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[03/21/11 - 10:59 PM]
Development Update: Monday, March 21
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!
ANGLER (HBO, New!) - Barton Gellman's book of the same name - about former Vice President Dick Cheney - is being developed as a potential mini-series at the pay channel. Rick Cleveland ("Six Feet Under") is penning the adaptation, which will track Cheney's life from "his early days as Donald Rumsfeld's protege in the Nixon administration, to the nation's youngest Chief of Staff under President Ford, to serving as Secretary of Defense under George H.W. Bush, through two controversial terms as Vice President under President George W. Bush." Spring Creek Productions and Fair Catch Productions are co-producing with Paula Weinstein, Jeffrey Levine, David Kennedy and "Frontline's" David Fanning and Michael Kirk executive producing.
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC) - Jonathan Cake ("Six Degrees") is set to join the cast of the long-running soap. He'll play Aaron, "a handsome, sexy, college-educated police detective with strong family values who becomes involved with Bree (Marcia Cross) when he comes to Wisteria Lane to investigate a case," in an upcoming four-episode arc before returning as a regular next season.
EATING WITH THE ENEMY (HBO, New!) - James Gandolfini ("The Sopranos") is set to star in and executive produce a potential docudrama at the pay channel about the true story of Bobby Egan, the owner of a Hackensack, New Jersey rib joint who became involved in back channel negotiations with North Korea to stop producing nuclear weapons. Said project is based on Egan and Kurt Pitzer's book of the same name, subtitled "How I Waged Peace With North Korea from My BBQ Shack in Hackensack." Egan improbably made inroads with the North Korean government after showing up at the doorstep of their consulate near the U.N. and offering his friendship. He subsequently made several trips to North Korea itself, where he was approached by the State Department to be their conduit in backdoor nuke talks. As for the film, Mark Armstrong, Nancy Sanders, Jane Rosenthal, Brandon Brito and Megan Lyvers will executive produce for Tribeca Productions and Gandolfini's Atta Boy Productions with Pitzer and Kimberly Levin co-producing. No other auspices were given.
FREE AGENTS (NBC) - Kathryn Hahn ("Hung") is set to star opposite Hank Azaria in the comedy pilot, about "the attraction between two quirky PR executives working together - Alex (Azaria) and Helen (Hahn) - who both are on the rebound, Alex from a divorce and Helen from the loss of a fiance." Todd Holland is directing the Universal Media Studios-based half-hour, from creator John Enbom. Mo Mandel also stars.
LOSING IT WITH JILLIAN (NBC) - Network sources have confirmed the Jillian Michaels-led series, in which "The Biggest Loser" trainer travels across the country to transform one family at a time, won't be returning for a second. Said effort was absent from the Peacock's summer lineup, which was revealed earlier today.
MORE AS THE STORY DEVELOPS (A.K.A. UNTITLED AARON SORKIN PROJECT) (HBO) - Jeff Daniels is reportedly in talks to topline the Aaron Sorkin-penned drama pilot, set behind the scenes of a nightly cable news show. He'd play Will McCallister, "a famous cable newsman of the Anderson Cooper/Brian Williams mold who is smart and talented guy but just a pain in the ass to work with and for." Sorkin and Scott Rudin are the executive producers.
PRIVATE PRACTICE (ABC) - Benjamin Bratt ("The Cleaner") is on track to join the cast of the veteran drama. Details about his role are being kept under wraps, however it's understood he'll be introduced in the season finale. Said casting is designed to fill the void left by Audra McDonald, who's departing the series at the end of the season.
R.E.M. (NBC) - Cherry Jones ("24") and Michaela McManus ("The Vampire Diaries") have both joined the cast of the drama pilot, about Mark Britten (Jason Isaacs), a police detective living in two different realities following a horrible car accident: one in which his son Rex (Dylan Minnette) lives, another in which his wife Hannah lives - each with their own partner and psychiatrist. In addition, co-star Laura Allen has been recast as Hannah ("stunning, warm"). The actress was previously attached as Tara ("long, slender, like someone who not only plays a sport for a living, but does it well"), Rex's tennis coach and trusted confidante. Said role will now go to McManus. Jones then is set as Stephanie Evans, Mark's psychiatrist in the reality where Rex lives. The previously cast B.D. Wong conversely is Mark's psychiatrist in the reality where Hannah lives, while Steve Harris and Wilmer Valderrama play Mark's respective partners. David Slade is directing the Kyle Killen-penned hour, from 20th Century Fox Television.
SECRET CIRCLE (The CW) - Natasha Henstridge ("Eli Stone") and Australian actor Louis Hunter have both landed roles on the drama pilot, about Cassie Blake (Britt Robertson), 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 Dawn Chamberlain ("a strikingly beautiful woman in her late 30's"), the vice principal at Cassie's school and an old friend of her mother's; while Hunter is on board as Nick Armstrong ("good physique, and he knows it"), Cassie's new neighbor, another member of the circle, a coven of young witches. Jessica Parker Kennedy, Phoebe Tonkin, Shelley Hennig and Thomas Dekker also star in the hour, which Liz Friedlander is directing from a script by Andrew Miller.
TITANIC (ABC, New!) - Simon Vaughn's long-in-the-works mini-series has found a U.S. broadcast home at the Alphabet. Said effort will chronicle the famous ship's maiden and final voyage through multiple points of view, using both fictional and historical characters. Production is set to begin in Hungary shortly for a premiere in April 2012 - the 100th anniversary of the boat's sinking. Oscar-winner Julian Fellowes ("Gosford Park") penned the project with ITV Studios, Lookout Point, Deep Indigo Productions, Sienna Films and Mid Atlantic Films co-producing.
VINCE UNCENSORED (CBS) - Elizabeth Perkins ("Weeds") has booked the female lead on the comedy pilot, about Vince Donohue (Michael Chiklis), "a man who decides to take a more honest approach to life after a life-altering experience." She'll play his Wife, Janet, a middle school teacher and mother to their three daughters. Kelsey Grammer is directing the Warner Bros. Television-based half-hour, from creator Phoef Sutton.
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[03/31/26 - 01:01 PM]
Video: "Yiya Murano: Death at Tea Time" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A charming housewife is investigated for poisoning her friends at tea time in this documentary about a true-crime case that continues to grip Argentina.
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[03/31/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of March 23 - Listen Up, Lads - "Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man" Takes No. 1 in the Top 10
Also maintaining its position in the Top 10 for a third week, "One Piece" Season 2 held strong at No. 1 on the English TV list with 5.9 million views.
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[03/31/26 - 11:25 AM]
Video: "Big Mood" Season 2 - Official Trailer - Tubi Original
It's been a year since Maggie (Nicola Coughlan) and Eddie (Lydia West) last saw each other, without any contact between the best friends.
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[03/31/26 - 10:20 AM]
"Sesame Street" Arrives on Tubi with 250 Nostalgic Episodes
Every quarter, 10% of the episodes will be refreshed making additional episodes available for fans to discover.
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[03/31/26 - 10:13 AM]
BET Experience FanFest Tickets Now on Sale for June 25-27 in Los Angeles
General admission is free, and VIP tickets are available now at betexperience.com.
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[03/31/26 - 10:01 AM]
Netflix's "Age of Attraction" Gets Second Shot at Love with Season 2 Renewal
Season 1 debuted in the Netflix English TV Top 10, where it has remained since its release, reaching the Top 10 in 26 countries.
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[03/31/26 - 09:50 AM]
TNT Sports to Serve Up Banana Ball this Summer on truTV & HBO Max
TNT Sports will showcase 15 Banana Ball games this summer on truTV and HBO Max, presented by Tropical Smoothie Cafe, beginning Friday, May 8 at Truist Park - home of the Atlanta Braves - when the Savannah Bananas face the Party Animals as part of the Banana Ball World Tour.
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[03/31/26 - 09:35 AM]
Fiona Gubelmann, Paul Campbell, Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe, Melissa Peterman and Tamera Mowry-Housley Star in "All's Fair in Love & Mahjong" Premiering May 9 on Hallmark Channel, Streaming Next Day on Hallmark+
Ronni (Gubelmann) is a beloved school nurse and devoted mom, who hosts a longstanding mahjong game with her dear friends, Shelley (Lowe), Carly (Mowry-Housley) and Melissa (Peterman).
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[03/31/26 - 09:00 AM]
HBO Max and Warner Bros. Television Partner with Alamo Drafthouse to Host Nationwide Healthcare Appreciation Screenings for "The Pitt" Season 2 Finale
Screenings will take place on Monday, April 13, at select Alamo Drafthouse locations nationwide.
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[03/31/26 - 08:31 AM]
Netflix to Stream "The 51st AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Eddie Murphy" on May 31
The award will be presented to Murphy at a Gala Tribute at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on April 18, 2026.
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[03/31/26 - 08:02 AM]
Video: Miss Mary Bennet Takes the Floor - BritBox Debuts Official Trailer and Key Art for "The Other Bennet Sister," Premiering May 6
The 10-episode series will debut with three episodes, followed by a weekly episodic rollout.
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[03/31/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Son-In-Law" - Official Trailer - Netflix
José Sánchez becomes a feared political operator after a rough patch, but this time neither his memorable mustache nor his sharp tongue will be enough.
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[03/31/26 - 08:00 AM]
First Look: Hulu Original Series "Alice and Steve," Starring Jemaine Clement & Nicola Walker
Alice is devastated when her best friend Steve starts dating her 26-year-old daughter Izzy.
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[03/31/26 - 08:00 AM]
Video: Prime Video Drops Official Trailer for the Iconic Competition Series "American Gladiators" Featuring Original Music from Jelly Roll
The first three episodes of the series will premiere on Friday, April 17, 2026, on Prime Video, followed by three new episodes releasing Friday April 24, and the final four episodes releasing on Friday May 1.
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[03/31/26 - 07:31 AM]
Video: "Noah Kahan: Out of Body" - Official Trailer - Netflix
After rocketing to global fame, singer-songwriter Noah Kahan faces the pressure of what comes next.
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