or


[03/21/13 - 11:16 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, March 21
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!


BACKSTROM (CBS/20th; W: Hart Hanson; D: TBA) - Mamie Gummer ("Emily Owens, M.D.") has joined the cast of the drama pilot, based on Leif G.W. Persson's literary hero Everett Backstrom (Rainn Wilson), a homicide detective/equal-opportunity misanthrope. She'll play Portland Police Detective Nicole Carlton ("adept at suppressing her emotions, sad, competent, beautiful") alongside the previously cast Beatrice Rosen, Camryn Manheim, Dennis Haysbert, Kristoffer Polaha, Page Kennedy and Thomas Dekker. (Deadline.com)


DADS (FOX/20th; W: Alec Sulkin & Wellesley Wild; D: Mark Cendrowski) - Tonita Castro ("Go On") has signed onto the comedy pilot, about two successful video game developers - family man Warner (Tommy Dewey) and perpetually single Eli (yet to be cast) - who have their lives turned upside down when their nightmare dads (Martin Mull, Peter Riegert) unexpectedly move in with them. She'll play Eli's maid Edna, "a hard-drinking, outspoken woman whose mastery of English is quite modest but she always manages to make her caustic opinions understood." The multi-camera project also stars Brenda Song. (Deadline.com)


GETTING ON (HBO) - Mark V. Olsen and Will Scheffer's comedy - about the put-upon nurses in a women's geriatric extended-care wing of a down-at-the-heels hospital - has been given a six episode order by the pay channel. Said effort is based on Jo Brand, Joanna Scanlan and Vicki Pepperdine's U.K. series of the same name, who are likewise executive producing alongside Olsen and Scheffer - via their Anima Sola Productions - as well as Geoff Atkinson and BBC Worldwide Productions' Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner. Miguel Arteta directed the pilot, which stars Alex Borstein, Laurie Metcalf and Niecy Nash in the principal roles. (Deadline.com)


HALT & CATCH FIRE (AMC; W: Chris Cantwell & Chris Rodgers; D: Juan José Campanella) - David Wilson Barnes (HBO's "You Don't Know Jack") has been cast in the pilot, a period drama set in the early 1980s about the personal computing boom as told through the eyes of a visionary (Lee Pace), an engineer (Scoot McNairy) and a prodigy (Mackenzie Davis) whose innovations directly confront the corporate behemoths of the time. He'll play Joe's (Lee Pace) foil Dale Barnes, IBM's SVP of Sales for North America. Kerry Bishe and Toby Huss also star. (Deadline.com)


HELLFJORD (Showtime, New!) - Writer/director Tommy Wirkola (Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters) is developing a domestic take on his Norwegian comedy, about a disgraced Oslo police officer who, after a freak horse accident, is banished to serve out his last three months on the force in the remote and strange fishing town of Hellfjord. Will Ferrell and Adam McKay of Gary Sanchez Productions are also on board to executive produce the potential half-hour. Original creators Wirkola, Stig Frode Henriksen and Zahid Ali will pen the script and executive produce via their Tappeluft Pictures banner. (Deadline.com)


HOLDING PATTERNS (NBC/Universal; W: Justin Spitzer; D: TBA) - Luka Jones ("Up All Night") has been tapped for a role on the multi-camera comedy pilot, about a group of friends whose lives completely change after they survive a plane crash on their way to a destination wedding. He's set as Lindsey ("big, dufus-y and sweet"), the brother of the previously cast Chyler Leigh's Leah, who regrets they aren't closer. Said role in presumably in second position to his fellow NBC comedy. Humphrey Ker and Kate Lang Johnson also star. (Deadline.com)


KEEP CALM AND KAREY ON (ABC/20th; W: Andrea Abbate; D: Gail Mancuso) - Ashley Williams ("How I Met Your Mother") has scored a role on the comedy pilot, about Karey (Kelly Preston), the clean-nosed black sheep in a family of petty thieves, drug addicts and narcissists who decides to raise her prison-bound brother's kids along with her adopted black son and give them the normal lives they deserve. She'll succeed Majandra Delfino as Karey's sister Penny, an aspiring singer. Jane Seymour and Steve Talley also star in the single-camera project. (Deadline.com)


UNDATEABLE (NBC/Warner Bros.; W: Adam Sztykiel; D: Scott Ellis) - Matthew Wilkas (Gayby) is the latest addition to the comedy pilot, about new roommates - man-child Danny Beeman (Chris D'Elia) and chronic over-thinker Justin Zip (Brent Morin) - who bond over their foibles with the opposite sex. He's on board as Brett ("gay and prohibitively picky about everything"), one of Justin's fellow "undateable" friends. Aly Michalka, Bianca Kajlich, Rick Glassman and Ron Funches also star in the multi-camera half-hour. (Deadline.com)


UNTITLED CRAIG ROBINSON PROJECT (NBC/Universal; W: Owen Ellickson; D: Steve Pink) - Jane Adams has exited the single-camera comedy pilot, about an impulsive, good-hearted musician (Craig Robinson) who adjusts to his new life as a music teacher in a big-city middle school. She had been set to play Jeanette, his stressed-out junior high principal who's almost always in damage-control mode. Said decision was made after the pilot's table read. Amanda Lund, Amandla Stenberg and Larenz Tate also star. (Deadline.com)


AND IN OTHER NEWS... - FOX has pushed filming of its aircraft carrier drama pilot "The Wild Blue" to off-cycle due to casting and production issues (Deadline.com); MTV has passed on its comedy pilot "Hot Mess" following creator Lauren Iungerich's exit from the project (Deadline.com); Kevin Dunn has been promoted to series regular on the upcoming season of "Veep" (Deadline.com); former "How I Met Your Mother" supervising producer Robia Rashid has inked an overall deal with Sony Pictures Television; Robert Gossett has joined Nadine Velazquez and Jonathan del Arco as the latest series regulars on "Major Crimes" (Deadline.com);

Ray Wise will guest on "Perception" as "a high-powered CEO at the center of an investigation after his business is accused of poisoning a small town" (Deadline.com); Sean Faris will recur on "Pretty Little Liars" as a newly arrived Pennsylvania state police officer (TVGuide.com); Bob Newhart is bound for "The Big Bang Theory" as the former host of Sheldon's favorite science show as a kid (TVLine.com); and F. Murray Abraham will visit "Elementary" as "a devious hitman whose targets appear to have been killed by natural causes or unfortunate accidents" (THR.com).






  [march 2013]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· ADOPTED (ABC)
· BACKSTROM (FOX)
· BIG BANG THEORY, THE (CBS)
· DADS (FOX)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· ELEMENTARY (CBS)
· EMILY OWENS, MD (CW)
· GETTING ON (HBO)
· GO ON (NBC)
· HALT & CATCH FIRE (AMC)
· HELLFJORD (SHOWTIME)
· HOLDING PATTERNS (NBC)
· HOT MESS (MTV)
· HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (CBS)
· MAJOR CRIMES (TNT)
· MR ROBINSON (NBC)
· PERCEPTION (TNT)
· PRETTY LITTLE LIARS (FREEFORM)
· UNDATEABLE (NBC)
· UP ALL NIGHT (NBC)
· VEEP (HBO)
· WILD BLUE, THE (FOX)





[10/16/25 - 12:58 PM]
Lifetime Announces Annual "It's a Wonderful Lifetime" Holiday Movie Slate Kicking Off November 29th
Featured talent this year includes Brandy Norwood, Kane & Katelyn Brown, Loretta Devine, Debbi Morgan, Arielle Kebbel, Tyler Hilton, James Lafferty, Vivica A. Fox, Jackée Harry, Sy'Rai Smith, Nischelle Turner, Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, and others.

[10/16/25 - 12:31 PM]
Video: "The Witcher" Season 4 - Character Trailer - Netflix
Scattered to fates unknown, Geralt, Yennefer and Ciri traverse the war-torn Continent and its countless enemies in the hope of finding each other again.

[10/16/25 - 11:32 AM]
A+E Global Media and Rachael Ray's Free Food Studios Cook Up Expanded Programming Partnership with Over 100 New Episodes Ordered
The network has ordered 110 new episodes of Ray's programming, including new episodes of "Meals in Minutes," that will continue to focus on her approachable and comforting cooking style.

[10/16/25 - 11:18 AM]
Video: "Don't Date Brandon" - Official Trailer - Paramount+
Brandon seemed like the perfect boyfriend, but when Amber reaches out to his ex-wife Athena, the truth begins to unravel, revealing a disturbing history of lies, restraining orders, and a criminal past.

[10/16/25 - 11:01 AM]
"Pop Culture Jeopardy!," from Sony Pictures Television, Returns for a Second Season on Netflix
"We couldn't be more thrilled to be partnering with the exemplary team at Netflix, to bring more episodes to our passionate and loyal viewers," said Suzanne Prete.

[10/16/25 - 11:00 AM]
CBS Unwraps a Festive Holiday Lineup!
CBS celebrates the 2025 holiday season with an all-new lineup of joyful holiday programming!

[10/16/25 - 10:31 AM]
Video: "Marines" - Official Trailer - Netflix
The coming of age docuseries follows the members of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), the US military's "force in readiness" in the Pacific.

[10/16/25 - 10:02 AM]
Video: Tubi Debuts Trailer for New Horror Film "Glamping" a Killer Weekend Getaway Just in Time for Halloween
What begins as an influencer's dream cabin getaway with her friends soon unravels into a nightmare when a masked killer crashes the trip.

[10/16/25 - 10:01 AM]
HBO Original Three-Part Documentary Series "Alex vs ARod" Debuts November 6
From the pinnacle of athletic success to the depths of scandal, Alex Rodriguez saw his prolific baseball career marred by a high-profile suspension for performance-enhancing drug use.

[10/16/25 - 09:22 AM]
Video: "Honest Renovations: A Holiday Home Makeover" - Official Trailer - The Roku Channel
The latest installment in the franchise premieres Monday, November 10.

[10/16/25 - 09:02 AM]
Apple and NBCUniversal Introduce the Apple TV and Peacock Bundle
Customers in the U.S. can save over 30 percent by subscribing to the Apple TV and Peacock Premium bundle for $14.99 per month, or Apple TV and Peacock Premium Plus for $19.99 per month, through either app or website.

[10/16/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Squid Game: The Challenge" - Season 2 Official Trailer - Netflix
Featuring new, unpredictable challenges and high-stakes games from the hit series, this reality competition brings the "Squid Game" phenomenon to life.

[10/16/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "LEGO Disney Frozen: Operation Puffins" - Official Trailer - Available on Disney+ October 24
After the events of "Frozen," Anna and Elsa want to start fresh in Arendelle, and make the castle feel a bit more comfortable.

[10/16/25 - 08:33 AM]
"On Patrol: Live" on Reelz+ Streaming Service Now Available on Apple TV
The expanded availability for Reelz+ comes on the heels of the network celebrating its 300th episode of "On Patrol: Live."

[10/16/25 - 08:31 AM]
Anderson Silva Faces Chris Weidman in the Ring for a Historic Trilogy Showdown on Most Valuable Promotions "Jake vs. Tank" on Friday, November 14 from Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, Live Globally Only on Netflix
"Jake vs. Tank" is the culmination of four years of callouts and a brewing rivalry between Jake "El Gallo de Dorado" Paul and Gervonta "Tank" Davis.