or


[02/13/09 - 08:10 PM]
Development Update: Friday, February 13
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 signature "Devwatch" section. There visitors can view our listings by network, genre, studio and even development stage (ordered to pilot, cast-contingent, script, etc.). It's updated every day!


FUNNY IN FARSI (ABC, New!) - Firoozeh Dumas's book, subtitled "A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America," is set to be the focus of a potential new comedy at the Alphabet. The network has commissioned a director-contingent pilot for the project, which chronicles her upbringing as an Iranian immigrant in 1970s Newport Beach. Nastaran Dibai and Jeffrey Hodes ("Rita Rocks") penned the pilot and are executive producing for ABC Studios.


GOOD GIRLS (CBS, New!) - Sherry Bilsing-Graham and Ellen Kreamer ("The New Adventures of Old Christine") are the latest to land a pilot commitment from the Eye, this time about two women/childhood friends who are trying to reinvent themselves after making some youthful mistakes. The pair wrote the CBS Paramount Network Television-based pilot and are executive producing alongside Katalyst Films's Ashton Kutcher, Jason Goldberg and Karey Burke.


THE GOOD WIFE (CBS) - Charles McDougall ("The Tudors") has scored helming duties on the drama pilot, about a politician's wife, who takes a legal job after her husband is disgraced. Robert and Michelle King are behind the hour, which comes from CBS Paramount Network Television and Scott Free Productions. Production nevertheless is contingent on casting the lead role.


HAPPY TOWN (ABC) - Lauren German ("Hostel: Part II") is the first to be cast on the drama pilot. She'll play a newcomer to the town, which had enjoyed a seven-year peace after a series of kidnappings until it is hit by another crime. Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec and Scott Rosenberg are behind the ABC Studios-based project, which Gary Fleder is directing.


HOT GIRLS IN SCARY PLACES (E!, New!) - The cable channel has commissioned a pilot for a potential new reality series in which, you guessed it, hot girls are challenged to spend the night in a scary place for a $10,000 cash prize. For the inaugural installment, set to air as a special on Friday, March 13, three University of Southern California cheer squad friends will be tasked with an overnight trip to a supposedly haunted abandoned hospital. Go Go Luckey Productions ("Paranormal State") is behind the project, which is being executive produced by the company's Gary Auerbach.


NCIS (CBS) - Louise Lombard ("CSI: Crime Scene Investigation"), Peter Cambor ("Notes From the Underbelly") and Daniela Ruah have all joined the cast of the show's proposed spin-off. Lombard will play Clara, "a former major in the military police... an intelligent, sharp investigator who can look after herself"; while Cambor is set as Nate, "the team's conscience and beating heart... an operational psychologist and a walking encyclopedia of American culture"; with Ruah as Kensi, "a super bright young investigator who studied forensics and criminology in college." The trio will potentially join Chris O'Donnell and LL Cool J, who are still in negotiations with producer CBS Paramount Network Television.


UNTITLED FRANK MILITARY PROJECT (CBS) - "Jericho" alum Lennie James is the first to be cast in the drama pilot, about prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan. He'll play a former assistant DA who works as a paralegal after getting disbarred. Frank Military is behind the hour, which is set up at CBS Paramount Network Television.


UNTITLED JEFF STRAUSS PROJECT (ABC, New!) - Jeff Strauss ("All of Us") has booked a pilot order from the Alphabet for a new multi-camera comedy which examines marriage and parenthood as seen through the eyes of three couples. The untitled half-hour is set up at ABC Studios with Acme Productions's Michael Hanel and Mindy Schultheis ("Surviving Suburbia") also serving as executive producers alongside Strauss.


UNTITLED JUSTIN ADLER PROJECT (NBC, New!) - Sony Pictures Television-based Tantamount has locked in yet another pilot, this time at NBC. Justin Adler is behind the half-hour, a multi-camera family comedy featuring adult siblings. He penned the pilot and is executive producing with the Tantamount team of Mitch Hurwitz, Eric Tannenbaum and Kim Tannenbaum.


UNTITLED NEW YORK CITY PRIVATE SCHOOLS PROJECT (Bravo, New!) - Broadcasting & Cable is reporting the cable channel has begun production on a new reality series referred to as a "real life" version of "Gossip Girl." Stone & Company Entertainment is behind the project, which will track the lives of New York City private-school kids, although it won't feature Manhattan's exclusive schools specifically.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [february 2009]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· ALL OF US (CW)
· CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (CBS)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· FUNNY IN FARSI (ABC)
· GOOD GIRLS (CBS)
· GOOD WIFE, THE (CBS)
· GOSSIP GIRL (CW)
· HAPPY TOWN (ABC)
· HOT GIRLS IN SCARY PLACES (E)
· JERICHO (CBS)
· MARRIED NOT DEAD (ABC)
· NCIS (CBS)
· NCIS: LOS ANGELES (CBS)
· NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE, THE (CBS)
· NOTES FROM THE UNDERBELLY (ABC)
· NYC PREP (BRAVO)
· PARANORMAL STATE (A AND E)
· RITA ROCKS (LIFETIME)
· SURVIVING SUBURBIA (ABC)
· TUDORS, THE (SHOWTIME)
· UNTITLED JUSTIN ADLER PROJECT (NBC)
· US ATTORNEY (CBS)





[02/28/25 - 03:35 PM]
NBC Records Its Most-Watched Sunday of Entertainment Series Programming in Nearly Six Years
Including NBC, Peacock and the NBCUniversal cable networks - Bravo, E!, Syfy, USA and CNBC - the premiere episode of "The Americas" amassed 6.7 million viewers (L3) and stands as the most-watched nature documentary on linear television in more than 15 years.

[02/28/25 - 01:31 PM]
Video: Apple TV+ Debuts Trailer for "Side Quest," New "Mythic Quest" Expansion Series
Set to premiere globally on Wednesday, March 26 on Apple TV+, all four episodes of "Side Quest" will debut alongside the season four finale of "Mythic Quest."

[02/28/25 - 01:00 PM]
ABC News Announces Special Coverage of President Donald J. Trump's Address to the Joint Session of Congress and the Democratic Response on ABC, ABC News Live, Disney+ and Hulu
"World News Tonight" anchor and managing editor David Muir will lead comprehensive coverage, including previewing remarks, reporting on the highlights and providing analysis following the speeches.

[02/28/25 - 12:45 PM]
HBO Inks Two-Year First-Look Deal with Sharon Horgan and Merman, Orders New Original Comedy Series
HBO has also given a straight-to-series order for a new original comedy series, the first project under this deal, from Horgan and produced by Merman, with Horgan serving as writer, star, and executive producer.

[02/28/25 - 12:32 PM]
Hulu Celebrates Oscar-Nominated Films
"A Real Pain," "Alien: Romulus," "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes," and "Sugarcane" are already available to stream while "Anora" is due on Monday, March 17.

[02/28/25 - 10:31 AM]
Video: "The Parenting" - Official Trailer - Max
There is something really bad happening in this house...

[02/28/25 - 09:09 AM]
A&E Announces the Return of "Accused: Guilty or Innocent?" Followed by the Premiere of New Series "Accused: Did I Do It?
Unlike the original series, "Accused: Did I Do It?" will focus on cases that have already been fully adjudicated, following the high-stakes stories of individuals who stood trial and are facing charges for serious offenses such as first-degree murder, manslaughter, domestic terrorism, and aggravated assault.

[02/28/25 - 08:53 AM]
Lifetime Greenlights New Unscripted Series "A Sorority Mom's Guide to Rush" from Vice Studios
Each one-hour episode will follow along during the most high-stakes time in a college-bound girl's life, Sorority Rush.

[02/28/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Formula 1: Drive to Survive" - Season 7 - Official Trailer - Netflix
Familiar faces make a comeback, team stalwarts defect to arch rivals, and new champions emerge in one of Formula One's most tumultuous seasons yet.

[02/28/25 - 07:32 AM]
"Agatha Christie's Towards Zero" Starring Anjelica Huston and Matthew Rhys Premieres April 16
The series, led by Anjelica Huston and Matthew Rhys, features a stellar ensemble cast including Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Ella Lily Hyland, Mimi Keene, Anjana Vasan and Clarke Peters.

[02/28/25 - 07:05 AM]
"First to the Finish" - a New Docuseries Focused on the Relentless Pursuit of the MX-5 Cup Championship - Will Premiere March 25 on Prime Video
This high-stakes docuseries takes viewers inside the 2024 Mazda MX-5 Cup Championship for the triumphs and challenges that go along with getting started in racing, as seen through the unique prism of three inspiring protagonists - two drivers and a team owner.

[02/28/25 - 05:31 AM]
Paramount+ Reveals First-Look Photos for "MobLand" - Guy Ritchie's New Global Crime Series Set to Premiere on Sunday, March 30
The series stars Tom Hardy, Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan as the head of an organized crime family, fighting for power within a global crime syndicate.

[02/27/25 - 12:01 PM]
Sharon Stone Joins the Cast of "Euphoria" Season 3
"There is little more exciting than going to work with this team of thrilling talent," said Stone. "From the genius of Sam Levinson to the raw sophistication of this profoundly moving cast and tight crew. I am honored to be Euphoric."

[02/27/25 - 11:57 AM]
Discovery Channel March Programming Highlights
The previously announced "Filthy Fortunes" and "Naked and Afraid" will be joined by the new special "Constables on Patrol."

[02/27/25 - 11:06 AM]
A&E Announces New Series "Stadium Lockup" Following Law Enforcement & Security Teams at the Cleveland Browns Stadium in Ohio
With so much excitement comes plenty of action and the security team must stay on high alert as rule breaking and bad behavior won't be tolerated.