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[04/05/10 - 12:08 AM]
Development Update: Monday, April 5
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!
THE GAME (The CW) - BET is reportedly close to a deal to revive the CW comedy after nearly a year of negotiations. Director/producer Salim Akil will apparently take over as showrunner with creator Mara Brock Akil, who currently serves as a consulting producer on ABC's "Cougar Town," likewise serving as executive producer. No details on cast, episode order, target date, etc. were given however a formal announcement is expected as early as next week. BET will license the series from CBS Television Studios and take the lead on production.
HMS (The CW) - Dejan Loyola ("The Troop") has joined the ensemble cast of the drama pilot, about a group of bright students at Harvard Medical School. He'll play one of them, presumably Krisha, "a genial, happy-go-lucky Indian-American uber geek" who helps everyone with their technical questions. Ali Ahn, Jai Rodriguez, Megan Boone, Sarah Jones, Steven Strait and Tasso Feldman co-star in the Amy Holden Jones-penned project, which is set up at CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television.
MY NAME IS EARL (NBC) - Danielle Sanchez-Witzel, a former co-executive producer on the series, has inked a new two-year overall deal with Universal Media Studios. The pact, financial details of which were not given, calls for the writer/producer to develop new series projects for the studio as well as serve on one of its existing properties next season. Sanchez-Witzel recently completed a stint as a co-executive producer on the Peacock's upcoming "100 Questions," which will run on Thursday nights this summer.
NEXT (NBC) - Duane Martin ("All of Us") has booked a role on the Paul Reiser-led comedy pilot, a semi-autobiographical look at "the former television star and family man dealing with life's day-to-day conundrums." He's on board as his friend, a restaurant owner. Amy Landecker co-stars in the half-hour, which is set up at Warner Bros. Television. Reiser himself penned the script.
OUR SHOW (NBC) - Tyler James Williams ("Everybody Hates Chris") has scored a role on the comedy pilot, about a group of sci-fi fanboys in a small town who shoot their own version of a canceled TV show. His character wasn't specified. Also featured in the ensemble are Dan Bakkedahl, Jonathan Sadowski, Lauren Weedman, Mahaley Hessam, Maria Thayer, Nate Corddry and P.J. Byrne. Larry Charles is behind the project, which is being co-produced by Warner Bros. Television and Wonderland Sound and Vision.
TEAM SPITZ (CBS) - Jonathan Slavin is the fourth "Better Off Ted" co-star to land a pilot, in this case a multi-camera comedy about Jeff Spitz (Rob Riggle), a bombastic high school football coach. He'll play Ken Oberdorffer ("mid-thirties, slight, outwardly bookish but fiercely passionate"), the head of the school's arts education who's always losing funding to Spitz and the athletic department. Slavin's casting is in second position to "Ted," which is considered a longshot at best to return. Bob Odenkirk also stars in the project, which Ted Wass is directing from a script by Bill Martin and Mike Schiff. CBS Television Studios and Sony Pictures Television are co-producing.
WRIGHT VS. WRONG (ABC) - Tisha Campbell-Martin ("Rita Rocks") is the latest addition to the comedy pilot, about Evelyn Wright (Debra Messing), "a conservative pundit who happens to be one of the most polarizing figures in America." She'll play Gail Donart, Evelyn's clothes, hair and makeup stylist - "Gail is Tara Reid twenty years from now. Loves Vegas. Can't name the vice president but knows all Brangelina's kids." Carrie Fisher, Cheryl Hines, Melissa Rauch and Patrick Fugit also star in the Sony Pictures Television-based half-hour, which Andy Fickman is directing from a script by Stephanie Weir.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[04/28/26 - 12:16 PM]
Netflix Expands "Stranger Things" Universe: "Tales From '85" Scores Early Season 2 Renewal
"Stranger Things: Tales From '85" debuted in the Netflix Global Top 10 at #7 this week, securing a spot in the top 15 animated series debuts of all time.
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[04/28/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of April 20 - Charlize Theron Climbs to No. 1 with "Apex" in This Week's Top 10
Another warning to be careful who you trust, the psychological thriller series "Unchosen" debuted at No. 1 on the English TV list with 10.4 million views.
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[04/28/26 - 11:01 AM]
HBO Original Sports Documentary Series "U.S. Against the World: Four Years with the Men's National Soccer Team" Debuts May 12
The five-part documentary series is an unprecedented look inside the United States Men's National Soccer Team (USMNT) in the leadup to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America this June.
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[04/28/26 - 10:01 AM]
Dave Chappelle's Pulling Up on Netflix Is a Joke Fest with Star-Studded Music and Comedy Shows
For three nights from May 7-9, the comedian takes over the legendary Hollywood Palladium with shows that blend comedy and music with surprise guest appearances.
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[04/28/26 - 09:08 AM]
CNN Original Series "Craig Ferguson: American on Purpose" Premieres Saturday, May 30 at 9PM ET/PT
Timed to America's 250th anniversary, the five-episode sees Ferguson travel coast-to-coast to explore the defining ideas, and contradictions, at the heart of the United States.
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[04/28/26 - 09:02 AM]
Video: "Between Father and Son" - Official Trailer - Netflix
In just a few suspenseful minutes, a lawyer's world tilts as her visit to her fiancé's family estate ignites an irresistible bond with her future stepson.
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[04/28/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Perfect Match" Season 4 - Official Trailer - Netflix
More swaps. More sparks. More drama. Reality stars from "Love Is Blind," "Vanderpump Rules," "Love Island" and more shake up the game, but who'll find their perfect match?
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[04/28/26 - 09:00 AM]
CBS Presents "Forever Young: A Grammy Salute to Rod Stewart Live," Airing Tuesday, May 19 on CBS and Paramount+
This two-hour celebration brings viewers on stage and behind the scenes for an all-access concert experience.
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[04/28/26 - 08:53 AM]
"Crime and Punishment in America," New Documentary from Lynn Novick, to Air on PBS in November 2026
Samuel L. Jackson, Laura Linney, Bobby Cannavale, Matthew Rhys, Michael Stuhlbarg, David Hyde Pierce, and BD Wong will lend their voices to the four-part, eight-hour documentary series.
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[04/28/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Soccer Meets America" - Official Trailer - The Roku Channel
This riveting series reveals how the convergence of key events transformed the United States into the global soccer powerhouse it is today.
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[04/28/26 - 08:00 AM]
Prime Video Unveils Premiere Date and Glimpse at "Sterling Point"
The series will debut all eight episodes globally on August 5, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories around the world.
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[04/28/26 - 07:16 AM]
Video: "Welcome to Wrexham" - Season 5 Official Trailer - Ryan Reynolds, Rob Mac - FX
The new season returns Thursday, May 14 on FXX and Hulu.
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[04/28/26 - 07:06 AM]
Apple TV's Emmy Award-Winning Series "Ted Lasso" Returns for Season Four on August 5
Season four marks the return of fan favorites, including Emmy Award winner Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, Emmy Award winner Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt and Jeremy Swift, alongside new additions Tanya Reynolds, Jude Mack, Faye Marsay, Rex Hayes, Aisling Sharkey, Abbie Hern and Grant Feely.
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[04/28/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Funny AF with Kevin Hart" - Live Semi-final and Grand Finale - Official Trailer - Netflix
The break of a lifetime is at stake as the competition turns live and the last remaining comics square off - with the winner crowned by your vote.
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[04/28/26 - 07:01 AM]
Great American Media Announces Mario Lopez, Tony Danza, and Dominic Lopez to Star in New Original Christmas Movie, "Christmas at the Starlight"
In their first known scripted on-screen pairing as father and son, Lopez and Danza bring extraordinary warmth, charisma, and generational appeal to a timeless holiday story about family, legacy, faith, and the traditions that lead us home.
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