and
"Wilde Kingdom/Untitled Will Arnett Project" (Mitch Hurwitz)
- in addition to those mentioned below.
Meanwhile, three others pilots have been given new monikers: Dana Carvey and Spike Feresten's improv project for FOX has been dubbed "Spoof"; Richard Hatem's cop drama starring Katee Sackhoff is running under "Boston's Finest"; and Paul Reiser's single-camera for NBC is simply "Next."
BETWIXT (The CW) - Allison Miller ("Kings") is the first to be cast in the drama pilot, about three teenagers who discover their lineage has granted them special abilities which they use to fight evil. She'll play one of them, Celine Halstead, an "ethereal beauty." Meanwhile, Christian Duguay ("The Beautiful Life") has been tapped to direct the pilot, which is being co-produced by CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television. Elizabeth Chandler penned the hour based on Tara Bray Smith's young adult novel of the same name. Carol Barbee is also on board to supervise the project alongside Paul Stupin.
BODY OF EVIDENCE (ABC) - Jeri Ryan ("Leverage") has booked a role on the drama pilot, about "a brilliant, tenacious medical examiner whose background as a neurosurgeon gives her a unique and refreshing crime-solving perspective but puts her at odds with nearly everyone." She'll play Philadelphia's first female Chief Medical Examiner, a role originally written for someone of Indian descent (Dr. Padma Krishnamurthy Noori). In addition, Nelson McCormick ("Southland") has signed on to helm the hour, which comes from ABC Studios and creator Chris Murphey. Geoffrey Arend, John Carroll Lynch and Windell Middlebrooks also star in the project, the lead role of which has been offered to Dana Delany.
EDGAR FLOATS (ABC) - Robert Patrick ("The Unit") has scored a role on the drama pilot, about a police psychologist-turned-bounty hunter. He'll play Christopher Breakey, the man's former father-in-law who hires him as a bail bondsman, where he must work alongside his ex-wife (Alicia Witt). Jace Alexander is directing the Warner Bros. Television-based project, which also stars Derek Webster. Rand Ravich penned the script.
GENERATION Y (ABC) - Sebastian Sozzi ("Law & Order: Criminal Intent") has booked the final principal role on the drama pilot, about the lives of eight young adults during a 10-year span in Austin. He'll play The Falcon, the show's "The Rebel" personality, creator Noah Hawley posted to his Twitter account. Craig Gillespie is helming the ABC Studios-based hour, whose ensemble also includes Anne Son, Daniella Alonso, Jaime King, Julian Morris, Keir O'Donnell, Kelli Garner, Mehcad Brooks and Michael Stahl-David.
HAWAII FIVE-O (CBS) - Scott Caan ("Entourage") has been tapped as the 21st century Danny "Danno" Williams in the drama pilot, an updated take on the 1968-1980 series about an elite branch of the Hawaii State Police headed by Steve McGarrett (Alex O'Loughlin). James MacArthur originated the role, "a New Jersey cop who has recently undergone an acrimonious divorce and has transferred to Hawaii to be near his 7-year-old daughter." Caan's involvement is technically as a guest star due to his series regular status on the upcoming seventh season of "Entourage." In addition, Len Wisman ("Live Free or Die Hard") has been tapped to direct and executive produce the hour, which comes from co-creators Alex Kurtzman, Peter Lenkov and Roberto Orci. Daniel Dae Kim, Grace Park and Taryn Manning also star.
OUR SHOW (A.K.A. UNTITLED LARRY CHARLES PROJECT) (NBC) - Nate Corddry, Jonathan Sadowski, Dan Bakkedahl and P.J. Byrne have all joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about "a disparate group of people who begin making episodes of their favorite sci-fi show after it ends." Corddry and Sadowski will play brothers Mike and Jack, who spearhead the group's efforts. Details on Bakkedahl and Byrne's characters weren't released. Larry Charles is helming the Warner Bros. Television/Wonderland Sound and Vision-based presentation off his own treatment.
PARKS & RECREATION (NBC) - "Party Down" co-star Adam Scott will reportedly join the cast of the Amy Poehler-led comedy next season. He'll play a love interest for Poehler's character, Leslie Knope, in the final two episodes of the current season before returning as a regular in season three. As for "Party Down," Scott, like all the actors on the Starz series, isn't locked into a long term deal. Said pact only calls for Scott to appear in up to three episodes should "Down" return for a third season. The show's sophomore cycle begins April 23.
RIDE ALONG (FOX) - Matt Lauria ("Friday Night Lights") and Devin Kelley ("Tease") have both joined the cast of the drama pilot, a police procedural set - and filmed - in Chicago. Said hour, from 20th Century Fox Television, revolves around three groups of police officers, including legendary cop Jarek Wysocki. Kelley will play Vonda Wysocki, Jarek's niece, a young beat copper who's "carried on the family tradition of becoming a cop even though her father was killed in the line of duty when she was young." Lauria then is set as Caleb Evers, a young detective - "an entertaining, tough-looking puppy dog" - who wants badly to be Jarek's next "project." It's not clear how Lauria's involvement will affect his status on "Lights." Todd Williams also stars in the project, which Charles McDougall is directing from a script by Shawn Ryan.
STRICTLY ICE DANCING (ABC, New!) - The Alphabet and BBC Worldwide Productions are looking to import the reality competition series, in which six celebrities are paired with professional ice skaters. Said effort mirrors the format of "Dancing With the Stars," which is also based on a U.K. series ("Strictly Come Dancing"). Izzie Pick will executive produce the six-episode project, which is expected to roll out later this year, with Alex Rudzinski attached as director.
TOO BIG TO FAIL (A.K.A. UNTITLED MCLEAN & NOCERA PROJECT) (HBO) - New York Times journalist Andrew Sorkin's book "Too Big to Fail: The Inside Story of How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System -- and Themselves" has reportedly been tapped as the new basis of the pay channel's docudrama about the 2008 financial meltdown. The book "chronicles the credit crisis by focusing on such figures as Richard Fuld, former chief executive of the now-bankrupt investment bank Lehman Brothers, John Mack, former CEO of Morgan Stanley, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and his predecessor Henry Paulson." HBO had previously optioned fellow New York Times journalist Joe Nocera and Vanity Fair writer Bethany McClean's tome on the same subject matter, however that book has not yet been published. Peter Gould ("Breaking Bad") has been tapped to pen the Sorkin adaptation while no other auspices were specified.
UNTITLED WYOMING PROJECT (The CW) - Alan Ruck ("Persons Unknown") and Scarlett Johnson ("EastEnders") have both joined the cast of the drama pilot, about Gideon Thorpe (Sean Faris), "a horse trainer who becomes the patriarch of a Wyoming ranch responsible for his three younger sisters after their parents die." He'll play Hollister Ames, a nemesis who wants to buy said ranch. His character is further detailed as follows: "40 and full of himself... he's wearing an over-the-top Johnny Reb jacket and cowboy boots that have never seen dirt." Johnson then, while not specified, is believed to be playing Lucy December, Gideon's chief love interest, a New Yorker that's just relocated to Wyoming in order to take care of her grandmother, who just had a stroke. Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino are behind the hour, a co-production of CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[02/05/26 - 02:03 PM]
Great American Media Signs Exclusive Multi-Picture Deal with Fan-Favorite Actress, Merritt Patterson
The company also announces the first film of the new deal is "Meet Me in the Margins," adapted from bestselling author Melissa Ferguson's novel of the same name.
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[02/05/26 - 12:42 PM]
"20/20" Ranks No. 1 in the Two-Hour Time Period Across the Board
Hitting new season highs on January 30, "20/20" grew from the previous week in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49.
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[02/05/26 - 11:31 AM]
Apple Original Films Lands Global Rights to Sundance Film Festival Selection "The Last First: Winter K2"
Director Amir Bar-Lev tells a complex, harrowing and moving story that unpacks the industry of extreme mountain climbing and its changing culture.
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[02/05/26 - 11:01 AM]
HBO Original "Murder in Glitterball City," A Two-Part Documentary, Debuts February 19
Inspired by the non-fiction book "A Dark Room in Glitter Ball City" by David Dominé, the film chronicles a 2010 murder case that starts with a 911 phone call that leads police to the gruesome discovery of a body buried in the basement of a Victorian mansion.
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[02/05/26 - 11:01 AM]
Video: ALLBLK Releases Trailer and Key Art for New Original Feature Film, "Deb Is Boss" Premiering Thursday, March 5
Before becoming a powerhouse music executive who launched Gucci Mane, Nicki Minaj, and French Montana, Deb Antney (Lil Mama) was a street-smart survivor navigating the dangerous underworlds of Queens, NY and Boston, MA.
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[02/05/26 - 10:31 AM]
Nicolette van Dam and Bas Smit Present the Dutch Version of "Love Is Blind"
"Love Is Blind: Netherlands" arrives on Netflix in 2026.
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[02/05/26 - 10:12 AM]
"Martha Graham Dance Company: We Are Our Time" Premieres March 27, 2026 on PBS
As the Graham Company nears its landmark 100th anniversary, "We Are Our Time" offers a rare behind-the-scenes portrait of the company, exploring Graham's legacy through the dancers who embody her work today.
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[02/05/26 - 10:03 AM]
ABC's Juggernaut Tuesday Scores More Wins
"High Potential's" January 20 episode jumped to 12.98 million Total Viewers and a 2.17 rating among Adults 18-49 after seven days of viewing on ABC, Hulu, Hulu on Disney+ and digital platforms, scoring a series high among Total Viewers.
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[02/05/26 - 10:01 AM]
HBO Original Comedy Series "Rooster," Starring Steve Carell, From Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses, Debuts March 8
A comedy set on a college campus centering on an author's (Carell) complicated relationship with his daughter (Charly Clive).
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[02/05/26 - 10:01 AM]
Small State, Big Drama. Secrets Rise with the Tide on "The Real Housewives of Rhode Island," Premiering on Thursday, April 2 at 9 P.M. ET/PT
The series will move to its regular timeslot on Sundays at 9:00/8:00c on April 5.
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[02/05/26 - 09:31 AM]
CNN Original Series Releases First Look and Introduces "Craig Ferguson: American on Purpose"
"Any chance I get to remind my fellow Americans that we are still the best idea for a country anyone has ever had I'm going to take it. My eagle is still bald and my banner is still spangled with stars," said Ferguson.
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[02/05/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Predator: Badlands" - Trailer - Hulu
Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, the film streams on Hulu and with Hulu on Disney+ February 12.
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[02/05/26 - 09:00 AM]
Date Announcement: Will Forte & D'Arcy Carden's "Sunny Nights" Comes to Hulu
After a critical acclaimed Australian debut, the darkly comedic crime drama starring Will Forte and D'Arcy Carden makes its U.S. debut on March 11 on Hulu.
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[02/05/26 - 08:31 AM]
Video: Peacock Releases Teaser and Premiere Date for Upcoming Original Series "The Miniature Wife"
All episodes of the series starring Elizabeth Banks and Matthew Macfadyen will premiere on April 9, 2026 only on Peacock.
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[02/05/26 - 08:29 AM]
Video: "The Forsytes" Official Trailer
Don't miss the U.S. premiere of this highly anticipated drama Sunday, March 22 on PBS.
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