or


[01/24/07 - 12:49 AM]
Development Update: Wednesday, January 24
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!


THE CALL (ABC) - Dave Hemingson's single-camera comedy has officially been ordered to pilot. The 20th Century Fox Television-based half-hour revolves around a pair of gifted yet unconventional Los Angeles paramedics who save people's lives while screwing up one another's - all in real time. Hemingson wrote the script and is executive producing alongside Real Time's Joel Surnow, Bob Cochran and Howard Gordon.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot (previously blind six-episode commitment)
Cast: TBA
Writer: Dave Hemingson
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Bob Cochran (Real Time Productions), Dave Hemingson, Howard Gordon (Real Time Productions), Joel Surnow (Real Time Productions)
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television


CARPOOLERS (ABC) - The Alphabet has ordered Bruce McCulloch's comedy project, about a group of suburban guys who carpool to work together, to pilot. Touchstone Television is behind the half-hour, which McCulloch wrote and is executive producing alongside 3 Arts Entertainment's David Miner and DreamWorks Television's Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot (previously script)
Cast: TBA
Writer: Bruce McCulloch
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Bruce McCulloch, Darryl Frank (DreamWorks Television), David Miner (3 Arts Entertainment), Justin Falvey (DreamWorks Television)
Studio: Touchstone Television


DEEPLY IRRESPONSIBLE (A.K.A. UNTITLED VICTOR FRESCO PROJECT) (FOX) - Victor Fresco's comedy project, which now features the working title of "Deeply Irresponsible," has been given a pilot commitment. The multi-camera half-hour revolves around an uptight family that is turned upside-down when their freewheeling grandfather comes to live with them. Fresco penned the pilot script and will executive produce the project, which is based at 20th Century Fox Television.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot (previously put pilot)
Cast: TBA
Writer: Victor Fresco
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Victor Fresco
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television


ELI STONE (ABC) - "Justice" alum Victor Garber has joined the cast of the drama pilot, about a brilliant attorney (Jonny Lee Miller) at the top law firm in San Francisco who finds out he might be a prophet. Garber will play the senior partner at the firm, the most respected attorney in town who happens to be the father of Stone's fiancee.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Jonny Lee Miller (Eli Stone), Loretta Devine, Victor Garber
Writers: Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Greg Berlanti (Berlanti Television), Marc Guggenheim
Studio: Touchstone Television


FAMILY OF THE YEAR (ABC, New!) - Erica Rivinoja ("Grounded for Life") has scored a pilot order from the Alphabet for a new comedy about the Holloways, 10-time Tatum, New Mexico, "Family of the Year" winners, who are thrown for a loop when a local - and possibly more deserving - family starts encroaching on their territory. Rivinoja penned the script is executive producing alongside Pam Brady ("The Loop") for 20th Century Fox Television.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: TBA
Writer: Erica Rivinoja
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Erica Rivinoja, Pam Brady
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television


THE LIFE & TIMES OF TIM (FOX, New!) - FOX has committed to a pilot presentation for a new animated comedy from indie filmmaker Steve Dildarian ("Angry Unpaid Hooker"). Warner Bros. Television is behind the project, which revolves around the life of a twentysomething guy. Cheri Oteri ("Saturday Night Live"), Kurtwood Smith ("That '70s Show") and Matt Johnson are already on board to voice the presentation, which Dildarian write, direct and executive produce alongside Tom Werner, Eric Gold and Jimmy Miller.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot (7-10 minute presentation)
Cast: Cheri Oteri, Kurtwood Smith, Matt Johnson
Writer: Steve Dildarian
Director: Steve Dildarian
Executive Producers: Eric Gold (Werner-Gold-Miller), Jimmy Miller (Werner-Gold-Miller), Steve Dildarian, Tom Werner (Werner-Gold-Miller)
Studio: Warner Bros. Television


THE MASTERSONS OF MANHATTAN (NBC) - Natasha Richardson ("Maid in Manhattan") has been tapped as one of the lead roles in the comedy pilot, a serialized comedic soap opera revolving around two sisters, one of them played by Richardson, in a socially prominent family in New York. In addition, sitcom veteran James Burrows ("Will & Grace") has come aboard to direct the half-hour from a script by creator Gary Janetti.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Natasha Richardson
Writer: Gary Janetti
Director: James Burrows
Executive Producers: Gary Janetti
Studio: NBC Universal Television Studio


THE MIDDLE (ABC) - Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline's single-camera comedy, about the lives of a middle class, Midwestern family as told through the eyes of the mother, has been given a pilot order by the network. The pair penned the pilot script and will executive produce for Warner Bros. Television.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot (previously script)
Cast: TBA
Writers: DeAnn Heline, Eileen Heisler
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: DeAnn Heline, Eileen Heisler
Studio: Warner Bros. Television


SAM I AM (A.K.A. THE MEMORY TRACE) (ABC) - The Alphabet has given a pilot order to the project, a single-camera comedy about a woman who wakes up from a coma with amnesia and has to rediscover her life, her relationships and herself. Novelist Cecelia Ahern ("PS, I Love You") and writer/producer Don Todd are behind the Touchstone Television-based half-hour, which Todd wrote from a story by Ahern. Todd will also executive produce alongside Brillstein Grey Entertainment's Peter Traugott with Ahern serving as a producer.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot (previously script)
Cast: TBA
Writers: Cecelia Ahern, Don Todd
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Don Todd, Peter Traugott (Brillstein-Grey Entertainment)
Producer: Cecelia Ahern
Studio: Touchstone Television


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [january 2007]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· CALL, THE (ABC)
· CARPOOLERS (ABC)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· ELI STONE (ABC)
· FAMILY OF THE YEAR (ABC)
· GROUNDED FOR LIFE (WB)
· JUSTICE (FOX)
· LIFE & TIMES OF TIM, THE (HBO)
· LOOP, THE (FOX)
· MASTERSONS OF MANHATTAN, THE (NBC)
· MIDDLE, THE (2007 VERSION) (ABC)
· SAMANTHA WHO? (ABC)
· THAT '70S SHOW (FOX)
· UNTITLED VICTOR FRESCO PROJECT (FOX)
· WILL & GRACE (NBC)





[01/23/25 - 02:18 PM]
ID's "The Fall of Diddy" - Four-Part Docuseries to Premiere Beginning Monday, January 27 at 9/8c on ID
The docuseries features exclusive, never-before-heard accounts and never-before-seen archival footage, offering personal insights into harrowing allegations of violent behavior and illegal activity that have shadowed the music mogul.

[01/23/25 - 02:00 PM]
FOX's "The 1% Club" Goes 100% Joel McHale with New Host and New Season
It originally premiered on Prime Video last season in the U.S. and Canada and will now move exclusively to FOX for its new season airing in 2025-26.

[01/23/25 - 12:32 PM]
Great American Media Announces #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Karen Kingsbury's New Original Film, "Someone Like You," Starring Sarah Fisher, Jake Allyn, Lynn Collins, Robyn Lively, and Bart Johnson
The film streams exclusively on Pure Flix, Thursday, February 20 and premiering on Great American Family, Saturday, February 22.

[01/23/25 - 11:51 AM]
Donnie Wahlberg and Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg Host "Very Scary Lovers" - Premiering Sunday, February 2 on ID
The special will premiere immediately following the season finale of "Very Scary People," hosted by Donnie Wahlberg.

[01/23/25 - 11:00 AM]
"Super Bowl Greatest Commercials: Funniest of All-Time" Hosted by "CBS Mornings'" Nate Burleson and Actress Daniela Ruah to Air Wednesday, Feb. 5 on CBS
Now in its 24th year, the special will celebrate the Super Bowl commercials that have famously kept America laughing during the big game.

[01/23/25 - 10:09 AM]
FOX Sports Films and NASCAR Studios Team Up for Two New Original Documentaries Marking the Start of the 2025 NASCAR Season
"The Madhouse: NASCAR's Return to Bowman Gray Stadium" and "So Damn Close: Atlanta '24" are both on tap in the coming weeks.

[01/23/25 - 10:03 AM]
Lifetime Greenlights "Killing the Competition" Executive Produced by and Starring Melissa Joan Hart
Debuting March 1, the film is inspired by actual events of an overbearing mother who descends from meddling to menacing after her daughter is cut from the dance team of her own high school alma mater.

[01/23/25 - 10:02 AM]
Video: "The Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Big Game" - Official Trailer - The Roku Channel
Join celebrity bakers DK Metcalf, Katie Nolan, Tony Gonzalez, Arik Armstead, Amy Smart as they prepare special bakes for America's biggest sporting event of the year!

[01/23/25 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "Sweet Magnolias" Season 4 - Official Trailer - Netflix
It's a very Serenity holiday season as the Magnolias weather a tragedy, a town crisis and a fierce storm in the weeks from Halloween to Christmas.

[01/23/25 - 09:15 AM]
Oxygen True Crime's "New York Homicide" Premieres Feb. 1 at 9 P.M. ET/PT
In its second season, "New York Homicide" reached 8.3 million viewers across all platforms.

[01/23/25 - 09:04 AM]
Black Stories Always: Hulu Celebrates Black History Month with New Premieres and Timeless Classics
From timeless classics to groundbreaking originals, we shine a light on the voices and creators who have made an impact on culture and entertainment.

[01/23/25 - 09:00 AM]
Video: MGM+ Original Series "Godfather of Harlem" Returns April 13th with an Action-Packed Season 4 Teaser Starring Academy Award-Winner Forest Whitaker
Season 4 stars Academy Award-winning actor Forest Whitaker as Bumpy Johnson, alongside Ilfenesh Hadera, Lucy Fry, Antoinette Crowe-Legacy, Erik LaRay Harvey, Michael Raymond James, Elvis Nolasco, and Erik Palladino, and introduces Frank Lucas portrayed by Daytime Emmy Award-winning actor Rome Flynn.

[01/23/25 - 08:01 AM]
Paramount+ to Premiere True-Crime Docuseries "Burden of Guilt" on February 4
The three-part series follows a woman's quest to solve the mystery of what or who really killed her 4-month-old baby brother.

[01/23/25 - 08:00 AM]
Max Original Four-Part Documentary Series "The Takedown: American Aryans" Debuts February 6
The four-part documentary series takes viewers inside the cult-like world of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas from the late 2000s to the present day.

[01/23/25 - 08:00 AM]
The CBS Original "Hollywood Squares" Lands Special Week-Long Daytime Run
As announced yesterday, beginning Wednesday, January 29, CBS Wednesday game nights will kick off with original episodes of "Hollywood Squares" at 8:00/7:00c.