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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!
ATF (CBS) - Michael Rapaport ("The War at Home") has scored a role on the drama pilot, about Jack Donovan (Dylan Walsh), an ATF agent who hunts down the most dangerous criminals while trying to raise his 15-year-old daughter. He's believed to be playing Steve Waxman, a fellow ATF agent who's been Donovan's best friend since they trained together at Glynco. Lorraine Toussaint and Sean Patrick Thomas also star in the hour, which comes from creator Michael Dinner. CBS Television Studios, Sony Pictures Television and Timberman-Beverly Productions are co-producing.
CINEMA VERITE (HBO, New!) - Producer Gavin Polone ("Zombieland"), writer David Seltzer ("The Omen") and directors Shari Springer Berman and Bob Pulcini ("American Splendor") are set to team for a behind-the scenes look at the Louds, the Santa Barbara clan featured in PBS's groundbreaking 1973 documentary series "An American Family." The original project, from Oscar-winners Alan and Susan Raymond ("I Am a Promise: The Children of Stanton Elementary School"), is best known for featuring TV's first openly gay character - eldest son Lance - as well as mom Pat asking her husband Bill for a divorce midway through the series. The scripted take, penned by Seltzer, executive produced by Polone and to be directed by Berman and Pulcini, will examine both circumstances with the Raymonds serving as consultants alongside Andreas Killen, author of the book "1973 Nervous Breakdown: Watergate, Warhol, and the Birth of Post-Sixties America." The news marks the second time HBO has featured the Louds, the first being in the 1983 follow-up documentary "An American Family Revisited: The Louds 10 Years Later."
HAPPY ENDINGS (ABC) - "FlashForward" co-star Zachary Knighton has scored the male lead in the comedy pilot, about a couple (Knighton, Elisha Cuthbert) that breaks up at the altar, forcing them and their group of friends to figure out how to maintain their friendships after the split. He'll play the groom, Dave, who "loves love/Springsteen/The Bulls, hates idiots." His involvement is in second position to the ABC drama. Adam Pally, Casey Wilson, Damon Wayans Jr. and Eliza Coupe also star in the half-hour, a co-production of ABC Studios, FanFare Productions and Sony Pictures Television. Anthony and Joe Russo are directing from a script by David Caspe.
LEAPFROG (ABC) - Kurt Fuller ("Supernatural") is the latest addition to the comedy pilot, about two sisters at different stages in their romantic relationships - one sister (Jennifer Finnigan) is in a happy, long-term relationship but isn't married; the other (Joanna Garcia) gets pregnant and winds up quickly marrying her new beau. He'll play the girls' father, Joel Putney, who like his wife Vicky (Debra Jo Rupp) is "a bit intimidating." Josh Cooke also stars in the Warner Bros. Television-based half-hour, which was penned by Shana Goldberg-Meehan.
LIVIN' ON A PRAYER (CBS) - Emmy-winner Jaime Pressly ("My Name Is Earl") has been cast in the comedy plot, about an unmarried couple mulling the next stage of their relationship. She'll play Steph, Doug's (Joe Manganiello) wife, a veterinarian who works with Tommy (Kyle Bornheimer, one of half of the aforementioned couple) at the local zoo. Her character is further detailed as "smart, beautiful, and as a mother of two, Steph makes it her business to look after Tommy as well." Pamela Fryman is directing the 20th Century Fox Television-based half-hour, which comes from co-creators Carter Bays, Craig Thomas, Joe Kelly and Kourtney Kang.
NEXT (NBC) - Amy Landecker is set to star opposite Paul Reiser in the comedy pilot, about "a former television star and family man dealing with life's day-to-day conundrums." She'll play Reiser's "loving and supportive wife." Reiser himself penned the half-hour, which is set up at Warner Bros. Television.
OPEN BOOKS (CBS) - Kevin Rahm ("Desperate Housewives") has scored a role on the comedy pilot, about a book editor (Laura Benanti) at a boutique New York publishing house. He's on board as Dale, the woman's "kind, levelheaded, dryly witty" fiancee. Patti LuPone also stars in the Warner Bros. Television-based half-hour, which James Burrows is directing from a script by Gail Lerner.
REAGAN'S LAW (CBS) - Will Estes ("Reunion") and Bridget Moynahan ("Six Degrees") are the latest additions to the Tom Selleck-led pilot, a multigenerational drama revolving around a family of New York cops. He'll play Jamie Reagan, the youngest son, a Harvard law school grad who still opted to follow in his father (Selleck), grandfather (Len Cariou) and brother's (Donnie Wahlberg) footsteps. Moynahan then is set as Erin Reagan-Boyle, Jamie's sister, a single mom with a precocious 14-year-old daughter. Unlike Jamie, Erin choose the law and now serves as an ADA for the city. Dylan Moore and Flex Alexander co-star in the CBS Television Studios-based hour, which comes from co-creators Mitchell Burgess and Robin Green. Michael Cuesta is directing.
UNTITLED MEDICAL PROJECT (CBS) - Sissy Spacek ("Big Love") is the latest addition to the pilot, an ensemble drama about a mobile team of volunteer doctors that travels the world and the U.S. helping those in need. She'll play the group's driven leader ("55, with the body of a 30-year-old Triathelete"), who struggles with being diagnosed with cancer and her daughter Katy's (Rachelle Lefevre) decision to become a member of the team. Said role, Adrian Nourse, was originally written for a man. Amy Smart, Janeane Garofalo, Jay Hernandez, Michael Beach and Skeet Ulrich also star in the project, which comes from John Wells Productions and Warner Bros. Television. Christopher Chulack is directing from a script by Hannah Shakespeare.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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