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[02/04/11 - 11:07 PM]
Development Update: Friday, February 4
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!
BOSS (Starz) - Richard Levine and Lyn Greene ("Scoundrels") have been tapped as co-showrunners of the upcoming series, "a political drama starring Kelsey Grammer as the Mayor of Chicago who is diagnosed with a degenerative mental condition that only he and his doctor know about." Farhad Safinia ("Apocalypto") penned the pilot to the Lionsgate Television-based project, which was ordered directly to series back in November. Gus Van Sant is directing the pilot and executive producing alongside Levine, Green, Safinia, Grammer, Grammnet Productions' Brian Sher and Stella Stolper.
THE CROSSING (A.K.A. RECONSTRUCTION) (NBC) - Josh Brand's period drama, about "a Civil War soldier who crosses the country and settles into a complicated town where he is welcomed as its savior - whether he likes it or not," has found new life at the Peacock where it has landed a pilot order. Said hour, now based at Universal Media Studios, was originally set up at FX in November of 2009 but ultimately didn't move forward. Peter Horton will direct and executive produce alongside Kapital Entertainment's Aaron Kaplan.
DON'T TRUST THE BITCH IN APT. 23 (ABC) - Krysten Ritter ("Gravity") has been cast in the title role of the comedy pilot, about June (Dreama Walker), "an earnest, honest, optimistic girl from the heartland who, due to circumstances beyond her control, is forced to move in with Chloe (Ritter), a sexy, unstable New York City party girl who has the morals of a pirate." Nahnatchka Khan penned the single-camera project, to be directed by Jason Winer. 20th Century Fox Television is producing.
GRACE (ABC) - Lesli Linka Glatter ("Pretty Little Liars") has been tapped to direct the pilot, "a dysfunctional family drama set in the world of professional dance." She'll work from a script by Krista Vernoff for ABC Studios. Carrie Ann Inaba also serves as an executive producer.
GRIMM (NBC) - Emmy-winner Marc Buckland ("My Name Is Earl") has been tapped to direct the pilot, "a dark but fantastical cop drama about a world in which characters inspired by Grimm's Fairy Tales exist." He'll work from a script by David Greenwalt and Jim Kouf for Universal Media Studios.
HOME GROWN (CBS, New!)/LOST & FOUND (ABC) - Jeff and Jackie Filgo ("That '70s Show") have booked a new comedy at the Eye about "a blue collar man who wrestles with how to parent his unmarried grown daughter and her 12-year-old son while sharing a house with them, his wife and his recently widowed mother." Warner Bros. Television is behind the multi-camera project, which has a pilot commitment from the network. Beth Lacke also serves as a consultant. In addition, the duo have been tapped as showrunners on ABC's comedy pilot "Lost & Found," which likewise comes from the studio. They'll supervise the Marisa Coughlan-penned project, about a party girl who has her life upended when the 18-year-old son she gave up for adoption finds his way into her life.
I HATE THAT I LOVE YOU (NBC) - Nicole Holofcener ("Sex and the City") has signed on to direct the pilot, "a twisty romantic comedy in which a straight couple introduces two of its lesbian friends to one another and what results is both instant attraction and a pregnancy." Nicole Holofcener is behind the single-camera project, which is set up at 20th Century Fox Television.
LITTLE IN COMMON (FOX) - Adam Bernstein ("30 Rock") is set to direct the comedy pilot, about "three families united through their kids' little league sports." Rob Thomas is behind the single-camera project, which is set up at Warner Bros. Television.
PLAYBOY (NBC) - Naturi Naughton ("Fame") is the latest addition to the drama pilot, about the Playboy Club in Chicago in 1963. She'll play Brenda, "a stunning African-American Bunny determined to become the first black Playboy centerfold who is Maureen's (Amber Heard) confidante and roommate in the Bunny Dormitory." Coincidentally, Naughton guest starred on "Mad Men" earlier this season as a Playboy Bunny who catches the eye of Jared Harris's character. Alan Taylor is directing the 20th Century Fox Television-based hour from a script by Chad Hodge.
PRIME SUSPECT (NBC) - The Peacock's long-in-the-works domestic take on the U.K. series has once again been ordered to pilot. Alexandra Cunningham penned the project, from ITV Studios and Universal Media Studios. Film 44's Peter Berg and Sarah Aubrey will executive produce alongside Cunningham with Berg also on board to direct. Writer Hank Steinberg and director Mick Jackson were behind a previous effort to adapt the series before ultimately being replaced by Cunningham and Berg. The latter duo received a pilot order last season which was pushed after difficulties casting the lead.
RINGER (CBS) - Richard Shepard ("Criminal Minds") has signed on to direct the Sarah Michelle Gellar-led drama pilot, about "a troubled young woman (Gellar) who, while on the run from the mob, hides out by inhabiting the life of her wealthy twin sister." Eric Charmelo and Nicole Snyder are behind the hour, which is set at ABC Studios and CBS Television Studios. Shepard, who's based at the latter studio, also helmed "Danni Lowinksi" over at The CW as part of the current development cycle.
ROOKIES (CBS) - James Mangold ("Men in Trees") has signed on to direct the drama pilot, about "about six NYPD rookies who balance their personal lives with learning the beat on the streets of Manhattan." Richard Price is behind the hour, which comes from CBS Television Studios and Robert De Niro's Tribeca Films. De Niro and Mangold previously teamed on the 1997 feature "Cop Land."
UNTITLED CONNIE BRITTON PROJECT (FX, New!) - Oscar-nominee David O. Russell ("The Fighter") and Emmy-nominee Connie Britton ("Friday Night Lights") are set to team for a potential drama at the cable channel. No other details were given about the project, which will likely rule Britton out for this pilot season.
UNTITLED KARI LIZER PROJECT (NBC) - The multi-camera comedy, about "a relationship-challenged woman who, with the help of her co-workers, guides people through unexpected career transitions and downsizings," has been given a cast-contingent pilot order from the network. Kari Lizer penned the half-hour and is executive producing for Warner Bros. Television, where her overall deal is based.
UNTITLED ROB SCHNEIDER PROJECT (CBS) - The Rob Schneider-led comedy, about "a solitary guy who marries into a huge Mexican-American family," has been ordered to pilot by the Eye. Schneider also co-wrote the half-hour alongside Lew Morton. CBS Television Studios and the studio-based The Tannenbaum Co. are behind the multi-camera project with Morton, Eric and Kim Tannenbaum serving as executive producers. Schneider and his brother John Schneider will also receive producing credits via their From Out of Nowhere Productions banner.
THE WALKING DEAD (AMC) - Glen Mazzara ("Hawthorne") has joined the series as an executive producer. There he'll serve alongside showrunner Frank Darabont for the show's second season. Mazzara, who freelanced one of last year's six installments, fills the void left by departing executive producer Charles Eglee.
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[03/02/15 - 01:05 PM]
Move Over Sharks and Make Room for the First-Ever Puppy Week on Nickelodeon with "Nick Jr.'s Puppy Preschool" Kicking Off Monday, March 2
The celebration culminates with the world premiere of the live-action preschool special, "Mutt & Stuff," created by legendary children's TV producers, Sid and Marty Krofft.
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[03/02/15 - 01:04 PM]
Video: WGN America Releases the First Haunting Trailer for Highly-Anticipated Second Season of "Salem" Returning April 5th at 10 PM ET/9C
The haunting trailer features a first look at new recurring guest stars Lucy Lawless and Stuart Townsend who have joined the series for season two.
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[03/02/15 - 01:00 PM]
E!'s New Series "Good Work" Celebrates the Good, The Bad and the Just Plain Wrong of Hollywood's Plastic Surgery and Beauty Craze
The new one-hour, six episode pop culture roundtable series features hosts RuPaul, Dr. Terry Dubrow and Sandra Vergara as they celebrate the "good work" and the "not so good work" of Hollywood celebs.
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[03/02/15 - 12:47 PM]
Destination America Heads to Orlando, Florida for Brand New Episode Tapings of "Impact Wrestling"
Professional wrestlers will be competing in the ring amongst some of the best known in America including Kurt Angle, Bobby Lashley, and Chris Melendez.
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[03/02/15 - 12:13 PM]
Viewers Spellbound by "Good Witch," Hallmark Channel's Newest Primetime Original Series
The Hallmark Channel spins the numbers for Saturday, February 28.
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[03/02/15 - 12:06 PM]
ESPN to Present Record Number of Women's Championship Week Games
The networks will combine to exclusively offer game action of 112 women's games, and will crown the champion from 21 Division I conferences.
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[03/02/15 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Announces Dates for Upcoming Slate
Look for a new season of "Orange Is the New Black" on June 12 as well as the premieres of "Between," "Sense8" and "Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp" in the coming months.
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[03/02/15 - 11:43 AM]
Smithsonian Channel(TM) Honors Passing of Leonard Nimoy This Week with Encore Presentations of "The Real Story: Star Trek"
The program charts Gene Roddenberry's meteoric rise to fame and extreme tactics to keep his series on the air.
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[03/02/15 - 11:37 AM]
Robert Rodriguez to Direct Premiere Installment of El Rey Network/Miramax's "From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series"
The second season kicks off in late summer 2015 on the cable channel.
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[03/02/15 - 11:27 AM]
Discovery Channel's Hit Series "Fast N' Loud" Makes Some Noise with All-New Episodes Monday, March 23 at 9PM ET/PT
Car fanatics Richard Rawlings, Aaron Kaufman and the entire Gas Monkey Garage crew return with new builds and new episodes.
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[03/02/15 - 11:08 AM]
Judge Judy Sheindlin, Host of Syndication's #1 Rated Show "Judge Judy," Signs Multiyear Deal Through 2020
The new deal includes a first-look production deal with Sheindlin's company Queen Bee Productions Inc.
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[03/02/15 - 11:08 AM]
"Cornell: Confidential" Is Live an ABC.com and the WATCH ABC App
"Cornell: Confidential" is a weekly digital series that picks up where the "Secrets and Lies" episodes leave off.
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[03/02/15 - 11:01 AM]
Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow... "Mob Wives" Season 5 Finale Set to Air on VH1 Wednesday, March 4 at 8:00 PM
Plus: Vivica A. Fox to host the season's two-part reunion special beginning Wednesday, March 11 at 8:00/7:00c.
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[03/02/15 - 10:59 AM]
"Scandal" Stars Joe Morton, Kate Burton and Brian Letscher to Appear in Special Season Finale of GSN's "The Chase" Tuesday, March 10 at 8:00 P.M. ET/PT
The season four premiere on January 27 saw its highest rating ever for a premiere.
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[03/02/15 - 10:24 AM]
Video: "The Red Road" Season 2 Official Trailer
The Jason Momoa-led drama returns Thursday, April 2 at 10:00/9:00c on SundanceTV.
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