 |
 |
[03/21/11 - 10:59 PM]
Development Update: Monday, March 21
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!
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.
|
|
|
 [march 2011]  |
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
[10/24/20 - 08:32 AM]
Friday's Broadcast Ratings: FOX Rides World Series to Victory
Game 3 takes home top honors in both total viewers and adults 18-49.
|
[10/23/20 - 12:14 PM]
YouTube Originals Continues the Story with "Justin Bieber: Next Chapter" Premiering October 30
The 30-minute special premieres Friday, October 30th at 12pm ET / 9am PT on Justin Bieber's Official YouTube Channel.
|
[10/23/20 - 11:29 AM]
HBO Sports to Present Michael Strahan-Executive Produced Documentary Series "The Cost of Winning"
The first two episodes debut Tuesday, November 10 beginning at 9:00/8:00c, with episodes three and four airing the following evening at the same time.
|
[10/23/20 - 11:06 AM]
The Dakota Boys Battle It Out Against Mother Nature in Brand-New Season of "Gold Rush: White Water" Premiering November 13 on Discovery Channel
Plus: viewers can get the inside scoop from all the miners and dig deep into the best behind-the-scenes moments during the popular "Gold Rush" after show, "The Dirt" premiering at 10:00/9:00c.
|
[10/23/20 - 10:11 AM]
Video: Shudder Releases Trailer, Key Art and Images for "A Creepshow Animated Special" Premiering Thursday, October 29
The special features two stories directed by Creepshow showrunner Greg Nicotero, with animation by Octopie animation studio.
|
[10/23/20 - 10:00 AM]
Nickelodeon's "The Substitute" Returns With All-New Surprises for Season Two of the Hit Prank Series, Premiering Halloween, Oct. 31, at 9 P.M. (ET/PT)
Joining the series as host is Mexican social media sensation Juanpa Zurita, who will help undercover celebrities pull off a day of ridiculous mayhem as the substitutes for unsuspecting kids.
|
[10/23/20 - 09:32 AM]
Today YouTube Originals Premieres New Election Special for Families, "Kid Correspondent"
Part 1 and 2 are free-to-stream today and part 3 and 4 will premiere on Monday, October 26 at 9:00AM PT / 12:00PM ET on the SoulPancake channel.
|
[10/23/20 - 09:17 AM]
Oxygen Presents the Tragic Case of Emilie Morris in the Two-Hour Special "The Case Died with Her" Premiering Sunday, December 6 at 7PM ET/PT
In this harrowing special, legal commentator and former prosecutor Loni Coombs dives into the shocking case of Emilie Morris.
|
[10/23/20 - 09:07 AM]
Video: Showtime(R) Releases First Look at Tekashi 6ix9ine Docu-Series "Supervillain"
The three-part docu-series is set to premiere early 2021.
|
[10/23/20 - 08:42 AM]
Thursday's Broadcast Ratings: NFL Puts FOX on Top in Demos
Presidential debate coverage on ABC and NBC however leads the night in total viewers.
|
[10/23/20 - 08:33 AM]
Free Streaming Network Crackle Announces New Originals and Exclusives, Movies, and Series for November
Newcomers include documentary series "Heroes of Lucha Libre" and "Breaking Beauty" plus the feature "Blood and Money."
|
[10/23/20 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Dash & Lily" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Opposites attract at Christmas as cynical Dash and sunny Lily trade messages and dares in a red notebook they pass back and forth around New York City.
|
[10/23/20 - 07:21 AM]
HGTV Series "Help! I Wrecked My House" Delivers Double-Digit Ratings Gains in Debut Season
HGTV further spins the numbers for the season to date.
|
[10/23/20 - 06:01 AM]
Hallmark Channel Partners with Grammy(R)-Award Winning Global Icon, Gwen Stefani and Grammy(R)-Award Winning Recording Artist Ryan Tedder, on All-New Original Song, "Here This Christmas"
The single, written and produced by Tedder and Grammy nominated songwriter, producer and musician, Brent Kutzle, and recorded by Stefani, will be released today.
|
[10/22/20 - 11:39 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, October 22
Updates include: Apple reveals cast of "Pachinko" adaptation; Rosario Dawson signs onto Hulu's "Dopesick"; and Tim Burton to shepherd proposed "The Addams Family" TV series.
|
|
|
|
