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, David Duchovny hunts Charles Manson, Martin Sheen hunts Moby Dick, and Rake hunts for a new time slot.
NBC ordered a series about Charles Manson. The “event series” Aquarius will star David Duchovny as a cop with a “complicated personal life” — is there any other kind? — who tracks Manson’s crimes. [Variety]
Because there can never be enough comedies, DirectTV ordered its first comedy series this week: Things You Shouldn’t Say Past Midnight. It’s about relationships in a big city, in case you couldn’t get enough Mixology . [Deadline]
But sometimes there’s too much reality television: Jersey Shore‘s The Situation got a new reality series from TVGN. [EW]
Animal Planet announced its new slate, but all that matters is its venture into scripted programming with a retelling of Moby Dick from the whale’s point of view. It’s called Revenge of the Whale, stars Martin Sheen (not as Moby Dick), and I can’t wait for how absurd it will be. [Deadline]
Discovery Channel announced its new and returning programs, and I learned that Discovery has the worst titles for TV shows: Fast N’ Loud, Dude You’re Screwed, Fat N’ Furious, and #BikerLive. [THR]
And here’s Travel Channel’s upcoming slate, if you’re into shows about RVs and BBQ contests. [Deadline]
Fox is continuing to jerk shows around instead of canceling them. Rake was first moved to Friday and now the season finale — and likely series finale — will be aired on Saturday. [The Wrap]
Joel McKinnon Miller and Dirk Blocker have been upped to regulars for the next season of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which means more Scully and Hitchcock adventures! [A.V. Club]
Comedy Central ordered a pilot for Duty, a cop comedy from Happy Endings creators David Caspe and Jamie Tarses. This marks the duo’s third pilot order, following Cuz-Bros and Marry Me. [The Wrap]
Esquire TV (which is a network that exists) has renewed Friday Night Tykes (which is a show that exists) for a second season. [Deadline]
Nurse Jackie was also renewed for a seventh season, even though its sixth has yet to premiere. [EW]
HBO will have a comedy about “a group of women exploring the final frontier on a mission to colonize another planet” called Women in Space, and I am on board. [Vulture]