or


[08/26/03 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: August 26
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

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

BOSTON PUBLIC (FOX) - Actor/comedian Dennis Miller has signed on for a three-episode arc on the series. He'll play "an unabashedly materialist investment banker who, convicted of securities fraud, avoids jail time by agreeing to community service � his worst nightmare � teaching math at an inner city school," according to the network's press release. Miller's first episode will air October 24. Also signing up for a three-episode guest arc is Lyndsy Fonseca ("The Young and the Restless"). Fonseca will play an introverted student who hangs out with a bad boy played by "Gilmore Girls'" Milo Ventimiglia.

COLD CASE (CBS) - Danny Pino (of the recent failed pilot "N.Y.P.D. 2069") has joined the cast of Jerry Bruckheimer-produced drama. He's set to join the series in its sixth episode where he'll play partner to Kathryn Morris' character.

THE D.A. (ABC) - The Steven Weber-led drama is still in contention at the Alphabet for a possible midseason order.

EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND (CBS) - As a show of goodwill, the producers of the long-running comedy have decided to share some of the backend profits on the series with co-stars Patricia Heaton, Peter Boyle and Doris Roberts. The adjustment (which is retroactive to season one) will likely net each actor between $10-$20 million however specifics were not released. The news seems likely to put an end to any further rumbling from the respective actors' camps, all of whom are repped by the same attorney, leaving fellow co-star Brad Garrett as the lone hold out. Garrett reportedly is still unhappy with all offers given by the network and the show's producers. Currently on the table is a new deal which would more than double his current salary in addition to the same backend participation given to the other actors. Nevertheless, production is moving forward on the show's second episode which is expected to once again see Garrett's character written out of the script.

EYES (ABC, New!) - Writer/producer John McNamara ("Fastlane") has landed a seven-figure put pilot commitment from the network for a new drama series. The project, which will come from his Warner Bros. TV-based McNamara Paper Products production company, will revolve around a high-powered risk management corporation that operates along the fringes of the law in order to affect the outcome of a host of civil and criminal matters. McNamara will write and executive produce the pilot which includes a hefty penalty should it not get greenlighted for production.

THE HANDLER (CBS) - Laura San Giacomo ("Just Shoot Me") will guest on the upcoming new Eye drama as a desperate, coked-up wife who is admitted to a rehab facility after crashing her car.

LAP OF LUXURY (ABC, New!) - The Alphabet has greenlighted a new one-hour special that will take an inside look at the lavish lifestyles of the young and wealthy. The backdoor pilot will feature rap mogul Master P's Gucci helicopter and Louis Vuitton Ferrari, a tour of Virgin tycoon Richard Branson's Caribbean Island and a look at the world's richest teens. "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous'" Robin Leach will host the special, which is set to air some time during the 2003-04 season, with former King World executive Andy Friendly and Krysia Plonka ("In Style") executive producing.

MISS MATCH (NBC) - Dave Ortiz ("The Crow: Wicked Prayer") has joined the cast of Alicia Silverstone-led dramedy. Ortiz will play a streetwise private eye employed by Silverstone's law firm.

MY WIFE AND KIDS (ABC) - Andrew McFarlane has been upped to regular on the comedy. He'll continue in his role as boyfriend to Jennifer Freeman's character.

NIP/TUCK (FX) - Julie Warner ("Family Law") has signed on for a recurring role on the network's original drama series. She'll play a breast cancer survivor with a mastectomy who goes in for reconstructive surgery.

ONCE UPON A MATTRESS (ABC, New!) - Carol Burnett is looking to revive the musical as part of the network's "Wonderful World of Disney" banner. Uber-producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron are in talks to executive produce the project as is Marissa Jaret Winokur ("Hairspray") for the lead role of Princess Winnifred (a role originally played by Burnett). Burnett herself is attached to star as the Queen in the telefilm, a retelling of the classic fairy tale "The Princess and the Pea." Jane Browell ("Eloise at the Plaza") is also on board to adapt the script to accompany the original lyrics by the late Mary Rodgers. CBS had previously been working on a new small screen take on "Mattress" but it fell through partly due to financial reasons. ABC has been quietly working to get the rights ever since and hopes to have the project done in time for a May sweeps air date.

PARADISE (Showtime) - Anita Barone ("Daddio") has joined the cast of the pay channel's drama pilot. Her role in the project, about a TV evangelist (David Strathairn) and his family, is not known.

PHANTOM FORCE (Sci Fi) - Production has been completed in Bulgaria on the "Interceptor Force" spin-off. Richard Grieco ("21 Jump Street"), Tangi Miller ("Felicity") and Nigel Bennett ("Widows") star as members of a military team sent to investigate paranormal activity on a submarine in the Aegean Sea. The telefilm is being eyed for an early 2004 air date.

REDEMPTION: THE STAN 'TOOKIE' WILLIAMS STORY (FX) - Lynn Whitfield ("Head of State") has signed on as Barbara Becnel in the network's biopic of the Crips gang leader (played by Jamie Foxx). Becnel was a writer who helped Williams pen children's books.

THE PRACTICE (ABC) - Cheryl White ("The D.A.") has signed on to appear in at least two episodes of the drama's upcoming season. She will play the sister-in-law to Chris O'Donnell's character. White has also been tapped to guest star on upcoming installments of the WB's "Everwood" and NBC's "Las Vegas."

SKIN (FOX) - Cameron Richardson and Gabriel Casseus have signed on for recurring roles in the upcoming drama series. Richardson will play a sexy new porn star at the company owned by Ron Silver's character. Casseus will play the chief of staff of the Los Angeles district attorney (Kevin Anderson) trying to take down Silver's character.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU (WB) - MTV personality Nick Zano has landed a recurring on the comedy where he'll play a romantic interest for Amanda Bynes' character. This past development season, Zano starred in the Frog's failed comedy pilot "Sweet Potato Queens."

WHOOPI (NBC) - Rick Gonzalez ("Boston Public") is set to guest star on the new comedy with an option to continue as a regular. He will play Money, a 19 year-old con man.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [august 2003]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· BOSTON PUBLIC (FOX)
· COLD CASE (CBS)
· DA, THE (ABC)
· DADDIO (NBC)
· ELOISE AT THE PLAZA (ABC)
· EVERWOOD (WB)
· EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND (CBS)
· EYES (ABC)
· FAMILY LAW (CBS)
· FASTLANE (FOX)
· FELICITY (WB)
· GILMORE GIRLS (CW)
· HANDLER, THE (CBS)
· INTERCEPTOR FORCE 2 (SCI FI)
· INTERCEPTOR FORCE 3 (SCI FI)
· JUST SHOOT ME (NBC)
· LAS VEGAS (NBC)
· LIFE OF LUXURY (ABC)
· MISS MATCH (NBC)
· MY WIFE & KIDS (ABC)
· NIP/TUCK (FX)
· NYPD 2069 (FOX)
· ONCE UPON A MATTRESS (ABC)
· PARADISE (SHOWTIME)
· PHANTOM FORCE (SCI FI)
· PRACTICE, THE (ABC)
· REDEMPTION (FX)
· SKIN (FOX)
· SWEET POTATO QUEENS (WB)
· WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU (WB)
· WHOOPI (NBC)
· WIDOWS (ABC)
· WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY, THE (ABC)





[04/25/24 - 11:31 AM]
Netflix Greenlights Leanne Morgan Scripted Comedy from Co-Creator Chuck Lorre
Additionally, Morgan will do two stand-up specials for Netflix.

[04/25/24 - 11:01 AM]
Netflix & Shondaland Announce New "Bridgerton" Season 3 Product Collections & Brand Collaborations
In celebration of its upcoming Season 3 premiere, Netflix and Shondaland are announcing new product collections with leading lifestyle brands that speak to the essence of the Bridgerton universe and the underpinnings of the romantic Regency era releasing this spring.

[04/25/24 - 10:37 AM]
ABC's "Will Trent" Continues Momentum as Series Logs Highest Total Viewer Audience to Date and Highest Adults 18-49 Rating in Over a Year
After 35 days of viewing on ABC, Hulu and digital platforms, "Will Trent" continues its ratings climb in episode three of season two, growing to 11.23 million Total Viewers and marking its highest multiplatform telecast to date.

[04/25/24 - 10:07 AM]
Video: "Prom Dates" - Official Trailer - Hulu
"Prom Dates" follows best friends Jess and Hannah, who made a pact at 13 to have the perfect senior prom.

[04/25/24 - 10:02 AM]
HGTV Picks-Up New Season of Popular Hawaii-Based Series "Renovation Aloha"
The new season is slated to premiere in 2025.

[04/25/24 - 10:01 AM]
Video: Paramount+ Debuts Official Trailer and Key Art for Third Season of "Mayor of Kingstown"
In season three, a series of explosions rock Kingstown and its citizens, as a new face of the Russian mob sets up shop in the city, and a drug war rages inside and outside prison walls.

[04/25/24 - 10:00 AM]
The CW Network Enters Exclusive Multi-Year Agreement to Air Miss USA and Miss Teen USA Pageants
The 73rd Miss USA Pageant will air live on Sunday, August 4 while the companion pageant, Miss Teen USA, will air live on Thursday, August 1.

[04/25/24 - 09:29 AM]
The Brenner Brothers Are Back with a Sequel This Holiday Season on Hallmark Channel!
Paul Campbell, Tyler Hynes, Andrew Walker and Margaret Colin reprise their roles in the all-new sequel to "Three Wise Men and a Baby" - the #1 most-watched original movie premiere of 2022.

[04/25/24 - 09:01 AM]
The History Channel to Premiere Two-Night Event "The Great War" Executive Produced by Robin Roberts on May 27
The documentary series is told through dramatic narrative sequences, insightful interviews and contemporary scholarship, and dynamic archival footage.

[04/25/24 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Clipped" - Official Trailer - Laurence Fishburne, Jacki Weaver, Cleopatra Coleman, Ed O'Neill - FX
The scandalous story of LA's other basketball team.

[04/25/24 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Apple TV+ Debuts Trailer for the New Documentary Series "Hollywood Con Queen," Featuring the Unbelievable Story of One of Hollywood's Biggest Scams, Premiering Globally May 8
"Hollywood Con Queen" hails from Emmy winner Chris Smith and Library Films.

[04/25/24 - 08:30 AM]
CBS Renews Drama "The Equalizer" for the 2024-2025 Broadcast Season
It is a top 10 primetime broadcast drama, ranking #8 overall season-to-date with 7.89 million viewers, according to Nielsen Most Current Data.

[04/25/24 - 08:01 AM]
Paramount+ Announces New Docuseries "Lolla: The Story of Lollapalooza" to Premiere May 21
Directed by the multi-Emmy nominated Michael John Warren and executive produced by multi-Emmy nominees James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte, the three-part series made its triumphant world premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

[04/25/24 - 08:00 AM]
Lights, Camera... "Action"! The High-Octane Documentary Series Makes Its Streaming Debut on Peacock on April 26
The new series features the real lives behind some of Hollywood's top stunt performers, including behind-the-scenes footage of Universal Pictures' The Fall Guy (in theaters May 3).

[04/25/24 - 05:00 AM]
Entertainment Icon Reba McEntire to Host the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards
The 16-time ACM Award-winning host will also take center stage to perform new music, in addition to helming country music's longest-running awards show.