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LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- The latest development news, culled from recent wire reports:
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90210 (The CW) - Blair Redford ("Passions") is set to recur on the show's upcoming third season. He'll play Oscar, "a handsome, charismatic, and charming Brit [who] moves in with Ivy and her mom." It's not clear when his first appearance will air.
CHAOS (CBS) - Producer 20th Century Fox Television has ultimately decided to pass on the Eye's 13-episode order for the series. Said decision comes after weeks of protracted negotiations between the network and studio over everything from its episode order to where it would film. Originally handed an eight-episode commitment, 20th balked at the reduced order, which would have made it a hard sell internationally. CBS subsequently upped its order to 13 but at a license fee reportedly $100,000 less per episode than its original offer. After that issue was settled, too much time had passed to clear the series internationally, leading 20th to slash the show's budget (originally $3.1 million an episode), a development which CBS felt would hurt the series. That coupled with CBS's insistence that parts of the pilot be reshot on 20th's time, lead the studio to let the actors' options expire on Wednesday, effectively killing the show.
HMS (The CW) - Producers CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television have issued a seven-day extension on the cast's options. Said development gives the netlet an extra week to decide whether or not they'll give the project a midseason commitment. The ensemble drama, about a group of bright students at Harvard Medical School, stars Ali Ahn, Dejan Loyola, Jai Rodriguez, Megan Boone, Sarah Jones, Steven Strait and Tasso Feldman.
LOVE BITES (NBC) - Creator Cindy Chupack has stepped down as showrunner of the newcomer, which has been pushed to midseason. She'll nevertheless remain onboard the series as an executive producer alongside Eric Fellner, Marc Buckland, Shelley McCrory and Timothy Bevan. In addition, Constance Zimmer has joined the cast. She'll play the wife of Greg Grunberg's character, a role originated by Pamela Adlon in the pilot. Said developments come on the heels of Jordana Spiro's decision to depart the series after three episodes as well as co-star Becki Newton's real-life pregnancy, which may or may not be written into the show.
PERFECT COUPLES (NBC) - Kyle Bornheimer ("Romantically Challenged") has joined the cast of the midseason comedy, which "depicts the misadventures of three engaging couples as they struggle to find out what makes the ideal relationship -- and how to maintain it through humorous trial-and-error." He'll play Dave, who along with Julia (Christine Woods), comprise the relatable, normal couple on the show. Bornheimer takes over for Kyle Howard, who is in second position on the series due to his commitments to TBS's "My Boys."
TEAM SPITZ (CBS) - The Eye is moving towards filming a new pilot for the comedy, about a bombastic high school football coach. To that end, Rob Riggle, who toplined the project, has had his option picked up by co-producers CBS Television Studios and Sony Pictures Television. Caroline Sunshine, Jonathan Slavin, Kurtwood Smith, Max Ehrich and Sarah Chalke were also featured in the original pilot but will not move forward. Bill Martin and Mike Schiff are the co-creators.
WRIGHT VS. WRONG (ABC) - Co-star Cheryl Hines has inked a talent holding deal with the network. Said pact comes as the Alphabet preps to reshoot the Debra Messing-led pilot for a potential midseason order with a new supporting ensemble. And while Hines's deal isn't specific to "Wright vs. Wrong," she still could reprise her role on the project. Two other comedies at the network, "Awkward Situations for Men" and "How to Be a Better American," are also on track to film new pilots, albeit with a completely new cast in the latter's case. Danny Wallace, Laura Prepon and Tony Hale co-star in the former.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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