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[12/09/11 - 10:51 PM]
Development Update: Friday, December 9
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!
AGAINST THE WALL (Lifetime) - The cable channel has pulled the plug on the Rachael Carpani-led drama. "I'd like to thank @lifetimetv, the #AgainstTheWall writers and the Amazing fans of Against The Wall but unfortunately we've been canceled," co-star Brandon Quinn posted to his Twitter account earlier today. The show's 13-episode run averaged 1.636 million viewers and a 0.5 rating among adults 18-49, ahead of the recently axed "The Protector" (1.294 million viewers, 0.3 adults 18-49 rating in prime airings) but behind the network's staples "Army Wives" (3.615 million viewers, 1.2 adults 18-49 rating) and "Drop Dead Diva" (2.264 million viewers, 0.7 adults 18-49 rating).
THE BLUE LAGOON (Lifetime) - Neil Meron and Craig Zadan's revival of Henry De Vere Stacpoole's book-turned-feature film franchise - about "a boy and a girl marooned on a tropical island, where they grow up together, fall in love and discover sexuality" - has been greenlit by the cable channel. Lifetime originally put the project into development in March of 2004 with Heather Rutman and Matt Heller tapped to write the script. Sony Pictures Television and Judith Verno's Peace Out Productions are likewise behind the film, which Verno will executive produce alongside Storyline Entertainment's Meron and Zadan. Production is set to begin this February in Puerto Rico as casting is underway. (Deadline.com)
CELEBRITY WIFE SWAP (ABC) - The celebrity incarnation of the series is now set to premiere Monday, January 2 at 10:00/9:00c following the season premiere of "The Bachelor." "Swap" will then settle into its regular Tuesday, 9:00/8:00c slot the following night.
DREAM CITY (HBO, New!) - Eddie Murphy is on track to play Marion Barry in a biopic of the former Washington, D.C. mayor from director Spike Lee and writer John Ridley. Said effort is based on Washington journalists Tom Sherwood and Harry Jaffe's 1994 book of the same name, subtitled "Race, Power and the Decline of Washington, D.C." HBO previously optioned the book nearly a decade ago but the resulting project - starring Jamie Foxx and executive produced by Chris Rock - didn't come to fruition. Barry served four terms as mayor of D.C. despite infamously being videotaped smoking crack cocaine in a hotel room during an FBI sting operation, eventually serving six months in federal prison on a misdemeanor drug possession conviction. He currently serves on the D.C. Council, representing one of the city's poorest neighborhoods. Lee and Ridley, who are also working on the network's drama pilot "Da Brick," will also executive produce. (WashingtonPost.com)
THE MOMENT (USA, New!) - Former NFL MVP Kurt Warner is set to host a new reality series at the cable channel focusing on personal reinvention and life transformation. Charlie Ebersol and Justin Hochberg are behind the project, which is set to roll out in the second quarter of next year. The pilot was shot in Los Angeles earlier this year. No other specifics were given. (Variety.com)
THE NATE BERKUS SHOW (Syndication) - Sony Pictures Television and Harpo Studios plan to wrap the series after its current second season. "After careful consideration, we have decided that The Nate Berkus Show will not return for a third season in the fall," said the companies said in a joint statement. "We are grateful for the hard work and heart that Nate, [executive producer] Corin Nelson and their entire team have poured into the show, and we're very proud of what they've delivered." Berkus himself also released a statement saying, "I'm incredibly proud of my hard working and talented staff, and proud of the show we were able to produce every day." (BroadcastingCable.com)
A SMILE AS BIG AS THE MOON (ABC) - The Alphabet has booked its second Hallmark of Hall of Fame production for Sunday, January 29 at 9:00/8:00c. John Corbett and Jessy Schram topline the film, based on the true story of Mike Kersjes, "a high school football coach and special-education teacher who teams up with fellow teacher Robynn McKinney (Schram) to achieve an impossible dream: to take a group of special-ed children to Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama." Cynthia Watros also stars as Space Camp Director Deborah Barnhardt. James Sadwith directed from a script by Tom Rickman, based on Kersjes's memoir (with Joe Layden) of the same name. Brent Shields and Dan Paulson are the executive producers.
AND IN OTHER NEWS... - Diane Neal will guest on "A Gifted Man" as a defense attorney who grills Michael (Patrick Wilson) about a patient's brain tumor which he says caused him to become a firebug (TVLine.com); Alanis Morissette will turn up on NBC's "Up All Night" as a hip-hop legend from Ava's '90s band, Sound LLC (TVLine.com); Lowe's has pulled its advertising on TLC's "All-American Muslim" after "hearing the concerns we received through emails, calls, through social media and in news reports" (THR.com); plus Caspar Zafer and Nathaniel Buzolic will recur on "The Vampire Diaries" as Klaus' (Joseph Morgan) other Original brothers (TVGuide.com).
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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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