[09/29/11 - 11:09 PM] Development Update: Thursday, September 29 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!
DOG WITH A BLOG (Disney Channel, New!) - Michael B. Kaplan ("I'm In The Band") has snagged a pilot order from the cable channel for a new comedy about a dog who blogs about his family, helping 15-year-old step-siblings - Tyler and Kayla - get along, not to mention survive high school, in the process. Neal Israel ("Kickin' It") is directing the multi-camera project, which is set to film the first week of November in Los Angeles. (Deadline.com)THE GOOD LIFE (FOX, New!) - Author/comedian Carlos Kotkin ("Please God Let It Be Herpes") has set up a new single-camera comedy at the network about "a guy whose continued optimism always lands him in unexpected and humorous predicaments." He'll co-write and executive produce the half-hour with Justin Sternberg ("The Paul Reiser Show"). 20th Century Fox Television-based Chernin Entertainment is producing with the company's Peter Chernin and Katherine Pope likewise executive producing, as is Kotkin's manager Brad Mendelsohn of Circle of Confusion. (Deadline.com)STRONGER (ABC, New!) - Carlton Cuse ("Lost") is set to team with bestselling author/pastor Rob Bell, the founder of Michigan's Mars Hill Bible Church, for a new drama about "a musician and teacher, and his spiritual journey as he becomes a benefactor and guide to others." ABC Studios is behind the hour, which the duo will write and executive produce. (Deadline.com)TURNER LOOSE (ABC, New!) - Former "Castle" executive producer Barry Schindel has booked a new drama at the Alphabet about "a disgraced Wall Street banker-turned-jailhouse lawyer who finds himself not only solving the legal problems of his fellow convicts but working for the prosecutor who put him behind bars." ABC Studios is behind the hour, which Schindel will write and executive produce. (Variety.com)UNTITLED BILL CALLAHAN PROJECT (ABC, New!) - Bill Callahan ("Scrubs") has sold a new comedy to the Alphabet about "the relationship between four longtime guy friends, still living in their hometown outside of Boston, who gather once a week to watch one of their beloved teams play." The untitled half-hour comes from ESPN Content Development, marking the first scripted sale from said incubator of original content. Vinnie Malhotra then will executive produce alongside Callahan with Joan Lynch serving as a producer. (Deadline.com)UNTITLED CHRIS CARTER PROJECT (New!) - "The X-Files" creator Chris Carter and Media Right Capital are set to team for a potential "mystery drama with a female lead." The untitled project, which Carter will write, direct and executive produce, is being targeted for a direct-to-series order. (Deadline.com)UNTITLED JOHN HLAVIN PROJECT (FOX, New!) - John Hlavin ("The Shield") has booked a potential drama at the network about the origins of Old West legend Wyatt Earp. Said hour, from 20th Century Fox Television and the studio-based K/O Paper Products, would chronicle "both the well-known incidents in his life such as the Gunfight at the OK Corral and lesser-known details of Earp and his brothers bringing order to a lawless frontier." Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Heather Kadin then will executive produce alongside Hlavin. (Deadline.com)WHEN THE WOMEN COME OUT TO DANCE (NBC, New!) - "NUMB3RS" co-creators Nicolas Falacci and Cheryl Heuton has sold a new drama to the Peacock about "a Colombian mail-order bride who finds herself working as a 'fixer' in South Miami as she struggles to escape her troubled past." The Universal Cable Productions-based hour is based on a short story by Elmore Leonard ("Justified"). Falacci and Heuton then will pen the hour and executive produce alongside Doug Liman and Dave Bartis of the studio-based Hypnotic. (Deadline.com)AND IN OTHER NEWS... - NBC has ordered two additional episodes of "Parenthood," bringing its third season total to 18 episodes (TVLine.com); Disney Channel likewise has extended "Austin & Ally" and "Shake It Up" to 21 and 26 episodes, respectively (Deadline.com); Debi Mazar will guest on "Melissa & Joey" as a straight-shooting political consultant hired by Melissa Joan Hart's Mel for her re-election campaign (TVLine.com); John Francis Daley will drop by "The Finder" as his "Bones" character, Dr. Lance Sweets (TVLine.com); "Medium's" Sofia Vassilieva has booked a guest spot on "Law & Order: SVU" as a rape victim with the previously announced Andre Braugher playing her attacker's lawyer (TVLine.com); Michael Weston and Jason Wiles will both drop by "CSI: NY" in an episode about Jo's (Sela Ward) time in Washington (TVGuide.com); "Rescue Me's" Ken Shea will turn up on "House" as a clinic patient (TVLine.com); plus newcomer Claudia Lee has been cast as Lemon's (Jaime King) younger sister on The CW's "Hart of Dixie"(THR.com).
