CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- The latest development news, culled from recent wire reports:
THE BERNIE MAC SHOW (FOX) - Michael Borkow ("Friends," "Malcolm in the Middle") has been tapped to replace Larry Wilmore as executive producer/showrunner of the comedy when it returns for its third season. Rich Appel ("A.U.S.A."), John Riggi ("Young Person's Guide to Being a Rock Star") and Saladin Patterson ("The PJs") have also been brought on as writers/co-executive producers of the series. The trio join returning "Bernie" vet Warren Hutcherson.
GROUNDED FOR LIFE (WB) - Jeff Astrof and Mike Sikowitz ("In-Laws") are joining the former FOX comedy as co-executive producers. The duo will work with series creators Bill Martin and Mike Schiff before being upped to executive producers/showrunners midway through next season.
THE TRIANGLE (Sci Fi, New!) - Filmmakers Dean Devlin ("Independence Day," "Stargate") and Bryan Singer ("X-Men," "X2") have signed with the cable channel to create an eight-hour mini-series for the network. The project will focus on a disparate group of people who are haunted by their experiences within the Bermuda Triangle. The duo will executive produce the miniseries, as well as develop the scripts from their original story. They may also each direct some of the four two-hour episodes which is being targeted to air in early 2005.
UNTITLED BILLY CRYSTAL PROJECT (HBO, New!) - Billy Crystal has signed a three-year deal with the pay channel to develop, write, produce and direct projects for the premium cable channel. The scope of the deal is not limited as it could wind up being a series, telefilm or mini-series.
WANDA AT LARGE (FOX) - Brian Hargrove and Jack Kenny ("Titus") have signed on as executive producers of the comedy, which returns for its second season this fall. The pair will serve as showrunners with fellow executive producer Bruce Helford. Helford said "Wanda" came together so quickly, and had such a short first-season run, that there was never time to round out the show's staff.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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