or


[12/17/19 - 11:47 PM]
Development Update: Tuesday, December 17
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!


AMERICANAH (HBO Max) - Uzo Aduba and Zackary Momoh are the latest additions to the Lupita Nyong'o-led adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's novel. Aduba will play Aunty Uju, "Ifemelu's young aunt and confidant. A highly intelligent doctor, Uju left Nigeria under tumultuous circumstances and has resettled in America to build a better life for herself and her son Dike." Momoh then is Obinze, a classmate of Ifemelu (Nyong'o) whom she falls in love with as a teenager. (Variety.com)
COLD SHOULDER (CBS, New!) - Pam Veasey is looking to bring Lynda La Plante's novel to the small screen at the Eye. In the CBS Television Studios-based project, "after a police officer is unable to prevent the death of her partner in the line of duty, she seeks help from a fellow detective as she attempts to pick up the pieces of her broken life at home and on the force." The Jackal Group's Gail Berman and PatMa Productions' Nina Tassler and Denise Di Novi will also executive produce. The news marks the Eye's second attempt at an adaptation: Kelly McGillis toplined a 2000 effort that didn't move forward to series. (Deadline.com)
CREW, THE (Netflix) - The Kevin James-led NASCAR comedy series has cast Gary Anthony Williams as Chuck; Dan Ahdoot as Amir; Freddie Stroma as Jake; Sarah Stiles as Beth; and Jillian Mueller as Catherine. The multi-camera project has a 10-episode order. (Deadline.com)
FIREFLY LANE (Netflix) - Patrick Sabongui and Brendan Taylor have scored recurring roles on the upcoming drama. Sabongui plays Chad Wiley, "a former journalist, now a college professor, who falls into a forbidden relationship with Tully Hart (Katherine Heigl), a promising young journalism student in the 1980s." Taylor portrays Mutt, a 1980s TV news cameraman who pines for his coworker Kate Mularkey (Sarah Chalke). Mutt is a funny, sweet, geeky underdog, with a great heart and hidden depths." (Deadline.com)
FROM SCRATCH (FYI, New!) - David Moscow is set to host a new 10-episode series for the cable channel which "follows the actor, producer and adventurer on a worldwide expedition making meals literally from scratch." UnLTD Productions is behind the project, due on Sunday, February 16 at 6:00/5:00c, with David Moscow, Karen Moscow, Graeme Swanepoel, Jordan Harman, Christian Murphy, Jason Dreyer, Graeme Swanepoel and Damien Brown executive producing. (Deadline.com)
GAME, THE (The CW, New!) - Mara Brock Akil is developing a one-hour sequel series to the 2006-2015 half-hour comedy alongside Devon Greggory, this time set in Baltimore, where "our out-of-touch old-timers are determined to help a bunch of knuckle-head new-schoolers navigate the ruthless game of football on and off the field." Salim Akil and Grammnet NH Productions' Kelsey Grammer and Tom Russo will also executive produce for CBS Television Studios. (Deadline.com)
HOMECOMING (Amazon) - Joan Cusack and Mary Holland have both scored roles on the show's second season. Cusack will portray Francine Bunda, "an Army officer with an unconventional approach to the job"; while Holland will play Wendy, "an ambitious executive in Geist's R&D department." (Deadline.com)
INFAMOUS (The CW, New!) - George Northy and Darren Stein are set to team for a new drama at the netlet in which "celebrities who've experienced a devastating fall from grace are recruited by a top-secret arm of the CIA, with the promise to rehab their careers in exchange for using their global access (and eccentric reputations) to perform high-risk missions across the globe." Mike Tollin and Maia Glikman of Tollin Productions will also executive produce. No studio was indicated. (Deadline.com)
IRON SHARPENS IRON (Quibi, New!) - The streaming service has commissioned eight episodes of a new docu-series which "will pair star athletes with another professional athlete from a completely different sport." Cam Newton, Trae Young, Amanda Nunes and Carli Lloyd are among the initial participants. Iconic Saga Productions, Liquid Light and Endeavor Content's Film 45 are behind the project with Newton and David Ricks executive producing. (Variety.com)
LODGE 49 (AMC) - Creator Jim Gavin confirmed on social media today the series wasn't able to find a new home following AMC's cancellation. (@jimatdeltaco)
LORD OF THE RINGS, THE (Amazon) - Morfydd Clark has reportedly been cast as young Galadriel in the TV series. The character was famously portrayed by Cate Blanchett in Peter Jackson's various film incarnations. (Variety.com)
NO STONE UNTURNED (NBC, New!) - Steve Jackson's book, subtitled "The Story of NecroSearch International," is being developed as a drama at the Peacock network. Jonathan Collier is behind the project, which will follow "a group of the nation's top scientists, specialists and behaviorists who use the latest technology and the most advanced techniques to solve unsolvable crimes." Hazy Mills Productions' Todd Milliner and Sean Hayes will also executive produce for Universal Television. (Deadline.com)
RUSSIAN DOLL (Netflix) - Co-creator Leslye Headland has signed a multi-year overall deal with Fox 21 Television Studios. There she'll develop new series projects for the company. (Deadline.com)
SAVED BY THE BELL (Peacock) - John Michael Higgins has been cast as Bayside High's newest principal in the revival series. Principal Toddman "is constantly being pranked by his privileged students and yelled at by their entitled parents. But all this changes when Bayside gets an influx of new, low-income students and Toddman gets a second chance to really make a difference." (TVLine.com)
SEAL TEAM (CBS) - Luis Jose Lopez has booked a multi-episode arc on the series as Carlos Ramos, "a CIA agent operating under a NOC (Non-Official Cover) who has been discovered/captured by the Venezuelan government. He's being held captive and risks being moved from South America to Middle East. " (Deadline.com)
SISTAS (BET) - Keena Ferguson will recur on the Tyler Perry-produced drama as Leslie Davenport, "a no-nonsense, tough private investigator who is hired to investigate a love triangle involving Andi, played by KJ Smith." (Deadline.com)
TRAITORS (Netflix) - MGM Television has closed a first-look deal with British management and production company 42, producer of said drama. (Deadline.com)
TRILL LEAGUE (Quibi, New!) - Anthony Piper's graphic novel is being developed as an animated series at the streaming service. The project, billed as "anime-inflected, hip-hop-informed vision of a black superhero universe," will be written by Piper and Jameel Saleem with G-Unit Film & Television's Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson and 3 Arts Entertainment's Jermaine Johnson also executive producing for Lionsgate Television. (Deadline.com)
UNTITLED NADER & SHLESINGER PROJECT (CBS, New!) - Comedian Iliza Shlesinger has been tapped to star in a multi-camera comedy at the Eye about Iliza (Shlesinger), "who returns home to Austin, Texas, to help her mom and sister run their family business." She'll co-write the half-hour alongside Michelle Nader with Danielle Stokdyk, Kara Baker, David Martin, Richard Allen-Turner and Jon Thoday also executive producing for Avalon Television, CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television. (Deadline.com)
VAN HELSING (Syfy) - The cable channel has renewed the series for a fifth and final season of 13 episodes, due in 2020. (THR.com)





  [december 2019]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· AMERICANAH (HBO MAX)
· COLD SHOULDER (CBS)
· COLD SHOULDER (CBS)
· CREW, THE (NETFLIX)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· FIREFLY LANE (NETFLIX)
· FROM SCRATCH (TASTEMADE)
· GAME, THE (BET)
· GAME, THE (REBOOT SERIES) (PARAMOUNT PLUS)
· HOMECOMING (AMAZON)
· INFAMOUS (CW)
· IRON SHARPENS IRON (QUIBI)
· LODGE 49 (AMC)
· LORD OF THE RINGS, THE: THE RINGS OF POWER (AMAZON)
· NO STONE UNTURNED (NBC)
· RUSSIAN DOLL (NETFLIX)
· SAVED BY THE BELL (PEACOCK)
· SISTAS (BET)
· SWAT (CBS)
· TRAITORS (UNITED KINGDOM) (NETFLIX)
· TRILL LEAGUE (BET PLUS)
· UNTITLED NADER & SHLESINGER PROJECT (CBS)
· VAN HELSING (SYFY)





[12/03/25 - 12:30 PM]
CBS Announces Second Season Orders for the Top Two New Broadcast Series - #1 "Boston Blue" and #2 "Sheriff Country"
The series average 8 million viewers and 7.6 million viewers, respectively, in Nielsen live plus 7-day multiplatform ratings.

[12/03/25 - 11:59 AM]
"9-1-1: Nashville" Season Premiere Catapults to Over 19 Million Total Viewers
Over 35 days, ABC's Thursday night drama premieres amassed impressive audiences based on competitive cross-platform broadcast series rankings, with all three dramas landing in the Top 10 among Adults 18-49.

[12/03/25 - 11:27 AM]
Star-Studded Cast of Cooking Disasters Take on Culinary Boot Camp in "Worst Cooks in America: Reality Check"
This season, Chefs Jeff Mauro and Tiffany Derry are on a mission to transform an all-star cast from cooking disasters to kitchen masters with an intense culinary boot camp like no other.

[12/03/25 - 11:25 AM]
Fresh Off Successful Theatrical Run, Great American Media Announces "Another Sweet Christmas," Starring Candace Cameron Bure and Cameron Mathison, Streams Exclusively on Great American Pure Flix, Beginning December 18
The sequel to "Home Sweet Christmas" also premieres on Great American Family and GFAM+, Saturday, December 20 (8 p.m. ET).

[12/03/25 - 11:00 AM]
Hulu Renews "Chad Powers" for a Second Season
Glen Powell will return as the titular character.

[12/03/25 - 11:00 AM]
Broadcast Talent Announced for Inaugural Optum Golf Channel Games December 17 in Primetime on Golf Channel and USA Network
Current PGA Tour player Keith Mitchell will serve as an analyst for coverage of the Optum Golf Channel Games alongside longtime Golf Channel commentator Steve Sands, who will provide play-by-play commentary.

[12/03/25 - 10:31 AM]
Louis Carr Appointed President of BET
Carr assumes leadership of BET from Scott Mills, who earlier today announced his departure after 23 years at the company.

[12/03/25 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "A Thousand Blows" - Season 2 Trailer - Hulu
It's the dawn of a new era.

[12/03/25 - 10:01 AM]
HBO Original Documentary "Music Box: Counting Crows: Have You Seen Me Lately?" Debuts December 18
The film is an intimate documentary chronicling the rise of the band Counting Crows and the unrelenting pressure that followed their breakout success.

[12/03/25 - 09:32 AM]
Get Ready to Hit the Casino with a New Untitled Vegas Television Series
The new series from the creators of "Billions" is executive produced by the legendary Martin Scorsese.

[12/03/25 - 09:00 AM]
The Unbelievable True Story of "Roofman" Premieres on Paramount+ December 9
Channing Tatum stars as the film's titular character, as well as a stellar cast including Kirsten Dunst, Ben Mendelsohn, LaKeith Stanfield, Juno Temple, Uzo Aduba, Lily Collias, Jimmy O. Yang and Peter Dinklage.

[12/03/25 - 08:57 AM]
Record NFL Viewership Caps Thanksgiving Night on NBC, Peacock, and Telemundo
Bengals-Ravens is the most-watched Thanksgiving night NFL game ever with an average of 28.4 million viewers.

[12/03/25 - 08:55 AM]
"NFL on CBS" Shatters Record for Most-Watched Regular-Season Game in NFL History with More Than 57 Million Viewers
Viewership peaked with 61.357 million viewers for the game's thrilling conclusion (7:45-8:00 PM ET).

[12/03/25 - 08:49 AM]
FOX Sports Feasts on Thanksgiving Day with 47.7 Million Viewers for Packers-Lions
Viewership peaked with 57,957,000 viewers from 4:00-4:15 PM ET.

[12/03/25 - 08:47 AM]
Most-Watched NBA on ESPN Thanksgiving Eve in Six Years
The inaugural tripleheader averaged 2,099,000 viewers, up 54 percent from last year's Thanksgiving Eve doubleheader, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel.