LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- The latest development news, culled from recent wire reports:
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BRAT CAMP/WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD (ABC) - While not specified in the Alphabet's summer programming details released earlier this week (read the story), industry insiders have confirmed "Brat Camp" will launch on Wednesday, July 13, where it will take over for "Dancing With the Stars" (which wraps its run the previous week) in the 9:00/8:00c slot. As for "Welcome to the Neighborhood," it's understood the six-week series will debut on Sunday, July 10 with a special 90-minute installment at 8:30/7:30c. The series will then move into the 9:00/8:00c slot the following week. Said moves will push repeats of "Desperate Housewives" to the 10:00/9:00c hour beginning on July 10.
COMPLETE SAVAGES/EYES (ABC) - The Alphabet has confirmed the four previously unaired installments of "Complete Savages" will begin airing on Fridays at 8:30/7:30c beginning May 27. Repeats of "Eight Simple Rules" will then take over the time period on June 24 following "Savages's" four-week return. As for "Eyes," the freshman drama doesn't appear on the network's preliminary June schedule meaning a July return (if it does indeed return this summer at all) would be the earliest it could resume its run. ABC is expected to have at least eight episodes of "Eyes" on the shelf following its May 11 broadcast.
EARLY BIRD (NBC) - Writer/producer Jonathan Groff ("Late Night With Conan O'Brien") has signed a new two-year, seven-figure overall deal with NBC Universal Television. The pact covers Groff's executive producing duties on the Rodney Rothman-created comedy pilot "Early Bird" at the Peacock as well as calls for him to develop other new and existing projects at the studio.
NASHVILLE STAR (USA) - 3.36 million viewers tuned into the show's 90-minute finale on Tuesday. Said number was up nearly 26% from its third season premiere (2.5 million on 3/1/05). Among adults 18-49 and 25-54, "Star" netted a 4 share in each, double that of its aforementioned season premiere (2 share).
WEEKENDS AT THE D.L. (A.K.A. UNTITLED D.L. HUGHLEY PROJECT) (Comedy Central) - The cable channel is moving forward with its D.L. Hughley-hosted talk show, ordering 39 half-hour episodes of the series. The project, which now features the title "Weekends at the D.L.," is said to be targeted for a late July premiere and will air on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 11:00/10:00c. Said scheduling is designed to give the network fresh programming every night at 11:00/10:00c with "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" on Mondays-Thursdays and "D.L." on Fridays-Sundays. As for specifics, "D.L." will be more along the lines of one-time Comedy Central mainstay "Politically Incorrect" as Hughley will open with a monologue and then lead a round-table discussion about the week's news and entertainment headlines with three other guests. Robert Morton is executive producing "D.L." along with Hughley's managers at 3 Arts Entertainment, Michael Rotenberg and Dave Becky.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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