or


[01/16/06 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: January 13-16
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 newly branded "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!

DUETS (FOX) - Simon Cowell and his production company, Syco, have inked a massive five-year, seven-to-eight figure overall production and development deal with Fox Television Studios. The pact calls for Cowell to develop programming exclusively for the studio, including the recently announced "Duets" for FOX. Said project received a cast-contingent series order earlier this month (read the story).

HALLMARK CHANNEL ORIGINAL MOVIES (Hallmark, New!) - The cable channel has provided several updates to its 2006 original programming schedule. In addition to the previously announced "Mystery Woman: At First Sight" (Saturday, January 21 a 9:00/8:00c), "Hidden Places" (Saturday, January 28 at 9:00/8:00c) and "Falling in Love with the Girl Next Door" (Saturday, February 4 at 9:00/8:00c), Hallmark has slated both "McBride: Fallen Idol" and the Doris Roberts/Judy Reyes-led original "Our House" for March with "Blackbeard" (featuring Angus MacFadyen) in June and "Desolation Canyon" (starring Stacy Keach and Patrick Duffy) in July. Meanwhile, the network is developing a mini-series remake of the 1940 Oscar-winning film "The Thief of Bagdad" from Robert Halmi Sr. as well as the Jerry Jenkins-penned ("Left Behind") original "Though None Go With Me" starring Cheryl Ladd and a fourth installment of the "Love's" movie franchise entitled "Love's Abiding Joy."

HUFF (Showtime) - The pay channel has confirmed the show's second season will bow on Sunday, April 1. There the series will take over the 10:00/9:00c hour from "The L Word," which wraps its third season the previous week.

LIPSTICK JUNGLE (NBC) - The Peacock is moving forward with its small-screen take on Candace Bushnell's book of the same name, about the lives of three powerful New York business women who would do anything to get ahead and stay on top. The NBC Universal Television-based project, which Bushnell co-wrote along with Robin Schiff, has been given the green light to produce a pilot. The news marks the first pilot order for NBC Entertainment's New York development unit. Bushnell and Schiff then will also serve as executive producers.

RUFFIAN (ABC/ESPN, New!) - ABC and ESPN are set to team for a new original movie about the true story of the racehorse hailed as the greatest thoroughbred of all time. Said project will premiere on ABC in June 2007 as part of the network's Belmont Stakes coverage, after which it will encore on the various ESPN networks - as well as air on the Internet via broadband on ESPN360, in high definition on ESPNHD, be available via video-on-demand and released on DVD - all within a four-day period. ESPN Original Entertainment will produce the project, which is set to begin principal photography in late February. No casting or producing details however were given.

THE RUNNER (ABC) - Former ABC chief Lloyd Braun, who currently heads the Yahoo! Media Group, is looking to revive the previously in the works concept as an Internet event for the web portal. Said project would follow the original concept, in which a designated operative ("the runner") has to elude capture by average folks as he or she travels across the country. Ben Affleck, Sean Bailey and Matt Damon, the trio behind the original ABC effort (along with Live Planet CEO Larry Tanz), are on board to executive produce the project, as is reality guru Mark Burnett. Originally developed in 2000 (and given a 13-episode order in 2001), the project was shelved due to production difficulties heightened by the aftermath of 9/11. As for specifics, it's believed the project will feature various clips (not half-hour or hour episodes as was the case for the ABC version) that will be uploaded daily to the site, all of which offer clues to the runner's whereabouts as well as feature an overarching story as to why this person is on the run. Additional clues will then also be given on the site and its various affiliates (think "Lost's" various web sites). One grand prize winner then is expected to receive a multi-million dollar prize with additional smaller prizes being offered throughout the event. Braun reportedly could have the one-to-two month long project ready by the summer, however Yahoo! CEO Terry Semel has yet to give "The Runner" the firm green light. Additional details, including the possibility of a TV special, are expected to be announced soon.

SECRETS OF A SMALL TOWN (ABC, New!) - Writer/producer Chuck Pratt ("Desperate Housewives") has scored a pilot order from ABC and Touchstone Television for a new drama about a murder mystery set in a small town. Said project, which Pratt is writing and executive producing along with Chris Brancato and Bert Salke ("North Shore"), would track the murder of a teenage girl and the disappearance of her sister - events which kick off a chain reaction that leads to both emotional and humorous discoveries that have been long buried.

VANISHED (FOX) - Feature director Antoine Fuqua ("Training Day") has signed on to direct the 20th Century Fox Television-based drama pilot, which chronicles the disappearance of a senator's wife over the course of the season. In addition, he'll serve as an executive producer along with creator Josh Berman. Last season, Fuqua helmed the failed FOX drama pilot "Murder Book." As for "Vanished," FOX has ordered a pilot and two additional scripts for the project.

UNTITLED BONNIE HUNT PROJECT (ABC, New!) - Bonnie Hunt ("Life With Bonnie") is returning to the Alphabet, as the writer/comedian has booked a pilot order at the network for a single-camera comedy about a divorced woman (Hunt) who works at a detective agency. She'll star, direct and co-write the Touchstone Television-based project along with her longtime collaborator Don Lake.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [january 2006]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· BLACKBEARD (HALLMARK)
· CELEBRITY DUETS (FOX)
· DESOLATION CANYON (HALLMARK)
· DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)
· FALLING IN LOVE WITH THE GIRL NEXT DOOR (HALLMARK)
· HIDDEN PLACES (HALLMARK)
· HUFF (SHOWTIME)
· L WORD, THE (SHOWTIME)
· LET GO (ABC)
· LIFE WITH BONNIE (ABC)
· LIPSTICK JUNGLE (NBC)
· LOST (ABC)
· LOVE'S ABIDING JOY (HALLMARK)
· MCBRIDE (HALLMARK)
· MURDER BOOK (FOX)
· MYSTERY WOMAN (HALLMARK)
· NORTH SHORE (FOX)
· OUR HOUSE (HALLMARK)
· RUFFIAN (ABC)
· RUNNER, THE (ABC)
· SECRETS OF A SMALL TOWN (ABC)
· SON OF THE DRAGON (HALLMARK)
· THOUGH NONE GO WITH ME (HALLMARK)
· VANISHED (FOX)





[03/06/25 - 03:01 PM]
Prime Video Announces Global Premiere of Highly Anticipated Anime Series "Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX"
The series will stream simultaneously with Japan across more than 240 countries and territories worldwide on Tuesday, April 8.

[03/06/25 - 02:59 PM]
Hallmark Media Orders Fourth Season of "The Way Home"
Cast members confirmed the news on social media this afternoon.

[03/06/25 - 11:30 AM]
Highly Anticipated Mystery Drama, "The Last Anniversary," Set to Premiere Sunday, March 30, Exclusively on AMC+
Based on the best-selling novel from Liane Moriarty, the captivating six-episode drama stars Teresa Palmer as Sophie Honeywell, a young woman finding herself drawn into a complex web of family secrets after inheriting a house on a remote island.

[03/06/25 - 11:15 AM]
Video: Apple TV+ Reveals Trailer for New Surrealist Family Comedy "Government Cheese"
The 10-episode comedy will make its global debut on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, April 16, with the first four episodes, followed by new episodes every Wednesday through May 28.

[03/06/25 - 11:00 AM]
Video: National Geographic Reveals Trailer for Powerful New Docuseries "Oklahoma City Bombing: One Day in America"
From 72 Films, the series is an unprecedented moment-by-moment account of the Oklahoma City bombing, including extraordinary stories of survival, heroic rescue efforts, the nationwide search that followed, and a city's need for justice and healing after the tragedy.

[03/06/25 - 11:00 AM]
Prime Video Orders Series "Bloodaxe" from Michael and Horatio Hirst
The series is created, written, and executive produced by Michael and Horatio Hirst and tells the epic true story of Erik Bloodaxe and Gunnhild on their rise to power.

[03/06/25 - 10:20 AM]
Ring in Spring with the Return of TLC's "Say Yes to the Dress" on Saturday, April 5 at 8 PM ET/PT
At New York's Kleinfeld Bridal, the wedding dress shopping experience is always part fashion show, part bridal story and part family therapy.

[03/06/25 - 10:16 AM]
"Opry 100: A Live Celebration" Adds More Star Power to Once in a Lifetime Celebration of Country Music
Alan Jackson, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Jamey Johnson, Keith Urban, Post Malone, Ricky Skaggs, Steven Curtis Chapman, Terri Clark, Travis Tritt and Yolanda Adams have been added to the roster of performers.

[03/06/25 - 10:06 AM]
Max Original Animated Series "Gremlins: The Wild Batch" Returns April 10
This next five-episode drop will allow fans to binge the season in its entirety and learn how the chaotic antics of the mischievous Mogwai reach their peak as our heroes confront unforeseen challenges and unexpected plot twists along their wild west adventure.

[03/06/25 - 10:02 AM]
CBS' "Beyond the Gates" Improves Time Period by +78%
In its first week on air, "Beyond the Gates" reached over 5.2 million unique viewers.

[03/06/25 - 09:40 AM]
ESPN NBA Schedule Update: League-Leading Cleveland Cavaliers to Host Orlando Magic Exclusively on March 16 Edition of "NBA Sunday Showcase" on ABC
This matchup replaces the previously scheduled Philadelphia 76ers vs. Dallas Mavericks game broadcast.

[03/06/25 - 09:33 AM]
FOX Sports Films Announces "Destined to Drive: Patrick Dempsey's Return to Racing" Premiering March 16 on FS1
The one-hour film offers behind-the-scenes access to Dempsey's preparation as he reignites his passion for professional motorsports and competes in the high-stakes Porsche Endurance Challenge.

[03/06/25 - 09:02 AM]
OWN's "Love & Marriage: Detroit" Is Back with All-New Episodes Saturday, April 12 at 8PM ET/PT
Following a group of African American couples with deep ties to the city of Detroit, the series features Russell and Kolby Harris, Brandon and Kristina Bowman Smith, Anthony and Dr. LaToya Thompson, Marcel and Kimberly Dobine, and Bravo and Lakeita Samuels.

[03/06/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Mid-Century Modern" - Official Trailer - Hulu
"Mid-Century Modern" follows three best friends - gay gentlemen of a certain age - who, after an unexpected death, decide to spend their golden years living together in Palm Springs where the wealthiest one lives with his mother.

[03/06/25 - 08:59 AM]
Vice Sports Adds Seventh Episode to Critically Acclaimed "Pitino: Red Storm Rising" Docuseries
The extra show - airing Thursday, April 3 - will offer viewers a review of the Red Storm's performance in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament leading up to the Final Four.