or


[02/14/13 - 11:39 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, February 14
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!


ABOUT A BOY (NBC) - Minnie Driver ("The Riches") has scored the female lead on the comedy pilot, about the relationship between Will (David Walton), a bachelor man-child, and Marcus, the young boy who moves in next door with his kooky single mother. She's set as said mom, Fiona, who "exudes vegan throwback hippie-ness." Writer Jason Katims and director Jon Favreau are behind the Universal Television-based half-hour, which is based on Nick Hornby's book-turned-film of the same name. (Deadline.com)


ADVOCATES, THE (CBS) - CCH Pounder ("Warehouse 13") is the first to board the drama pilot, about a lawyer and an ex-con who team up as victim advocates, going to the edge of the law to right wrongs and fight for the underdog. She'll play Marjorie Kaplan, the prim but perceptive and tough as nails head of the show's Victim Advocate Office. Warner Bros. Television is behind the hour, to be directed by David Nutter from a script by Bruno Heller. (Deadline.com)


BELIEVE (NBC) - Jake McLaughlin ("Crash") has booked a role on the drama pilot, about "the unlikely relationship between Bo (yet to be cast), a girl in possession of a great gift/powers and Tate, the man who is sprung from prison to protect her from those trying to hunt her down." He'll play the latter role in the project, which comes from the Warner Bros. Television-based Bad Robot, writer Mark Friedman and director Alfonso Cuarón. (Deadline.com)


BLINK (The CW) - Madeline Carroll ("Flipped") has been tapped for the lead role on the drama pilot, about Ari Trask, a 16-year-old girl reeling from a car accident that put her father in a coma and his attempts to communicate from the great beyond. She'll play said teen - an old soul brimming with teenage angst - who spends most of her time at the hospital with him. Vera Herbert penned the hour, which is set up at CBS Television Studios. (Deadline.com)


FRIENDS & FAMILY (FOX) - Jason Ritter ("Parenthood") has snagged the male lead in the network's import of the U.K. series "Gavin & Stacey," about new lovers who try to maintain their relationship while combining their polarizing families' lives. He'll play Gavin, "an adorably neurotic, a good guy who's excited about his first real date with Stacey, a co-worker from rural Pennsylvania he's become friends with through Skype and Facebook." David J. Rosen penned the single-camera project, which is set up at Sony Pictures Television. (Deadline.com)


GATES (NBC) - Stephen Guarino ("Happy Endings") has been tapped as a series regular on the comedy pilot, about the hijinks that ensue when parents drop off and pick up their kids at school each day. He'll play Brett, a gay dad and sidekick to Lindsay (Diana Maria Riva), President of the PTA. The show's ensemble also includes Christina Kirk, Echo Kellum, Greg Germann, John Grisetti, Kathleen Rose Perkins and Ken Marino. Marc Buckland is directing the 20th Century Fox Television-based project, from writers Cathy Yuspa and Josh Goldsmith. (Deadline.com)


MCCARTHYS, THE (CBS) - Jake Lacy ("The Office") has booked a principal role on the comedy pilot, about an Irish-Catholic, sports-crazed Boston clan and the neurotic, gay son whose greatest sin is not his sexuality but his desire to spend less time with his family. He'll play said role - Ronny, a tenth grade English teacher - in the Sony Pictures Television-based half-hour, from director Fred Savage and writer Brian Gallivan. Jack McGee and Jacki Weaver also star as his parents, Arthur and Marjorie. (Deadline.com)


SURGEON GENERAL, THE (CBS) - Jason Isaacs ("Awake") has booked the title role on the drama pilot, about a fictional Surgeon General of the United States and the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. He'll play said fellow, Dr. John Sherman, "a man of solid build and solid character - that rare mix of resolve, humanity, and dry wit." The actor will also receive a producing credit. In addition, Rod Lurie ("Straw Dogs") is set to helm the CBS Television Studios-based hour from a script by creator Samuel Baum. (Deadline.com)


THUNDERMANS, THE (Nickelodeon) - Jed Spingarn's comedy pilot - about 14-year-old twin siblings (Kira Kosarin and Jack Griffo) who come from a family of superheroes - has been given a 13-episode order by the cable channel. Rosa Blasi and Chris Tallman also star as their parents with Diego Velazquez and Addison Riecke in unspecified roles. Griffo replaces Tyler Peterson from the original pilot. (Deadline.com)


TURN (AMC) - Australian actors Meegan Warner and Daniel Henshall are both set to board the drama pilot, which tells the story of New York farmer, Abe Woodhull, who bands together with a group of childhood friends to form The Culper Ring, an unlikely group of spies who turn the tide in America's fight for independence. Warner will play Abe's wife Mary, "who does not want to see their young son grow up to become a soldier anytime soon"; while Henshall is set as Caleb Brewster, "a former whaler, now Lieutenant in the Second Continental Artillery who is eager to fight back against the oppressive British." Rupert Wyatt is directing the AMC Studios-based hour from a script by Craig Silverstein. (Deadline.com)


UNDER THE DOME (CBS) - Dean Norris ("Breaking Bad") is the latest to land a role on the ensemble drama, about a small town that is suddenly and inexplicably sealed off from the rest of the world by an enormous transparent dome. He'll play Big Jim, "the successful owner of Chester's Mill's used car dealership who also is town councilman, an office he takes seriously." The 13-episode drama is based on Stephen King's best-selling novel of the same name. Aisha Hinds, Alex Koch, Britt Robertson, Colin Ford, Jolene Purdy, Mike Vogel, Natalie Martinez and Nicholas Strong also star. (Deadline.com)


WELCOME TO THE FAMILY (NBC) - Mike O'Malley ("Glee") is the first to be cast in the comedy pilot, about two teens - nervous over-talker Junior Hernandez and prickly feminist Molly Yoder (both yet to be cast) - whose disparate families are bonded together after they fall in love and get pregnant. He'll play Dan, Molly's usually affable and fun father, in the Sony Pictures Television-based project, from writer Mike Sikowitz. (Deadline.com)


AND IN OTHER NEWS... - Zooey Deschanel and Sophia Rossi's Hello Giggles banner has inked a two-year first-look deal with 20th Century Fox Television (Deadline.com); Richard Branson's Virgin Produced is developing "The Whisky A Go Go," a drama series project about the famous Sunset Strip nightclub targeted for premium cable (Deadline.com); Stacy Traub has inked an overall deal with ABC Studios where she'll join its comedy pilot "Middle Age Rage" as an executive producer (Deadline.com); and Ben Shenkman's Dr. Jeremiah Sacani has been upped to series regular on "Royal Pains" (TVLine.com).






  [february 2013]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· ABOUT A BOY (NBC)
· ADVOCATES, THE (CBS)
· AWAKE (NBC)
· BELIEVE (NBC)
· BLINK (CW)
· BREAKING BAD (AMC)
· CRASH (STARZ)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· GATES (NBC)
· GLEE (FOX)
· HAPPY ENDINGS (ABC)
· MCCARTHYS, THE - 2013 VERSION (CBS)
· MIDDLE AGE RAGE (ABC)
· OFFICE, THE (NBC)
· PARENTHOOD (NBC)
· RICHES, THE (FX)
· ROYAL PAINS (USA)
· SURGEON GENERAL, THE (CBS)
· THUNDERMANS, THE (NICKELODEON)
· TURN: WASHINGTON'S SPIES (AMC)
· UNDER THE DOME (CBS)
· US & THEM (SONY CRACKLE)
· WAREHOUSE 13 (SYFY)
· WELCOME TO THE FAMILY (NBC)





[03/31/26 - 01:01 PM]
Video: "Yiya Murano: Death at Tea Time" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A charming housewife is investigated for poisoning her friends at tea time in this documentary about a true-crime case that continues to grip Argentina.

[03/31/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of March 23 - Listen Up, Lads - "Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man" Takes No. 1 in the Top 10
Also maintaining its position in the Top 10 for a third week, "One Piece" Season 2 held strong at No. 1 on the English TV list with 5.9 million views.

[03/31/26 - 11:25 AM]
Video: "Big Mood" Season 2 - Official Trailer - Tubi Original
It's been a year since Maggie (Nicola Coughlan) and Eddie (Lydia West) last saw each other, without any contact between the best friends.

[03/31/26 - 10:20 AM]
"Sesame Street" Arrives on Tubi with 250 Nostalgic Episodes
Every quarter, 10% of the episodes will be refreshed making additional episodes available for fans to discover.

[03/31/26 - 10:13 AM]
BET Experience FanFest Tickets Now on Sale for June 25-27 in Los Angeles
General admission is free, and VIP tickets are available now at betexperience.com.

[03/31/26 - 10:01 AM]
Netflix's "Age of Attraction" Gets Second Shot at Love with Season 2 Renewal
Season 1 debuted in the Netflix English TV Top 10, where it has remained since its release, reaching the Top 10 in 26 countries.

[03/31/26 - 09:50 AM]
TNT Sports to Serve Up Banana Ball this Summer on truTV & HBO Max
TNT Sports will showcase 15 Banana Ball games this summer on truTV and HBO Max, presented by Tropical Smoothie Cafe, beginning Friday, May 8 at Truist Park - home of the Atlanta Braves - when the Savannah Bananas face the Party Animals as part of the Banana Ball World Tour.

[03/31/26 - 09:35 AM]
Fiona Gubelmann, Paul Campbell, Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe, Melissa Peterman and Tamera Mowry-Housley Star in "All's Fair in Love & Mahjong" Premiering May 9 on Hallmark Channel, Streaming Next Day on Hallmark+
Ronni (Gubelmann) is a beloved school nurse and devoted mom, who hosts a longstanding mahjong game with her dear friends, Shelley (Lowe), Carly (Mowry-Housley) and Melissa (Peterman).

[03/31/26 - 09:00 AM]
HBO Max and Warner Bros. Television Partner with Alamo Drafthouse to Host Nationwide Healthcare Appreciation Screenings for "The Pitt" Season 2 Finale
Screenings will take place on Monday, April 13, at select Alamo Drafthouse locations nationwide.

[03/31/26 - 08:31 AM]
Netflix to Stream "The 51st AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Eddie Murphy" on May 31
The award will be presented to Murphy at a Gala Tribute at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on April 18, 2026.

[03/31/26 - 08:02 AM]
Video: Miss Mary Bennet Takes the Floor - BritBox Debuts Official Trailer and Key Art for "The Other Bennet Sister," Premiering May 6
The 10-episode series will debut with three episodes, followed by a weekly episodic rollout.

[03/31/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Son-In-Law" - Official Trailer - Netflix
José Sánchez becomes a feared political operator after a rough patch, but this time neither his memorable mustache nor his sharp tongue will be enough.

[03/31/26 - 08:00 AM]
First Look: Hulu Original Series "Alice and Steve," Starring Jemaine Clement & Nicola Walker
Alice is devastated when her best friend Steve starts dating her 26-year-old daughter Izzy.

[03/31/26 - 08:00 AM]
Video: Prime Video Drops Official Trailer for the Iconic Competition Series "American Gladiators" Featuring Original Music from Jelly Roll
The first three episodes of the series will premiere on Friday, April 17, 2026, on Prime Video, followed by three new episodes releasing Friday April 24, and the final four episodes releasing on Friday May 1.

[03/31/26 - 07:31 AM]
Video: "Noah Kahan: Out of Body" - Official Trailer - Netflix
After rocketing to global fame, singer-songwriter Noah Kahan faces the pressure of what comes next.