or


[11/03/05 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: November 1-3
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!

AMERICAN IDOL (FOX) - "American Idol" producer FremantleMedia is said to be considering importing a version of its U.K. aftershow, "Pop Idol Extra," to go along with the show's upcoming fifth season. FremantleMedia topper Cecile Frot-Coutaz however was quick to note that they remain very careful in terms of what is done with the franchise and won't rush anything to the airwaves.

THE COLBERT REPORT (Comedy Central) - Comedy Central has given "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" spin-off a full season order of 168 episodes (or 42 weeks), the same annual output as its parent series. "Colbert" originally began with an eight-week commitment, with its stellar 1.2 million viewer average (and 86% retention rate of "The Daily Show") not surprisingly fueling the early renewal. Busboy Productions produces "Colbert" in association with Spartina Productions with Jon Stewart, Ben Karlin and Stephen Colbert serving as executive producers.

THE COMPANY (TNT, New!) - Robert Littell's book "The Company: A Novel of the CIA" is being developed as a potential six-hour limited series for the cable channel. Ridley and Tony Scott, John Calley and Cary Brokaw are all behind the project, which will trace the activities of the C.I.A. during a 40-year span, beginning with the Cold War through the demise of the Soviet Union, mixing in real-life and fictional characters. Ken Nolan ("Black Hawk Down") is on board to write the script to the project, which was originally developed as a feature film at Columbia Pictures. The Scotts and Calley will executive produce through their respective companies Scott Free Productions and John Calley Productions with Brokaw also serving as an executive producer and Scott Free's David Zucker as a co-executive producer.

KIDNAPPED (NBC) - Jason Smilovic and Michael Dinner's serialized drama project has received the green light from NBC to produce a pilot. Said project, which is set up at Sony Pictures Television-based 25C Productions and NBC Universal Television, previously had a put pilot commitment, virtually assuring its production. As for plot specifics, the series follows the kidnapping of the son of well-to-do New York City parents with each episode depicting one day in the investigation of the child's disappearance. Dinner will direct the pilot from a script by Smilovic with the pair executive producing along with 25C's Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly. Shooting in expected to begin in New York in December.

KILLER INSTINCT (FOX) - FOX has asked for three additional scripts of the freshman drama, which currently ranks as the second most-watched series in its time period among men 18-34. Overall "Instinct" has been averaging a modest 4.63 million viewers to date this season, ahead of lead-ins "The Bernie Mac Show" (3.76 million on average) and "Malcolm in the Middle" (3.52 million). Josh Berman, Charles Grant Craig, Reed Steiner and Ed Zuckerman are the executive producers for Regency Television.

THE LOOP (FOX) - Co-creators Will Gluck and Pam Brady have each signed overall deals with Paramount Network Television and 20th Century Fox Television respectively. The Gluck pact - a two-year, seven-figure deal which begins in June - calls for the writer/producer to develop half-hour projects for the studio while Brady's deal - a two-year pact with an option for a third year - covers her duties on the freshman comedy as well as calls for her to develop new series projects for 20th.

LOST (ABC) - ABC sister company Hyperion Books has commissioned a novel by an "well-known" mystery writer that will tie into the network's smash Wednesday drama. It's understood an upcoming subplot will involve the discovery of a manuscript written by a character who didn't survive the crash, Gary Troup. Hyperion then will publish the "found" manuscript, entitled "Bad Twin," about a wealthy heir's search for his nefarious brother. How or if the book's contents will actually relate to events on the actual show isn't clear, other than the Troup character delivered the manuscript just days before boarding the doomed Oceanic Flight.

MASTERS OF HORROR (Showtime) - The pay channel's latest original series entry opened to just 167,000 viewers on Friday. Said number was well behind the recent premieres of such series as "Weeds" (540,000) and "Barbershop" (515,000).

MOMMY (FOX, New!) - Comedienne Margaret Cho and writer Susan Dickes ("Just Shoot Me") are developing a new multigenerational family comedy at the network and Regency Television. Said project, which is being developed as part of a talent holding deal with Cho, will revolve around Cho's frequently impersonated mother from her stand-up routine. No plot specifics however were mentioned.

UNTITLED CRISTINA PEREZ/LYNN TOLER PROJECTS (Syndication, New!) - Twentieth Television is understood to be developing two new syndicated court series for the 2006-07 season. The first will feature Cristina Perez from Telemundo's "La Corte de Familia" while the second will spotlight Lynn Toler, a former Cleveland Heights Municipal Court judge and litigation attorney specializing in civil matters. Both projects are on track to shoot pilots this month. Peter Brennan ("Judge Judy") is executive producing the Perez pilot while no producing information was given about the Toler pilot.

UNTITLED KEVIN WILLIAMSON PROJECT (UPN, New!) - "Dawson's Creek" creator Kevin Williamson has booked a pilot order at the netlet for a new coming-of-age drama about a troubled teen who moves to a gated community in Palm Springs where he uncovers some dark secrets. Unlike "Scream" or much of his other feature work however the "secrets" won't be spooky or supernatural. Williamson wrote the pilot, which is set up outside of his two-script deal at 20th Century Fox Television, on spec. (No studio is currently attached.) Said development means that the writer/producer's commitment to the UPN project will be in second position to his duties on the 20th projects (one of which, an untitled thriller, is already set up at the Fox Broadcasting Co.). In addition, Williamson is executive producing the ABC project "The Stanton," written by Jake Coburn, however no details were given.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [november 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· AMERICAN IDOL (ABC)
· BARBERSHOP (SHOWTIME)
· BERNIE MAC SHOW, THE (FOX)
· COMPANY, THE (TNT)
· CRISTINA'S COURT (SYNDICATION)
· DAWSON'S CREEK (WB)
· HIDDEN PALMS (CW)
· JUDGE JUDY (SYNDICATION)
· JUST SHOOT ME (NBC)
· KIDNAPPED (NBC)
· KILLER INSTINCT (FOX)
· LOOP, THE (FOX)
· LOST (ABC)
· MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE (FOX)
· MASTERS OF HORROR (SHOWTIME)
· MOMMY (FOX)
· STANTON, THE (ABC)
· UNTITLED LYNN TOLER PROJECT (SYNDICATION)
· WEEDS (SHOWTIME)





[11/04/24 - 04:01 PM]
Video: "Zombieverse 2: New Blood" - Official Trailer - Netflix
The groundbreaking K-zombie series returns bolder than ever, with enhanced zombies, new members and wilder quests full of non-stop thrills and laughter.

[11/04/24 - 02:01 PM]
"Outer Banks" Renewed for Fifth and Final Season Following Fan Celebrations at Poguelandia and Multi-Country Pogue Tour
The news comes two days after the second Poguelandia: An Outer Banks Experience, held November 2 at The Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California.

[11/04/24 - 01:31 PM]
Acorn TV's Hit Detective Crime Drama "Dalgliesh" Returns with All-New Episodes Monday, December 2
Season 3 is made up of three distinct mysteries, each two episodes long.

[11/04/24 - 12:01 PM]
NBC Unveils Lineup of New and Returning Beloved Holiday Programming
New programming for 2024 includes "Jimmy Fallon's Holiday Seasoning Spectacular" and "A Motown Christmas," hosted by Smokey Robinson and Halle Bailey.

[11/04/24 - 11:01 AM]
The Final Bell: Production Begins for the Third and Final Season of "Heartbreak High"
In Season 3, it's time for Hartley High's graduating class to say 'goodbye' to school, and 'hello' to adulthood!

[11/04/24 - 11:01 AM]
NBC's "The Voice" Taps Music Icon Sting and Multi-Hyphenate Jennifer Hudson as Season 26 Mega Mentors
Hudson joins Michael Bublé and Reba McEntire while Sting joins coaches Snoop Dogg and Gwen Stefani to mentor the remaining artists as each team prepares for the Knockouts, beginning Monday, November 11.

[11/04/24 - 10:31 AM]
Aussie Luke Hemsworth Joins the Cast of Prime Video's Global Hit Series "Deadloch" Season Two
Hemsworth will join lead cast members Kate Box, Madeleine Sami, Nina Oyama and Alicia Gardiner.

[11/04/24 - 08:32 AM]
Netflix Announces Release of the Documentary "Avicii - I'm Tim" and Avicii's Last Show from Ibiza's Ushuaia
The documentary "Avicii - I'm Tim" and "Avicii - My Last Show" will launch globally on Netflix on December 31.

[11/04/24 - 08:31 AM]
Video: "Countdown: Paul vs. Tyson" - Narrator Announcement, Sneak Peek & Key Art Debut
Ice T will narrate the three-part follow-doc leading up to the Netflix and MVP's heavyweight boxing mega-event.

[11/04/24 - 08:02 AM]
"La Liberacion" Will Premiere Exclusively on Prime Video on January 17
The unique series created and directed by noted filmmaker Alejandra Márquez Abella premieres January 17 on Prime Video.

[11/04/24 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey" - Official Trailer - Netflix
On December 26, 1996, John and Patsy Ramsey woke up the morning after a loving family Christmas to discover their youngest child, six-year-old JonBenét, was missing, a chilling ransom note left downstairs.

[11/04/24 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland" - Official Trailer - Hulu
St Nick (voiced by Gerard Butler) receives a delayed letter on Christmas Eve from the Princess of Hearts.

[11/03/24 - 07:30 PM]
Video: AMC Networks Releases a First Look at Season Three of "The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon"
Starring Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride as the beloved characters "Daryl Dixon" and "Carol Peletier," the new season is set to premiere in 2025 on AMC and AMC+.

[11/02/24 - 06:12 PM]
Video: "Outer Banks" Season 4 - Part 2 Official Trailer - Netflix
Buried secrets surface as the Pogues race to find a legendary artifact - with a dangerous gang of rival treasure hunters hot on their trail.

[11/01/24 - 03:15 PM]
ABC News Studios Announces "Price of Fame: The Liam Payne Story - A Special Edition of 20/20," Airing Nov. 3 at 10 P.M. EST on ABC
The one-hour special explores Liam Payne's meteoric rise to celebrity as a member of boy band One Direction and his personal journey, including his struggles with mental health and the pressures of stardom, as well as his efforts to reinvent himself as a solo artist.