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[08/20/12 - 11:21 PM]
Development Update: Monday, August 20
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!
THE FRANCHISE (Showtime) - The pay channel is trimming the show's second season by one week, with the finale now set for this Wednesday, August 22 at 10:00/9:00c. To date its sophomore run, featuring the Miami Marlins, has averaged a very modest 77,000 viewers and a 0.0 rating among adults 18-49. Last summer's inaugural season, showcasing the San Francisco Giants, averaged 106,000 viewers and a 0.0 adults 18-49 rating. (Sun-Sentinel.com)
PAGING DR. FREED (USA) - Kyle Howard and Joel David Moore have booked the lead roles on the long-in-the-works single-camera comedy pilot, about David (Howard) and Jonathan (Moore) Freed, two gynecologist brothers who inherit their father's thriving medical practice after he suffers a heart attack during an attempt at "playing" doctor with his young secretary. Their casting lifts said contingency on the half-hour, which comes from Fox 21, Universal Cable Productions and Watson Pond Productions. Marc Buckland is attached to direct from a script by Michael Feldman with Katy McCaffrey and Brad Johnson also serving as executive producers. (Deadline.com)
RED WIDOW (ABC) - Goran Visnjic ("ER") has joined the cast of the midseason drama, about a woman, Marta Walraven (Radha Mitchell), who must take over her late husband's illegal drug business to protect her three young children. He'll take over for Thomas Kretschmann as mob boss Christian Schiller in the project, from writer Melissa Rosenberg. Clifton Collins Jr., Erin Moriarty, Jaime Ray Newman, Jakob Salvati, Lee Tergesen, Luke Goss, Rade Serbedzija, Sterling Beaumon, Suleka Mathew and Wil Traval also star in the ABC Studios-based project. (Deadline.com)
UNTITLED DIGGY SIMMONS PROJECT (BET, New!) - 17-year-old rapper/blogger Daniel "Diggy" Simmons III, son of Joseph "Reverend Run" Simmons, is set to star in a new original movie at the cable channel about Blake, a blogger with a "close group of loyal friends who hold him down on his rise to the top." Also cast in the project, a backdoor pilot for a potential series, are Allen Maldonado as Blake's best friend Manny; Teyana Taylor as Manny's twin sister/Blake's ex-girlfriend Tae; Chris Brew as tech geek/fellow pal Dot; Bria Murphy as Manny's girlfriend Nia; and Stephanie Charles as Dot's ex-girlfriend Sheri. Salim Akil ("Sparkle") will direct from a script by Kenya Baris with Mara Brock Akil, Chris Lighty, Laurie Dobbins and James Dubose also among the executive producers. Simmons and Kevin Liles will also serve as co-executive producers. Production is set to begin later this year. (Deadline.com)
UNTITLED JONATHAN SHAPIRO PROJECT (FX, New!) - Jonathan Shapiro ("The Firm") has booked a potential drama at the cable channel about a former police detective who now works as a fixer. Ryan Seacrest Productions and The Weinstein Co. are behind the hour, which Shapiro will executive produce presumably alongside Seacrest, Harvey Weinstein, Bob Weinstein, Nina Wass and Adam Sher. No other details were given. (Deadline.com)
AND IN OTHER NEWS... - "Saturday Night Live" will kick off its 38th season on Saturday, September 15 (NBC.com); Sundance Channel has commissioned a second season of its summer series "Push Girls" (Deadline.com); Bryan Cranston is set to direct an episode of "The Office" this season (@RainnWilson); Nicki Minaj is the latest name being tossed around as a judge for "American Idol" (THR.com); Rob Corddry will guest on FOX's freshman entry "Ben & Kate" (EW.com); Ed Skrein and Jacob Anderson have been cast as Daario Naharis and Grey Worm, respectively, on "Game of Thrones" (WinterIsComing.net); Marco Pennette has been tapped as the new showrunner of "Animal Practice," succeeding Gail Lerner beginning with the show's fourth episode (Deadline.com); Jayson Blair has been upped to series regular on "The New Normal" as Goldie's (Georgia King) cheating husband Clay (Deadline.com); Chuck Lorre is finalizing a new four-year overall deal with Warner Bros. Television, which includes a feature component (Deadline.com); Rob Huebel will drop by "Up All Night" as "Chris's (Will Arnett) annoying roommate from college that he can't seem to get rid of" (TVGuide.com); and Super Bowl XVII winner Joe Theismann will make a cameo on "Necessary Roughness" as himself (THR.com).
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[12/09/25 - 12:00 PM]
FOX Kicks Off Its Winter Lineup with Special Advance Premiere Dates for New Series "Best Medicine" and Returning Comedy Series "Animal Control" Following FOX NFL Doubleheaders
Plus: look for a two-night premiere event for new drama series "Memory of a Killer," starring Patrick Dempsey and Michael Imperiloi, beginning immediately after the NFC Championship Game.
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[12/09/25 - 10:31 AM]
John Stamos, Dale Dickey, and Cam Gigandet Join "The Hunting Wives" Season 2
The trio joins previously announced new cast members Kim Matula and Alex FitzAlan, alongside returning cast members Brittany Snow, Malin Akerman, Jaime Ray Newman, Dermot Mulroney, Evan Jonigkeit, George Ferrier, Karen Rodriguez, Hunter Emery, and Branton Box.
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[12/09/25 - 10:01 AM]
BET+ Original Film, "A Soulful Christmas," Premieres Thursday, December 25
The film stars Kaci Walfall, Myles Truitt, Shanice, Kenny Lattimore, Taylor Symone, E. Roger Mitchell, Towanda Braxton, KB Holland, Kyler Chavis, Gail Everett-Smith, Gerard Catus, Ryan James, and Elijah Resurreccion.
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[12/09/25 - 09:31 AM]
"The Upshaws" Returns to Netflix on January 15 with Final Season
As Regina makes a run for office and Bennie's garage falls on hard times, the Upshaws will always find a way to keep it real, loud and full of love.
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[12/09/25 - 09:22 AM]
Viaplay January 2026 Exclusive U.S. Premieres: "Sport vs. Money," "Stayer," "The Curse," "Scenes After a Marriage"
"Slayer" follows an aging rock musician forced to confront his greatest challenge when the mother of his child dies tragically - struggling to balance fatherhood, fame, and the haunting choices of his past.
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[12/09/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Official Trailer - "The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball" Season 2
The series, produced by Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe, returns on Monday, December 22 only on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers.
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[12/09/25 - 09:01 AM]
The History Channel's New Series "History's Deadliest with Ving Rhames" to Premiere on Monday, January 26
The 10-part series produced by Propagate Content will reveal the unbelievable details surrounding the world's most prolific and powerful killers.
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[12/09/25 - 08:10 AM]
Roku Originals Hits the Road for Sophia Bush and Lauren Holly Comedy Feature "Broad Trip"
From Muse Entertainment and Motion Content, the film recently wrapped production and will debut on The Roku Channel in May 2026.
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[12/09/25 - 08:09 AM]
FOX Nation Taps Zachary Levi for New Docudrama "David: King of Israel" Slated for Early 2026
Released weekly, the program brings to life the thrilling, turbulent and deeply human story of David, the shepherd boy who rose to become the greatest king in Israel's history, and whom Christians regard as the ancestor of Jesus Christ.
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[12/09/25 - 08:08 AM]
OWN Announces "Maxxed Out": A Bold New Financial Intervention Series Premiering January 10, 2026
This unflinching eight-episode series reveals how money (and mismanaged money) can strain even the strongest relationships.
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[12/09/25 - 08:01 AM]
Tyrese Haliburton Joins "NBA on Prime" as Player Contributor
Haliburton will make his debut tonight on "NBA on Prime's" postgame show, "NBA Nightcap," following the Emirates NBA Cup Quarterfinals doubleheader featuring the Miami Heat at Orlando Magic (6:00 p.m. ET) and New York Knicks at Toronto Raptors (8:30 p.m. ET).
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[12/09/25 - 07:01 AM]
Apple TV Reveals First Look at "Margo's Got Money Troubles" from David E. Kelley
Based on Rufi Thorpe's bestselling novel of the same name, the eight-episode series will premiere globally on Wednesday April 15, 2026 with three episodes, followed by new episodes every Wednesday through May 20, 2026.
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[12/09/25 - 07:01 AM]
Prime Video Reveals First-Look Images and Premiere Date for "56 Days," Starring Dove Cameron and Avan Jogia
All eight episodes will be released on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
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[12/09/25 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Unlocked: A Jail Experiment" - Season 2 Official Trailer - Netflix
At an Arizona correctional facility, a sheriff implements a bold experiment to grant incarcerated men more agency in this eye-opening reality series.
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[12/09/25 - 06:01 AM]
The Game is Afoot! Prime Video Releases First-Look Images for "Young Sherlock" Series
The thrilling series, brought to life by visionary director and executive producer Guy Ritchie, charts the origin story of Sherlock Holmes in an irreverent, action-laden mystery that follows the iconic detective's early adventures.
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