4/5 development news

from the futon critic

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC) - Lifetime reportedly has snagged the
off-network rights to the popular ABC series from Buena Vista
Television, beating out fellow bidder TBS. The pact, said to be valued
in the $500,000 per episode range, gives the cable channel the
exclusive weekday rights to the series beginning in the fall of 2008.
In addition, Lifetime will also begin repurposing the show's weekly
broadcasts once the deal is finalized. No time periods however were
specified.

Taylor...

DRIVE (FOX) - Alan Ruck (Stuart Bondek on "Spin City") and Melanie
Lynskey (Rose on "Two and a Half Men") are the latest additions to the
drama pilot, about an illegal cross-country road race. Ruck will play

Obveeus...

John Ashton, who's described in the casting notice as: "40s. A
bespectacled, buttoned down sort. He's an MIT grad and rocket
scientist whose wife recently left him for a far wealthier man. John
has recently grabbed his daughter, Violet, out of school, ostensibly
for an impulsive "road trip." In actuality, John is also participating
in the mysterious race. When he inadvertently insults his sensitive
daughter, she runs away, leaving John frantic to learn her
whereabouts."

Lynskey then is set as Wendy Patrakas, who's detailed as: "Late
20s-early 30s. An appealing young suburban housewife. She would be
cheerful and outgoing under normal circumstances, but presently, she's
under some enormous strain. On the lam from her husband, Wendy has
also joined the mysterious race, apparently with her infant in the
back seat of her car. However, when she's pulled over by the highway
patrol, it's discovered that her baby is actually a plastic doll.
Whether Wendy is actually the mother of an infant, or whether she is
merely pretending to have a baby for the purposes of this bizarre,
deadly contest, remains to be seen." Emily Stone also stars in the
20th Century Fox Television-based hour, which comes from creators Ben
Queen and Tim Minear. Greg Yaitanes is directing.

Ian J. Ball...

GENERATIONS/NEVER IN MY WILDEST (CBS) - The comedy projects, both
co-productions of DreamWorks Television and NBC Universal Television,
have been rolled to midseason 2007 consideration by the network. Each
received a cast-contingent pilot order earlier this season. The
former, from Cheryl Holliday, revolves around a grandfather and
grandson who are unlikely roommates at a retirement community while
the latter, from Carol Leifer, tracks two people who have an
undeniable spark but impossible standards. DreamWorks's Darryl Frank
and Justin Falvey also serve as executive producers on both
half-hours.

THE GREG BEHRENDT SHOW (Syndication) - Dan Jbara ("Ripley's Believe It
or Not!") and Janelle Fiorito ("Renovate My Family") have both signed
onto Sony Pictures Television's upcoming syndicated talk show, which
features the comedian/author dispensing relationship advice. Jbara
will serve as the executive producer/showrunner while Fioriot is set
as a co-executive producer.

MORE, PATIENCE (FOX) - Scoot McNairy (a recent guest on "Close to
Home") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about a neurotic New
York psychiatrist (Jennifer Esposito). He'll play Jake in the Sony
Pictures Television-based half-hour, which also stars Bianca Kajlich.
Jed Seidel is behind the project, which Arlene Sanford is directing
and Gavin Polone and Jamie Tarses also serve as executive producers.

MY EX-LIFE (CBS) - Jonathan Sadowski (Paul on "She's the Man") has
joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about two best friends (Tom
Cavanagh and Gillian Vigman) who happen to be a divorced couple
sharing custody. His character, Gus, is described in the casting
notice as follows: "20-25, confident. He has his finger in lots of
different pies. Gus is Nick's former college student and part time
babysitter for Nick and Kate's two children. He is now able to teach
his old teacher a few things about the dating world of 2005. Energetic
and confident, he gives Kate some sage advice regarding an outfit
she's considering wearing on a date." Roger Bart also stars in the
20th Century Fox Television-based half-hour, which comes from creator
Richard Appel and director Kelsey Grammer.

SHE SAID, HE SAID (The CW) - Chris J. Johnson (Vincent on "South
Beach") has scored a role in the romantic comedy pilot, which also
stars Nick Lachey and Lindsay Sloane. He'll play Finn in the CBS
Paramount Network Television/Warner Bros. Television-based project,
which comes from creators Daniel Berendsen and Heidi Clements. Garry
Hart also serves as an executive producer. Johnson's involvement is in
second position to the still-technically-alive UPN drama.

UNTITLED TOM HERTZ PROJECT (CBS) - Kathleen Rose Perkins (a recent
guest on NBC's "Four Kings") is the latest addition to the comedy
pilot, about an engaged couple, a married couple and a happily single
guy. She'll play Jennifer, one half of the newly engaged couple, in
the Sony Pictures Television-based half-hour, which Andy Ackerman is
directing from a script by creator Tom Hertz. Happy Madison's Adam
Sandler, Doug Robinson and Jack Giarraputo also serve as executive
producers along with the duo. Separately, Perkins has also booked a
guest starring role on the ABC comedy pilot "Help Me Help You" in an
unspecified role.

WITHOUT A TRACE (CBS) - Scott Williams, a co-executive producer on the
series, has inked two-year, seven-figure overall deal with 20th
Century Fox Television. The pact, which has an option for a third
year, calls for the writer/producer to come aboard one of the studio's
existing series next season (likely "Bones") as well as develop new
projects.

YOU'VE REACHED THE ELLIOTTS (CBS) - Cynthia Stevenson (Roberta Collie
on "The L Word") and Christopher McDonald (Walter Booth on "North
Shore") have both joined the cast of the comedy pilot, a
semi-autobiographical take on the life of Chris Elliott. They'll play
Tracy and Phil respectively in the Warner Bros. Television-based
half-hour, which comes from creator Rob Des Hotel. Eric Tannenbaum and
Kim Tannenbaum also serve as executive producers.

Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters