or


[09/23/13 - 11:08 PM]
Development Update: Monday, September 23
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!


HR (Lifetime; W: Glenn Porter; D: Darren Star) - Maulik Pancholy ("30 Rock") has joined the cast of the drama pilot, about Ellen Bell (Alicia Silverstone), an uptight Director of Human Resources for a global company who - after a head injury alters her outlook on life - throws standard corporate practices out the window and inspires the business to strive for new ambitions and profits. He'll play Farshid, "a Middle Eastern I.T. employee who has repeatedly drawn complaints from co-workers about his loud praying at various times of the day." Greg Germann, Kallee Stewart and Will Kemp also star. (Deadline.com)


NCIS (CBS) - Showrunner Gary Glasberg is spearheading a new spin-off of the veteran drama, which "centers on the NCIS New Orleans office which handles cases from Pensacola through Mississippi and Louisiana to the Texas panhandle." Co-star Mark Harmon is also on board to executive produce the CBS Television Studios-based project, which will be set up via two-part backdoor pilot later this season. Said locale was selected "because of its pedigree of a rich setting of music, fun and debauchery that makes it a magnet for military personnel on-leave." (Deadline.com)


RED (The CW, New!) - Tom Szentgyorgyi ("The Mentalist") is developing a new drama at the netlet about "the first human settlement on Mars and life on this new frontier, centering on the relationships between the town's female sheriff, a doctor and a criminal." Warner Bros. Television is behind the hour with Bruno Heller of the studio-based Primrose Hill Productions also serving as an executive producer. (Deadline.com)


SONGBYRD (E!/UCP; W: Krista Vernoff; D: Michael Morris) - Bethany Joy Lenz ("Dexter") has booked the title role on the drama pilot, about Lauren Byrd, a young, prolific songwriter of some of the best love songs struggles to find love in her personal life after her inspiration is revealed to be a lie. Said hour - from Craig Zadan and Neil Meron's Storyline Entertainment - will feature the songs and experiences of Grammy winner Diane Warren. Michael Morris ("Smash") is attached to direct. (Deadline.com)


AND IN OTHER NEWS... - Nicholas Young, one of the stars of the original "Tomorrow People," will visit The CW's revival as "the scientist who discovered the titular gifted beings" (TVLine.com); Sally Pressman has booked an arc on "Scandal" in a yet-to-be-revealed role (TVLine.com); Shannon Lucio will guest on "Supernatural" as a love interest for Misha Collins' newly-anthropomorphic alter ego, Castiel (TVLine.com); Kendra Wilkinson will make a cameo on "The Mindy Project" (USMagazine.com); and Mike Colter is bound for "Criminal Minds" as "a man who risks everything and puts his own life on the line to save a sniper's next target" (THR.com).






  [september 2013]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· 30 ROCK (NBC)
· CRIMINAL MINDS (CBS)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· DEXTER (SHOWTIME)
· HR (LIFETIME)
· MENTALIST, THE (CBS)
· MINDY PROJECT, THE (HULU)
· NCIS (CBS)
· NCIS: NEW ORLEANS (CBS)
· RED (CW)
· SCANDAL (ABC)
· SONGBYRD (E)
· SUPERNATURAL (CW)
· TOMORROW PEOPLE, THE (CW)





[10/23/26 - 03:54 PM]
ESPN's NBA Opening Wednesday Delivered Its Second-Largest Audience Ever
The Minnesota Timberwolves' victory over the Miami Heat averaged 2.52 million viewers, up 16% from last year's comparable game.

[10/23/26 - 03:25 PM]
USA Sports Delivers Most-Watched WNBA Finals Game 3 Since 1999, Best Ever on Cable
1.71 million viewers on average tuned into Wednesday night's Game 3 coverage across USA Sports' linear platforms (USA Network and CNBC) and streaming on Peacock.

[10/23/26 - 10:37 AM]
FOX Sports Unveils Elite 2026-27 Regular Season College Basketball Schedule
FOX's Saturday primetime slate features No. 17 Kansas at No. 4 UConn, No. 6 Michigan State at No. 22 UCLA, Villanova at Creighton, Nebraska at Michigan State and Providence at UConn.

[10/23/26 - 09:30 AM]
Season 3 of History's "Mysteries Unearthed" Returns Nov. 12 at 8/7c
Whether it's buried underground, hidden in ice, or concealed deep underwater, the world is full of mysteries just waiting to be unearthed.

[10/23/26 - 09:00 AM]
Comedy Central Announces "Chloe Radcliffe: Eyes Down Here"
The brand new hour-long standup special premieres Tuesday, October 27 on the Comedy Central Stand-Up YouTube Channel.

[10/23/26 - 08:40 AM]
UP Faith & Family to Exclusively Premiere Season 20 of the Hit Family Series "Heartland" in the U.S. Beginning November 19
As part of the premiere celebration, UP Faith & Family subscribers will have the chance to participate in an exclusive live virtual viewing event on premiere night.

[10/23/26 - 08:30 AM]
Record College Football Viewership Propels ESPN to Second Best Start Since 2011 with "College GameDay" on Track for Most-Watched Season Ever
ESPN networks are averaging 2.2 million viewers across 120 games on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU - the second-best start for ESPN since 2011.

[10/23/26 - 08:01 AM]
Bravo Unveils New Series, Returning Favorites and First Scripted Microdrama Ahead of Bravo Fan Fest Charleston
The network expands the "Next Gen" franchise with new series "Next Gen Atlanta" and renews "Next Gen NYC," "In The City," and "Southern Hospitality."

[10/23/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Fallout Shelter: The Experiment" - Date Announce - Prime Video
The all-new competition series arrives January 13, only on Prime Video.

[10/23/26 - 08:00 AM]
TLC's "7 Little Johnstons" Returns for a New Season Tuesday, November 17 at 9PM ET/PT
This season is packed with life-changing milestones, big celebrations, and plenty of Johnston family fun.

[10/23/26 - 08:00 AM]
AMC Global Media's November Streaming Highlights Include a New Season of "The Assassin" and New Episodes of "Yaga" and "Kill Jackie" on AMC+
Other offerings include the return of "The Madame Blanc Mysteries" and A Remarkable Place to Die" on Acorn TV; plus the debut of "Snooki: The Paranormal Rookie on All Reality" on All Reality.

[10/23/26 - 07:00 AM]
AMC Global Media Launches New Unscripted Clip Series, "Cue the Laughs," Premiering Saturday, November 7 on IFC, AMC+ and All Reality
Hosted by comedian and actor Adam Ray, the comical clip show for grown-ups proves that the most outrageous moments in life are the ones nobody scripted, and nobody saw coming.

[10/23/26 - 06:01 AM]
Netflix Announces "The Gentlemen" Is Back in Production for Season 3 and Confirms New Cast to Join, Including Robert Carlyle, Elijah Wood and Orlando Bloom
Other additions include Dexter Fletcher, Bruna Marquezine, Ed Speleers, Saffron Burrows, and Bugzy Malone.

[10/23/26 - 03:01 AM]
Video: "Secrets" - Official Teaser - Netflix
Former sex worker Parni built a peaceful life for her daughter, but her abusive ex resurfaces, threatening to destroy everything she fought to protect.

[10/23/26 - 01:05 AM]
Netflix Adapts the Classic by Clarin: Production Begins on "La Regenta"
This new contemporary version is brought to life by a creative team that reinterprets the classic from a fresh female perspective, with Mar Coll directing, María Zamora producing, and Ester Expósito leading the cast as Regenta.