[04/05/11 - 11:04 PM] Development Update: Tuesday, April 5 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!
2011-12 BROADCAST PILOTS (NBC) - The Peacock has confirmed directors for its remaining comedy pilots. James Griffiths ("Episodes") is helming the Christina Applegate-led "Alpha Mom" (formerly "Untitled Emily Spivey Project"); Ted Wass ("Rules of Engagement") is directing "Family Practice" (formerly "Untitled Dan Goor Project"); and Fred Savage ("Party Down") will lens "Best Friends Forever" (formerly "Untitled Lennon Parham/Jessica St. Clair Project"). Other confirmed helmers include Rob Greenberg ("How I Met Your Mother") on "Lovelives," Michael Patrick Jann ("Little Britain USA") on "Brave New World" and Michael Spiller ("Modern Family") on "My Life as an Experiment." Meanwhile, new monikers have been issued to "SILA" (now "Metro") and the untitled projects from Whitney Cummings ("Whitney") and Kari Lizer ("Help Wanted").
THE CHICAGO CODE (FOX) - Creator Shawn Ryan has inked a massive three-year overall deal with Sony Pictures Television. The pact calls for the prolific writer/producer to develop new series projects for the studio, which is also home to Peter Tolan, Ronald D. Moore and Jack Orman. Said deal won't affect his duties on the 20th Century Fox Television-based "Code," which has yet to be renewed for a second season.
DALLAS (TNT) - Brenda Strong ("Desperate Housewives") has been cast in the cable channel's revival of the famed 1980s soap of the same name. She'll play Bobby Ewing's (Patrick Duffy) new wife, Ann, in the hour, which also stars Jesse Metcalfe, Jordana Brewster, Josh Henderson, Julie Gonzalo, Larry Hagman and Linda Gray. Michael M. Robin is directing from a script by Cynthia Cidre for Warner Horizon Television.
RAISING HOPE (FOX) - Gregg Binkley has been upped to series regular for the show's second season. He'll continue on as supermarket manager Barney in the half-hour, which returns with new episodes on April 19. Creator Greg Garcia previously confirmed co-star Cloris Leachman will likewise become a regular on the show's sophomore run.
UNTITLED PETER KNIGHT PROJECT (CBS) - Michael Landes has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about the employees at a high-powered venture capital firm. He'll play one of them, Andrew ("cocky, frat boy"), in the CBS Television Studios/Sony Pictures Television-based half-hour, which also stars Ben Rappaport, Kevin Corrigan, Larry Wilmore, Michelle Trachtenberg and Tim Peper. Neil Patrick Harris is directing.
WORK IT (ABC) - Beth Lacke ("Happy Hour") has scored a role on the comedy pilot, about two out-of-work car salesmen - Lee (Ben Koldyke) and Angel (Amaury Nolasco) - who decide to dress as women to get jobs as pharmaceutical reps. She'll play Lee's wife, Connie Standish ("upbeat, quick-witted"), a hardworking nurse. The project also features John Carapulo, Kacie Lynch, Kate Reinders, Kirstin Eggers, Rebecca Mader and Rochelle Aytes. Beth McCathy-Miller is directing the Warner Bros. Television-based half-hour from a script by Andrew Reich and Ted Cohen.
