ABC makes room for 'Happy Town'

ABC is headed for "Happy Town."

The network has greenlighted a two-hour pilot from the project, written by "October Road" creators Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec and Scott Rosenberg.

In the vein of ABC's cult drama "Twin Peaks," "Happy Town" is a mystery set in the hamlet of Happy Town, which had enjoyed a seven-year peace after a series of kidnappings until it is hit by another crime.  Full story

ABC, NBC pick up drama pilots

Three modern-day witches and three hospital nurses have entered the fall 2009 fray as ABC and NBC handed out pilot orders to dramas "Eastwick" and "Mercy," respectively. Full story

Vance, Davenport cast in ABC pilot

Courtney B. Vance and Jack Davenport are the first actors cast in ABC's hot drama pilot "Flash Forward," which is rumored as a potential companion to "Lost." "Flash Forward," from David S. Goyer, Brannon Braga and ABC Studios, is based on Robert J. Sawyer's sci-fi novel and chronicles the chaos that ensues after everyone in the world blacks out for 2 minutes and 17 seconds and has a mysterious vision of the future that changes lives forever. Vance will play Stan Wedeck, the Los Angeles bureau chief of the FBI. Full story

Five in for '10 Things'

ABC Family has assembled the main cast of its high school comedy pilot "10 Things I Hate About You," an adaptation of the 1999 feature that in turn was based on William Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew."
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Patricia Heaton pilot greenlighted at ABC

It's a go for ABC's "The Middle." After closing a deal with Patricia Heaton for the lead, the network has greenlighted the comedy pilot, tapping Julie Anne Robinson to direct. Additionally, Robinson has landed a blind pilot directing commitment at ABC Studios to helm another pilot this development cycle. Full story

Courteney Cox is off to Cougar Town

Welcome to "Cougar Town." ABC has greenlighted a single-camera comedy pilot from "Scrubs" creator Bill Lawrence to star "Friends" alumna Courteney Cox. Produced by ABC Studios and penned by Lawrence and "Scrubs" writer Kevin Biegel, "Cougar Town" centers on an attractive, newly single 40-year-old mom (Cox) with a 17-year-old son. Full story

Will Gluck sets projects at Fox, ABC

Veteran comedy writer-producer Will Gluck has lined up a couple of half-hour projects. At Fox, he has a Sony TV-produced single-camera comedy about a construction crew. "It's 'The Office' from a blue-collar point of view," Gluck said. "Throughout one season, we will go to someone's real house; we'll tear it up and build it up again." Construction is a popular setting in this year's development. CBS has handed a put pilot commitment to a drama exec produced by Shawn Ryan that is based on the book "Confessions of a Contractor." Full story

ABC Family picks up gymnastics series

ABC Family is hoping to score a "Perfect 10," handing out a pilot pickup to a project set in the world of competitive gymnastics. "10," which follows a group of teen Olympic hopefuls as they train and prepare for their day in the spotlight, is an hourlong drama created and written by Holly Sorensen, who also will executive produce with Adam Cohen, Cara Tapper and Joanna Vernetti of SuperDelicious (CW's "Farmer Wants a Wife"). "10" is produced by Prodco Inc. Full story

ABC Family count includes '10 Things'

ABC Family has picked up two half-hour pilots — "10 Things I Hate About You," based on the film, and "Ruby and the Rockits," starring Alexa Vega — and greenlighted an original movie with Joey Lawrence and Melissa Joan Hart. Full story

Fox tackles contemporary 'Dwarfs'

Fox is developing a contemporary take on the classic Walt Disney tale of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" from producers Chris Brancato and Bert Salke, feature writers David Weissman and David Diamond and director Ken Kwapis.

Tentatively titled "Georgia and the Seven Associates," the hourlong dramedy, produced by ABC Studios, is tonally described as "The Devil Wears Prada" meets "Taxi" set in Los Angeles' legal circles. Full story.