or


[06/27/03 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: June 27
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- The latest development news, culled from recent wire reports:

THE BIG HOUSE (ABC) - The Kevin Hart-led comedy pilot has officially been given a midseason order of 13 episodes. ABC had previously planned to pick up the series at its upfront presentation (even flying out the cast to New York) however backed out at the last minute for undisclosed reasons. The sitcom, which comes from 20th Century Fox Television and Imagine Television, centers on a wealthy, pampered guy from Malibu (Hart) who moves to Philadelphia to live with his blue-collar relatives after his father loses all of his money. Stephen Engel, Brian Grazer and David Nevins are the executive producers on the project, ABC's only midseason comedy order thus far.

THE BROTHERHOOD OF POLAND, N.H. (CBS) - Actor Chris Penn ("Reservoir Dogs") is in final talks to join the cast of the David E. Kelley drama, where he would replace Brian Haley on the project. The series stars Randy Quaid and John Carroll Lynch as two of three brothers who face midlife challenges in the small town of Poland. Penn would then play the unemployed, youngest brother Waylon Shaw, a lovable optimist who is married and has a teen daughter. Ann Cusack and Angela Goethals play his wife and daughter, respectively.

GAME OVER (UPN) - The netlet has given the CGI-animated comedy pilot a midseason order of six episodes. The project, which comes from the Carsey-Werner-Mandabach studio, centers on the Smashenburns, an ordinary suburban family who live in an alternate video game universe inhabited by action heroes, monsters and cartoon characters. Marisa Tomei and Patrick Warburton voice the heads of the Smashenburn clan on the series, which is executive produced by David Sacks, David Goestch, Jason Venokur and Ross Venokur.

JOAN OF ARCADIA (CBS) - Hart Hanson ("Judging Amy") has been named a consulting producer on the series. The news comes as the producer has inked a new two-year, seven-figure overall development deal with 20th Century Fox Television. As part of the pact he'll develop new projects for the studio, one of which has been given a put pilot commitment from CBS, as well as work on its existing properties. As for "Joan," Hanson's services on the Sony Pictures Television series is for the initial batch of 13 episodes of the drama. 20th TV struck a deal with CBS to loan the producer out to the upcoming series, which airs Fridays at 8:00/7:00c this fall, to land the blind put pilot commitment from the network, which is being targeted for fall 2004.

LAW & ORDER (NBC) - Wolf Films and Universal Network Television have picked up actor Sam Waterston's option to stick with the long-running series through at least the 2004-05 season (the current length of NBC's deal for the show). Waterson is the third-longest-serving actor currently on the show (behind only Jerry Orbach and S. Epatha Merkerson) where he has earned three lead actor Emmy nominations (in 1997, 1999 and 2000).

NAVY N.C.I.S. (A.K.A. N.C.I.S.) (CBS) - The Eye network has changed the title for its upcoming "J.A.G." spin-off yet again. Originally "N.C.I.S.," the series has been retitled "Navy C.I.S.," then "Naval C.I.S.," then reverted back to "N.C.I.S." and now has apparently settled on "Navy N.C.I.S."

TWELVE DAYS OF TERROR (Discovery) - The cable channel has wrapped production on its first original movie in its 18-year history. Scheduled to air in early 2004, the telefilm chronicles the series of real-life shark attacks in 1916 that later inspired the Peter Benchley novel "Jaws." Shot in Cape Town, South Africa, "Terror" features John Ryhs-Davies ("The Lord of the Rings") and newcomers Colin Egglesfield and Jenna Harrison among the cast. Jack Sholder ("The Hidden") directed the project from a script by Jeffrey Reiner, J.T. Allen and Tommy Lee Wallace.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [june 2003]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· BIG HOUSE, THE (ABC)
· BROTHERHOOD OF POLAND, NH, THE (CBS)
· GAME OVER (UPN)
· JAG (CBS)
· JOAN OF ARCADIA (CBS)
· JUDGING AMY (CBS)
· LAW & ORDER (NBC)
· NCIS (CBS)





[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.