or


[06/20/11 - 11:17 PM]
Development Update: Monday, June 20
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!


100 BULLETS (Showtime, New!) - David S. Goyer ("FlashForward") is looking to bring Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso's comic book of the same name to the small screen. Said hour, to be penned and executive produced by Goyer, will follow the mysterious Agent Graves as he offers his clients a gun and immunity from prosecution, enabling them to get revenge against those who ruined their lives. Warner Bros. Television is producing. On the feature side, Goyer co-wrote the upcoming Batman and Superman features "The Dark Knight Rises" and "Man of Steel."


COMMUNITY (NBC)/HAPPY ENDINGS (ABC) - Directors/executive producers Anthony Russo and Joe Russo have inked a two-year development deal with Universal Media Studios. The pact spells the end of the duo's run at Sony Pictures Television, where they helped spearhead the aforementioned comedies. No financial details were given.


COUGAR TOWN (ABC) - Former Peacock comedy chief Jeff Ingold has been tapped to run Bill Lawrence's now Warner Bros. Television-based Doozer banner. Lawrence recently inked an eight-figure deal with the studio, his first outside ABC Studios in over a decade. As for the ABC Studios-based "Cougar Town," Lawrence will continue as showrunner for one more season before transitioning full-time to development.


CRIMINAL MINDS (CBS) - Following months of contentious negotiations, Thomas Gibson has inked a new deal to return to the veteran drama. The two-year pact - valued at mid-to-high seven figures, more than doubling his previous salary, plus a signing bonus - comes just two weeks before production is set to begin on the series. Shemar Moore, Paget Brewster, A.J. Cook, Joe Mantegna, Matthew Gray Gubler and Kristen Vangsness are also on board the new season, which will once again air Wednesday nights at 9:00/8:00c this fall.


G4'S PROVING GROUND (G4) - The cable channel has pulled the recently launched series following the news of host Ryan Dunn's death in a car accident this morning. "All of us at G4 are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic news that Ryan Dunn has passed away," the network said in a statement. "Ryan's comedic wit and signature no-holds-barred approach made him an incredible talent and his work as host of G4's Proving Ground was flawless. Ryan will be missed dearly by his legion of fans and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time." "Proving Ground" bowed this past Tuesday at 8:00/7:00c. It's not clear when the eight remaining produced episodes will air.


LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT (NBC) - Danny Pino, Kevin Alejandro, David Conrad, Michael Raymond-James and Rhys Coiro are reportedly among the actors testing opposite Mariska Hargitay to fill the void left by the departure of Christopher Meloni from the series. Alejandro and Raymond-James are no strangers to veteran drama, having previously guested. It's understood a final decision will be made shortly thereafter as production gets underway on its 13th season.


ONION SPORTSDOME/SPORTS SHOW WITH NORM MACDONALD (Comedy Central) - As expected, the cable channel has passed on ordering second seasons of both series. "SportsDome" averaged a modest 1.240 million viewers and a 0.7 rating among adults 18-49 in the network's Tuesday, 10:30/9:30c slot behind "Tosh.0" (3.260 million viewers, 1.9 rating among adults 18-49 during said stretch) before being banished to the 8:00/7:00c half-hour. "Sports Show" fared just as poorly in the same slot with its June 7 season finale pulling in 944,000 viewers and a 0.5 rating among adults 18-49, likewise down significantly from its "Tosh.0" lead-in (2.682 million viewers, 1.6 rating among adults 18-49).


POWERS (FX) - Lucy Punch ("The Class") has been tapped for the female lead on the drama pilot, a police procedural set in a world where superpowers are relatively common. She'll play Deena Pilgrim who alongside fellow detective Christian Walker (yet to be cast) investigate cases involving "powers" (people with superpowers). Bailee Madison and Charles S. Dutton co-star in the project, from FX Productions and Sony Pictures Television. Michael Dinner is directing from a script by Charles H. Eglee.






  [june 2011]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· 100 BULLETS (SHOWTIME)
· CLASS, THE (CBS)
· COMMUNITY (NBC)
· COUGAR TOWN (TBS)
· CRIMINAL MINDS (CBS)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· FLASH FORWARD (ABC)
· G4'S PROVING GROUND (G4)
· HAPPY ENDINGS (ABC)
· LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT (NBC)
· ONION SPORTSDOME (COMEDY CENTRAL)
· POWERS (FX)
· SPORTS SHOW WITH NORM MACDONALD (COMEDY CENTRAL)
· TOSH.0 (COMEDY CENTRAL)





[05/24/13 - 02:13 PM]
Thursday's Cable Ratings: "Swamp People" Tops Demos, Viewers for History
Plus: numbers for AMC's "Showville," Showtime's "Last Days Here" and GSN's "Minute to Win It."

[05/24/13 - 01:35 PM]
Mike Darnell Votes Himself Out... of Fox Broadcasting Company
The longtime President of Alternative Entertainment has announced that he will be departing the network at the end of June.

[05/24/13 - 12:11 PM]
Blake Shelton Organizes "Healing in the Heartland: Relief Benefit Concert" at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City on May 29
The concert will be televised live at 9:00/8:00c on NBC as well as on cable networks Style, G4, Bravo, E! and CMT.

[05/24/13 - 11:36 AM]
Syfy's "Paranormal Witness" Returns for Its Third Season on June 5 at 10 PM ET/PT
The new season begins with "The Long Island Terror," featuring intense demonic activity at a house in Long Island, NY.

[05/24/13 - 11:35 AM]
Chris and Heidi Powell and Twin Participants David and Rebecca Live Tweet During "Extreme Weight Loss" Season Premiere, May 28
They'll all be up on @realchrispowell, @realheidipowell, @DavidEWL3 and @BeccaEWL3, respectively.

[05/24/13 - 11:20 AM]
GSN Announces the Season Two Champions of "The American Bible Challenge"
The cable channel details the winners of the show's sophomore run.

[05/24/13 - 08:46 AM]
"Rookie Blue" Opens at #1 at 10pm with Its 2nd Biggest Audience Since 2010
ABC spins the numbers for Thursday, May 23.

[05/24/13 - 08:32 AM]
Thursday's Broadcast Ratings: FOX Opens Summer on Top in Demos
"Hell's Kitchen" and "Does Someone Have to Go?" hand the network victory in adults 18-49.

[05/23/13 - 11:26 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, May 23
Updates include: Clive Owen, Steven Soderbergh to bring "The Knick" to Cinemax; Neil LaBute's "Full Circle" sets cast; and Stephanie Sengupta departs The CW's "Reign."

[05/23/13 - 06:23 PM]
The CW Books "Cult" Revival for June 28; "The Hunt" Renamed "Capture"
They'll join previously announced summer originals "Breaking Pointe," "Perfect Score" and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?"

[05/23/13 - 04:27 PM]
Wednesday's Cable Ratings: Pacers/Heat Opener Dominates for TNT
Plus: numbers for VH1's "Off Pitch," Oxygen's "Best Ink" and TLC's "The Town That Caught Tourettes?"

[05/23/13 - 03:01 PM]
NBC Completes Best May Sweep in Nine Years As Network Finishes 0.1 of Rating Point Out of First
NBC further spins the numbers for the May sweeps period.

[05/23/13 - 03:00 PM]
Syfy's "Killer Contact" (Formerly "Notorious Hauntings") to Premiere July 16 at 10 PM ET/PT
Viewers will follow a team of paranormal investigators as they research the otherworldly activity at historical sites.

[05/23/13 - 02:34 PM]
Kelly Osbourne Hosts Fan-Generated Special "Phineas and Ferb Musical Cliptastic Countdown," Premiering Friday, June 28 on Disney Channel
Leading up to the special, fans can get in on the action by voting for their favorite "Phineas and Ferb" music videos on DisneyChannel.com.

[05/23/13 - 02:15 PM]
A Can't-Miss "Katie" First: An Exclusive Hour with Howard Stern, Tuesday, May 28
Katie goes one on one with Stern in a no-holds-barred conversation about everything from his childhood, family and therapy sessions to his on-air persona and personal obsessions.