[#011] Top 15 Pilots for 2016 I Want to See
So, if you're as obsessed with television as I am, you're probably really looking forward to the upcoming television season and eagerly anticipating next week's upfronts because then we'll find out what shows are being picked up for the upcoming year. And after the craziness of yesterday's cancellations (and, okay, some renewals), I was curious to see what shows these networks had lined up.
And after a general skim at the list, my thoughts are: ABC definitely does not have enough interesting upcoming shows to justify them cancelling everything they did. CBS is and apparently always will be my most watched network (including my current shows). Shockingly (at least to me), NBC is #2 in that ranking. Fox is my least watched network (both currently and upcoming). And lastly, the CW's lineup is already full (they renewed basically everything they had currently airing), and now they have Supergirl moving from CBS and already greenlit three new shows (all three of which I'm interested in), so WHERE ARE ALL THESE SHOWS GOING TO GO (in regards to airing time)?
Anyway, here are the top 15 shows I hope they 1) greenlight (if it hasn't already been picked up) and 2) get at least half a season to breathe. (I was originally going to do top 10, but after looking at the list, there are too many actors I follow whose projects may seem meh, but who I want to see on my screen.)
These are ordered by network:
Note: You'll notice (or maybe not haha), if you're just counting the titles in the cut screen I have two extra titles--and that's because as I was typing this up, I realized that two of the pilots I'd chosen had actually ended up getting passed over which was disappointing. Still kept them around so we could collectively mourn the fact that they weren't chosen. DDDDD: craigyfergggggggg
i. ABC: Conviction, Notorious
- Conviction (drama)
Summary: Conviction tells the story of Carter Morrison (Hayley Atwell), the brilliant but ne’er-do-well daughter of a former president, who is blackmailed into taking a job as the head of Los Angeles’ newly created Conviction Integrity Unit. She, along with her team of lawyers, investigators, and forensic experts, work together to examine cases where there’s credible suspicion that the wrong person may have been convicted of a crime.
Further Summary: Lawyer and former First Daughter Hayes Morrison (Atwell) is about to accept a job offered from her sexy nemesis, NY District Attorney Wayne Wallis, to avoid jail time for cocaine possession and avoid hurting her mother’s Senate campaign. Working with his team at the new Conviction Integrity Unit will let her use her brilliant mind to turn over cases where there is credible suspicion of wrongful conviction, and give her a chance to turn things around with her high-powered political family.
Team: Liz Friedman will write and executive-produce with Mark Gordon, Nicholas Pepper, and Liz Friedlander, who will helm the pilot.
Cast: Hayley Atwell (Marvel’s Agent Carter), Eddie Cahill (CSI: NY), Shawn Ashmore (The Following), Emily Kinney (The Walking Dead), Manny Montana (Graceland), Merrin Dungey (Alias, Once Upon a Time), Daniel DiTomasso (Witches of East End)
Status: Picked up for series
Why I'm Interested: So. I'll be honest, the plot is kind of meh in my opinion. Even though it is so obviously a crime drama--which, if you know me, is within my wheelhouse, there's just something about this project that screams complete melodrama. Especially if, Hayley Atwell's character is going to be blackmailed for the start of this. And people being forced to do things because of blackmail as a plot point always annoys the shit out of me, so I'm not anticipating that. But, since Agent Carter got cancelled, I'm going to miss seeing Hayley Atwell on my screen. I am not anticipating, what it seems, like her American accent, because ugh, why can't we explain these kinds of things away with a one liner--"I studied in the UK for some reason or another." I am also really excited to see Shawn Ashmore on my screen, because I'm a fan of him and his brother, and I haven't seen anything by either of them in a long while.
Extra:
- Notorious (drama)
Summary: Inspired by the true-life stories of famed criminal defense attorney Mark Geragos and cable news producer Wendy Walker, the series is a provocative look at the unique, sexy, and dangerous interplay of criminal law and the media.
Team: Josh Berman and Allie Hagan will write and executive-produce with Geragos, Wendy Walker, Kenny Meiselas, Brian Gersh, Jeff Kwatinetz, and Josh Barry.
Cast: Daniel Sunjata (Graceland), Piper Perabo (Covert Affairs), Aimee Teegarden (Friday Night Lights), J. August Richards (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Ryan Guzman (Heroes Reborn), Kevin Zegers (Gracepoint), Kate Jennings Grant (Alpha House), Sepideh Moafi (Black Box), guest star Dilshad Vadsaria (Revenge, Greek)
Status: Picked up for series
Why I'm Interested: This was actually below my top 15, but seeing as how two of my choices were not greenlit, I had to add in two more. And this one, I'm excited solely to see two actors I enjoy--Piper Perabo who I did watch in Cover Affairs and of course, the great movie, Coyote Ugly, and J. August Richards (Agents and Angel). I guess I don't have much of an idea really of where this drama is going to go. I usually hold off my hopes for dramas until I've seen 1) the buzz for the show, and 2) the trailer. The little teaser we got below doesn't quite reveal where this drama is heading, but I'm at least interested in what we're going to get.
Extra:
ii. CBS: Bull, Drew, The Great Indoors, The Kicker, My Time/Your Time
- Bull (drama)
Summary: Inspired by the early career of Dr. Phil McGraw during his days as head of one of the most prolific trial consulting firms of all time.
Team: Paul Attanasio and Phil McGraw will write and executive-produce with Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank and Jay McGraw.
Cast: Michael Weatherly (NCIS), Freddy Rodriguez (The Night Shift), Geneva Carr (Law & Order: SVU), Christopher Jackson (Broadway’s Hamilton), Jaime Lee Kirchner (Mercy)
Status: Picked up for series
Why I'm Interested: God, most of the dramas on this list, I'm only vaguely interested. If you know me at all, you'll know I've loved NCIS for years and a large part of that is due to Michael Weatherly, so following him to this project is kind of a no brainer. But legal dramas are kind of my least favorite type of television (tied for medical dramas honestly--which is hilarious since I am watching Chicago Med at the moment, but whatever). So unless the first two or three eps are interesting enough to keep me watching for the rest of its run, this is largely a, "well, hope you have a good new project and I'll at least check out the first ep."
- Drew (drama)
Summary: A contemporary take on the character from the iconic Nancy Drew book series. Now in her 30s, Nancy (Sarah Shahi) is a detective for the NYPD where she investigates and solves crimes using her uncanny observational skills, all while navigating the complexities of life in a modern world.
Team: Tony Phelan and Joan Rater will write and executive-produce with Dan Jinks.
Cast: Sarah Shahi (Person of Interest), Anthony Edwards (ER), Felix Solis (The Following), Vanessa Ferlito (Graceland), Steve Kazee (Shameless), Debra Monk (Grey’s Anatomy), Rob McClure
Why I'm Interested: OKAY. This is the first one where I'm going to say, YES I AM SUPER DAMN EXCITED FOR THIS PLOT. I always loved Nancy Drew since I was a kid, and it's honestly really amazing they hadn't done some kind of project with Nancy Drew. But now is better than never!!! I am excited for them to use New York as a backdrop (hopefully they'll actually film here >.>), and I genuinely love Sarah Shahi, so I'm so happy that she is the one that's going to be portraying Nancy. I looked up Tony Phelan and Joan Rater and they're most notable for their work on Grey's Anatomy, so I'm not entirely sure what to expect in terms of tone or style, but my fingers are crossed.
- The Great Indoors (comedy)
Summary: An adventure reporter (Joel McHale) must adapt to the times when he becomes the boss to a group of millennials in the digital department of the magazine.
Team: Mike Gibbons will write and executive-produce.
Cast: Joel McHale (Community), Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Kick-Ass), Stephen Fry (Bones), Susannah Fielding, Shaun Brown
Status: Picked up for series
Why I'm Interested: The combination of cast and plot really wins this one for me. Joel McHale, STEPHEN FRY. A show about a magazine department, and the fact that it's a group of millennials. Can you guess how much this appeals to my current state of mind? I feel like this was almost made for me.
- The Kicker (comedy)
Summary: An oddball athlete (Geoff Stults) drives his family, friends and strangers insane after he unexpectedly finds himself cut from his professional football team.
Team: Jack Burditt will write and executive-produce with Tina Fey and Robert Carlock.
Cast: Geoff Stults (Enlisted), David Spade (Rules of Engagement), Joanna Garcia Swisher (Once Upon a Time), J.B. Smoove (Curb Your Enthusiasm)
Why I'm Interested: This one is more towards the cast than plot. Also this narrowly was added to the list, just like I mentioned for Notorious, this was an addition due to the two that were dropped. I really like Geoff Stults, and I had really wished Enlisted had gotten way more love than it did, because it was completely endearing and so cute and the cast had been awesome. I also really love Joanna Garcia Swisher, and I feel bad for her because I can't think of a single show where she's been able to keep going. But my fingers are crossed!
- My Time/Your Time (comedy)
Summary: Based on the web series 7P/10E by Avital Ash, the comedy chronicles the relationship of a young couple (Nicholas Braun, Jane Levy) as they begin dating long distance.
Team: Hilary Winston will write and executive-produce with Carter Bays, Craig Thomas and Pam Fryman.
Cast: Jane Levy (Suburgatory), Nicholas Braun (10 Things I Hate About You), Tone Bell (Truth Be Told), Izzie Steele
Why I'm Interested: I'm really trepidatious to be excited for a Bays and Thomas show especially with the how How I Met Your Mother ended, but I watched the original webseries this is based on (I link to the first episode below) and I thought it was such an endearing show, and when I'd first heard it was being made into a series, I was so excited! And while HIMYM did end in a disappointing matter, it was pretty damn good for most of its airing, so I suppose they know what they're doing comedy-wise. That said, I am wondering how they're going to portray it. It made sense in 5 minutes or so in webcam way, but I wonder how they're going to illustrate this relationship on a regular 20+ episode run.
Extra:
First episode of the webseries this is based off!
iii. The CW: Frequency, No Tomorrow, Riverdale
- Frequency (drama)
Summary: In this reimagining of the New Line Cinema film, a female police detective in 2016 discovers she is able to speak via a ham radio with her estranged father (also a detective) who died in 1996. They forge a new relationship while working together on an unresolved murder case, but unintended consequences of the “butterfly effect” wreak havoc in the present day.
Team: Jeremy Carver will write and executive-produce with Toby Emmerich, John Rickard, Dan Lin and Jennifer Gwartz.
Cast: Peyton List (The Flash, The Tomorrow People), Riley Smith (Nashville), Mekhi Phifer (ER), Lenny Jacobson (Nurse Jackie), Anthony Ruivivar (Banshee, American Horror Story), Devin Kelley (Resurrection), Daniel Bonjour (The Walking Dead)
Status: Picked up for series
Why I'm Interested: This one is pure plot. I am definitely interested in where this show is going to go, and once again, it seems like a crime drama, which is my favorite genre so I'm all in. Also, CW has been picking some interesting shows so I'm hoping they're going to have that resurgence that they're definitely aiming for.
- No Tomorrow (drama)
Summary: When a risk-averse, straight arrow, female procurement manager at an Amazon-like distribution center falls in love with a freewheeling man who lives life to the fullest because he believes the apocalypse is imminent, to comedic and poignant results they embark on a quest together to fulfill their individual bucket lists.
Team: Corinne Brinkerhoff, Scott McCabe and Tory Stanton will write and executive-produce with Ben Silverman.
Cast: Tori Anderson (The L.A. Complex), Joshua Sasse (Galavant), Amy Pietz (The Nine Lives of Chloe King), Sarayu Blue (The Real O’Neals), Jesse Rath (Defiance)
Status: Picked up for series
Why I'm Interested: Honestly, why not? I'm pretty sure this is one of two romances I have on my list (I think? I can't be bothered to scroll through this again), so this seems interesting. I'm all about opposites attracting. Also, bucket lists!!! Doing things that you've been meaning to, but haven't yet? YES. This is definitely something I'm interested in.
- Riverdale (drama)
Summary: Set in present-day and based on the iconic Archie Comics characters, Riverdale is a surprising and subversive take on Archie (KJ Apa), Betty (Lili Reinhart), Veronica (Camila Mendes), and their friends, exploring the surrealism of small town life - the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale’s wholesome façade.
Team: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa will write and executive-produce with Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter ad Jon Goldwater.
Cast: KJ Apa, Cole Sprouse (The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody), Lili Reinhart (Surviving Jack), Luke Perry (Beverly Hills, 90210), Mädchen Amick (Witches of East End), Marisol Nichols (Teen Wolf, 24), Camila Mendes, Ashleigh Murray, Madelaine Petsch, recurring stars Ross Butler, Daniel Yang and Cody Kearsley
Status: Picked up for series
Why I'm Interested: This one is a no-brainer for me. I have loved the Archie comics since I was a kid. My sisters and I even used to collect them, using what little of our allowances to continuously buy them for the local magazine shop. I'm pretty sure we were the reason they kept restocking those comics, lol. I don't know how popular they really are nowadays, but I am definitely excited to see what this will involve. It sounds a little darker than I'm used to, but maybe that'll make it work for the screen.
iv. FOX: Making History, [Untitled Laura Steinel comedy--dropped]
- Making History (comedy)
Summary: Three friends find a way to travel through time for truth, justice, and riches, which complicates their lives in 2016. They visit some of the greatest moments of the past as they try to resolve their personal problems, while history and pop culture comically collide.
Team: Julius Sharpe will write and executive-produce with Phil Lord and Chris Miller.
Cast: Adam Pally (The Mindy Project), Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl), Yassir Lester (The Carmichael Show)
Status: Picked up for series
Why I'm Interested: This one is cast first, and then the plot. I loved Adam Pally on The Mindy Project and even though I only watched about half a season of Gossip Girl, Leighton Meester was definitely the standout for me. So, I am curious to see what their chemistry will be like. The plot itself is okay, but I'm half worried that they'll skew with history a bit too much, so I'm wondering how faithful they really will be.
- Untitled Laura Steinel comedy (comedy)
Summary: A half-hour workplace comedy that centers around Jane (Judy Greer), who is caught between trying to manage her charmingly incompetent human resources department and a new eccentric CEO who dreams of bringing the New Jersey plastics plant into the future.
Team: Laura Steinel will write and executive-produce with Sue Naegle and Jeff Schaffer.
Cast: Judy Greer (Married), Patton Oswalt (King of Queens), Esai Morales (The Brink, NYPD Blue), Jon Daly (Family Guy), Veronica Osorio (Hail Caesar!), Lateefah Holder, Milana Vayntrub
Status: DDDDDDD: Just saw this was passed over damn.
v. NBC: This Is Us, The Good Place, Great News, Powerless, [Crunch Time/Time Crunch--dropped]
- This Is Us (dramedy)
Summary: From the writer and director of Crazy, Stupid, Love, a dramedy about a unique ensemble of characters who share the same birthday.
Team: Dan Fogelman will write and executive-produce with Charlie Gogolak, Jess Rosenthal, John Requa and Glenn Ficara.
Cast: Mandy Moore (Red Band Society), Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes), Justin Hartley (Revenge), Sterling Brown (Army Wives), Ron Cephas Jones (Mr. Robot), Chrissy Metz, Susan Kelechi Watson
Status: Picked up for series
Why I'm Interested: Okay, so while in my head, I know this is going to be a dramedy (which is a fucking genre name that I kind of despise for no reason other than it's usually more drama than comedy), the fact that this is being written by Dan Fogelman who did Crazy, Stupid, Love, which I LOVED, and Tangled makes me so hope so hard this is going to be cute and comedic and with sprinklings of drama, not the other way around. (That said, the fact that one of the shots seen in the link below seem to have Mandy Moore in a hospital room does not bode well.) And speaking of Mandy Moore, THE FACT THAT SHE'S IN THE CAST MAKES ME WANT TO SEE THIS NOW. I mean, I love her. I've loved her since she was a popstar, since A Walk To Remember. Since forever. I also really like Milo Ventimiglia from Heroes and Gilmore Girls (even though Jess was far from my favorite). And JUSTIN HARTLEY FROM SMALLVILLE. So, yes. I am in for this cast.
Extra: First Look Photos
- The Good Place (comedy)
Summary: Centers on Eleanor, a woman from New Jersey who comes to realize that she hasn’t been a very good person. She decides to turn over a new leaf by learning what it actually means to be “good” or “bad,” and then trying to make up for her past behavior.
Team: Mike Schur will write and executive-produce with David Miner.
Cast: Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars), Ted Danson (CSI: Cyber), Manny Jacinto (The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story), William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil, D’Arcy Carden
Status: 13-episode straight to series order
Why I'm Interested: Okay, first of all, this must've been one hell of a pilot, because not only did it get a pilot order, IT GOT A STRAIGHT 13 EPISODE ORDER? Like, none of the shows so far have gotten such high praise, so I'm curious where this is going to go because, honestly, that tagline isn't much of anything to me. But this is being written by Mike Schur who wrote for The Office and Parks & Rec, so he definitely has a good record. I'm hopeful because I love Kristen Bell, and I do not watch House of Lies so I need something to get her on my screen more regularly.
Extra: First Look Photos
- Great News (comedy)
Summary: An already inseparable mother/daughter relationship becomes more complicated when mom accepts an internship at her daughter’s workplace.
Team: Tracey Wigfield will write and executive-produce with Tina Fey, Robert Carlock, David Minder, and Beth McCarthy Miller.
Cast: Adam Campbell (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Mixology), Briga Heelan (Undateable), Andrea Martin (Difficult People), Kimrie Lewis-Davis (Scandal)
Why I'm Interested: So cast wins me with this one: I'm here first for Briga Heelan who I actually am following from Ground Floor and then for Adam Campbell who I recognize from Mixology. I'm slightly worried that the concept is going to be cringe, but I do enjoy office comedies (despite not having watched that many of them lol), so I'm curious to see where this will go. Plus, I get the feeling that the mother/daughter relationship is going to make me wibble to no end, because I'm me, and family dynamics are always my weakspot.
- Powerless (comedy)
Summary: Set in the DC Comics universe full of superheroes, villains, and people just like us, Powerless is an office comedy about the exceedingly average employees at an insurance company and their quest to find their own power.
Further Summary: Vanessa Hudgens plays Emily, a spunky young insurance adjuster specializing in regular-people coverage against damage caused by the crime-fighting superheroes. It’s when she stands up to one of these larger-than-life figures (after an epic battle messes with her commute) that she accidentally becomes a cult “hero” in her own right … even if it’s just to her group of lovably quirky co-workers. Now, while she navigates her normal, everyday life against an explosive backdrop, Emily might just discover that being a hero doesn’t always require superpowers.
Team: Ben Queen will write and executive-produce with Michael Patrick Jann.
Cast: Vanessa Hudgens (Grease: Live), Danny Pudi (Community), Alan Tudyk (Suburgatory, Firefly), Christina Kirk.
Status: Picked up for series
Why I'm Interested: This is the other no-brainer. I am already obsessed with most superhero things (I'm pretty sure that other than the Marvel Netflix shows, which I'm only just behind in, and not never watching, I am watching EVERY SINGLE FUCKING SHOW--MARVEL AND DC ALIKE, fucking shit), so the fact that this is related to that universe is already gold. In addition, the fact that this is about "regular people" living in a fantastical world, I AM ALREADY LIKE WHERE ARE THE FIRST 3 SEASONS BECAUSE I AM IN DIRE NEED. Then we get the cast, and well. I'm almost positive this will get a full season pick-up. (Although I did just look up the writer and he did write A to Z and Cars 2, but um. Fingers crossed.)
Extra: First Look Photos
- Crunch Time (comedy)
Summary: Hybrid game show/comedy intercuts between a real game show and the scripted workplace that centers on an up-and-coming producer trying to wrangle the volatile host.
Team: Betsy Thomas will write and executive-produce with Phil Gurin and David Janollari.
Cast: Craig Ferguson (The Late Late Show), Andrea Anders (Better Off Ted), Kyle Howard (Royal Pains), Kellee Stewart (The Soul Man), Eugene Cordero (Comedy Bang! Bang!), Caitlin McGee
Status: DAMN IT I JUST SAW THIS WAS PASSED OVER. SO SAD.
Sources: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
And after a general skim at the list, my thoughts are: ABC definitely does not have enough interesting upcoming shows to justify them cancelling everything they did. CBS is and apparently always will be my most watched network (including my current shows). Shockingly (at least to me), NBC is #2 in that ranking. Fox is my least watched network (both currently and upcoming). And lastly, the CW's lineup is already full (they renewed basically everything they had currently airing), and now they have Supergirl moving from CBS and already greenlit three new shows (all three of which I'm interested in), so WHERE ARE ALL THESE SHOWS GOING TO GO (in regards to airing time)?
Anyway, here are the top 15 shows I hope they 1) greenlight (if it hasn't already been picked up) and 2) get at least half a season to breathe. (I was originally going to do top 10, but after looking at the list, there are too many actors I follow whose projects may seem meh, but who I want to see on my screen.)
These are ordered by network:
Note: You'll notice (or maybe not haha), if you're just counting the titles in the cut screen I have two extra titles--and that's because as I was typing this up, I realized that two of the pilots I'd chosen had actually ended up getting passed over which was disappointing. Still kept them around so we could collectively mourn the fact that they weren't chosen. DDDDD: craigyfergggggggg
i. ABC: Conviction, Notorious
- Conviction (drama)
Summary: Conviction tells the story of Carter Morrison (Hayley Atwell), the brilliant but ne’er-do-well daughter of a former president, who is blackmailed into taking a job as the head of Los Angeles’ newly created Conviction Integrity Unit. She, along with her team of lawyers, investigators, and forensic experts, work together to examine cases where there’s credible suspicion that the wrong person may have been convicted of a crime.
Further Summary: Lawyer and former First Daughter Hayes Morrison (Atwell) is about to accept a job offered from her sexy nemesis, NY District Attorney Wayne Wallis, to avoid jail time for cocaine possession and avoid hurting her mother’s Senate campaign. Working with his team at the new Conviction Integrity Unit will let her use her brilliant mind to turn over cases where there is credible suspicion of wrongful conviction, and give her a chance to turn things around with her high-powered political family.
Team: Liz Friedman will write and executive-produce with Mark Gordon, Nicholas Pepper, and Liz Friedlander, who will helm the pilot.
Cast: Hayley Atwell (Marvel’s Agent Carter), Eddie Cahill (CSI: NY), Shawn Ashmore (The Following), Emily Kinney (The Walking Dead), Manny Montana (Graceland), Merrin Dungey (Alias, Once Upon a Time), Daniel DiTomasso (Witches of East End)
Status: Picked up for series
Why I'm Interested: So. I'll be honest, the plot is kind of meh in my opinion. Even though it is so obviously a crime drama--which, if you know me, is within my wheelhouse, there's just something about this project that screams complete melodrama. Especially if, Hayley Atwell's character is going to be blackmailed for the start of this. And people being forced to do things because of blackmail as a plot point always annoys the shit out of me, so I'm not anticipating that. But, since Agent Carter got cancelled, I'm going to miss seeing Hayley Atwell on my screen. I am not anticipating, what it seems, like her American accent, because ugh, why can't we explain these kinds of things away with a one liner--"I studied in the UK for some reason or another." I am also really excited to see Shawn Ashmore on my screen, because I'm a fan of him and his brother, and I haven't seen anything by either of them in a long while.
Extra:
Click to view- Notorious (drama)
Summary: Inspired by the true-life stories of famed criminal defense attorney Mark Geragos and cable news producer Wendy Walker, the series is a provocative look at the unique, sexy, and dangerous interplay of criminal law and the media.
Team: Josh Berman and Allie Hagan will write and executive-produce with Geragos, Wendy Walker, Kenny Meiselas, Brian Gersh, Jeff Kwatinetz, and Josh Barry.
Cast: Daniel Sunjata (Graceland), Piper Perabo (Covert Affairs), Aimee Teegarden (Friday Night Lights), J. August Richards (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Ryan Guzman (Heroes Reborn), Kevin Zegers (Gracepoint), Kate Jennings Grant (Alpha House), Sepideh Moafi (Black Box), guest star Dilshad Vadsaria (Revenge, Greek)
Status: Picked up for series
Why I'm Interested: This was actually below my top 15, but seeing as how two of my choices were not greenlit, I had to add in two more. And this one, I'm excited solely to see two actors I enjoy--Piper Perabo who I did watch in Cover Affairs and of course, the great movie, Coyote Ugly, and J. August Richards (Agents and Angel). I guess I don't have much of an idea really of where this drama is going to go. I usually hold off my hopes for dramas until I've seen 1) the buzz for the show, and 2) the trailer. The little teaser we got below doesn't quite reveal where this drama is heading, but I'm at least interested in what we're going to get.
Extra:
ii. CBS: Bull, Drew, The Great Indoors, The Kicker, My Time/Your Time
- Bull (drama)
Summary: Inspired by the early career of Dr. Phil McGraw during his days as head of one of the most prolific trial consulting firms of all time.
Team: Paul Attanasio and Phil McGraw will write and executive-produce with Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank and Jay McGraw.
Cast: Michael Weatherly (NCIS), Freddy Rodriguez (The Night Shift), Geneva Carr (Law & Order: SVU), Christopher Jackson (Broadway’s Hamilton), Jaime Lee Kirchner (Mercy)
Status: Picked up for series
Why I'm Interested: God, most of the dramas on this list, I'm only vaguely interested. If you know me at all, you'll know I've loved NCIS for years and a large part of that is due to Michael Weatherly, so following him to this project is kind of a no brainer. But legal dramas are kind of my least favorite type of television (tied for medical dramas honestly--which is hilarious since I am watching Chicago Med at the moment, but whatever). So unless the first two or three eps are interesting enough to keep me watching for the rest of its run, this is largely a, "well, hope you have a good new project and I'll at least check out the first ep."
- Drew (drama)
Summary: A contemporary take on the character from the iconic Nancy Drew book series. Now in her 30s, Nancy (Sarah Shahi) is a detective for the NYPD where she investigates and solves crimes using her uncanny observational skills, all while navigating the complexities of life in a modern world.
Team: Tony Phelan and Joan Rater will write and executive-produce with Dan Jinks.
Cast: Sarah Shahi (Person of Interest), Anthony Edwards (ER), Felix Solis (The Following), Vanessa Ferlito (Graceland), Steve Kazee (Shameless), Debra Monk (Grey’s Anatomy), Rob McClure
Why I'm Interested: OKAY. This is the first one where I'm going to say, YES I AM SUPER DAMN EXCITED FOR THIS PLOT. I always loved Nancy Drew since I was a kid, and it's honestly really amazing they hadn't done some kind of project with Nancy Drew. But now is better than never!!! I am excited for them to use New York as a backdrop (hopefully they'll actually film here >.>), and I genuinely love Sarah Shahi, so I'm so happy that she is the one that's going to be portraying Nancy. I looked up Tony Phelan and Joan Rater and they're most notable for their work on Grey's Anatomy, so I'm not entirely sure what to expect in terms of tone or style, but my fingers are crossed.
- The Great Indoors (comedy)
Summary: An adventure reporter (Joel McHale) must adapt to the times when he becomes the boss to a group of millennials in the digital department of the magazine.
Team: Mike Gibbons will write and executive-produce.
Cast: Joel McHale (Community), Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Kick-Ass), Stephen Fry (Bones), Susannah Fielding, Shaun Brown
Status: Picked up for series
Why I'm Interested: The combination of cast and plot really wins this one for me. Joel McHale, STEPHEN FRY. A show about a magazine department, and the fact that it's a group of millennials. Can you guess how much this appeals to my current state of mind? I feel like this was almost made for me.
- The Kicker (comedy)
Summary: An oddball athlete (Geoff Stults) drives his family, friends and strangers insane after he unexpectedly finds himself cut from his professional football team.
Team: Jack Burditt will write and executive-produce with Tina Fey and Robert Carlock.
Cast: Geoff Stults (Enlisted), David Spade (Rules of Engagement), Joanna Garcia Swisher (Once Upon a Time), J.B. Smoove (Curb Your Enthusiasm)
Why I'm Interested: This one is more towards the cast than plot. Also this narrowly was added to the list, just like I mentioned for Notorious, this was an addition due to the two that were dropped. I really like Geoff Stults, and I had really wished Enlisted had gotten way more love than it did, because it was completely endearing and so cute and the cast had been awesome. I also really love Joanna Garcia Swisher, and I feel bad for her because I can't think of a single show where she's been able to keep going. But my fingers are crossed!
- My Time/Your Time (comedy)
Summary: Based on the web series 7P/10E by Avital Ash, the comedy chronicles the relationship of a young couple (Nicholas Braun, Jane Levy) as they begin dating long distance.
Team: Hilary Winston will write and executive-produce with Carter Bays, Craig Thomas and Pam Fryman.
Cast: Jane Levy (Suburgatory), Nicholas Braun (10 Things I Hate About You), Tone Bell (Truth Be Told), Izzie Steele
Why I'm Interested: I'm really trepidatious to be excited for a Bays and Thomas show especially with the how How I Met Your Mother ended, but I watched the original webseries this is based on (I link to the first episode below) and I thought it was such an endearing show, and when I'd first heard it was being made into a series, I was so excited! And while HIMYM did end in a disappointing matter, it was pretty damn good for most of its airing, so I suppose they know what they're doing comedy-wise. That said, I am wondering how they're going to portray it. It made sense in 5 minutes or so in webcam way, but I wonder how they're going to illustrate this relationship on a regular 20+ episode run.
Extra:
First episode of the webseries this is based off!
iii. The CW: Frequency, No Tomorrow, Riverdale
- Frequency (drama)
Summary: In this reimagining of the New Line Cinema film, a female police detective in 2016 discovers she is able to speak via a ham radio with her estranged father (also a detective) who died in 1996. They forge a new relationship while working together on an unresolved murder case, but unintended consequences of the “butterfly effect” wreak havoc in the present day.
Team: Jeremy Carver will write and executive-produce with Toby Emmerich, John Rickard, Dan Lin and Jennifer Gwartz.
Cast: Peyton List (The Flash, The Tomorrow People), Riley Smith (Nashville), Mekhi Phifer (ER), Lenny Jacobson (Nurse Jackie), Anthony Ruivivar (Banshee, American Horror Story), Devin Kelley (Resurrection), Daniel Bonjour (The Walking Dead)
Status: Picked up for series
Why I'm Interested: This one is pure plot. I am definitely interested in where this show is going to go, and once again, it seems like a crime drama, which is my favorite genre so I'm all in. Also, CW has been picking some interesting shows so I'm hoping they're going to have that resurgence that they're definitely aiming for.
- No Tomorrow (drama)
Summary: When a risk-averse, straight arrow, female procurement manager at an Amazon-like distribution center falls in love with a freewheeling man who lives life to the fullest because he believes the apocalypse is imminent, to comedic and poignant results they embark on a quest together to fulfill their individual bucket lists.
Team: Corinne Brinkerhoff, Scott McCabe and Tory Stanton will write and executive-produce with Ben Silverman.
Cast: Tori Anderson (The L.A. Complex), Joshua Sasse (Galavant), Amy Pietz (The Nine Lives of Chloe King), Sarayu Blue (The Real O’Neals), Jesse Rath (Defiance)
Status: Picked up for series
Why I'm Interested: Honestly, why not? I'm pretty sure this is one of two romances I have on my list (I think? I can't be bothered to scroll through this again), so this seems interesting. I'm all about opposites attracting. Also, bucket lists!!! Doing things that you've been meaning to, but haven't yet? YES. This is definitely something I'm interested in.
- Riverdale (drama)
Summary: Set in present-day and based on the iconic Archie Comics characters, Riverdale is a surprising and subversive take on Archie (KJ Apa), Betty (Lili Reinhart), Veronica (Camila Mendes), and their friends, exploring the surrealism of small town life - the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale’s wholesome façade.
Team: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa will write and executive-produce with Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter ad Jon Goldwater.
Cast: KJ Apa, Cole Sprouse (The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody), Lili Reinhart (Surviving Jack), Luke Perry (Beverly Hills, 90210), Mädchen Amick (Witches of East End), Marisol Nichols (Teen Wolf, 24), Camila Mendes, Ashleigh Murray, Madelaine Petsch, recurring stars Ross Butler, Daniel Yang and Cody Kearsley
Status: Picked up for series
Why I'm Interested: This one is a no-brainer for me. I have loved the Archie comics since I was a kid. My sisters and I even used to collect them, using what little of our allowances to continuously buy them for the local magazine shop. I'm pretty sure we were the reason they kept restocking those comics, lol. I don't know how popular they really are nowadays, but I am definitely excited to see what this will involve. It sounds a little darker than I'm used to, but maybe that'll make it work for the screen.
iv. FOX: Making History, [Untitled Laura Steinel comedy--dropped]
- Making History (comedy)
Summary: Three friends find a way to travel through time for truth, justice, and riches, which complicates their lives in 2016. They visit some of the greatest moments of the past as they try to resolve their personal problems, while history and pop culture comically collide.
Team: Julius Sharpe will write and executive-produce with Phil Lord and Chris Miller.
Cast: Adam Pally (The Mindy Project), Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl), Yassir Lester (The Carmichael Show)
Status: Picked up for series
Why I'm Interested: This one is cast first, and then the plot. I loved Adam Pally on The Mindy Project and even though I only watched about half a season of Gossip Girl, Leighton Meester was definitely the standout for me. So, I am curious to see what their chemistry will be like. The plot itself is okay, but I'm half worried that they'll skew with history a bit too much, so I'm wondering how faithful they really will be.
- Untitled Laura Steinel comedy (comedy)
Summary: A half-hour workplace comedy that centers around Jane (Judy Greer), who is caught between trying to manage her charmingly incompetent human resources department and a new eccentric CEO who dreams of bringing the New Jersey plastics plant into the future.
Team: Laura Steinel will write and executive-produce with Sue Naegle and Jeff Schaffer.
Cast: Judy Greer (Married), Patton Oswalt (King of Queens), Esai Morales (The Brink, NYPD Blue), Jon Daly (Family Guy), Veronica Osorio (Hail Caesar!), Lateefah Holder, Milana Vayntrub
Status: DDDDDDD: Just saw this was passed over damn.
v. NBC: This Is Us, The Good Place, Great News, Powerless, [Crunch Time/Time Crunch--dropped]
- This Is Us (dramedy)
Summary: From the writer and director of Crazy, Stupid, Love, a dramedy about a unique ensemble of characters who share the same birthday.
Team: Dan Fogelman will write and executive-produce with Charlie Gogolak, Jess Rosenthal, John Requa and Glenn Ficara.
Cast: Mandy Moore (Red Band Society), Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes), Justin Hartley (Revenge), Sterling Brown (Army Wives), Ron Cephas Jones (Mr. Robot), Chrissy Metz, Susan Kelechi Watson
Status: Picked up for series
Why I'm Interested: Okay, so while in my head, I know this is going to be a dramedy (which is a fucking genre name that I kind of despise for no reason other than it's usually more drama than comedy), the fact that this is being written by Dan Fogelman who did Crazy, Stupid, Love, which I LOVED, and Tangled makes me so hope so hard this is going to be cute and comedic and with sprinklings of drama, not the other way around. (That said, the fact that one of the shots seen in the link below seem to have Mandy Moore in a hospital room does not bode well.) And speaking of Mandy Moore, THE FACT THAT SHE'S IN THE CAST MAKES ME WANT TO SEE THIS NOW. I mean, I love her. I've loved her since she was a popstar, since A Walk To Remember. Since forever. I also really like Milo Ventimiglia from Heroes and Gilmore Girls (even though Jess was far from my favorite). And JUSTIN HARTLEY FROM SMALLVILLE. So, yes. I am in for this cast.
Extra: First Look Photos
- The Good Place (comedy)
Summary: Centers on Eleanor, a woman from New Jersey who comes to realize that she hasn’t been a very good person. She decides to turn over a new leaf by learning what it actually means to be “good” or “bad,” and then trying to make up for her past behavior.
Team: Mike Schur will write and executive-produce with David Miner.
Cast: Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars), Ted Danson (CSI: Cyber), Manny Jacinto (The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story), William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil, D’Arcy Carden
Status: 13-episode straight to series order
Why I'm Interested: Okay, first of all, this must've been one hell of a pilot, because not only did it get a pilot order, IT GOT A STRAIGHT 13 EPISODE ORDER? Like, none of the shows so far have gotten such high praise, so I'm curious where this is going to go because, honestly, that tagline isn't much of anything to me. But this is being written by Mike Schur who wrote for The Office and Parks & Rec, so he definitely has a good record. I'm hopeful because I love Kristen Bell, and I do not watch House of Lies so I need something to get her on my screen more regularly.
Extra: First Look Photos
- Great News (comedy)
Summary: An already inseparable mother/daughter relationship becomes more complicated when mom accepts an internship at her daughter’s workplace.
Team: Tracey Wigfield will write and executive-produce with Tina Fey, Robert Carlock, David Minder, and Beth McCarthy Miller.
Cast: Adam Campbell (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Mixology), Briga Heelan (Undateable), Andrea Martin (Difficult People), Kimrie Lewis-Davis (Scandal)
Why I'm Interested: So cast wins me with this one: I'm here first for Briga Heelan who I actually am following from Ground Floor and then for Adam Campbell who I recognize from Mixology. I'm slightly worried that the concept is going to be cringe, but I do enjoy office comedies (despite not having watched that many of them lol), so I'm curious to see where this will go. Plus, I get the feeling that the mother/daughter relationship is going to make me wibble to no end, because I'm me, and family dynamics are always my weakspot.
- Powerless (comedy)
Summary: Set in the DC Comics universe full of superheroes, villains, and people just like us, Powerless is an office comedy about the exceedingly average employees at an insurance company and their quest to find their own power.
Further Summary: Vanessa Hudgens plays Emily, a spunky young insurance adjuster specializing in regular-people coverage against damage caused by the crime-fighting superheroes. It’s when she stands up to one of these larger-than-life figures (after an epic battle messes with her commute) that she accidentally becomes a cult “hero” in her own right … even if it’s just to her group of lovably quirky co-workers. Now, while she navigates her normal, everyday life against an explosive backdrop, Emily might just discover that being a hero doesn’t always require superpowers.
Team: Ben Queen will write and executive-produce with Michael Patrick Jann.
Cast: Vanessa Hudgens (Grease: Live), Danny Pudi (Community), Alan Tudyk (Suburgatory, Firefly), Christina Kirk.
Status: Picked up for series
Why I'm Interested: This is the other no-brainer. I am already obsessed with most superhero things (I'm pretty sure that other than the Marvel Netflix shows, which I'm only just behind in, and not never watching, I am watching EVERY SINGLE FUCKING SHOW--MARVEL AND DC ALIKE, fucking shit), so the fact that this is related to that universe is already gold. In addition, the fact that this is about "regular people" living in a fantastical world, I AM ALREADY LIKE WHERE ARE THE FIRST 3 SEASONS BECAUSE I AM IN DIRE NEED. Then we get the cast, and well. I'm almost positive this will get a full season pick-up. (Although I did just look up the writer and he did write A to Z and Cars 2, but um. Fingers crossed.)
Extra: First Look Photos
- Crunch Time (comedy)
Summary: Hybrid game show/comedy intercuts between a real game show and the scripted workplace that centers on an up-and-coming producer trying to wrangle the volatile host.
Team: Betsy Thomas will write and executive-produce with Phil Gurin and David Janollari.
Cast: Craig Ferguson (The Late Late Show), Andrea Anders (Better Off Ted), Kyle Howard (Royal Pains), Kellee Stewart (The Soul Man), Eugene Cordero (Comedy Bang! Bang!), Caitlin McGee
Status: DAMN IT I JUST SAW THIS WAS PASSED OVER. SO SAD.
Sources: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4