or


[01/31/07 - 12:57 AM]
Development Update: Wednesday, January 31
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 signature "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!


ALL FALL DOWN (ABC) - Lawrence Trilling ("Invasion") has signed on to direct the hour, about a successful female attorney who leaves her high-powered big-city law firm to move home to Savannah, Georgia, where her crazy relatives live, and winds up joining her father's family law practice.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: TBA
Writer: Rina Mimoun
Director: Lawrence Trilling
Executive Producers: Rina Mimoun
Studio: Warner Bros. Television


ANCHORWOMAN (FOX, New!) - Model-turned-actress Amber Smith is set to topline a new partially scripted comedy about a supermodel who settles down in a southern Texas town and becomes an anchorwoman for the local news. Chad Damiani ("World Fighting Alliance") and newcomer J.P. Lavin are behind the half-hour, which has a pilot presentation order from the network. The pair will also executive produce alongside Brian Gadinsky for Fox 21.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot (7-10 minute presentation)
Cast: Amber Smith
Writers: Chad Damiani, J.P. Lavin
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Brian Gadinsky
Studio: Fox 21


THE CURE (FOX) - Danny Cannon ("C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation") is set to direct and executive produce the drama pilot, about a group that cuts through the red tape of medical bureaucracy - often at their own peril - to get care to those who need it most.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: TBA
Writer: John Zinman, Patrick Massett
Director: Danny Cannon
Executive Producers: Akiva Goldsman (Weed Road Pictures), Danny Cannon, John Zinman, Patrick Massett
Co-Executive Producers: Brittany Lovett, Stephanie Koff
Studio: Warner Bros. Television


DIRTY SEXY MONEY (ABC) - Peter Horton ("Grey's Anatomy") has been tapped to direct the drama pilot, about drama about an idealistic lawyer who takes on the job of tending to the legal and sometimes illegal needs of a wealthy and colorful New York family.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: TBA
Writer: Craig Wright
Director: Peter Horton
Executive Producers: Craig Wright, Greg Berlanti (Berlanti Television)
Studio: Touchstone Television


LIFE (NBC) - Adam Arkin ("Boston Legal") has joined the cast of the drama pilot, about Billy Crews (Damian Lewis), an ex-cop who rejoins the force after being wrongly imprisoned for years. He'll play a former chief financial officer who befriended Crews in prison while he served time for insider trading and who now lives in a room over Crews' garage and handles his settlement money.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Adam Arkin, Damien Lewis (Billy Crews), Melissa Sagemiller, Sarah Shahi (Dani Reese)
Writer: Rand Ravich
Director: David Semel
Executive Producers: David Semel, Far Shariat, Rand Ravich
Studio: NBC Universal Television Studio


LIFE ON MARS (ABC) - David E. Kelley's import of the BBC series, about a detective whose girlfriend has just been kidnapped finds himself transported back to the 1970s, has formally been ordered to pilot. Kelley penned the pilot script and will executive produce alongside Stephen Garrett and Jane Featherstone for 20th Century Fox Television.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot (previously put pilot)
Cast: TBA
Writer: David E. Kelley
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: David E. Kelley (David E. Kelley Productions), Jane Featherstone (Kudos Productions), Stephen Garrett (Kudos Productions)
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television


MARLOWE (ABC) - Jason O'Mara ("In Justice") is in final talks to topline the pilot, a procedural crime drama set in present-day Los Angeles. He'll play the title role of Philip Marlowe, Raymond Chandler's famed noir private eye. In addition, O'Mara - who previously had signed a talent holding deal with the network and producer Touchstone Television - is also expected to receive a producer credit.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Jason O'Mara (Philip Marlowe)
Writers: Carol Wolper, Greg Pruss
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Carol Wolper, Daniel H. Blatt, Daniel Pipski, Greg Pruss, Sean Bailey (LivePlanet)
Producer: Jason O'Mara
Studios: Chorion Limited, Touchstone Television


N.S.A. INNOCENT (FOX) - Stana Katic ("24") is the first to be cast in the drama pilot, about a family man who winds up recruited by the N.S.A. as a spy. She'll play Baker, who's described in the casting notice as: "Mid 30's, any ethnicity. NSA agent. Smart, sexy and tough, responsible for "recruiting" Paul against his will. Despite her outwardly calm and professional manner, she harbors a secret tragedy which is hinted at in the pilot and will be explored during the series. She may also find herself, against her better judgment, attracted to Paul more than she should be."

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Stana Katic (Baker)
Writers: Bob Cochran, David Ehrman
Director: Jon Cassar
Executive Producers: Bob Cochran (Real Time Productions), David Ehrman, Howard Gordon (Real Time Productions), Joel Surnow (Real Time Productions)
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television


NICE GIRLS DON'T GET THE CORNER OFFICE (ABC, New!) - Josh Sternin and Jeff Ventimilia have booked a pilot commitment from the Alphabet for a small screen take on Dr. Lois Frankel's book of the same name. The comedy project, about the struggles of a "nice girl" to make it in the cutthroat corporate world, is based at Brian Grazer and David Nevins's Imagine Television with all four serving as executive producers. Frankel herself and Julie Richardson are also set to receive producing credits on the half-hour, which is set up at 20th Century Fox Television.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: TBA
Writers: Jeff Ventimilia, Josh Sternin
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Brian Grazer (Imagine Television), David Nevins (Imagine Television), Jeff Ventimilia, Josh Sternin
Producers: Julie Richardson, Lois Frankel
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television


UNTITLED DAVID SHORE/PETER BLAKE PROJECT (NBC) - Feature helmer Tony Goldwyn ("The Last Kiss") has come aboard to direct the Famke Janssen-led pilot, a light drama with procedural elements centered on a female cop.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Famke Janssen
Writers: David Shore, Peter Blake
Director: Tony Goldwyn
Executive Producers: David Shore (Shore Z Productions), Peter Blake
Studio: NBC Universal Television Studio


UNTITLED GABE SACHS/JEFF JUDAH PROJECT (ABC, New!) - Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah ("What About Brian") have scored a pilot order from the Alphabet for a new comedy about co-workers and friends in a top law firm who also are competing with one another to make partner. The untitled half-hour is based at Touchstone Television with the pair writing and executive producing.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: TBA
Writer: Gabe Sachs, Jeff Judah
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Gabe Sachs, Jeff Judah
Studio: Touchstone Television


UNTITLED KESSLERS/ZELMAN PROJECT (FX) - Ted Danson ("Help Me Help You") has joined the cast of the drama pilot, about Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne), a beautiful, self-possessed attorney fresh out of law school who lands her dream job working for Patty Hewes (Glenn Close), America's foremost high-stakes litigator. Danson would play Arthur Frobisher, a corporate executive involved in a class-action lawsuit brought by Hewes that will serve as the focus of the show's first season.

Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Glenn Close (Patty Hewes), Noah Bean, Rose Byrne (Ellen Parsons), Tate Donovan (Tom Kent), Ted Danson (Arthur Frobisher), Zeljko Ivanek (Ray Fiske)
Writers: Daniel Zelman, Glenn Kessler, Todd A. Kessler
Director: Allen Coulter
Executive Producers: Daniel Zelman, Glenn Kessler, Todd A. Kessler
Studio: Sony Pictures Television


WORK WIFE (FOX) - Barbie Feldman Adler and Brad Copeland's comedy project, about a female reporter and her male co-worker as they navigate the challenges that their partnership at work brings to their relationships at home, has been given a cast-contingent pilot order. The pair penned the pilot script and will executive produce for 20th Century Fox Television.

Commitment: Cast-contingent (previous put pilot)
Cast: TBA
Writers: Barbie Feldman Adler, Brad Copeland
Director: TBA
Executive Producers: Barbie Feldman Adler, Brad Copeland
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television


Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters





  [january 2007]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· 24 (FOX)
· ALL FALL DOWN (ABC)
· ANCHORWOMAN (FOX)
· BOSTON LEGAL (ABC)
· COMPANY MAN (FOX)
· CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (CBS)
· CURE, THE (FOX)
· DAMAGES (AUDIENCE)
· DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (TFC)
· DIRTY SEXY MONEY (ABC)
· GREY'S ANATOMY (ABC)
· HELP ME HELP YOU (ABC)
· IN JUSTICE (ABC)
· INVASION (ABC)
· LIFE (NBC)
· LIFE ON MARS (ABC)
· MARLOWE (ABC)
· NICE GIRLS DON'T GET THE CORNER OFFICE (ABC)
· UNTITLED SACHS & JUDAH PROJECT (ABC)
· WHAT ABOUT BRIAN (ABC)
· WINTERS (NBC)
· WORK WIFE (FOX)





[02/22/25 - 08:09 AM]
"Portobello," from Marco Bellocchio, Debuts on Max in 2026
Max has announced its first Italian scripted original production.

[02/21/25 - 02:45 PM]
4 Nations Face-Off: Canada-USA Championship Game Delivers 9.3 Million Viewers; ESPN's Largest Hockey Audience Ever
The telecast peaked with 10.4 million viewers and was the most-viewed non-NFL event ever on ESPN+.

[02/21/25 - 11:22 AM]
New Vice Series "The Grudge" Premieres on March 26
Taking viewers inside sports' fiercest rivalries, where every game is more than a contest - it's a battle for pride, redemption, and legacy.

[02/21/25 - 10:15 AM]
"High Potential" Finishes Spectacular First Season Hitting Series Highs
In addition, "High Potential" achieved a remarkable benchmark for the finale episode, earning a series high on streaming and becoming ABC's best drama episode ever, based on seven-day views on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.

[02/21/25 - 10:00 AM]
FOX's "The Quiz with Balls" Hosted by Jay Pharoah Rolls Into Season Two with Renewal of Hit Game Show
The popular game show pits brains against balls, combining a high stakes quiz show and a large-scale physical competition with each episode featuring two families competing for $100,000 in an epic "battle of the balls."

[02/21/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "CHAOS: The Manson Murders" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Directed by Errol Morris, the film untangles a web of conspiracy involving the CIA, LSD, Jack Ruby, the Manson Family, and Vincent Bugliosi, casting doubt on the official story of the 1960s' most infamous killing spree.

[02/21/25 - 08:00 AM]
"The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim" Begins Streaming Exclusively on Max February 28
Set 183 years before the events chronicled in the original trilogy of films, "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim" tells the fate of the House of Helm Hammerhand, the legendary King of Rohan.

[02/21/25 - 12:01 AM]
Video: Netflix Unveils the Premiere Date and First Look of Dome Karukoski's "Little Siberia"
A pastor's faith turns upside down when a meteorite lands in his small Finnish town, its impact stirring up chaos and criminal intentions.

[02/20/25 - 04:01 PM]
Video: "When Life Gives You Tangerines" - Official Trailer - Netflix
In Jeju, a spirited girl and a steadfast boy's island story blossoms into a lifelong tale of setbacks and triumphs - proving love endures across time.

[02/20/25 - 04:01 PM]
Fremantle Announces "Neighbours" Will Be Resting from December 2025
"As this chapter closes, we appreciate and thank Amazon MGM Studios for all that they have done for 'Neighbours' - bringing this iconic and much-loved series to new audiences globally," said Jason Herbison.

[02/20/25 - 04:01 PM]
ESPN Statement on Decision to Opt Out of Major League Baseball Deal
"We are grateful for our longstanding relationship with Major League Baseball and proud of how ESPN's coverage super-serves fans," said the company.

[02/20/25 - 01:22 PM]
Lifetime Announces Two New Original Movies for This Spring
Look for "Taken at a Basketball Game," starring D.B. Woodside and Claire Qute, on March 15; followed by "Wife Stalker," starring Keshia Knight Pulliam, on March 29.

[02/20/25 - 01:01 PM]
Leighton Meester to Guest Star in "Nobody Wants This" Season 2
She'll be playing Kristen Bell's middle school nemesis who Joanne crosses paths with as an adult.

[02/20/25 - 12:30 PM]
Hulu Renews Hit Drama Series "Paradise," from Dan Fogelman and Starring Sterling K. Brown, for a Second Season
Following the season one finale on Hulu on March 4, "Paradise" will air a full first season run on ABC beginning Monday, April 7 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

[02/20/25 - 12:00 PM]
Feature Documentary on Popular Dutch Actor Rutger Hauer "Like Tears in Rain" Makes Exclusive US Debut Thursday, March 13, 2025 on Viaplay
Through private, never-before-seen footage and candid interviews with family, friends and colleagues, his goddaughter Sanna Fabery de Jonge uncovers his intimate world in the revealing, acclaimed documentary.