CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- The latest development news, culled from various wire reports each morning:
AMERICAN JUNIORS (A.K.A. JUNIOR IDOL) (FOX) - FOX's under-age version of "American Idol" will now feature the title of "American Juniors." The network has also pushed up its premiere by one week to Tuesday, May 27 and will expand it to two-hours. The following week the series will follow the lead of its parent series by airing one-hour and half-hour editions each week, Tuesdays at 8:00/7:00c and Wednesdays at 8:30/7:30c respectively.
ANYTHING FOR LOVE (A.K.A. ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE) (FOX) - FOX has added yet another new reality project to its summer slate as the network has greenlighted eight episodes of "Anything for Love." The half-hour series, which will premiere with back-to-back episodes on Monday, June 16 at 8:00/7:00c, is an anthology of various reality segments, from wacky blind dates to tear-jerking reunions of ex-lovers. Paul Buccieri is behind the project, which was originally developed as two backdoor pilot specials. Mark Walberg ("Temptation Island") and Claudia DiFolco are set as the hosts.
KINGDOM HOSPITAL (ABC) - Some additional details have been revealed about the long in the works Stephen King project. The delay was caused by King's decision to write all 15 hours of the drama instead of just the two-hour opener. The scripts were turned in recently and casting is set to begin in late May after ABC's upfront presentation to advertisers. The series is then expected to premiere in January 2004.
HOUSE RULES (TBS, New!) - The cable channel and home-improvement chain Lowe's are set to partner on a new reality series entitled "House Rules." The project, which will feature extensive product placement from the retail giant, involves three couples competing against one another to remodel a home they stand to win. Evolution Film & Tape and Endemol Entertainment ("Fear Factor," "Big Brother") are behind the series, which has a 13 episode order for a fall start date.
STUPID BEHAVIOR CAUGHT ON TAPE (FOX) - FOX will premiere the long-delayed reality series on Thursday, May 29 at 8:00/7:00c. Narrated by Stacey Keach ("Titus") the project looks at "hilarious and frequently embarrassing footage from around the world" according to FOX's press release. Eight episodes of the half-hour series have been completed.
TARZAN & JANE (WB) - Johnny Messner ("Tears of the Sun") has been added to the cast of the WB's Tarzan update (which will now run under the title "Tarzan & Jane") as Jane's boyfriend and Tarzan's nemesis.
TOUCH 'EM ALL MCCALL (NBC) - 10-year-old Mike Weinberg ("Home Alone 4," "7th Heaven") has signed on to Tom Selleck's comedy pilot for NBC. The series features Selleck as a former baseball player who returns to his hometown to rekindle an old romance with a love interest (Susan Diol). Weinberg will play Diol's character's son, Sammy.
UNTITLED HARVEY FIERSTEIN PROJECT (ABC, New!) - "Chicago" producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron are developing a comedy vehicle for Harvey Fierstein ("Hairspray") at ABC. The sitcom will feature the actor playing a female, just as he does onstage in the musical. A pilot is set to be shot in New York later this summer however no cast, writing/producing staff or final concept has been announced.
UNTITLED TOM HERTZ PROJECT (ABC) - Meredith Monroe ("Dawson's Creek") has joined the cast of Tom Hertz's comedy pilot at ABC. She will play the wife of Breckin Meyer's character, an introverted New Yorker who marries a woman who hails from a large gregarious family from Kansas.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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