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[02/17/11 - 10:41 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, February 17
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!
ARE YOU THERE VODKA? IT'S ME CHELSEA (NBC) - Angel Laketa Moore ("ER") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about Chelsea Hanson (Laura Prepon), "a fresh-faced single cocktail waitress highly opinionated and open about her love to drink and have sex." She's on board as Shoniqua, the "smart, curvy and unapologetic" assistant manager at the sports bar where Chelsea works. Gail Mancuso is directing from a script by Dottie Zicklin and Julie Ann Larson for Warner Bros. Television. Said half-hour is based on Chelsea Handler's memoir of the same name.
EXIT STRATEGY (FOX) - Megan Dodds ("Detroit 1-8-7") is the latest addition to the Ethan Hawke-led drama pilot, about a team of CIA agents who are sent in to fix operations gone bad. She'll play Hannah Burke, a doctor with a prodigy-level IQ who trusts no one. Antoine Fuqua is helming the 20th Century Fox Television-based hour off a script by David Guggenheim.
GRACE (ABC) - Eric Roberts ("Heroes") has snagged the lead role on the drama pilot, about Michael Grace (Roberts), a famous choreographer whose womanizing ways have produced three daughters - Sarah, a lawyer; Shay, a photographer; Eden, a teenager - all with different mothers. In addition, Flody Suarez has been tapped as an executive producer. Lesli Linka Glatter is directing from a script by Krista Vernoff for ABC Studios.
GRIMM (NBC) - David Giuntoli ("Privileged") has booked the lead role on the drama pilot, about a police detective who discovers fairy tale creatures live among us. He'll play the aforementioned man, Nick Burckhardt, who is tasked with defending humans from these mythical beasts. David Greenwalt and Jim Kouf are behind the Universal Media Studios-based hour, to be directed by Marc Buckland.
HART OF DIXIE (The CW) - Wilson Bethel ("Generation Kill") has scored a role on the Rachel Bilson-led drama pilot, about "a young New York City doctor who inherits a medical practice in a small Southern town inhabited by an eclectic and eccentric group of characters." He'll play Wade Kinsella, her "gorgeous bad-boy fisherman" neighbor in the Warner Bros. Television-based project, which Jason Ensler is directing from a script by Leila Gerstein.
PAN AM (ABC) - Michael Mosley ("Scrubs") has joined the cast of the drama pilot, about the pilots and flight attendants working at the iconic Pan Am airline in the 1960s. He'll play Ted, a pilot who's always sporting a buzz cut and an infectious smile. Margot Robbie also stars in the hour, which comes from Sony Pictures Television, director Thomas Schlamme and creator Jack Orman.
SECRET CIRCLE (The CW) - Britt Robertson ("Life Unexpected") has booked the lead role on the drama pilot, about a California teen who moves to her mom's hometown of New Salem, Maine and discovers that she comes from a family of witches. She'll play the young woman in question, Cassie Blake, who is "the key that will unlock a centuries-old battle of good versus evil." Liz Friedlander is helming the hour from a script by Andrew Miller. CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television are co-producing.
SPARTACUS: BLOOD & SAND (Starz) - Lesley-Ann Brandt is reportedly departing the series to pursue broadcast pilots, which are currently casting. It's understood her role of Naevia, slave to Lucretia (Lucy Lawless) and lover of Crixus (Manu Bennett), will be recast. Last month, Liam McIntyre was tapped to replace Andy Whitfield, who was forced to leave the show in order to deal with health issues.
TOUCH (FOX) - Kiefer Sutherland ("24") is reportedly mulling a role on the drama pilot, from "Heroes" creator Tim Kring. He'd star as Martin Bohm, an unassuming baggage handler at JFK who discovers that his autistic, mute son can predict events before they happen. The actor however is currently committed to Jason Miller's revival of "That Championship Season" on Broadway, which opened last week - meaning production would have to be pushed. Separately, Charles McDougall ("The Chicago Code") is in talks to direct. 20th Century Fox Television is producing.
UNTITLED JOE PORT/JOE WISEMAN PROJECT (FOX) - Rachael Harris ("Notes From the Underbelly") has been tapped as the female lead on the comedy pilot, about a headstrong patriarch (Mike O'Malley) who, determined to get some quality family time, embarks on a vacation with his extended family. She'll play his wife Marni, a stay at home mom with a bit of a wild side. Rob Huebel also stars in the 20th Century Fox Television-based project, to be helmed by Shawn Levy.
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[02/26/26 - 02:46 PM]
Netflix Declines to Raise Offer for Warner Bros.
"The transaction we negotiated would have created shareholder value with a clear path to regulatory approval. However, we've always been disciplined, and at the price required to match Paramount Skydance's latest offer, the deal is no longer financially attractive, so we are declining to match the Paramount Skydance bid," said co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters.
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[02/26/26 - 02:19 PM]
"Live with Kelly and Mark" Soars to Season High with Best Audience in Over a Year
"Live" has now ranked as the No. 1 talk show in syndication for 157 consecutive weeks across all key measures.
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[02/26/26 - 02:08 PM]
Britbox Unveils Spring Slate with "The Lady" Starring Mia McKenna-Bruce; Premieres March 18
Other highlights include the return of "Hope Street" and the debut of "Mudtown."
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[02/26/26 - 01:36 PM]
Paramount Comments on Warner Bros. Discovery Board's Determination of Paramount's Proposal as Superior
David Ellison, Chairman and CEO of Paramount, said: "We are pleased WBD's Board has unanimously affirmed the superior value of our offer, which delivers to WBD shareholders superior value, certainty and speed to closing."
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[02/26/26 - 01:16 PM]
Warner Bros. Discovery Board of Directors Determines Revised Proposal from Paramount Skydance Constitutes a "Company Superior Proposal"
Under the terms of the Netflix merger agreement, this notice triggers a four business day period during which Netflix has the right to propose revisions to the Netflix merger agreement so that the PSKY proposal would cease to constitute a "Company Superior Proposal."
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[02/26/26 - 01:00 PM]
FOX Television Network Renews Hit Joel McHale Series "Animal Control" for Season Five
In addition, the first three seasons of the series are currently streaming on Netflix, and the show has been sold in territories around the world.
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[02/26/26 - 10:31 AM]
More Stars Take the Stage to Present at the 98th Oscars
Javier Bardem, Chris Evans, Chase Infiniti, Demi Moore, Kumail Nanjiani and Maya Rudolph are among the featured talent.
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[02/26/26 - 10:30 AM]
Video: AMC Networks Unveils Captivating Sneak Peek Scene from "The Vampire Lestat"
In the new rock and roll centric season, the Vampire Lestat goes on an electric multi-city tour while being haunted by "muses" from his wild and rebellious past.
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[02/26/26 - 10:21 AM]
Feed the Children Teams Up with FOX's "Next Level Chef" to Put Child Hunger to Bed
The year-round campaign rallies the public alongside donors, volunteers, and partners to provide kids with the food and resources they need to rise and thrive every day.
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[02/26/26 - 10:01 AM]
"Running Point" Season Two Returns April 23 on Netflix
Isla Gordon (Kate Hudson) is no longer the surprise choice to lead the Los Angeles Waves, she's the one everyone is watching.
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[02/26/26 - 10:01 AM]
Season Three of the HBO Original Comedy Series "The Comeback" Debuts March 22
New episodes of the eight-episode season will debut weekly leading up to the series finale on Sunday, May 10.
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[02/26/26 - 10:00 AM]
CBS Launches New Podcast "NCIS: Partners & Probies" Hosted by Series Stars Brian Dietzen and Diona Reasonover, Offering Fans an Inside Look at the #1 TV Franchise Worldwide
Premiering Tuesday, March 3, new episodes will roll out weekly.
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[02/26/26 - 09:14 AM]
FOX Sports Assembles World-Class Broadcast Team for 2026 World Baseball Classic
Headlining FOX MLB's coverage of Team USA matchups and knockout rounds are highly acclaimed play-by-play announcers Joe Davis, Adam Amin and Kevin Kugler; expert analysts John Smoltz, A.J. Pierzynski and Adam Wainwright; and veteran reporters Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci.
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[02/26/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Trailer & Key Art - "Sunny Nights" Starring Will Forte & D'Arcy Carden
After a critical acclaimed Australian debut, the darkly comedic crime drama starring Will Forte and D'Arcy Carden makes its U.S. debut on March 11 on Hulu.
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[02/26/26 - 09:01 AM]
BritBox Announces April 7th Premiere for "A Taste for Murder"
The six-part crime procedural produced by Eagle Eye Drama and in association with ITV Studios stars Warren Brown, Phyllis Logan, and Cristiana Dell'Anna, and was shot on location in Croatia and Italy last year.
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