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[02/22/05 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: February 21-22
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 projects in development? Click here to visit our newly revamped "Series in Development" charts. Visitors can now filter our listings by network, genre and even development stage (ordered to pilot, cast-contingent, script, etc.). It's updated every day!

ADOPTED (ABC) - The comedy pilot, about a thirtysomething writer whose life is turned upside down when his biological mom shows up on his doorstep one day, is scheduled to tape Wednesday, March 23 at Fox Studios. No casting has been announced for the project, which comes from 20th Century Fox Television, Principato-Young Entertainment and creators Jim Rash and Nat Faxon.

AMERICAN CRIME (CBS) - John Carroll Lynch ("The Brotherhood of Poland, N.H.") is the first to be cast in the drama pilot, about a female prosecutor who juggles the world of suburban crime with the challenges of being a new mom. Lynch will play the woman's supervisor in the project, which comes from Jerry Bruckheimer Teleivision and Warner Bros. Television. Simon West is set to direct the pilot from a script by creator Jim Leonard.

DANTE (NBC) - J.P. Manoux ("Smallville," "Reno 911") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about an arrogant, self-absorbed NFL superstar (Morris Chestnut), who's secretly nervous that the end of his career is nearing. He'll play Mitchell, the internet billionaire owner of Dante's NFL franchise, the L.A. Quakes. Steve Levitan and John Immesoete are behind the project, which is set up at 20th Century Fox Television.

EARL (NBC) - Jaime Pressly ("Happy Family") is set to star opposite Jason Lee in the comedy pilot, about a low-rent crook (Lee) who wins the lottery and uses his limited yet oddly effective intelligence to right all the wrongs he's made in his life -- one by one. Pressly will play the ex-wife of Lee's character.

I DO, THEY DON'T (A.K.A. BLENDED) (ABC Family) - The telefilm, which stars real-life husband-and-wife Josie Bissett and Rob Estes, is set to premiere Sunday, March 20 at 7:00/6:00c. The pair play single parents who impulsively marry in Las Vegas, raising the ire of the eight children who must come together as a result of the union. Lyndsy Fonseca also stars.

NASCAR DRIVERS: 360 (FX) - The cable channel has confirmed it has committed to a second season of the behind-the-scenes reality series. New episodes are set to begin airing Friday, May 13 following the network's coverage of NASCAR Busch Series Racing from Richmond, Virginia.

OVER THERE (FX) - Lombardo Boyar ("The Bernie Mac Show") has been revealed as an additional cast member of the Steven Bochco-produced drama pilot, about a sergeant and his platoon stationed in Iraq with stories involving their families on the homefront interwoven into the action. A decision about the pilot's future is set to be made in the coming weeks.

THE WAR AT HOME (FOX) - Anita Barone ("Daddio") has joined the cast of the Michael Rapaport-led comedy pilot, about hypocritical parents (Rapaport and Barone) who struggle to maintain dominance over their kids. Rob Lotterstein created the project, which comes from Warner Bros. Television and Mindy Schultheis and Michael Hanel's Acme Productions banner.

WORLD OF TROUBLE (NBC) - Vinessa Shaw ("Eyes Wide Shut") has joined the cast of the drama pilot, about a squad of U.S.-based F.B.I. agents that solve crimes committed against Americans (and U.S. interests) overseas. She'll play a young, intelligent member of the unit. The project is set up at NBC Universal Television with Stephen Hopkins directing from a script by creator Peter Noah.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters and Audiences Unlimited





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· ADOPTED (ABC)
· BERNIE MAC SHOW, THE (FOX)
· BROTHERHOOD OF POLAND, NH, THE (CBS)
· CLOSE TO HOME (CBS)
· DADDIO (NBC)
· DANTE (NBC)
· HAPPY FAMILY (NBC)
· I DO, THEY DON'T (ABC FAMILY)
· MY NAME IS EARL (NBC)
· NASCAR DRIVERS: 360 (FX)
· OVER THERE (FX)
· RENO 911! (COMEDY CENTRAL)
· SMALLVILLE (CW)
· WAR AT HOME, THE (FOX)
· WORLD OF TROUBLE (NBC)





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