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Happy Pilot season! Zap2it Pilot Roundup
Today we present you a zap2it tour of all the pilots in competition, categorized by networks. |
Welcome again to our "Happy pilot season" special.
More thani120 pilots, andionly a few will beipicked up.iBelow Slayerverse shows you allithe pilots in competionicategorized by networks. Whatido they networks need?imore comedies, more dramas?ihow many shows might theyipick up? Here's someiclues.
ABCForiseveral seasons, ABC's then-chairman Lloyd Braun keptisaying that the networkiwas on the path to recoveryiand that all itineeded was a monsterihit. Well, Brauniis gone, but his finalidevelopment seasoniat ABC yielded two legitimateinetwork-changingisuccesses in "Lost" andi"Desperate Housewives." Iniaddition, ABC has gottenisolid returnsifrom "Boston Legal"iand the alphabetinetwork has high hopes forispring dramas "Eyes" andi"Grey's Anatomy." As a result,iABC's development mantraithis spring is likelyito be "Can WeiDo Better?"
Can ABCifind a bettericomedy pairing thani"My Wife and Kids"iand "George Lopez" toilaunch Tuesdays?iWould another dramaiimprove on "Blind Justice"ias the "NYPD Blue" successor? AreiTGIF comedies an ideaiwhose time has past,ior are viewers just lookingifor something funnier? Would aidifferent drama hold more of thei"Desperate Housewives" audienceion Sundays? How about aidifferent dramairetaining "Lost" viewers oniWednesdays? And is there anythingiat all that ABC can do to getia foothold oniThursdays?
Takingiwhatilooks a bit likeia throw-everything-against-the-wall-and-see-what-sticksiapproach, ABC's comedy pilots feature movie stars (Heather Graham, Freddie Prinze Jr.), establishediTV stars (Fred Savage, ChrisiKattan, Julie Bowen) andieven a few theateristars (BernadetteiPeters, MarissaiJaret Winkour). While mostiof the sitcoms seem likeithey could be comfortablyipaired with "According to Jim," one or two --ilike a currently untitled highischool comedyistarring Peter Dinklage ("The StationiAgent") as an unconventionaliteacher -- seem a bitiriskier.
On the dramaiside, ABC could have as manyias three pilots from favoriteison J.J. Abrams.iOther writer-producersiwho are returning to ABC includeiRod Lurie, Shaun Cassidyiand the "thirtysomething"ipairing of Ed Zwick andiMarshall Herskovitz. The female-skewingi"Soccer Moms" and "Commanderiin Chief" seem like logicaliSunday night dramas, whileian air of the mysteriousimay help "Invasion" orithe an updated "Night Stalker"imake a sweet pairingiwith "Lost" at this network onithe rise.
 Pilots ordered
Comedy
Adopted
BobbyiCannon
Carol iPotter Gets a Life
Crumbs
Emily's iReason Why Not
HotiProperties
Joint Custody i
LongiIsland Sound
love ilife
Neighbors
PlayiDates
Red andiBlue
UntitlediTom Arnold
Untitled MelissaiEtheridge
UntitlediGoss/Holly
Untitled ChrisiKattan
UntitlediKlein/Winokur
Untitled FreddieiPrinze Jr. (slayerverse note : title is "Freddie")
Untitled LarryiReitzer
UntitlediSaget/Wayans
Untitled DoniTodd
drama
1/4life
Betty LaiFea
Commander iniChief
TheiEvidence
IniJustice
Introducing LennieiRose
Invasion
Lawsiof Chance
NightiStalker
Prosiand Cons
SocceriMoms (Gina Torres)
Westside
WhatiAbout Brian?
For additional informationsiabout ABC pilots, click here
CBS
For the season,iCBS isiaveraging 2.4 million viewersiper night more thanisecond place ABC. The network has also settled into second place amongiadults 18 to 49 and would be winning the all-importantidemographic if it weren't for that pesky "American Idol." Thus, for the second or third season in a row, CBS will have the ability to cancel, or at least delay,ishows that other networks would probably be happy to keepiaround. Think "The Guardian," or "Becker," or "Yes, Dear." The 9.8 million regular viewers for "JAG" or "Listen Up," or the 10.5 million fans of "Judging Amy" would satisfyian lower-ranking network, but CBS will almost certainly beitrying to find alternatives.
With "EverybodyiLoves Raymond" riding off into the sunset and "Two and a Half Men" likely moving up into its old 9 p.m. ET home, CBS will be looking for several comedies. Will the network see theireturn of Doogie (Neil Patrick Harris in "How I Met Your Mother") or Dawson (James Van Der Beek ini"Three") or The Fonz (Henry Winkler in an untitled comedy from "Frasier" vets Joe Keenan andiChristopher Lloyd)? Or, for the second year in a row, will CBS try milk Monday ratings from a "Seinfeld"ialum (Julia Louis-Dreyfus in "Old Christine").
CBS knows better than toibet against a Jerry Bruckheimer drama (the legal pilot "American Crime"), but the network also has aimedical procedural ("3 Lbs."), an FBI procedural ("Quantic") and another legal procedural ("Convinction").iPerhaps the most intriguing possibilities on CBS' slate are the special forces drama "The Unit" fromiDavid Mamet and Shawn Ryan ("The Shield") and a "Medium" copycat starring Jennifer Love Hewittias a newlywed who sees dead people.
With few holes to fill, CBS will probably only have room for three orifour new shows from this slate.
 Pilot ordered
Comedy
Everything I Know AboutiMen
How I Met YouriMother (Alyson Hannigan)
OldiChristine
StrolleriWars
Three
WashingtoniStreet
Untitled Rich AppeliProject
Untitled Susie EssmaniProject
Untitled Keenan/LloydiProject
Untitled Bobby KnightiProject
UntitlediBruckheimer/McCall Project
Drama
3 Lbs.
AmericaniCrime (Christian Kane)
Commutersi
Convictioni
Lancasteri
Love Monkeyi
Quanticoi
Thresholdi
TheiUnit (Amy Acker)
UntitlediDiamond/Weissman Project
UntitlediGray/Van Praagh Project (aka "Ghost Whisperer")
For additional informations about CBSipilots, click here
FOX"American Idol" and the Super Bowlihave saved FOX's bacon for this season,ias the network has rebounded from a dismalifall to claw its way back into the ratings race,iand even take the lead in its targetiadults 18-49 demographic. That's great for business and everything, but there are still some big, fat obnoxious holes to beiplugged, especially if the network sticksito its plans to offer up original programming year-round.
Granted, the well-done medical drama "House" has built itself into aibetter lead-out for the Tuesday "Idol"ithan "24" ever was. But it's the only seriesithe network has launched this seasonito crack the Top 50 in total viewers.iThe bottom 50, however, is heavilyipopulated with FOX shows ("The Complex: Malibu," "The Rebel Billionaire," "Jonny Zero,"i"My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss" ...).
It seems a given thatiFOX will rethink its strategy of filling the time between the World Series and the return of "Idol" withiquick-hitter unscripted shows, and the network has already said it will spread out its summer scheduleisome. The question in both instances then becomes, What fills that time? The all-over-the-map nature ofithe network's schedule makes it hard to guess, and the recent departure of entertainment presidentiGail Berman further muddies the picture.
Easier to see is the network's need to launch a show that will keepisome of "The O.C.'s" audience around on Thursdays -- both "North Shore" and "Point Pleasant" haveifailed in that regard -- and something, anything, that will bring a few viewers to Friday.i
The buzzing around pilots hasn't started yet, but just basedion who's involved, we wouldn't bet big againsticomedies "New Car Smell" (starring Brooke Shields, created by theibrothers who did "Lucky" for FX) and "Queen B" (Alicia Silverstone, "Seinfeld"/"Raymond" writeriJennifer Crittenden) or the drama "Prison Break" (which may be ready to go for summer). i
The female-centric "Amy Coyne" and the innovativelyistructured "Reunion," in which each episode will represent a year in the life of several high-schoolifriends, are potentially interesting as well. But really, trying to predict how FOX will map out nine monthsiof programming is a bit of a sucker's game.i
 Pilotiordered
Comedy
The Barenaked LadiesiVariety Show
Dirtbagsi
Don't Aski
Freebirdsi
GrandmasteriFreak & the Furious 15
KitcheniConfidential (Nicholas Brendon)
LonelyiIsland Guys
NewiCar Smelli
PeepiShow
Pool Guysi
Queen iBi
The War atiHome
UntitlediGluck/Brady Project
UntitlediOakley/Weinstein Project
Untitled Swenson/Lynch Projecti
Drama
AmyiCoynei
Anatomy of an Affairi
Bonesi(aka "Brennan") (David Boreanaz)
Briar & Graves (Elisabeth Rohm)i
Deviant Behaviori
HollywoodiVicei
House of Paynei
Murder Booki
Prison Breaki
Reunioni
Ticket to Ridei
UntitlediAugust/Mechner Project
UntitlediJablonski/Katims Project
Untitled WeddingiChapel Project (aka "Hitched")
For additional informationsiabout FOX pilots, click here
NBCMaybe it's the nearly 20 pilots the networkihas ordered for next season, or the fact that none of its current comedies are cracking the Nielsen top 30,ior the fact that pretty much no one is talking about the network's sitcoms these days -- at least not inia good way.
But we're figuring thaticomedy is a priority for NBC this development season.i
For the first time in a long time, the Peacock finds itself without aizeitgeist-capturing comedy, and it's clear that Kevin Reilly, who's coming up on his one-year anniversaryias head of NBC Entertainment, wants to change that. Hence the ordering of a whopping 20 comedy pilotsi-- compared to only a few dramas -- for what likely won't be more than a few spots in the schedule.i
There are comedies about a professional poker player/momi("All In," with Janeane Garofalo), a pro football player and his giant ego ("Dante"), disillusioned teachers ("Fillmore Middle") and a small-time crook whoigoes straight after winning the lottery ("My Name Is Earl," starring Jason Lee). Somewhere in there,iNBC hopes, is its next network-defining, "Cosby"/"Seinfeld"/"Friends"-like hit.
The drama side of things isilikely to be about hole-plugging. Finding a decent lead-in for "The West Wing" (the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced,iPentagon-set "E-Ring," perhaps) on Wednesdays and shoring up Sunday nights in the face of ABC'siemerging juggernaut would seem to be high priorities.
 Pilot ordered
Comedy
All In (aka "Deal")i
Blue Skiesi
Confessions of a Dogi
Dantei
Early Birdi
Fillmore Middlei
Four Kings (Seth Green)
HotiProperty
I Love Faron Hitchmani
Lies & the Wives We Tell Them Toi
Loved Ones (and Other People We Hate)i
My Name Is Earli
NoTORIousi
Thick and Thin i
Uncommon Sensei
The Weekendi
Untitled Tina Fey Projecti
Untitled Dave Flebotte Project i
Untitled Emily Kapnek Project i
Untitled DaniMazer Project
Drama
Book of Danieli
E-Ringi
Fathomi
Inconceivablei
World of Troublei
Untitled '70s Cop Show Projecti
For additional informationsiabout NBC pilots, click here
UPNUPN came out of development season last year withitwo of the most buzz-worthy dramas ("Kevin Hill," "Veronica Mars") and a comedy that looked like anieasy winner ("Second Time Around"). Well, "SecondiTime Around" didn't last past its initial order and both "Veronica Mars" and "Kevin Hill" are struggling toifind an audience and will be lucky to return.
For the second year in airow, UPN will probably try to use its one bona fide non-wrestling hit, "America's Next Top Model," toiencourage the young, female audience it seems to be craving. With the departure of "Star Trek:iEnterprise," UPN may need two or three dramas and whether fixating on twentysomethings in Miami,itwentysomethings in the Caribbean, twentysomethings in one neighborhood of Los Angeles or twentysomethings in another neighborhood of Los Angeles, whatever they pick is bound to skew youthful andisoapy.
Although the netlet's Monday and Tuesday comedies are down from lastiseason,
they're still steady and UPNiwon't be inclined to make many changes. With the proper casting, a semi-autobiographical comedyifrom Chris Rock would seem to be a good fit, as would a slightly fictionalized comedy starring BET host AJiCalloway.
 Pilot ordered
Comedyi
20 Things to Do Before You're 30i
Everybody Hates Chrisi
Friends in the AM i
The Show with AJ Callowayi
Wingwomani
Drama
Crazyi
The Studioi
South Beachi
Triangle (D.B. Woodside)i
Wildlifei
i
For additional informationsiabout UPN pilots, click here
The WBAt age 10, The WB says it's starting to move awayifrom the programming strategy of targeting people under 35, possibly -- or even probably -- to the exclusioniof anyone else. But how do you abandon the thing that has sustained you for your first decade ofiexistence?
That's the question the Frogimay begin to start answering as it picks through its crop of pilots for next season. Family-centered showsiin the mold of "7th Heaven" and "Reba" are out, for the most part, and in their place come a wholeibunch of variations on siblings and friends living or working together in The Big City. Hence, comediesiabout fraternal-twin sisters who are polar opposites and friends who hire a life coach, and dramas aboutiNew York college students, road-tripping supernatural detectives and a young lawyer and his on-the-skidsimentor.
Figuring out what will comeiof all this, though, is guesswork, as the network seems conflicted about where it wants to go. It still sellsithe kids to advertisers, but it says it wants everyone to watch. Single people and their friends are all overithe development slate, but the existing family shows are what draw the biggest audiences.i
It's undeniable, though, that the network needs something besides "Reba" on its comedy roster. That show has carved out a nice little niche for itself, but nothing else really has ("Blue Collar TV" has fadediafter a promising start). A format-bending show like "Nobody's Watching," from "Scrubs" creatoriBill Lawrence, sounds interesting, but where does the network put it?i
As for the dramas, there probably won't be much room on the schedule. The network professesito love "Jack & Bobby," but its ratings are anemic. Sunday nights could use a hand as well after the molehillithat was "The Mountain" this season.i
 Pilotiordered
Comedy
Best Laid Plansi
Bowi
GrowniMen
Liquid Generationi
Mindy and Brenda i
Nobody's Watchingi
Truei
Untitled Bruckheimer/McCall-Peters Project i
UntitlediKohan/Mutchnick Project
Untitled Ranberg/Flett-GiordanoiProject
Drama
Halley's Cometi(Sean Maher)
Pepper Dennisi
TheiPrince
Supernaturali
UntitlediFontana/Martin Project
Untitled Mermaid Projecti
Untitled Jonathan Shapiro Projecti
Untitled Liz Tucillo Projecti
Foriadditional informations about WB pilots, click here
If you missed our previous "Happy pilot season" specials:
08.05.05 Eonline Kristin about the pilots that might get picked up.
07.05.05 When do we find out? Network upfronts.
| | [by jademaliburoad (Zap2it/Self) ] [0 comments]
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