or


[01/17/20 - 11:21 PM]
Development Update: Friday, January 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!


DEVIL MAY CARE (Syfy, New!) - Doug Goldstein has scored a 15-minute pilot order for an animated comedy at the cable channel from PSYOP. The network's logline: "The Devil hires a social media coordinator to rebrand Hell as the ultimate place to live, and the two form the most unlikely of friendships." (Deadline.com)
DR. DEATH (Peacock) - Stephen Frears has signed on to helm the first two episodes of the limited series, which explores the twisted mind of a sociopath and the gross negligence of the system designed to protect the most defenseless among us. (Deadline.com)
FANTASY FOOD FIGHT (HBO Max, New!) - WarnerMedia has given a pilot order to a cooking competition series in which "three highly skilled and imaginative chefs compete over two rounds to bring to life fiction's most famous foods. They will be tasked with reimagining dishes like Scooby-Doo's Scooby Snacks, Willy Wonka's Everlasting Gobstopper, Rick and Morty's Eyeholes and The Flinstone's Baby Back Dinosaur Ribs. At the end, the chef who makes the most inventive, tasty, fantasy food will be crowned the winner." Talos Films is behind the project with Elli Hakami, Julian P. Hobbs and Teri Weideman executive producing. (Deadline.com)
IMMORAL COMPASS (Quibi, New!) - Bill Burr will write, direct and star in "an outrageous psychological thriller series" for the streaming service which explores "how far "normal" people will go to get what they desire - but with unpredictably, inevitable consequences following as the story unfolds." Irwin Entertainment and All Things Comedy are behind the project, which is based on Tyler Falbo's digital shorts. John Irwin, Al Madrigal and Mike Bertolina will also executive produce alongside Burr and Falbo with Liza Keckler as a co-executive producer. (Deadline.com)
MAGICAL GIRL FRIENDSHIP SQUAD (Syfy, New!) - The cable channel has ordered six quarter-hour episodes of an animated comedy series from Kelsey Stephanides. James Belfer, Adam Belfer and Max Benator also executive produce for Cartuna. Its logline is as follows: "A female-driven anime comedy about two young women who are destined to save the Universe... as soon as they figure out how to pay their rent." (Deadline.com)
PSYCH 2: LASSIE COME HOME (Peacock) - Allison Miller, Sarah Chalke, Kadeem Hardison and Richard Schiff are the latest additions to the upcoming TV movie. Miller will play Maisie, "an entrepreneur with a fat trust fund and a new business idea every week, the most recent of which impedes Shawn and Gus' investigational plans"; with Chalke as Nurse Dolores, "Lassiter's primary caregiver and protector, she talks fast, thinks quickly, and forms an instantaneous bond with Gus"; Hardison as Wilkerson, "a patient at the prestigious Herschel House Recovery Center whose condition has curiously worsened since his arrival"; and Schiff as Dr. Hirsch, "the founder of a high-end private medical recovery center whose no-nonsense approach is in conflict with most things Shawn and Gus do." (Deadline.com)
RITA (Showtime) - Josh Hutcherson, Bryce Gangel, Curtiss Cook, Darren Pettie and Betsy Brandt have all been cast in the Lena Headey-led drama pilot, about a headstrong, unconventional teacher and single mother who takes on every kind of authority - as well as her family - in a messy and unfiltered way. Hutcherson will play Ricco, "Rita's oldest son, a former bad boy who can do no wrong in her eyes"; with Gangel as April, "Ricco's girlfriend, a psych major who enjoys the challenge of domesticating Ricco"; Cook as Spencer, "the sensitive and professional principal at the school where Rita teaches"; Pettie as Tom, "April's father whose past relationship is unearthed in an unexpected way"; and Brandt will recur as June, "the cultured and controlling mother of Ricco's girlfriend April." (Deadline.com)
SIMPSONS, THE (FOX) - Hank Azaria has indicated he will no longer be voicing the controversial character Apu on the veteran animated series. (SlashFilm.com)
WILD LIFE (Syfy, New!) - The cable channel has issued a 15-minute pilot order for an animated comedy from Alex Plapinger, Valparaiso Pictures and Octopie. The project's logline is: "A show about animal friends just trying to stay alive after the apocalypse. Together, they come up with elaborate schemes to entertain themselves and pretty much just keep from going insane." (Deadline.com)





  [january 2020]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· BILL BURR PRESENTS IMMORAL COMPASS (ROKU)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· DEVIL MAY CARE (SYFY)
· DR. DEATH (PEACOCK)
· FANTASY FOOD FIGHT (HBO MAX)
· MAGICAL GIRL FRIENDSHIP SQUAD (SYFY)
· PSYCH 2: LASSIE COME HOME (PEACOCK)
· RITA (SHOWTIME)
· SIMPSONS, THE (FOX)
· WILD LIFE (SYFY)





[01/08/26 - 02:00 PM]
ESPN Networks Deliver Record-Breaking Viewership for 2025-26 FCS Playoffs and Championship
The 2026 FCS Championship Game averaged 2.3 million viewers on ESPN, ranking as the third-best FCS Championship audience ever.

[01/08/26 - 01:17 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 in All Key Demos
In fact, "Nightline" is ranking No. 1 in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 for the 3rd straight year.

[01/08/26 - 01:16 PM]
ABC News' Primetime Special "The Year: 2025" Earns Nearly 4 Million Total Viewers - Growing by Double Digits Over Last Year in Multiplatform Viewing
The 15th annual year-end special earned 3.857 million Total Viewers, growing impressively over last year's performance by +37% (vs. 2.818 million), after three days of viewing on ABC, Disney+, Hulu and digital platforms.

[01/08/26 - 01:15 PM]
"Dirty Talk: When Daytime Talk Shows Ruled TV" Premieres Wednesday, Jan. 14, on ABC and Streams Next Day on Disney+ and Hulu
By exploring the psychological forces that shaped the talk TV genre, the series reveals how these shows transformed from trusted confessional spaces into lightning rods of controversy, leaving a lasting impact on culture, media and the people caught in the chaos.

[01/08/26 - 12:01 PM]
Video: Paramount+ Releases Official Trailer for New Docuseries "Handsome Devil: Charming Killer"
The three-part docuseries premieres Tuesday, January 20, exclusively on Paramount+.

[01/08/26 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "School Spirits" - Season 3 Official Trailer - Paramount+
Maddie Nears and her friends dive into a deeper, darker mystery as the veil between worlds grows dangerously thin, delivering twists that challenge everything they thought they knew.

[01/08/26 - 09:35 AM]
ESPN NBA Schedule Update: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Philadelphia 76ers Added on January 16; Detroit Pistons vs. Golden State Warriors Added on January 30
These matchups replace the previously scheduled Chicago Bulls vs. Brooklyn Nets game and LA Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets game, respectively.

[01/08/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "What Drives You with John Cena" Season 2 - Official Trailer - The Roku Channel
Find out what fuels Mookie Betts, Kane Brown, Charlotte Flair and Saweetie to succeed in an all new season.

[01/08/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Finding Her Edge" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A former ice dancer returns to the rink with an exciting new partner while holding onto feelings for her old one - her first love.

[01/08/26 - 09:00 AM]
HBO Original Two-Part Documentary "Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!" Debuts January 22
One of Hollywood's most daring satirists from the early years of television sketch comedy through his film and stage hits, Brooks has held a funhouse mirror up to the human condition and used laughter as a path to resilience, connection, and joy for nearly a century.

[01/08/26 - 08:31 AM]
Video: "It's Not Like That" - Official Trailer - Wonder Project
From the writers of "Life As We Know It" and "Parenthood," comes a story of two families who find the courage to begin again.

[01/08/26 - 08:11 AM]
Video: "Like Water For Chocolate" - Official Teaser - HBO Max
A kiss says more than a thousand words...

[01/08/26 - 08:02 AM]
Video: MGM+ Unveils "The Hillside Strangler" Official Trailer
The series premieres Sunday, January 18 at 9:00/8:00c on MGM+.

[01/08/26 - 08:01 AM]
The History Channel to Premiere New Series "History's Greatest Picks with Mike Wolfe" Celebrating Rare Collectibles on Sunday, February 22
Produced by Cineflix, the eight one-hour episode series will follow Mike as he dives into the intriguing stories and astonishing values behind legendary treasures, relics, and artifacts from history.

[01/08/26 - 08:00 AM]
Video: Prime Video Reveals Official Trailer and Key Art for Season Two of Hit Crime Thriller, "Cross"
From Paramount Television Studios starring and executive produced by Aldis Hodge, the new season will premiere February 11, 2026 on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.