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: Christina Hendricks joins the comedy American Period, Manhattan and Top of the Lake get Season 2 renewals, and truTV gets stoned.
Sadly, Krysten Ritter’s astronaut comedy from executive producer Will Ferrell, Mission Control, has been canceled by NBC. The 1960s workplace sitcom was set to premiere during midseason but was yanked from the schedule due to recasting issues. [THR]
Archie Panjabi, who plays Kalinda on The Good Wife, is leaving the CBS drama at the end of the season to star in her own series. [Variety]
Unnecessary remake of the week: Bewitched![Deadline]
truTV ordered Medicine Man, a pilot about “the family dynasty behind the Medicine Man Marijuana Dispensary in Colorado.” If picked up, the series will follow ten family members (spanning three generations) as they build a dynasty and deal with their strange family life. [truTV]
Crime drama Top of the Lake will return for a second season. [THR]
With the end of Parenthood on the horizon, it’s time for the cast to start securing their next jobs. Monica Potter now has an NBC pilot order for an untitled comedy executive-produced by Ellen DeGeneres. It will be loosely based on her own life. [TVLine]
Manhattan, the very great but unfortunately ignored (because it’s on WGN) period drama, has been renewed for a second season. The first season is stellar — and you can watch it on Hulu. [WGN]
Amazing news: Mad Men‘s Christina Hendricks has been cast in Another Period, an upcoming Comedy Central sitcom written by Natasha Leggero and Riki Lindhome. Another Period is set at the turn of the century and centers on a family who have “absolutely nothing to offer to the world, but who have so much money it doesn’t matter.” [The Wrap]
Chris O’Dowd’s adorable and charming semi-autobiographical sitcom Moone Boy is one of Hulu’s hidden gems, but now it may get a US adaptation. ABC has ordered a put pilot commitment — which is great news, because the original is a truly special show, and an adaptation has the potential to become one of ABC’s best comedies. [Deadline]
The Minority Report With Larry Wilmore has hired its head writer: Robin Thede. Thede was previously head writer on The Queen Latifah Show and a writer for Real Husbands of Hollywood. [Comedy Central]
A co-showrunner for Pretty Little Liars, Oliver Goldstick, is rebooting UK series The Town for The CW. The Town centers on a man who investigates his own parents’ suicide when he suspects it to actually be murder. [The Wrap]
Nick Cannon will have a recurring guest arc in Fox’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine as Captain Holt’s nephew Marcus, who stays with him while searching for a new place. [Uproxx]
Three movies are inexplicably getting the sitcom treatment, and none of them is particularly deserving. Monster-in-Law , about a happy couple who deals with the relationship between a woman and her husband’s mother, will become a multi-camera comedy from Amy B. Harris (The Carrie Diaries) and John Riggi (30 Rock); CBS gave a script commitment to In Good Company, about a middle-aged ad executive whose younger boss begins dating his daughter; and The CW is developing a period drama based on The Illusionist.
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are developing a futuristic thriller for Syfy. Incorporated “will focus on one man’s efforts to beat the system,” whatever the hell that means. [Variety]
UK’s quiet but good Doll & Em has been picked up for a second season by UK’s Sky Living. Season 1 previously aired on HBO. [Deadline]
Frank Langella has joined Season 3 of FX’s The Americans as Gabriel, Philip and Elizabeth’s former KGB handler who replaces Claudia (Margo Martindale). Season 3 began production this week. [FX]