or


[10/27/04 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: October 26-27
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 pilots and other projects in development? Be sure to check out our detailed production chart listings by clicking here.

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (FOX) - Writer/producer Brad Copeland has inked a two-year, seven-figure overall deal with 20th Century Fox Television. The pact calls for Copeland to continue in his role of producer on the Emmy winning comedy as well as develop new projects for the studio. Prior to "Arrested," Copeland spent three years on the FOX/WB comedy "Grounded for Life."

THE AU PAIRS (The WB, New!) - Some firm details have emerged about writer/producer Mark Perry's other project in the works at the Frog and Warner Bros. Television. In addition to the drama "Heartland," about a family adjusting to life after the father comes out of the closet (read the story), Perry is also working on a series based on Melissa de la Cruz's young-adult novel "The Au Pairs." Said project would track the lives of three young women as they work as nannies to the New York elite as well as their efforts to become part of the Hamptons social scene. Perry will write and executive produce the project alongside Alloy Entertainment's Anya Kochoff.

THE CODE (NBC, New!) - Donnie Wahlberg and Jon Avnet ("Boomtown") are set to return to the Peacock, as the actor and director have teamed with Jack Orman ("ER," "dr. vegas") for a new drama which stars Wahlberg as a good cop who goes undercover inside the world of crooked law enforcers. NBC has given a put pilot commitment to the project, which is set up at Warner Bros. Television, where Orman has an overall deal. Orman and Avent will executive produce "The Code," with the latter directing the pilot. Wahlberg will also serve as a producer.

THE DARK (TNT, New!) - Stephen J. Cannell ("The A-Team," "The Rockford Files") is looking to return to series television as the writer/producer is in talks with the cable channel to shepherd a new drama pilot for the network. The project, which is set up at Cannell Studios, revolves around the FBI's tracking and apprehension team, which is only called upon when the most disturbing, dangerous and baffling serial criminals are on the loose. Paul Guyot ("Judging Amy") wrote the pilot script and will executive produce alongside Cannell.

EXPLODING BALONEY (Nick at Nite, New!) - Nick at Nite has given a series order to a new half-hour hidden camera series from Banyan Productions ("Trading Spaces") in which adults play good-natured pranks on kids. Joe Boyd created and will executive produce the series, which is targeting a March debut, alongside TV Land/Nick at Nite senior VP Kim Rosenblum.

NOBODY'S WATCHING (The WB, New!) - Bill Lawrence ("Spin City," "Scrubs") has gotten into business with the Frog as the writer/producer is developing a new comedy at the network about two Midwestern guys who win a reality show contest and get create their own TV comedy series. The multi-camera project, which comes from NBC Universal Television (who pitched it to the WB after NBC passed), will be written and executive produced by Lawrence along with Neil Goldman and Garrett Donovan ("Family Guy").

PAINKILLER JANE (Sci Fi) - The cable channel has greenlit production on the two-hour backdoor drama pilot, which was originally announced nearly 19 months ago (read the story). Here's how the network's press materials describe the project: "Based on the Event Comics series, SCI FI and MGM Worldwide Television once again partner, this time to bring to life a virtually indestructible super-heroine for the new millennium, Painkiller Jane. This action-hero series is based on a young marine officer, Jane Browning, who is exposed to a biochemical weapon that changes her genetically, endowing her with incredible self-healing powers. She becomes an ultra-covert agent fighting crime while struggling to remain free from those who would now use her gifts for sinister purposes. Written by John Harrison (writer/director SCI FI's "Frank Herbert's Dune" & writer/co-producer "Children of Dune") and Don Opper. Harrison, Opper and Greg Gold are attached as executive producers. Harrison will direct." NBC Universal Television will produce the project in association with MGM with production expected to begin by year's end.

UNTITLED FREDDIE PRINZE JR. PROJECT (ABC, New!) - Recent "Boston Legal" guest star Freddie Prinze Jr. is sticking with the Alphabet as the actor is set to be the centerpiece of a new comedy project at the network and Warner Bros. Television. The project, which has received a put pilot commitment from ABC and is loosely based on Prinze's own experiences, centers on a Puerto Rican man (Prinze) who after finally breaking free of his overbearing family must return home to a household of women who drive him crazy after his brother dies. Bruce Helford and Bruce Rasmussen ("The Drew Carey Show") will co-create, write and executive produce the project along with Prinze through the pair's Mohawk Productions. Mohawk recently signed a three-year overall deal with Warner Bros. Television that will keep the company at the studio until mid-2007.

UNTITLED PAM BRADY/WILL GLUCK PROJECT (FOX) - The network has greenlit production on the comedy pilot, about a guy right out of college who becomes the first among his friends to get a real job and straddles the fence between slacker and working man. Pam Brady ("South Park") and Will Gluck ("Andy Richter Controls the Universe") are behind the 20th Century Fox Television-based project, which will use a mix of single-camera and multi-camera elements. It's understood the pilot will shoot exteriors in Chicago and interiors in Los Angeles. In addition, FOX and 20th reportedly are looking for several sponsors to integrate products into the series (a la ABC's summer drama "The Days") in order to reduce the show's production costs. No other details were given about the project, other than the lead's job is at a Chicago-based airline.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [october 2004]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· ANDY RICHTER CONTROLS THE UNIVERSE (FOX)
· ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (NETFLIX)
· AU PAIRS, THE (WB)
· BOOMTOWN (NBC)
· BOSTON LEGAL (ABC)
· CODE, THE (NBC)
· DARK, THE (TNT)
· DAYS, THE (ABC)
· DR. VEGAS (CBS)
· DREW CAREY SHOW, THE (ABC)
· ER (NBC)
· FAMILY GUY (FOX)
· FRANK HERBERT'S CHILDREN OF DUNE (SCI FI)
· FRANK HERBERT'S DUNE (SCI FI)
· FREDDIE (ABC)
· GROUNDED FOR LIFE (WB)
· HEARTLAND (WB)
· HI-JINKS (NICKELODEON)
· JUDGING AMY (CBS)
· LOOP, THE (FOX)
· NOBODY'S WATCHING (NBC)
· PAINKILLER JANE (SCI FI)
· SCRUBS (ABC)
· SOUTH PARK (COMEDY CENTRAL)
· SPIN CITY (ABC)





[11/22/24 - 01:31 PM]
Video: "Suits LA" Arrives February 2025 - NBC
The all-new spinoff of the beloved legal drama, starring Stephen Amell, Lex Scott Davis, Josh McDermitt, and Bryan Greenberg, lands on the West Coast.

[11/22/24 - 12:11 PM]
Video: Peacock Releases First Look at the Third Season of Emmy Award-Winning Reality Competition Series "The Traitors" Returning January 9 with Alan Cumming as Host
Last season, "The Traitors" became the #1 unscripted series in the U.S. across all streaming platforms during launch week, according to Nielsen.

[11/22/24 - 10:15 AM]
Apple's Drama "Your Friends & Neighbors" Lands Early Season Two Renewal
Starring and executive produced by Emmy Award winner Jon Hamm, "Your Friends & Neighbors" will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on Friday, April 11 with two episodes, followed by one new episode weekly through Friday, May 30.

[11/22/24 - 09:01 AM]
Apple Original Films' "Fly Me to the Moon" to Premiere December 6, 2024
Since its debut in theaters worldwide, the film has received the Verified Hot certification on Rotten Tomatoes by fans.

[11/22/24 - 08:03 AM]
Peacock Exclusively Streams Blumhouse's "Speak No Evil" Beginning December 6
The psychological horror thriller stars James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Aisling Franciosi, Alix West Lefler, Dan Hough, Scoot McNairy, and more!

[11/22/24 - 07:35 AM]
2024 "Emirates NBA Cup" Championship Game Exclusively on ABC and ESPN+ December 17
In addition, ESPN platforms will exclusively present a semifinal game and a quarterfinal game as part of its 2024 Emirates NBA Cup Knockout Round coverage.

[11/22/24 - 07:12 AM]
Peacock and Sky's Original Hit Drama Series "The Day of the Jackal" Scores Second Season Renewal
In the US it ranked #1 on Peacock's Top 10 TV Shows on its platform and was a Top 5 streaming original in the US for its opening weekend (according to preliminary Nielsen data).

[11/22/24 - 06:31 AM]
Video: "Chef's Table" Volume 7 - Official Teaser - Netflix
Meet five world-class chefs who redefine culinary boundaries with delicious, innovative dishes honoring their diverse cultures and personal philosophies.

[11/22/24 - 05:41 AM]
"They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce" Set for January 2025 on ESPN
Airing on Friday nights/early Saturday mornings, the new personality-driven, one-hour program will take its inspiration from traditional late-night television, emphasizing a comedic approach throughout all five scheduled episodes which run in conjunction with the finale of the NFL regular season and playoffs.

[11/22/24 - 03:01 AM]
Video: "Ad Vitam" - Official Trailer - Netflix
After escaping an attempted murder, Franck Lazarev (Guillaume Canet) must find his wife Léo, who has been kidnapped by a mysterious group of armed men.

[11/21/24 - 04:01 PM]
"Rugged Rugby: Conquer or Die" Premieres December 10: A Battle for Supremacy Begins
In the shadows of Korea's rugby world, seven teams engage in a fierce battle of strength, strategy, and teamwork - all vying to be crowned champion.

[11/21/24 - 04:00 PM]
ABC Presents a Two-Night Special Event To Commemorate the Diamond Anniversary of "Mary Poppins"
First, "The Untold Story of Mary Poppins: A Special Edition of 20/20," a two-hour special from ABC News Studios chock full of rarely seen footage, photos and stories from the film's living legends, airs Wednesday, November 27 on ABC and streams next day on Hulu and Disney+.

[11/21/24 - 01:32 PM]
2024 International Emmy Nominees on Hulu
Check out these Emmy-worthy international series streaming on Hulu.

[11/21/24 - 01:12 PM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Semifinals Is Top Program of the Night in Adults 18-49 and All Key Women Demographics
The spectacular season 33 penultimate episode grew over the previous week's 500th episode celebration in both Total Viewers (5.19 million vs. 5.13 million) and Adults 18-49 (0.75 rating vs. 0.71 rating), hitting a season high in Total Viewers.

[11/21/24 - 01:05 PM]
NBC Orders Five Additional Episodes of Its Friday Night Comedy Hit "Happy's Place"
The "Happy's Place" premiere has hit 14 million viewers across all platforms.