[03/26/12 - 11:19 PM] Development Update: Monday, March 26 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!
666 PARK AVENUE (ABC) - Erik Palladino ("Make It or Break It") has been tapped for a role on the drama pilot, about a young couple (Rachael Taylor, Dave Annable) who accept an offer to manage one of the most historic apartment buildings in New York City where they begin to experience supernatural occurrences. He'll guest star as Tony DeMeo, the building's Bronx-born doorman. Writer David Wilcox and director Alex Graves are behind the Warner Bros. Television-based hour, which also stars Helena Mattsson, Mercedes Masohn, Robert Buckley, Terry O'Quinn and Vanessa Williams. (Deadline.com)BANSHEE (Cinemax) - Rus Blackwell ("Magic City") is the latest to board the upcoming drama, about Lucas Hood (Antony Starr), an ex-convict and master thief who assumes the identity of the sheriff of Banshee, Pennsylvania, and continues to carry out his criminal activities even as shadowy gangsters hunt him. He's set as Gordon, the town's D.A. who's married to Lucas' old flame, Carrie (Ivana Milicevic). David Schickler and Jonathan Tropper are behind the Alan Ball-produced hour, which also stars Daniel Ross, Demetrius Grosse, Frankie Faison, Hoon Lee, Matt Servitto, Trieste Dunn and Ulrich Thomsen. (TVLine.com)CHELSEA GENERAL (TNT) - Jonathan Silverman will guest star in the drama pilot, about the lives of five surgeons as they push the limits of their abilities and confront their personal and professional failings. He'll play John Lieberman, "a general internist who develops a relationship with heart surgeon Sidney Napur (Sarayu Rao)." The project, from director Bill D'Elia and writer David E. Kelley, also stars Alfred Molina, Bill Irwin, Emily Swallow, Jamie Bamber, Jennifer Finnigan, Keong Sim and Ving Rhames. (Deadline.com)GO ON (NBC) - Veteran character Bill Cobbs has scored a role on the comedy pilot, about Ryan King (Matthew Perry), an irreverent yet charming sportscaster, who after his wife dies, finds surprising solace from the members of his support group. He'll play George ("a lovely older man with a ridiculous list of health and life issues"), a member of said group. Writer Scott Silveri and director Todd Holland are behind the Universal Television-based half-hour, which also stars Allison Miller, Julie White, Khary Payton, Laura Benanti and Suzy Nakamura. (Deadline.com)LET IT GO (FOX) - Camille Guaty ("The Chicago Code") has landed the remaining principal role on the comedy pilot, about a married couple - Ben (Zachary Levi) and Gracie (Kat Foster) - as they navigate, negotiate and manipulate society's unspoken rules. She'll play Charlie ("typical bachelor in every way, except she's a woman"), Gracie's younger sister, in the DJ Nash-penned half-hour, which comes from Sony Pictures Television. Joel David Moore also stars. (Deadline.com)LIKE FATHER... (FOX) - Alexis Knapp ("Project X") has landed a role on the comedy pilot, about Van Lyons (Colin Ferguson), a bombastic dad who, after his wife dies, moves into his son Will's (Robbie Amell) campus apartment. She's set as Dylan ("a stunner of a girl"), a co-ed whom Will lusts after from afar. Erin Daniels, Kevin Michael Martin and Phill Lewis co-star in the Warner Bros. Television-based half-hour, from writer/director Bill Lawrence. (Deadline.com)THE NEW NORMAL (NBC) - NeNe Leakes ("Glee") has landed a role on the drama pilot, about a gay couple - Bryan (Andrew Rannells) and Andrew (Justin Bartha) - and Goldie (Georgia King), the woman who becomes a surrogate to help them start a family. She'll guest star as Rocky, Bryan's no-nonsense assistant. Bebe Wood, Ellen Barkin and Jayson Blair co-star in the 20th Century Fox Television-based half-hour, from co-creators Ali Adler and Ryan Murphy. (Deadline.com)NOTORIOUS (NBC) - Laz Alonso ("Breakout Kings") has booked the male lead on the drama pilot, about Joanna Locasto (Meagan Good), a police detective who returns undercover to the wealthy family she grew up in - as the maid's daughter - to solve the murder of Vivian Lawson, the notorious heiress who was once her closest friend. He's on board as Will Sacovitch ("good-looking, a guy's guy"), a fellow NYPD detective who recruits former flame Joanna to infiltrate the Lawson home. Ella Rae Peck, Katherine LaNasa, Makenzie Leigh, Neil Jackson, Tate Donovan and Victor Garber also star in the Universal Television-based hour, from creator Liz Heldens. (Deadline.com)REVOLUTION (NBC) - David Lyons and Maria Howell have joined the cast while Billy Burke has been tapped for a new role on the drama pilot, about a group of people struggling to survive and reunite with loved ones in a world where all forms of energy have mysteriously ceased to exist. Burke will now play the show's lead, Miles Matheson ("likable; his face is an open book") - a former Marine who reluctantly finds himself aiding his niece Charlie (Tracy Spiradakos) in her quest to rescue her brother Danny (Graham Rogers) from the dangerous Captain Tom Neville (Giancarlo Esposito). Burke was previously cast as Miles's best friend Bass, a role which has now gone to Lyons. Howell then is set as Grace, a fiercely intelligent woman who gives Danny sanctuary. Andrea Roth, Anna Lise Phillips, J.D. Pardo, Tim Guinee and Zak Orth also star in the project, from director Jon Favreau, writer Eric Kripke and the Warner Bros. Television-based Bad Robot Productions. (Deadline.com)SHELTER (The CW) - Trent Ford ("The Vampire Diaries") is the latest addition to the drama pilot, about the staff and guests at Shelter Bay, a historic New England summer resort. He's set as Tyler Green, "a former British rock star staying in the penthouse at the Shelter Bay Inn." Eka Darville, Elizabeth Henstridge and Hannah New also star in the hour, from director Liz Friedlander, writer Mark Schwahn and the Warner Bros. Television-based Bad Robot Productions. (Deadline.com)SUPER FUN NIGHT (CBS) - Andrew Reich and Ted Cohen ("Work It") has been tapped as showrunners of the comedy pilot, about three nerdy female friends on their "funcomfortable" quest to have "super fun" every Friday night. They'll supervise creator Rebel Wilson, who also stars alongside Alan Ritchson, Jenny Slate and Kevin Bishop. In addition, Mark Cendrowski ("The Big Bang Theory") is set to direct. The Warner Bros. Television-based Conaco Productions is producing. (Variety.com)UNTITLED KARYN USHER PROJECT (FOX) - Greg Ellis ("Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides") has scored a role on the drama pilot, about Jane Forsythe (Saxon Sharbino), the orphaned 14-year-old daughter of a CIA agent who is recruited to become an operative herself. He'll guest as Peter Toulson ("classic pinstripes, handmade wingtips, sinister blue gaze"), an MI-6 agent who's assisting the CIA. Angela Bassett, Julian McMahon, Louise Lombard, Rick Schroder and Saxon Sharbino also star. Brett Ratner is helming the 20th Century Fox Television-based project. (Deadline.com)AND IN OTHER NEWS... - Eva Longoria will serve as an executive producer on the ABC drama pilot "Devious Maids," from "Desperate Housewives" creator Marc Cherry (Deadline.com); "Luther" creator Neil Cross has signed a two-year overall deal with Universal Television (Deadline.com); Michelle Borth, who plays Steve McGarrett's girlfriend Lt. Catherine Rollins, has been upped to series regular on "Hawaii Five-0"(Deadline.com); Netflix and 20th Century Fox Television have ended talks to pick up a second season of FOX's recently axed drama "Terra Nova"(Deadline.com); Sarah Watson, a co-executive producer on "Parenthood," has likewise inked a two-year overall deal with Universal Television (Deadline.com); Serena Williams will guest as "a family lawyer representing Elisa Shayne (Brandy Norwood) in a bitter, life-changing custody battle against Jay Parker (Josh Stamberg)" on "Drop Dead Diva"(EW.com); Margo Martindale is set to visit "Suits" as "a nurse who proves unflappable in the face of Harvey's hardball tactics after her union threatens a strike against the hospital he represents" (EW.com); Kenneth Mitchell is bound for "Grimm" as "a beast that resembles the infamous urban legend" sasquatch (TVLine.com); Cheyenne Jackson will return to "30 Rock" for its latest live episode, due on April 26 (TVLine.com); Gaius Charles has booked a four-episode arc on "Necessary Roughness" as "an extremely polished wide receiver who seeks Dr. Dani's (Callie Thorne) help" (TVLine.com); and Tricia Helfer will play "a bad character" on the season finale of "Criminal Minds"(TVLine.com).
