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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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[05/07/24 - 02:06 PM]
NBC's "Deal or No Deal Island" Renewed for Season 2
The elusive Banker will invite a new crop of players to compete in the season-long, fully immersive competition.
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[05/07/24 - 02:01 PM]
Video: "The Test" Season 3 Trailer - Prime Video
Step into the heart of cricket's fiercest rivalries with the new season on May 24.
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[05/07/24 - 01:30 PM]
Warner Bros. Discovery U.K. & Ireland Announces "Taylor Swift vs Scooter Braun: Bad Blood" (w/t), Expanding the Popular Format
The two-part docuseries, produced by Optomen, will explore the gripping feud between global pop-superstar Taylor Swift and music industry mogul Scooter Braun, delving into the $300 million dispute after Braun bought the rights to Swift's first six albums in June 2019.
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[05/07/24 - 12:15 PM]
"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" Picked Up to Series at ABC
Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin, co-founders of the global lifestyle brand The Home Edit and the duo who made America fall in love with getting organized, are on board as hosts.
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[05/07/24 - 11:13 AM]
Lifetime Announces New Movie Starring Teri Hatcher and June Movie Slate
Hatcher and Tahmoh Penikett will star in "The Killer Inside: The Ruth Finley Story," which tells the true story of an unassuming housewife who becomes the target of a mysterious stalker whom she and the cops fear is the BTK Slayer.
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[05/07/24 - 11:00 AM]
CBS Announces Its Summer Premiere Schedule
The summer lineup launches with the network debut of "Tulsa King" Sunday, July 14 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT), followed by the season 26 premiere of "Big Brother" Wednesday, July 17 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT).
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[05/07/24 - 11:00 AM]
Post Malone, Parker McCollum, Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan, Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, and Nate Smith Feat. Avril Lavigne to Perform at the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards
Hosted by 16-time ACM Award-winning entertainment icon, Reba McEntire, the ACM Awards will be free to stream live exclusively for a global audience across 240+ countries and territories on Prime Video from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on Thursday, May 16.
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[05/07/24 - 10:15 AM]
NBC Celebrates Red Nose Day's 10th Anniversary with Hourlong Star-Studded Special Set for May 23 at 8 P.M. ET/PT
The star-studded special will look back at the hilarious, inspirational and unforgettable moments of NBC's Red Nose Day programming and the life-changing impact of the campaign's first 10 years.
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[05/07/24 - 10:03 AM]
Video: Peacock Releases First Look of Ariana Madix as Host and Announces Premiere Date for Sixth Season of Hit Cultural Phenomenon "Love Island USA"
The new season will air exclusively on Peacock beginning Tuesday, June 11 at 6pm PT/9pm ET with new episodes six days a week.
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[05/07/24 - 09:44 AM]
Netflix Top 10 Week of Apr. 29: "Baby Reindeer" Holds Strong; "Heeramandi" Breaks Records; Katt Williams and Tom Brady Live Events Bring the Laughs
"Katt Williams: Woke Foke" had viewers nationwide (and beyond) on his side, taking fourth place (4M views), and "The Roast of Tom Brady" took sixth place (2M views).
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[05/07/24 - 09:26 AM]
Food Network Renews New Breakout Hit "24 in 24: Last Chef Standing"
The freshman culinary competition series, hosted by Esther Choi and Michael Symon, features 24 talented and fearless chefs who take on 24 food challenges in 24 consecutive, non-stop hours.
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[05/07/24 - 09:16 AM]
Dale Earnhardt Jr. to Join TNT Sports NASCAR Broadcast Team
One of the most iconic racecar drivers of all time, Earnhardt will serve as an on-air commentator for TNT Sports' exclusive coverage of five NASCAR Cup Series races each Summer, airing in consecutive weeks on TNT and the B/R Sports Add-On on Max.
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[05/07/24 - 09:05 AM]
The History Channel's Hit Survival Series "Alone" Returns For Season 11 on Thursday, June 13
Additionally, season two of the highly rated international version of the series, "Alone Australia," is set to air on The History Channel for domestic audiences on Thursday, June 20.
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[05/07/24 - 09:03 AM]
Video: FOX Entertainment Celebrates AANHPI Month with #TVForAll
"The Cleaning Lady" star Élodie Yung shares the story of how she uses the resilience her father passed down to her as a way to connect to her heritage.
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[05/07/24 - 09:03 AM]
Prime Video Welcomes Dale Earnhardt Jr. to its NASCAR Broadcast Booth
"I'm honored to be a part of Prime Video's entrance into NASCAR," said Earnhardt Jr. "It is an exciting opportunity to have the chance to give our NASCAR fan base yet another way to watch the sport. It will be exciting to see the innovation that Prime Video is going to bring to our sport and the fans."
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