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[02/01/08 - 06:16 PM]
Development Update: Week of January 28-February 1
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC) |
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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!
ABC FAMILY ORIGINAL SERIES (ABC Family) - The cable channel has firmed up its original series plans for 2008 and beyond. It's understood recently completed pilots "The Middleman" and "Roomies" have been ordered to series as has a new untitled hour from "7th Heaven" creator Brenda Hampton. "Middleman," from writer-producer Javier Grillo-Marxuach, stars Natalie Morales as a twentysomething struggling artist who's recruited by a secret agency to fight comic book-type villains alongside the title character (Matt Keeslar), a sci-fi superhero who serves as her guide. Jeremiah Chechik directed the pilot, which also stars Britt Morgan and Mary Pat Gleason. As for "Roomies," the multi-camera comedy stars Tyler Francavilla and David Weidoff as, you guessed it, roommates. Kieron Quirke and Robin French created the project, which is also executive produced by Michael Hanel and Mindy Schultheis of Acme Productions. Andy Cadiff directed the pilot. And finally, the Hampton hour is described as a teen relationship series similar in sensibility to "Juno." All three newcomers are said to have commitments of at least six episodes. "Middleman" and "Roomies" were part of a quartet of pilots ordered last year, the others being "Samurai Girl" and "Happy Campers." Hampton's project is believed to be a straight series commitment, contingent on casting the lead role.
Meanwhile in related ABC Family news, the network is in talks with Canadian broadcaster CBC to import the comedy "Sophie," about a young woman (Natalie Brown) whose picture-perfect life comes crashing down. 13 episodes have been completed of the half-hour, which bowed on January 9 on the network. Sebastian Spence, Amy Lalonde, Jeff Geddis, Mimi Kuzyk, Sara Botsford, Chantelle Chung and Catherine B�rub� also star in the project, which comes from Jocelyn Deschenes of Sphere Media Plus. The show itself is based on a French-language series that aired in Quebec before it was transplanted to the CBC. Lastly, ABC Family also confirmed a decision is expected soon on the fate of "Lincoln Heights" while "Wildfire," currently in its fourth season, won't be renewed for a fifth season.
DIRT (FX) - FX has confirmed Danny Comden ("I'm With Her") has completed a three-episode arc on the show's upcoming second season. He plays Ted Rothman, an almost-divorced president of a major TV studio who wants to rekindle a romance with Courtney Cox's character. The new season bows Sunday, March 2.
FRINGE (FOX) - Australian actress Anna Torv has scored the lead role on the two-hour drama pilot, about a young, tough FBI agent who is forced to confront the spread of unexplained phenomena and work with an institutionalized scientist whose work might be at the center of a coming storm. She'll play Olivia Warren, the agent in question. Also signing on are Blair Brown and Jasika Nicole. The former will play Nina Cord, a 16-year veteran at Prometheus Corp., a cutting-edge research facility, while Jasika Nicole is playing the recurring role of Astrid Farnsworth, a stunning federal assistant. They join the previously cast John Noble, Kirk Acevedo, Lance Reddick and Mark Valley. Alex Graves is helming the Warner Bros. Television/Bad Robot-based drama, which comes from co-creators Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and J.J. Abrams. The group also executive produces alongside Bad Robot's Bryan Burk.
UNTITLED FASHION MAGAZINE ASSISTANT PROJECT (The CW, New!) - "America's Next Top Model's" Tyra Banks and Ken Mok have scored a series commitment from the netlet for a new reality series in which aspiring assistants compete to become assistant editors at a fashion magazine. The project, which has an eight-episode commitment, is expected to begin production in April for a launch in late spring or summer. As for specifics, each episode will feature two different challenges - an individual one and a team one with the winner of the former making the pairings for the latter. Each team challenge then will focus on submitting a page for "The Book," a mock edition of the magazine, with the loser's page going in the trash and one of its members being sent home. Banks and Mok will executive produce the project via their respective banners, Bankable Productions and 10x10 Entertainment, alongside Eli Holzman, who developed "Project Runway" at Miramax Television, and Full Picture's Jane Cha and Desiree Gruber, fashion experts and managers of "Runway" host Heidi Klum. It's understood the "Runway" team came up the initial idea for the series and pitched it to the CW, who in turn paired them with Banks and Mok. Talks are underway with various magazines to sponsor the show with the editors themselves likely appearing as judges. It's not clear if Banks herself will appear on camera.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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[01/13/25 - 03:01 PM]
NBC's New Drama Series "The Hunting Party" to Now Premiere Sunday, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. ET/PT
The series debut is scheduled to follow the NFL divisional playoff game (3 p.m. ET) between the Philadelphia Eagles vs. the winner of tonight's Minnesota Vikings-Los Angeles Rams game and "NBC Nightly News" (6:30 p.m. ET), depending upon the length of the game.
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[01/13/25 - 01:31 PM]
There's Never Been A Playoff Like This: Expanded 12-Team College Football Playoff on ESPN Reaches Blockbuster Conclusion on Championship Monday, Jan. 20
ESPN's main telecast will headline the signature MegaCast production, as ESPN offers 11 different presentations of the CFP National Championship Game across ESPN platforms.
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[01/13/25 - 09:00 AM]
"The Wall" Comes to Game Show Network
Game Show Network will run the entire first season, hosted by Chris Hardwick, weeknights at 8pm ET starting Monday, January 13.
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[01/13/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Castlevania: Nocturne" Season 2 - Official Trailer - Netflix
Aided by the legendary Alucard, Richter and his band of vampire hunters must race to stop powerful Erzsebet from plunging the world into eternal night.
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[01/13/25 - 07:32 AM]
Paramount Announces "Eric Clapton Unplugged... Over 30 Years Later"
In this all-new extended, remixed and remastered edition, the installment will feature exclusive content of Clapton discussing the inspiration behind specific songs and performances with the crew just before he took the stage, seamlessly integrated with the performance footage.
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[01/13/25 - 07:03 AM]
Video: Apple TV+ Debuts Trailer for New Conspiracy Thriller "Prime Target"
The eight-episode series will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on January 22, with the first two episodes, followed by one episode weekly every Wednesday through March 5.
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[01/13/25 - 01:01 AM]
Video: "Young, Famous & African" - Season 3 Official Trailer - Netflix
Africa's elite are back to the glitz, gossip, and cutting shade of their opulent inner circle, where luxury meets legacy - and drama rules the day.
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[01/12/25 - 09:35 PM]
Netflix's "The Greatest Rivalry: India vs Pakistan" - Cricket's Most Thrilling Showdown Premieres February 7
This series explores the drama, passion, and high-stakes intensity of this rivalry on the home soil of both nations.
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[01/12/25 - 04:01 PM]
Video: "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call" - Official Trailer - Netflix
To create a top-tier trauma center, a war-seasoned doctor arrives - bringing his blunt but skilled ways to transform his team into life-saving mavericks.
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[01/12/25 - 12:07 PM]
ESPN NBA Schedule Update: Golden State Warriors Visit Minnesota Timberwolves on January 15
This matchup replaces the previously scheduled Miami Heat vs. Los Angeles Lakers game.
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[01/10/25 - 03:30 PM]
"American Catastrophe: LA Burning - A Special Edition of 20/20" - David Muir Leads a One-Hour Broadcast from the Los Angeles Fire Frontlines (9:01-10:01 p.m. EST) on ABC
Muir will be the only journalist to fly with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to survey the destruction and will be joined by correspondents and reporters from across the frontlines, covering the latest developments as these powerful fires continue to ravage the city.
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[01/10/25 - 12:01 PM]
"Saturday Night Live" Kicks Off 2025 with New Shows Beginning Jan. 18
Look for Dave Chappelle to host on January 18 followed by Timothée Chalamet on January 25.
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[01/10/25 - 10:31 AM]
The "Doc" Is in with a Double Dose of FOX's Gripping New Medical Drama
The show's debut installment will rebroadcast this Sunday, January 12 and Monday, January 13.
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[01/10/25 - 08:31 AM]
Cleveland Cavaliers Victory Over Oklahoma City Thunder on ESPN Averaged 1.87 Million Viewers
Wednesday's coverage peaked at 2.5 million viewers.
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[01/10/25 - 07:06 AM]
"Puppy Bowl XXI" Returns Sunday, February 9 Across Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, truTV, Max and discovery+
The annual three-hour television event will feature 142 rescue puppies from 80 shelters across 40 states - and two countries - as they compete in the cutest competition of the year.
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