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[05/19/11 - 11:06 PM]
Development Update: May 16-19
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!
AMC ORIGINAL SERIES - None of the six potential dramas being developed by the cable channel will move forward to pilot. Said projects included "The Man With the Golden Ears," from Scott Rosenberg; "The Voyage," from John Shiban; "The 4th Estate," from Gideon Yago; "The Wreck," from John Lee Hancock; "American Made," from Bob Cooper; and an untitled racing project from Billy Gerber. Gerber and Shiban's hours however reportedly are being redeveloped. (May 17)
FRINGE (FOX) - David Fury ("24") has joined the veteran drama as a consulting producer. There he'll work alongside current showrunners Jeff Pinkner and J.H. Wyman as well as fellow executive producers J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk. Fury previously supervised the pilot to the upcoming drama "Terra Nova" before departing over creative differences. (May 19)
HAWAII FIVE-0 (CBS) - Masi Oka reportedly will be upped to series regular for the show's second season. He'll continue on as Max Bergman, the socially awkward coroner on the series. (May 16)
HOUSE (FOX) - Co-star Lisa Edelstein is departing the series after seven seasons. "After much consideration, I am moving onward with a combination of disappointment at leaving behind a character I have loved playing for seven years and excitement of the new opportunities in acting and producing that lie ahead," the actress said in a statement to the press. It's not clear how her character will be written out. Edelstein was widely presumed to return for the show's eighth season following the signings of Robert Sean Leonard and Omar Epps, whose contracts were likewise up this season. (May 17)
PRIME SUSPECT (NBC) - Producers reportedly plan to recast the role of Matt Webb, the live-in boyfriend of Mario Bello's character, on the recently ordered series. Toby Stephens played said role in the original pilot. No reason was given for the change. (May 14)
SMASH (NBC) - David Marshall Grant ("Brothers & Sisters") has joined the upcoming drama as an executive producer. There he'll work alongside Theresa Rebeck and fellow executive producers Craig Zadan, Darryl Frank, Justin Falvey, Marc Shaiman, Neil Meron, Scott Wittman and Steven Spielberg. The newcomer will roll out on Monday nights at 10:00/9:00c come January. (May 16)
SPRING/FALL (HBO) - Matt Letscher, Sigourney Weaver, Jason Antoon, Marin Hinkle and Jessica Hecht are the latest additions to the comedy pilot, about "the dysfunctional partnership between Margo (Tea Leoni) and Eden (Hope Davis), two women with different approaches to career, family and friendship" set in the world of fashion. Letscher will play Margo's ex-husband while Weaver will guest star as "a meticulously dressed, authoritative fashion editor." Rounding out the group are Antoon as Eden's current best friend, Hinkle as Eden's sister and Hecht as Margo's best friend, a successful management consultant. Jake Kasdan is directing the half-hour from a script by Kate Robin. (May 17).
SHOWTIME AT THE APOLLO (BET, New!) - Jamie Foxx is reportedly looking to revive the former syndication mainstay, which features live performances from both professional and up-and-coming artists. Foxx, Marcus King and original executive producer/director Don Weiner are spearheading the new incarnation with a deal for a new pilot said to be pending. No other specifics were given. (May 16)
UNTITLED ANNIE MUMOLO PROJECT (ABC, New!) - Annie Mumolo, co-writer/co-producer of the feature "Bridesmaids" has inked a blind script deal with the Alphabet. The project will be set up at ABC Studios and Tagline Television with Mumolo executive producing. No other details were given. (May 18)
UNTITLED CHRIS COLUMBUS PROJECT (CBS, New!) - Feature helmer Chris Columbus ("Percy Jackson & the Olympians") has inked a three-for-one development deal with the Eye and sibling CBS Television Studios. The pact calls for Columbus to develop a trio of projects for the companies via his 1492 Pictures banner, with one ultimately landing a pilot commitment which he'll likely direct. (May 19).
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[12/06/25 - 02:46 PM]
Paramount and UFC Announce New Seasons of "Dana White's Contender Series" and "The Ultimate Fighter"
Beginning in 2026, Paramount+ in the U.S., Latin America, and Australia will become the exclusive home for all episodes of both series.
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[12/06/25 - 02:27 PM]
Video: "School Spirits" Returns - Paramount+ Drops First Look at Season Three Premiering January 28
The date was unveiled alongside first look images at today's Paramount+ CCXP panel in São Paolo, Brazil featuring series lead and executive producer Peyton List.
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[12/06/25 - 02:12 PM]
Video: Oscar-Nominee Paul Giamatti Surprises Fans at CCXP and Reveals Exclusive Scene from "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy"
The series will premiere globally with two episodes on Thursday, January 15 on Paramount+, and in Japan on Tuesday, January 23.
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[12/06/25 - 10:47 AM]
Hulu Debuts First-Look Images from "The Testaments" Out of Brazil Comic Con
"The Testaments," a new chapter from the showrunner and executive producers of "The Handmaid's Tale," is coming in April 2026 to Hulu.
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[12/06/25 - 10:31 AM]
Video: Date Announcement & Teaser Debut - Hulu's "Paradise" Season 2
The second season of the Emmy Award-nominated series premieres Monday, February 23 with three episodes, followed by new episodes weekly on Hulu and Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the US and Disney+ internationally.
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[12/05/25 - 03:31 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 in Total Viewers
"Nightline" improved on the previous week in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, hitting nine-week highs in both measures.
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[12/05/25 - 03:30 PM]
In Anticipation of "Avatar: Fire and Ash," ABC News to Premiere Two New Specials This December
First up: "Avatar: A New Era - Special Edition of 20/20" premieres Friday, December 12 on ABC.
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[12/05/25 - 02:05 PM]
ESPN Networks Deliver Best College Football Regular Season Since 2011; "College GameDay Built by The Home Depot" Scores Most-Watched Season Ever
ESPN networks aired the most-watched game in 34 of 42 key Saturday windows, including seven of 14 noon windows, 13 of 14 late afternoon windows and all 14 prime windows.
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[12/05/25 - 12:35 PM]
2025 CFB Viewership Surges on FOX & FS1
The 2025 regular season wrapped with big numbers for "Big Noon Saturday," "Big Noon Kickoff" and more - including year-over-year gains across the board.
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[12/05/25 - 11:00 AM]
CBS Premiere Week Episodes Post Gains and Lead In Live Plus 35-Day Multiplatform Viewership
"Tracker" delivered 17.3 million viewers, up +6% versus its year-ago premiere.
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[12/05/25 - 10:05 AM]
"Landman" Booms Into a Third Season Renewal and Breaks Viewing Records on Paramount+
The second season is set to be a top three series among all original content the week of November 17 and a top two series for the week of November 24 according to Nielsen preliminary data.
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[12/05/25 - 09:45 AM]
Video: "Taylor" - A CW Documentary Special - Trailer
The special - airing Saturday, December 13 - explores the global phenomenon of Taylor Swift and digs deep across the musician's 20-year career, a period that has seen her transcend the realm of pop star to become a cultural icon like no other.
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[12/05/25 - 08:45 AM]
ESPN Delivered Most-Watched Women's College Volleyball Season on Record
Said coverage averaged 190,000 viewers, up 36% from the 2024 season.
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[12/05/25 - 08:31 AM]
Peacock Exclusively Streams Monkeypaw Productions' "Him" Beginning December 19
The film stars Marlon Wayans, Tyriq Withers, Julia Fox, Tim Heidecker, Jim Jefferies and more.
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[12/05/25 - 08:01 AM]
BET+ Original Film, "Vera's Holiday Flop," Premieres Thursday, December 18
The film stars Charity Jordan, Terri J. Vaughn, Griff, Chrissy McDaniel, Tyler Chronicles, Algebra Blessett, Jelani Akil, Scotty ATL, and Saycon Sengbloh.
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