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[01/28/19 - 11:20 PM]
Development Update: Monday, January 28
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!


BAKER AND THE BEAUTY, THE (ABC) - Dean Georgaris has scored a second pilot order, this time from ABC for said drama, which tells the story of the unlikely romance between a blue-collar baker and an international superstar. ABC Studios will now co-produce the hour alongside Keshet Studios and Universal Television. David Frankel is already attached to direct and executive produce the project, which is based on the Israeli series of the same name. (Deadline.com)
BLACK LADY SKETCH SHOW, A (HBO, New!) - Robin Thede is set to topline a new half-hour sketch comedy series at the pay channel, which "will feature narrative sketches performed by a core cast of black women, including Thede, as well as celebrity guests." Issa Rae Productions' Issa Rae; 3 Arts Entertainment's Dave Becky and Jonathan Berry; and Jax Media's Tony Hernandez and Brooke Posch will executive produce alongside Thede with Lauren Ashley Smith as a co-executive producer and Deniese Davis, Montrel McKay and John Skidmore as producers. (Deadline.com)
CAROL'S SECOND ACT (CBS) - The Patricia Heaton-led multi-camera comedy, which had a hefty series commitment, is heading to pilot at CBS. The project follows Carol Chambers (Heaton), who after raising her two children and retiring from teaching, embarks on a unique second act: she's going to become a doctor. Emily Halpern and Sarah Haskins are behind the half-hour, which is set up at CBS Television Studios. (Deadline.com)
HALF-EMPTY (Amazon) - Cazzie David's single-camera comedy - which follows a sardonic girl in her final year of college whose overactive imagination leads to catastrophic thinking and hilarious mishaps - has received a pilot order from the streaming service. Augustine Frizzell will direct and executive produce the Endeavor Content-based half-hour alongside David and co-writer Elisa Kalani as well as showrunner Sarah Heyward and Annapurna Television's Sue Naegle and Ali Krug. (Deadline.com)
MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE, THE (Amazon) - Executive producer Isa Dick Hackett, daughter of Philip K. Dick, has signed a first-look deal with Amazon Studios. The pact will give the company first crack at all output from her Electric Shepherd Productions banner. (Deadline.com)
PRODIGAL SON (FOX) - Chris Fedak and Sam Sklaver's drama has been given a pilot commitment by the network. Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter will also serve as executive producers via their Warner Bros. Television-based Berlanti Productions. Its logline is as follows: "Malcolm Bright has a gift. He knows how killers think, how their minds work. Why? His father was one of the worst -- a notorious serial killer called "The Surgeon." That's why Bright is the best criminal psychologist around; murder is the family business. He will use his twisted genius to help the NYPD solve crimes and stop killers, all while dealing with a manipulative mother, annoyingly normal sister, a homicidal father still looking to bond with his prodigal son, and his own constantly evolving neuroses. PRODIGAL SON is a fresh take on a crime franchise with a provocative and outrageous lead character and darkly comedic tone."
STATION 19 (ABC) - JoBeth Williams will guest on an upcoming installment as "a supremely confident woman who makes a very lasting impression by shaking things up for some of the characters, both professionally and personally." (Deadline.com)
UNDOING, THE (HBO) - Noah Jupe has been cast in the Nicole Kidman/Hugh Grant-led limited series as Henry Sachs, "Jonathan and Grace's son, age 12. Precocious and artistic, Henry seeks to keep his family together as recent revelations tear them apart." (Deadline.com)
UNTIL THE WEDDING (ABC) - The Alphabet has given a pilot order to another Israeli import, a drama which tells the story of how one couple's decision to get married can affect everyone in their lives. Becky Mode penned the hour, which comes from ABC Studios-based Timberman-Beverly Productions and original creators Avner Bernheimer and Anat Weizman. (Deadline.com)
UNTITLED MURRAY & PENN PROJECT (NBC) - The Kal Penn-led single-camera comedy - about former New York City Councilman Garrett Shah (Penn), who finds his calling when faced with six recent immigrants in need of his help and in search of the American Dream - has scored a pilot order from the Peacock. Penn and Matt Murray co-wrote the half-hour for Michael Schur's Universal Television-based Fremulon banner. (Deadline.com)
VERONICA MARS (Hulu) - Tyler Alvarez has booked a recurring role on the upcoming revival series as Juan-Diego De La Cruz, "a member of the Pacific Coast Highway biker gang that often find themselves in trouble with Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell)." (Deadline.com)





  [january 2019]  
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· BAKER AND THE BEAUTY, THE (ABC)
· BLACK LADY SKETCH SHOW, A (HBO)
· CAROL'S SECOND ACT (CBS)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· HALF-EMPTY (AMAZON)
· MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE, THE (AMAZON)
· PRODIGAL SON (FOX)
· STATION 19 (ABC)
· SUNNYSIDE (NBC)
· UNDOING, THE (HBO)
· UNTIL THE WEDDING (ABC)
· VERONICA MARS (HULU)





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