or


[02/17/11 - 10:41 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, February 17
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

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.






  [february 2011]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· 24 (FOX)
· ARE YOU THERE, CHELSEA? (NBC)
· CHICAGO CODE, THE (FOX)
· DETROIT 187 (ABC)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· ER (NBC)
· EXIT STRATEGY (FOX)
· FAMILY ALBUM (FOX)
· GENERATION KILL (HBO)
· GRACE (ABC)
· GRIMM (NBC)
· HART OF DIXIE (CW)
· HEROES (NBC)
· LIFE UNEXPECTED (CW)
· NOTES FROM THE UNDERBELLY (ABC)
· PAN AM (ABC)
· PRIVILEGED (CW)
· SCRUBS (ABC)
· SECRET CIRCLE, THE (CW)
· SPARTACUS (STARZ)
· TOUCH (FOX)





[02/10/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "The 32nd Annual Actor Awards" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Host Kristen Bell is ringing up SAG-AFTRA members everywhere to spread the word about the 32nd Annual Actor Awards Presented by SAG-AFTRA.

[02/10/26 - 08:00 AM]
Paramount+ and CBS Partner to Air "UFC 326: Holloway vs. Oliveira 2" Live on Paramount+ and CBS Television Network
Plus, CBS announced today "This Is UFC," tracing UFC's rise from underground spectacle to global powerhouse, airing Friday, February 20, (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+.

[02/10/26 - 08:00 AM]
The Chaos Continues as Another Explosive Season of "Mama June" Returns Friday, March 13 with New Friends and New Foes
The new season promises to deliver everything fans love about the Shannon family and more, from family feuds and fires to Mama drama and a wedding.

[02/10/26 - 06:28 AM]
Great American Media Partners with Bestselling Author Melissa Ferguson to Adapt "Meet Me in the Margins" and Upcoming Novel, "The Christmas Yes List" into New Original Movies for 2026
Known for her heartfelt storytelling, faith-forward themes, and charming romantic comedies, Ferguson has become a favorite among readers of Christian romance and romantic comedy novels.

[02/10/26 - 06:01 AM]
Paramount Enhances Its Superior $30 Per Share All-Cash Offer for Warner Bros. Discovery and Provides Update on Regulatory Progress
Paramount's enhanced offer provides definitively superior value and certainty, as reflected in added provisions and distinguishing elements.

[02/10/26 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "One Piece" Season 2 - Official Trailer - Netflix
Netflix's epic high-seas pirate adventure returns for Season 2 - unleashing fiercer adversaries and the most perilous quests yet.

[02/09/26 - 11:01 AM]
"Celebrity Jeopardy! All Stars" Programming Update
The previously announced premiere date will be shifting two weeks and now premieres Friday, March 13 on ABC, streaming next day on Hulu.

[02/09/26 - 09:32 AM]
Video: Oxygen Unveils Premiere Date and Official Trailer for "A Plan to Kill" Season Two
Season two is set to premiere Sunday, March 8 at 7pm ET/PT.

[02/09/26 - 09:04 AM]
A Tradition Reimagined: ESPN and Disney Launch "We're Going," The First Marketing Campaign for ESPN's Inaugural Super Bowl
Following Sunday's Super Bowl LX, ESPN and Disney unveiled "We're Going," a high-energy, fast-paced, cameo-filled marketing campaign for ESPN's inaugural Super Bowl, set for February 2027.

[02/09/26 - 09:01 AM]
CNN and Variety Announce Special Town Hall Conversation Event with Timothee Chalamet and Matthew McConaughey
The special will air Saturday, February 21 at 7pm ET/PT on CNN and stream live for subscribers of CNN's streaming offering.

[02/09/26 - 09:00 AM]
UPtv to Debut the U.S. Cable Television Premiere of "Heartland" Season 19 on March 19
In season 19, the Bartlett-Fleming family must risk everything to keep Heartland and those they love out of harm's way.

[02/09/26 - 08:52 AM]
Colin Firth Joins Cast of "Berlin Noir" Adaptation
Based on Philip Kerr's bestselling novels and executive-produced by Tom Hanks, Firth joins Jack Lowden in the upcoming series.

[02/09/26 - 08:31 AM]
Peacock to Exclusively Stream Focus Features' "Song Sung Blue" Beginning February 13
Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, in her Academy Award, Golden Globe and Actor Award-nominated role, star in Focus Features' unforgettable romance alongside Michael Imperioli, Ella Anderson, Mustafa Shakir and more.

[02/09/26 - 08:00 AM]
Callum Vinson Signs on to Play Atreus in Prime Video's "God of War" from Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios
Atreus, the ten-year old son of Kratos, grew up in a remote forest cabin, isolated from the rest of the world and raised almost entirely by his mother Faye.

[02/09/26 - 07:31 AM]
Video: "Virgin River" Season 7 - Official Trailer - Netflix
Newly married, Mel and Jack pursue their dream of adopting a baby, while old loves smolder and new threats challenge Virgin River.