or


[05/08/06 - 12:00 AM]
Development Update: May 8
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!

AMERICAN BODY SHOP (Comedy Central, New!) - Sam Greene and Jim Jones have scored a pilot order from the cable channel for a new "Reno 911!"-esque comedy about the eccentric characters who work in an auto-body repair shop. Here's how the network's press materials describe the project: "American Body Shop is a semi-improvised episodic comedy set in an auto body shop. Stylistically similar to Reno 911, American Body Shop parodies garage reality shows such as American Chopper; Monster Garage; American Hot Rod; etc. The setting is a body shop somewhere near suburban Phoenix. The shop sits on the outskirts of town, near the interstate, surrounded mostly by bleak desolate desert..."

ANDROID APOCALYPSE (A.K.A. WASTELAND) (Sci Fi) - The cable channel has booked the original movie for Saturday, June 24 at 9:00/8:00c. Here's how Sci Fi describes the telefilm: "Jute (Scott Bairstow, TV's Party of Five, the SCI FI Original movie The Bone Snatcher) is just a working man who's fed up with androids taking all the best jobs in town. One night, a barroom brawl earns him a one-way trip to a penal colony. But while being escorted to the prison by his android captor DeeCee (Joseph Lawrence, Urban Legends: Final Cut, TV's American Dreams), their transport is attacked by mutants, and the pair becomes stranded in a forbidding wilderness. With only each other to depend upon for survival, man and machine are forced to abandon their prejudices and learn how to work together as friends."

BLACK HOLE (Sci Fi) - Sci Fi has slated the telefilm to air on Saturday, June 10 at 9:00/8:00c. The network's press materials describe it as follows: "A particle accelerator malfunction in a St. Louis laboratory creates an artificial black hole, which swiftly grows and consumes everything that falls into its inescapable grasp. Making matters worse, an energy creature emerges from this rift in space-time and wreaks havoc on the city. Now, if one calamity doesn't destroy the world, the other will. Judd Nelson (Cabin by the Lake, the John Hughes classic The Breakfast Club) and Kristy Swanson (the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie) star."

CHAPPELLE'S SHOW (Comedy Central) - The cable channel reportedly will premiere the first of four "lost episodes" of the series on Sunday, July 9 at 9:00/8:00c. Said installments will feature the filmed segments from the show's aborted third season.

DOG BITES MAN (A.K.A. AMERICAN LIVES) (Comedy Central) - The series, which was previously in the works at NBC under the title "American Lives," has been slated to premiere on Wednesday, June 7 at 10:30/9:30c. Here's how the network's press materials describe the project: "Local news just got a whole lot funnier (and this time it's intentional). Expect nothing ordinary as Comedy Central delves deeper into the world of the traditional half-hour narrative with the ten-episode series Dog Bites Man. It�s an outrageous, part improvisational, part mockumentary, single camera show featuring a group of dysfunctional fake newscasters interacting with real people. The cast includes improv experts Zach Galifianakis, A.D. Miles, Andrea Savage and Matt Walsh."

IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA (FX) - The network's original comedy series is set to return for its second season on Thursday, June 29 at 10:00/9:00c.

MARK AND MIKE (A.K.A. UNTITLED MARK BORSHARDT/MIKE SCHANK PROJECT) (Comedy Central) - The cable channel has ordered a pilot for the project, which features "American Movie" stars Mark Borshardt and Mike Schank. Said half-hour will track the duo as they attempt to make a new film in Milwaukee using their limited resources. John Lynch, Norman Siderow and Jeff Stilson are the executive producers.

MIND OF MENCIA (Comedy Central) - The series, which wraps the first half of its sophomore season later this week, will return with the first of eight new installments on Sunday, July 9 at 10:00/9:00c. Here's how Comedy Central describes the series: "Shot in the studio and on location, �Mind of Mencia� is based on Mencia�s unique point of view of the world including such topics as ethnic stereotypes, race relations, immigration, war, patriotism, capitalism and family and is presented with brutal honesty and unrelenting provocation. The show includes Mencia�s comments on pop culture and current events, man-on-the-street interviews, commercial parodies, as well as interaction with the studio audience."

NIP/TUCK (FX) - The cable channel has confirmed the series will return for a fourth season this fall with sales materials indicating a Tuesday, September 19 premiere date at 10:00/9:00c.

RENO 911! (Comedy Central) - The network has confirmed the veteran comedy will return for its fourth season on Sunday, July 9 at 10:30/9:30c. Here's how the cable channel details the new season: "The Reno police force is back in action for a fourth season! Find out if Dangle and Garcia freeze to death, if Deputy Wiegel's serial killer husband gets a lethal injection and what happens when Jones and Garcia are transferred to the Reno mounted patrol in 14 new episodes of the hit comedy series. The new season features guest stars Paul Reubens (aka Pee Wee Herman), Carrot Top and Oscar Nunez ("The Office")."

SONS & DAUGHTERS (ABC)/TEACHERS (NBC) - Wil Calhoun ("What I Like About You") has inked a two-year, seven-figure overall deal with NBC Universal Television. The pact follows Calhoun's recent stint as a consulting producer on the studio's "Sons & Daughters" for ABC and "Teachers" for NBC. The deal calls for Calhoun to develop new projects for NBC Universal as well as potentially join one of its existing properties next season.

UNTITLED DERAY DAVIS PROJECT (Comedy Central, New!) - DeRay Davis, the winner of Comedy Central's "Laugh Riots" nationwide stand-up competition, is set to be the focus of a potential new variety series at the network. Comedy Central has ordered a pilot for the project, which comes from executive producers Davis, Andrew Gurland, Peter Principato, Paul Young and Joel Zadak. It's understood the half-hour entry will blend everything from stand-up, to reality, to sketches and street interviews.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [may 2006]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· AMERICAN BODY SHOP (COMEDY CENTRAL)
· AMERICAN DREAMS (NBC)
· ANDROID APOCALYPSE (SCI FI)
· BLACK HOLE (SCI FI)
· BONE SNATCHER (SCI FI)
· CABIN BY THE LAKE (USA)
· CHAPPELLE'S SHOW (COMEDY CENTRAL)
· DOG BITES MAN (COMEDY CENTRAL)
· IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA (FXX)
· MARK & MIKE (COMEDY CENTRAL)
· MIND OF MENCIA (COMEDY CENTRAL)
· NIP/TUCK (FX)
· OFFICE, THE (NBC)
· PARTY OF FIVE (FOX)
· RENO 911! (COMEDY CENTRAL)
· SONS & DAUGHTERS (ABC)
· TEACHERS (NBC)
· UNTITLED DERAY DAVIS PROJECT (COMEDY CENTRAL)
· WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU (WB)





[05/03/24 - 12:02 PM]
ABC Announces Summer 2024 Premiere Dates as the Network Leads the Season as No. 1 in Entertainment for the Fifth Consecutive Year
Highlights include: "Celebrity Family Feud" celebrates 100 episodes and its 10th anniversary, beginning Tuesday, July 9.

[05/03/24 - 11:01 AM]
NBC Renews Comedy Series "Night Court" for a Third Season
The second season, executive produced by Dan Rubin, Melissa Rauch, Winston Rauch and John Larroquette, has reached 24 million total viewers across linear and digital platforms to date.

[05/03/24 - 10:29 AM]
TLC's Teen Pregnancy Series "Unexpected" Returns on Monday, June 3 at 9PM ET/PT
This season features three new couples and two returning that each have unique experiences and obstacles as young, expecting parents.

[05/03/24 - 09:56 AM]
New Season of "Gold Rush: Parker's Trail" Premieres on Discovery Channel on May 31
After becoming the biggest landowner in the Yukon, Parker no longer needs to focus on finding ground urgently, but his pioneering spirit remains and he has set his eyes on Brazil: the biggest gold frontier on earth and the center of a raging modern battle between government forces and miners.

[05/03/24 - 09:32 AM]
Paramount+ Reveals First Look at New Season of "Criminal Minds: Evolution," Premiering with Two Episodes on Thursday, June 6
The first two episodes will be available to stream at launch with subsequent new episodes dropping weekly on Thursdays.

[05/03/24 - 07:23 AM]
Video: "Raising Voices" - Official Trailer - Netflix Spain
When a 17-year-old reports a sexual assault at her high school, an investigation upends her life and tests her relationships.

[05/03/24 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Emily in Paris" Season 4 - Official Announcement - Netflix
Season 4 will be split into two 5-episode parts, with Part 1 premiering on August 15, followed by Part 2 on September 12.

[05/03/24 - 12:01 AM]
Video: "Thank You, Next" - Official Trailer - Netflix
After a painful breakup, a young lawyer dives head first into the confusing world of modern dating, with the unwavering support of her best friends.

[05/02/24 - 03:49 PM]
Captain Lee Rosbach Reveals Calm Waters Can Turn Deceptively Sinister with New Oxygen Series "Deadly Waters with Captain Lee," Premiering Saturday, June 1 at 9 P.M. ET/PT
The series exposes the wicked intentions of those who thought committing crimes on the water would shield them from justice.

[05/02/24 - 03:45 PM]
"American Idol" Is the No. 1 Entertainment Program of the Night in Adults 18-49 for Second Week of Live Coast-to-Coast Telecasts
The show reached season highs in week 2 of live, coast-to-coast telecasts in Total Viewers (5.31 million) and Adults 18-49 (0.64 rating) on Sunday night with its strongest numbers since last season's finale.

[05/02/24 - 02:11 PM]
Video: "Uncle Samsik" - Official Trailer - Hulu
Uncle Samsik introduces himself to Kim San as the one who can turn his world around - promising that he can make any dream a reality.

[05/02/24 - 12:45 PM]
CBS Announces Its 2024-2025 Primetime Schedule
New scripted series "Matlock," "Poppa's House," "NCIS: Origins" and "Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage" join 18 returning shows.

[05/02/24 - 12:05 PM]
Video: "Dinner Budget Showdown" - Official Trailer - The Roku Channel
Hosts Sandra Lee and Jordan Andino challenge three home cooks to create a five-star meal on a two-star budget.

[05/02/24 - 11:09 AM]
Get Into the Mix This Summer with "Wayne Brady: The Family Remix," Premiering July 24 on Freeform and Next Day on Hulu
In "Wayne Brady: The Family Remix," Brady has turned the term "modern family" on its head.

[05/02/24 - 10:31 AM]
Disney's "Launchpad" Returns for a Third Season, Inviting Storytellers to Share Their Unique Perspectives
Started in 2021, Disney's Launchpad aims to build a more inclusive entertainment industry by fostering the next generation of storytellers.