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[05/13/10 - 04:56 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, May 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!


BLACKROCK (Starz, New!) - Steve Kronish ("24") is developing a new drama at the pay channel about "the excesses of the 1980s music biz." The project is set up at Prospect Park ("Royal Pains") - home to such acts as Jane's Addiction, Korn, Backstreet Boys, Ice Cube and R. Kelly - with the company's Jeff Kwatinetz, Paul Frank and Rich Frank executive producing alongside Kronish. No other details were given.


DAMAGES (FX) - Co-creators Todd A. Kessler, Daniel Zelman and Glenn Kessler have inked a two-year overall deal with Sony Pictures Television. The pact keeps their KZK Productions based at the studio, where they'll develop new series projects. They'll also continue with "Damages" should a fourth season be ordered. Said decision is reportedly expected in the coming weeks.


EDEN (TNT, New!) - Peter Ocko ("Pushing Daisies") is reportedly close to landing a script order from the cable channel for a new drama about "a pharmaceutical company heir in Las Vegas who helps people overcome their issues." Ocko would pen the hour and executive produce alongside Prospect Park's Jeff Kwatinetz, Paul Frank and Rich Frank.


LOST BOYS (FOX, New!) - Jace Richdale ("The Goode Family") has booked a potential new comedy at the network about "four old guys who are forced to move in together." No other details were given about the project, which is based at Jeff Kwatinetz, Paul Frank and Rich Frank's Prospect Park banner.


SONS OF TUCSON (FOX) - Executive producer Todd Holland and former Katalyst Films executive Karey Burke have signed a two-year overall deal with Universal Media Studios. The pact sets up their newly formed company at the studio where they'll develop new series projects.


SWEAT SHOP (FX) - The cable channel has reportedly passed on the comedy pilot, about a stepbrother and sister who run a strip-mall gym in Scottsdale, Arizona. Pell James toplined the presentation which she also wrote and executive produced alongside Thomas Moffett, Braxton Pope and Jonas Pate, the latter of which directed. "I'm really excited about my TV show," she told Collider.com earlier this year.

"I wrote it with my best friend. It's like a dream job to work with your friends. We sold it to FX and we're shooting a pilot in two weeks and it's set in a rundown gym in Scottsdale, Arizona. It's called The Sweat Shop. And my stepbrother, who's this man-child towel boy, but we don't have towel service, is running it. I'm an ex-Wall Streeter and my job no longer exists and I'm a failed overachiever. Our parents started this gym - his father, my mother. It's disgusting. It's very male-driven humor and right up FX's road and really funny. It's just us trying to run this place, but at the same time it's like we're really looking to Cheers and Taxi as a reference point." FX Productions and Lionsgate were the co-producers.


TWO AND A HALF MEN (CBS) - Angus T. Jones is said to be finalizing a deal with Warner Bros. Television to continue with the series through the 2011-2012 season. The contracts for both Jones and co-star Charlie Sheen expired at the end of the current season, the first of a three-season pickup made back in March of 2009. No financial details were given.


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [may 2010]  
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· 24 (FOX)
· BLACKROCK (STARZ)
· DAMAGES (AUDIENCE)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· EDEN (TNT)
· GOODE FAMILY, THE (ABC)
· LOST BOYS (FOX)
· PUSHING DAISIES (ABC)
· ROYAL PAINS (USA)
· SONS OF TUCSON (FOX)
· SWEAT SHOP (FX)
· TWO AND A HALF MEN (CBS)





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