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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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[01/29/26 - 12:56 PM] "Dirty Rotten Scandals" Premieres Wednesday, March 4 at 9PM ET/PT on E! This season explores the darker side of some of America's most beloved television shows by delivering untold stories from past participants and new original reporting.
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[01/29/26 - 12:11 PM] Mandy Patinkin Signs on to Play Odin in Prime Video's "God of War" from Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios Based on PlayStation's massively popular ancient mythology-themed video game, the series has received a two-season order, with pre-production underway in Vancouver, and casting has begun.
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[01/29/26 - 12:00 PM] Presenters Announced for "68th Annual Grammy Awards," Sunday, Feb. 1 on CBS Carole King, Chappell Roan, Charli xcx, Doechii, Harry Styles, Jeff Goldblum, KAROL G, Lainey Wilson, Marcello Hernández, Nikki Glaser, Q-Tip, Queen Latifah and Teyana Taylor are among the featured talent.
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[01/29/26 - 11:17 AM] ESPN NBA Schedule Update: San Antonio Spurs vs. Golden State Warriors on February 11 This matchup replaces the previously scheduled Memphis Grizzlies vs. Denver Nuggets game.
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[01/29/26 - 11:03 AM] Paramount+ to Premiere True-Crime Documentary "Wild Boys: Strangers in Town" on February 18 The two-part documentary chronicles the astonishing true story of two young brothers who emerged from the forests of British Columbia in the summer of 2003, claiming they had been raised entirely off the grid - without schools, doctors or any record of their existence.
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[01/29/26 - 11:01 AM] HBO Orders New Limited Series "The Chain" from Damon Lindelof Details are under wraps, but Lindelof is said to be expanding the mythology of Adrian McKinty's award-winning thriller.
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[01/29/26 - 10:11 AM] Olafur Darri Olafsson Signs on to Play Thor in Prime Video's "God of War" from Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios Previously announced cast members include Ryan Hurst as Kratos and Max Parker as Heimdall.
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[01/29/26 - 10:10 AM] CNN Original Series Releases First Look and Introduces "Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever" Produced by EverWonder Studio, the series will premiere later this spring as part of CNN Originals' anticipated 2026 programming slate.
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[01/29/26 - 10:05 AM] Bravo's "Top Chef" Returns for Season 23, Serving Bold Flavors and Carolina Charm The Emmy, James Beard and Critics Choice Award-winning series returns Monday, March 9.
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[01/29/26 - 10:02 AM] ESPN Original Series "On the Edge: World Cup Ski Racing" to Premiere January 30 The five-episode series follows the world's most elite ski racers across the 2025-26 season and 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina.
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[01/29/26 - 09:38 AM] FOX Nation Goes Deep Inside the Power, Scandal and Secrets of America's Early Presidents in New Docudrama "The White House" The eight-part series brings to life the shocking true stories of the presidents, spouses, family members, confidantes, and adversaries, not just in the stately, public rooms of the White House, but in the intimate spaces they shared all under one roof.
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[01/29/26 - 09:31 AM] HBO Max Launches "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" Inspired "Squire For Hire" Social Series, Taskrabbit Partnership and Sweepstakes The digital campaign brings the spirit of Westeros to life, along with a fan sweepstakes that offers a unique way for audiences to feel as if they're part of the story.
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[01/29/26 - 09:30 AM] Video: Starz Releases Emotional Final Trailer for the Timeless Romantic Drama "Outlander," Premiering March 6 The groundbreaking, time-traveling drama returns on Friday, March 6, with new episodes streaming weekly on Fridays.
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[01/29/26 - 09:05 AM] 57th NAACP Image Awards to Honor A$AP Rocky with Vanguard Award for Fashion He is also nominated for three NAACP Image Awards for his role in "Highest 2 Lowest," which has garnered a total of nine nominations.
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[01/29/26 - 09:01 AM] Netflix Announces Katt Williams' Fourth Stand-Up Special, "The Last Report" Back for his fourth Netflix stand-up special, comedy icon Katt Williams delivers his famously bold takes on conspiracies, celebrities and the world at large in this electrifying set.
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