or


[05/26/05 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: May 25-26
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 newly revamped "Series in Development" charts. Visitors can now filter our listings by network, genre and even development stage (ordered to pilot, cast-contingent, script, etc.). It's updated every day!

ABC FAMILY PILOTS (ABC Family, New!) - The ABC cable sibling has ordered three new drama pilots for series consideration next year: "Three Moons Over Milford," about a small East Coast town in which residents literally live "for the moment" because the town is located beneath a falling comet that could destroy their world at any time; "Kyle XY," about a suburban family that takes in a mysterious teen naive to the world around him; and "Balancing Act," about a young cop who moves his family back to the inner-city neighborhood where he was raised in hopes of making a difference.

All three projects are set to begin production in July and casting is underway. Holly Goldberg Sloan ("Angels in the Outfield") and Gary Rosen ("Major Payne") are behind the Touchstone Television-based "Moons" with Laura Ziskin ("Tarzan") in talks to also come aboard as an executive producer. Also set up at Touchstone is "Kyle XY," which comes from creators Eric Bress and J. Mackeye Gruber ("The Butterfly Effect") who will executive produce along with David Himmelfarb ("My Wife and Kids") and the Benderspink banner. Finally, Seth Freeman ("Lou Grant") is behind "Act," which is set up at Disney Cable Networks Group. Meanwhile on the comedy front, the cable channel has confirmed it has passed on the pilots "East of Normal, West of Weird" and "Door to the Throne" while Carter Covington's "Just a Phase," about a teen uncertain of his sexual identity, remains in play.

ATTACK OF THE SABRETOOTH/BLOODSUCKERS (Sci Fi, New!) - July will see the premiere of two more of Sci Fi's Saturday originals. The first is "Attack of the Sabretooth" (premieres July 9), which is described as: "A resort owner in Fiji expects to get rich running a wildlife preserve stocked with previously extinct animals. Then a smilodon fatalis � a vicious, gigantic sabretooth tiger � gets loose and turns the theme park into a killing field." The other is "Bloodsuckers" (premieres July 30) and is described as: "Joe Lando (Alien Nation: The Enemy Within and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home) and Michael Ironside (Starship Troopers, TV's SeaQuest DSV) star in this high-tech adventure about intergalactic vampire-hunters."

CATTLE DRIVE/THE GIRLS NEXT DOOR (E!) - Both newcomers have been slated to premiere on Sunday, August 7 in yet-to-be-determined time periods. "Drive" tracks the children of the rich and famous (including the kids of Yahoo! CEO Terry Semel and rocker Pat Benatar) as they are sent to work a cattle drive while "Girls" is an eight-part series which chronicles the lives of Hugh Hefner's girlfriends at the Playboy Mansion.

CELEBRITY FIT CLUB/HOGAN KNOWS BEST (VH1) - The cable channel has moved up "Celebrity Fit Club's" second season premiere to Sunday, July 10 at 10:30/9:30c. Leading into the broadcast will be the series premiere of "Hogan Knows Best" at 10:00/9:00c. Both series will then air regularly on Sundays at 9:30/8:30c ("Hogan") and 10:00/9:00c ("Fit Club") respectively.

I WANT TO BE A HILTON (NBC) - The summer entry will be the latest NBC series to get repurposed on cable sibling Bravo. The series, which premieres Tuesday, June 21 on NBC, will be rebroadcast on Bravo several times next month: Thursday, June 23 at 11:00/10:00c (episodes 1 & 2), Friday, June 24 at 6:00/5:00c (episodes 1 & 2), Sunday, June 26 at 6:00/5:00c (episode 1 only) and 11:00/10:00c (episode 2 only). It's expected the remaining episodes will also get second runs on Bravo in unspecified time periods.

OVER THERE (FX) - Fox Home Entertainment plans to release the show's pilot on DVD less than a week after its Wednesday, July 27 bow on FX. (A previous report had incorrectly indicated the show would launch Friday, July 22.) As for the DVD, which streets on August 2, the single-disc release will also include a 15-minute behind-the-scenes featurette and sell for a suggested retail price of $9.98. "Over There" tracks the lives and struggles of seven American soldiers and their sergeant stationed in Iraq on their first tour of duty.

PIZZA MY HEART (ABC Family) - The cable channel's latest original movie will debut on Sunday, July 24 with broadcasts at both 7:00/6:00c and 9:00/8:00c. Here's how ABC Family's press materials describe the project: "A modern day Romeo and Juliet set in the town of Verona, New Jersey. Because of a family feud dating back to the old country, the Prestolanis and the Montebellos have taken to extremes their fight over who truly has the best pizza. The situation is about to come to a head when Joe Prestolani meets Gina Montebello and they begin a secret romance. Will the families be able to survive this union or will their pizza empires flop? Starring Michael Badalucco and Shiri Appleby, directed by Andy Wolk and executive produced by Jane Goldenring."

UNTITLED DAVID M. ISRAEL/JIM O'DOHERTY PROJECT (NBC) - Writer/producers Jim O'Doherty and David M. Israel ("The Tracy Morgan Show") have signed a two-year, seven-figure overall deal with NBC Universal Television. The pact calls for the pair to develop new half-hour projects for the studio. The duo previously were developing a semi-improved comedy at NBC proper, about the behind-the-scenes goings-on at a documentary company charged with producing fare for networks like the History Channel and the Discovery Channel. That project appears to have been shelved.

YOU'RE NOT THE MAN I MARRIED (Lifetime) - The cable channel has postponed the show's previously reported summer launch until an unspecified date in the fall. The series tracks neglected wives who have their husbands compete in comedic challenges - such as approaching complete strangers at the boardwalk in Atlantic City, N.J., to tell them why they love their wife - to prove they really are the men their wives married.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [may 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· ATTACK OF THE SABRETOOTH (SCI FI)
· BLOODSUCKERS (SCI FI)
· CELEBRITY FIT CLUB (VH1)
· DOOR TO THE THRONE (ABC FAMILY)
· EAST OF NORMAL, WEST OF WEIRD (ABC FAMILY)
· FILTY RICH: CATTLE DRIVE (E)
· GIRLS NEXT DOOR, THE (E)
· HOGAN KNOWS BEST (VH1)
· I WANT TO BE A HILTON (NBC)
· JUST A PHASE (ABC FAMILY)
· KYLE XY (ABC FAMILY)
· LINCOLN HEIGHTS (ABC FAMILY)
· MOVING PICTURES (NBC)
· MY WIFE & KIDS (ABC)
· OVER THERE (FX)
· PIZZA MY HEART (ABC FAMILY)
· TARZAN (WB)
· THREE MOONS OVER MILFORD (ABC FAMILY)
· TRACY MORGAN SHOW, THE (NBC)
· YOU'RE NOT THE MAN I MARRIED (LIFETIME)





[01/27/25 - 11:05 AM]
A&E Sets Airdates for New High-Octane WWE Programming Line Up Kicking Off Sunday, February 16th
The lineup includes the intense new competition series "WWE LFG (Legends & Future Greats)," the debut of "WWE's Greatest Moments" and the return of "WWE Rivals".

[01/27/25 - 11:03 AM]
NBC to Celebrate 100 Years of the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry member and country music superstar Blake Shelton will host NBC's "Opry 100: A Live Celebration," honoring the Grand Ole Opry's milestone 100th anniversary, on Wednesday, March 19 at 8-11 p.m. ET and simulcast on Peacock.

[01/27/25 - 10:38 AM]
Peacock Announces Series Pickup of "The Five-Star Weekend" Starring and Executive Produced by Emmy Award-Nominated Actress Jennifer Garner
Produced by UCP, the series is an adaptation of Elin Hilderbrand's New York Times bestseller of the same name.

[01/27/25 - 10:01 AM]
Video: Paramount+ Original Series "Happy Face" Reveals Teaser Trailer and Premiere Date
The eight-episode season will premiere on Thursday, March 20 with two episodes, exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. and international markets where the service is available.

[01/27/25 - 09:34 AM]
Let's Geaux! FOX Sports Leads the NFL Parade to Super Bowl LIX In New Orleans with a Chorus of Voices Throughout the Week Comprised of Pro Football Hall of Famers and 30 Collective Super Bowl Championships
FOX Sports' lead NFL announce team of play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt and seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady call Super Bowl LIX, marking Brady's first Super Bowl broadcast in a return to the site of his first Super Bowl win.

[01/27/25 - 09:17 AM]
FOX Nation and Kevin Costner Join Forces Again for New Limited Series "Yellowstone to Yosemite with Kevin Costner"
Episode one will debut on Saturday, February 8, kicking off the steaming platform's year-long "America 250" campaign, commemorating the country's 250th anniversary in 2026.

[01/27/25 - 09:11 AM]
TBS Premieres Outrageous Prank Special "Foul Play with Anthony Davis" Featuring Top Athletes Including Mookie Betts, Cameron Brink and D'Angelo Russell
The half-hour special is set to air immediately following the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, February 16 on TBS.

[01/27/25 - 09:00 AM]
First Look & Date Announcement: Hulu Original Series "Good American Family"
The eight episode series premieres March 19 with two episodes, followed by one episode weekly.

[01/27/25 - 08:31 AM]
Video: "Love Is Blind" Season 8 - Meet the Singles - Netflix
A new group of singles face the ultimate dating experiment. Will they find their soulmates and get married, or will looks get in the way of love?

[01/27/25 - 08:02 AM]
HGTV Signs New Multi-Year Talent Deal with Ben and Erin Napier
"Home Town," which follows the couple as they work to revitalize outdated homes and historical locations in their small town of Laurel, Mississippi, while navigating their busy family life, will be extended for 32 more episodes shooting through 2027.

[01/27/25 - 07:41 AM]
Prime Video Welcomes Corey LaJoie and Danielle Trotta to 2025 NASCAR Team
The streamer hits the ignition switch on its five-race Cup Series package at the Coca-Cola 600, in Charlotte, North Carolina, beginning on May 25.

[01/27/25 - 07:31 AM]
Video: "American Murder: Gabby Petito" - Official Trailer - Netflix
What happened in the final days of Gabby Petito's life? In this gripping true-crime series, her loved ones reveal the untold story of her tragic murder.

[01/27/25 - 07:23 AM]
Video: HBO Releases the Official Trailer and Key Art for Season Three of "The White Lotus"
The social satire is set at an exclusive Thai resort and follows the exploits of various guests and employees over the span of a week.

[01/27/25 - 07:00 AM]
TLC Sets February Premiere Date for "The Baldwins" Featuring Alec and Hilaria Baldwin
The series will premiere Sunday, February 23 at 10:00/9:00c.

[01/27/25 - 06:39 AM]
When Memory Fails, Can Love Prevail? Rom-Com Reality Turns Upside Down in Prime Video's "50,000 First Dates: A True Story"
Premiering on February 11 exclusively on Prime Video in 240 countries and territories worldwide, the docuseries showcases the journey of the viral Canadian couple who made headlines around the world as "The Real Life 50 First Dates Couple."