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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!
ABFAB (A.K.A. ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS) (FOX) - Kathryn Hahn ("Crossing Jordan") and Kristen Johnston ("3rd Rock from the Sun") have officially joined the cast of the comedy pilot, based on the famed U.K. series about best friends Eddie (Hahn) and Patsy (Johnston), two immature, trend-obsessed, booze-swilling middle-aged women clinging to their youth. The pair played said roles in a table read widely credited with landing the project a pilot order. Hahn had previously inked a talent holding deal with the network. Christine Zander is behind the half-hour, which comes from BBC Worldwide Productions, Sony Pictures Television and Tantamount.
ALLIGATOR POINT (Lifetime, New!) - Cybill Shepherd, Lauren Stamile, Brian Patrick Wade, Robyn Lively, Leslie Jordan, Joel McCrary and Charlie Robinson are all set to star in an updated take on the 2003 comedy pilot, about an eccentric group of Floridians who find refuge in the Southern hospitality of Mae's (Shepherd) Oyster Bar whose lives change when a Yankee (Stamile) becomes part of their disjointed family. McCrary also starred in the original NBC incarnation, which also featured Jaime Pressly, James McDaniel, Jim Rash, Nathan Fillion, Park Overall and Paula Marshall. Robert Peacock penned the script and is executive producing alongside Steve Stark of the newly launched Steve Stark Productions. Kelsey Grammer, Stark's former Grammnet Productions partner, is on board to direct while Franco E. Bario will serve as a co-executive producer.
BACK (CBS) - Mark Pellington ("Cold Case") has signed on to direct the drama pilot, about a man who returns home only to discover he was reported missing eight years earlier after the 9/11 attacks. Dean Widenmann is behind the hour, which is set up at CBS Paramount Network Television and Storyline Entertainment.
COMMUNITY (NBC, New!) - Dan Harmon ("The Sarah Silverman Program") has landed a pilot order from the Peacock for a new "Stripes"-esque comedy about a band of misfits at a community college. Sony Pictures Television and Krasnoff Foster Entertainment are behind the single-camera half-hour, which Harmon is executive producing alongside Russ Krasnoff, a former Sony executive.
HUNG (HBO) - Anne Heche ("Men in Trees") has joined the cast of the upcoming drama, about Ray (Thomas Jane), a well-endowed struggling high school basketball coach. She'll play Ray's remarried ex-wife, a role originated by Kristin Bauer. Dmitry Lipkin and Colette Burson co-created the hour, which is expected to roll out its 10-episode season in June. Charlie Saxton and Jane Adams also star.
SONS OF TUCSON (FOX) - Three-time Emmy-winner Todd Holland ("Malcolm in the Middle") has signed on to helm the comedy pilot, about a charming but misguided hustler hired by three young brothers with considerable resources to act as their father while their real father serves prison time for a white-collar crime. Greg Bratman and Tommy Dewey penned the half-hour, which comes from 20th Century Fox Television and J2TV.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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