The television world moves so fast that by the time you learn of a show’s premiere, it could already be canceled. It’s hard to keep track of the constant stream of television news, so Flavorwire is here to provide a weekly roundup of the most exciting — and baffling — casting and development updates. This week, ABC Family sparks outrage, IFC announces its delightful new slate, and Catherine Keener reunites with Charlie Kaufman.
The first image of Donal Logue as Harvey Bullock in Fox’s upcoming Gotham was released! [Variety]
ABC Family announced two renewals (the bland comedies Baby Daddy and Melissa and Joey) as well as three new dramas. Two are standard fare for the network: Recovery Road, based on a YA novel, is about a teen juggling high school with rehab, and Unstrung “explores the sexy, cutthroat and emotional stakes of the professional world tour of tennis.” But it’s Alice in Arabia — about a rebellious teen “unknowingly kidnapped” by her Saudi Arabian extended family — that is already a source of hate and controversy. [The Hollywood Reporter]
David Cross and Rachel Dratch will both star in the upcoming Fox pilot Dead Boss, which is headlined by 30 Rock‘s Jane Krakowski. [Deadline]
In development news, TBS announced Jackass of All Trades (about a stay-at-home dad) and TV Land gave a pilot order to an adaptation of the web series Teachers , which will be produced by Alison Brie.
Upcoming Saturday Night Live hosts: Anna Kendrick, Seth Rogen. [EW]
Charlie Kaufman’s FX pilot How and Why is definitely my most-anticipated pilot, especially since it was announced that Catherine Keener and Sally Hawkins have joined Michael Cera and John Hawkes in the cast. Kaufman’s such a strange, wonderful writer, and FX is the perfect network for him. Let’s hope this gets picked up. [The Wrap]
Drumline 2: A New Beat got a director, but really I just wanted to remind everyone that Drumline 2 is happening. [Deadline]
IFC ordered an expanded fourth season (40 episodes!) of Comedy Bang! Bang! and renewed The Birthday Boys but most importantly, it ordered six episodes of American Documentary, created by Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, and Seth Meyers. The half-hour show “is a curated series of half-hour documentaries and biopics, each about a completely fictitious subject” and it sounds amazing. The network also announced that its teaming up with College Humor for the Comedy Music Awards.
Amazon is developing a relationship comedy. [Deadline]
The Walking Dead got a syndication deal with Fox’s MyNetworkTV, but the episodes will be heavily edited because of the violent content, so it’s pretty pointless. [Variety]
A Nine to Five reunion will soon take place, thanks to Netflix picking up 13 episodes of Grace and Frankie starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. The show, created by Friends‘ Marta Kauffman, is about Fonda and Tomlin’s characters coming together when their husbands announce that they’re in love with each other. [Deadline]
Nick at Nite canceled Scott Baio’s See Dad Run, a show that no one knew existed. [Zap2It]
Judith Light, who was recently seen snorting coke on Dallas, will play Henry Winkler’s wife in ABC’s The Winklers. [TV Line]