LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- The latest development news, culled from recent wire reports:
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20 GOOD YEARS (NBC) - Jeffrey Tambor (George Bluth, Sr. on "Arrested Development") is set to star opposite John Lithgow in the comedy pilot, about two men in their 50s who experience personal epiphanies and decide to make the most of their next 20 years. He'll play Stanley Friedman, one of said men, in the Warner Bros. Television/Werner-Gold-Miller-based half-hour, which comes from creator Michael Leeson and recently added showrunner Marsh McCall ("Modern Men"). Terry Hughes will direct from a script by the duo with Tom Werner, Eric Gold, Jimmy Miller and Mike Clements serving as executive producers.
THE ANGRIEST MAN IN SUBURBIA (CBS) - Richard Kind (Lou Albertini on "Head Cases") is the latest addition to the comedy pilot, about a family man (Mitch Rouse) who struggles with the petty annoyances of daily life in suburbia. He'll play Josh alongside the previously cast Kiernan Shipka, Maria Pitillo, Ty Panitz and Matthew Glave in the Sony Pictures Television-based project, which comes from executive producers Ajay Sahgal, Gavin Polone and Jamie Tarses. Barnet Kellman is directing.
THE KEITH ABLOW SHOW (Syndication) - Diane Rappaport ("The Montel Williams Show") has been tapped to executive produce the upcoming syndicated talk show, in which forensic psychiatrist Dr. Keith Ablow helps people cope with conflicts and develop strategies to help them lead more productive, fulfilling lives. The Warner Bros. Domestic Television-based series, which launches this fall and will be taped in New York, is a co-production of LMNO Productions and Telepictures Productions.
ORPHEUS (CBS) - John McNamara ("Eyes") has inked a two-year, seven-figure overall deal with CBS Paramount Network Television. The pact calls for the writer/producer to come aboard the company's drama pilot "Orpheus" at CBS as an executive producer/showrunner. In addition, he'll also develop his own projects for the studio. Nicholas Meyer created the hour, which revolves around a young man (Nick D'Agosto) whose girlfriend (Mena Suvari) is involved in a sophisticated, modern-day cult and draws him to it. Eion Bailey and Fairuza Balk also star in the project, which Bruce Beresford is directing. David W. Zucker, Ridley Scott and Tony Scott also serve as executive producers.
UNTITLED PATRICIA HEATON PROJECT (ABC) - Jenny McCarthy ("Party at the Palms") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about a recent widow (Patricia Heaton) who finds friends and a path to a new life through joining the PTA. It's not clear which character McCarthy is playing in the Touchstone Television-based half-hour, which comes from creator Christine Zander, director Ted Wass and fellow executive producers Heaton, Gene Stein and Nina Wass. Justine Bateman, Lance Barber, Mo Collins, Philip Anthony-Rodriguez and Rebecca Wisocky also star.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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