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)





[02/25/26 - 03:35 PM]
"20/20: The Au Pair, The Affair and Murder" About a Twisted Love Triangle Delivers Best Adult 25-54 Performance in 10 Months and Strongest Delivery in Adults 18-49 in 11 Months
Hitting new season highs for the second straight week, "20/20" improved on the previous week in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49.

[02/25/26 - 02:59 PM]
Netflix's "Untamed" Season Two Casts New Roles
The newly added cast will join previously announced Eric Bana, Shea Whigham and Kelly Hu.

[02/25/26 - 02:46 PM]
ABC News Is No. 1 Broadcast Network for Coverage of the State of the Union, Beating NBC by 1.4 Million and CBS by 1.7 Million
Said coverage ranked No. 1 among the broadcast networks in all key target demos: Total Viewers (4.912 million), Adults 25-54 (1.125 million) and Adults 18-49 (886,000).

[02/25/26 - 10:30 AM]
Medical Mysteries Take Over Wednesdays on TLC Starting Wednesday, March 4 at 8PM ET/PT
Highlights include the return of "Untold Stories of the ER" on August 19 at 9:00/8:00c.

[02/25/26 - 10:12 AM]
The CW Network Sets Season 4 Premiere of Hit Series "Sullivan's Crossing"
The series will return for its highly-anticipated 10-episode fourth season on Monday, April 20 (8:00-9:00pm ET/PT).

[02/25/26 - 10:01 AM]
Martin Clunes to Guest Star on "Best Medicine"
Clunes, the BAFTA award winning original star of the UK's "Doc Martin," guest stars as Martin's father, Robert Best on Tuesday, March 3 on FOX.

[02/25/26 - 09:07 AM]
FOX Sports, AV8 Productions, Allez! Sports, and Hello Sunshine Announce New Documentary Special "You See L.A." Premiering March 1 on FS1
The one-hour documentary special explores the human stories, emotional stakes, and deep community surrounding UCLA's Women's Basketball team during one of the most pivotal seasons in its program's history.

[02/25/26 - 08:31 AM]
Video: "Louis Theroux: Inside The Manosphere" - Official Trailer - Netflix
With rare access and no holds barred, the acclaimed documentarian investigates a growing ultra-masculine network and its controversial influencers.

[02/25/26 - 08:01 AM]
Peacock Launches the Official "House of Villains" Podcast Hosted by "Survivor" Fan-Favorite and "House of Villains" Season Three Competitor Tyson Apostol
Each week, Tyson invites a fellow Season Three villain to unpack their strategic betrayals, shifting alliances, and iconic meltdowns - diving into the psychology of villainy and savoring the act of making excellent reality TV.

[02/25/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Homicide: New York" - Season 2 Official Trailer - Netflix
Detectives and prosecutors revisit their most challenging murder cases in this chilling true-crime documentary series from the creator of "Law & Order."

[02/25/26 - 08:01 AM]
Matt Dillon to Star in MGM+'s Drama Series "The Magnificent Seven"
Dillon, who also serves as an executive producer, will reprise the iconic role of Chris Adams, originally played by Yul Brynner, who becomes the leader of seven gunslingers who sign onto the task of protecting a group of innocent villagers from a mercenary land baron hellbent on stealing their land.

[02/25/26 - 08:00 AM]
HBO Renews "Industry" for a Fifth and Final Season
"We're privileged to have joined the small, esteemed club of dramas that have run for five seasons on HBO," said creators Mickey Down and Konrad Kay.

[02/25/26 - 07:01 AM]
HBO Max to Premiere "Song of the Samurai" - New Live Action Series from Hit Japanese Studio The Seven
The new series is the latest Japanese title to launch exclusively on HBO Max through WBD's partnership with U-NEXT and is set to premiere internationally on May 9.

[02/25/26 - 07:01 AM]
CNN Films Boards "Homecoming: The Tokyo Series" as Streaming Partner
The film will begin streaming on Friday, March 27 exclusively for CNN's streaming subscribers.

[02/25/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Pretty Lethal" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
An action-packed thriller where five ballerinas, on their way to a prestigious dance competition, are barely on speaking terms when their bus breaks down in a remote forest.