3rd UPDATE: Fox Sitcom 'Back To You' Cancelled; 'The Inn' Picked Up
2nd UPDATE: I've just been told that The Inn (20th Century Fox TV / Reveille / Principato-Young Entertainment) was given the go-ahead by Fox to meet writers. I'm not sure if they can hire yet, "but it's looking good," a source explains. Directed by Jason Bateman, the pilot "is indeed good at FBC, and it screened best." Bruce Helford is gone from the Bernie Mac starrer Starting Under (WBTV / Mohawk), so the Fox comedy now needs a new showrunner. "The pilot stinks, but they want Bernie on air," a source explains. And the sitcom My Best Friend's Girl (Sony Pictures TV) is "heavy in the mix of CBS half-hours." Also, NBC isn't making any changes in its already announced schedule at Monday's upfront.
UPDATE: I am told that Life On Mars (20th Century Fox TV) is getting completely recast and reshot except for Jason O'Mara. But ABC has ordered the drama pilot nonetheless. Amazing, and it's not even clear if David E Kelley will stay with it. I am also told that two ABC comedy pilots, The More Things Change (Regency) and the Untitled Cedric The Entertainer (ABC TV Studios), are dead at the network.
To date my April 24th "Hot List" of primetime pilots is holding up. But one alarming trend I'm seeing is that Big Media is demonstrating even more reluctance than usual to develop pilots their studios and networks don't own. This is yet one more reason so many primetime scripted series fail. Here are my updates:
ABC COMEDIES
The fact is that most of ABC's new stuff will need to go midseason because not only have few pilots yet been shot, but most are still only in the casting stage. Survivors are Stu Bloomberg's Bad Mother's Handbook (ABC TV Studios) in which Megan Mullally has now been cast opposite Alicia Silverstone, and the animated The Goode Family (Media Rights Capital) which has already gone into production on its 13-on-air commitment for 2009. Still awaiting more movement are previously touted This Might Hurt (20th Century Fox TV), Roman's Empire (CBS Paramount/Katalyst) and Nuclear Family (ABC TV Studios).
ABC DRAMAS
Captain Cook's Extraordinary Atlas (WBTV) has been given a huge budget. "It's this year's Pushing Daisies. It's very high concept and the network is very very high on it." Castle (ABC TV Studios/Beacon TV) and The Unusuals are still hanging in there. Prince Of Motor City (ABC TV Studios) has pulled ahead in terms of "really good buzz". What's new is that Life On Mars (20th Century Fox TV) has been shot and is said to be "definitely on the schedule" even though there's still no final decision whether David E Kelley will be leaving or not. Also Good Behavior (ABC TV Studios/South Pacific Pictures) has locked in comedienne Catherine O'Hara to star.
CBS COMEDIES
Nothing new with Single White Millionaire (WBTV) and Mike Birbiglia's Secret Public Journal (CBS Paramount/CBS), and both are still very viable.
CBS DRAMAS
Mythological Ex (CBS/20th Century Fox TV) is said to be a favorite of CBS execs who "really want it to work". WBTV/Jerry Bruckheimer's 11th Hour already has a 13-episode commitment. And The Mentalist (WBTV) is "looking good". No news about NY-LON (ABC TV Studios/Beacon TV). But thing are heading south for Can Openers (Sony Pictures TV). A newcomer to the list is Exit 19 (CBS Paramount/ABC TV Studios) since locked-in Geena Davis just happens to be Nina Tassler's longtime best friend.
CW DRAMAS
Both 90210 (CW/CBS Paramount) and How To Teach Filthy Rich Girls (WBTV/Alloy) have everyone saying they're locks.
FOX COMEDIES
WBTV/Wonderland's Spaced adapted from that British series is said to now have a "phenomenal cast". Cleveland (20th Century Fox TV) already has an order and Boldly Going Nowhere (20th Century Fox TV) already has a commitment. The Inn (20th Century Fox TV/ Reveille/Principato-Young Entertainment) is still getting great feedback.
FOX DRAMAS
WBTV/Bad Robot's Fringe from J.J. Abrams "tested really well". Joss Whedon's Dollhouse (20th Century Fox TV) looks like a lock. Paul Attanasio wroote a great pilot for Courtroom K (20th Century Fox/Heel & Toe Films), and the studio is now negotiating with Alfred Molina to star.
NBC COMEDIES
Nothing more to say about NBC's two new comedies Kath & Kim or The Office spin-off since both are already on the schedule.
NBC DRAMAS
Kings (Universal Media Studios) has already started production since it has a commitment along with My Own Worst Enemy (Universal Media Studios). The other drama, The Philanthropist (Universal Media Studios), is moving ahead and trying to find a new showrunner after writer-exec producer Tom Fontana left over creative differences.
I don’t see Mitch Hurwitz’s new cartoon among the FOX pickups. I wonder if that’s going to appear in the 2009 schedule. I guess FOX would rather greenlight-something from the Chief Manatee than the creator of Arrested Development.
Comment by Arrested Development Fan — May 9, 2008 @ 10:44 am
Never mind all this pilot discussion.
I just hope that the producer of the US version of Spaced leaves another comment on this blog that includes rants about the Internet and stomach churning discriptions of oral sex.
He’s the television professional with a fresh and edgy Fox attitude.
Comment by Tips — May 9, 2008 @ 10:46 am
Mike Birbiglia’s show has so much potential, the guy is the real deal. He’s hilarious and deserves everything coming his way. Let’s hope CBS doesn’t screw it up.
Comment by Duke Theodore — May 9, 2008 @ 11:54 am
Nothing on the Bernie Mac sitcom for Fox?
Comment by Foxy — May 9, 2008 @ 12:19 pm
This Might Hurt? The sitcom which has it’s biggest laugh when someone flies off a treadmill during a stress test? Really, no movement?
Comment by Alex — May 9, 2008 @ 12:30 pm
Some link luv for you, Nikki:
Tonight’s TV: Monopoly!
You’re terrific!
Comment by Mike Cane — May 9, 2008 @ 12:34 pm
Word is that Fox has passed on The Oaks. Odd considering they took part in a bidding war for it and picked it up with an episode order and large penalty attached. I wonder if the studio will be successful in trying to sell it elsewhere.
Comment by Mike — May 9, 2008 @ 1:32 pm
“How To Teach Filthy Rich Girls” has ben changed to “Surviving The Filthy Rich”. like that will make the show any better.
Comment by name withheld for obvious reasons — May 9, 2008 @ 4:08 pm
all I could think about while reading this article was this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP1C0zKcUy0
Comment by Camperton — May 9, 2008 @ 4:29 pm
save fox, not a project anyone can really get buzz around during upfronts. where will all that ad money go? if the networks make that other ‘net work, the internet.
caught you on “which way la” the other night, nikki. i appreciated your counterpoint to the studio shills. your opinion was very interesting, and i wish you had a dedicated editorial where you could talk like that more! thank you for fighting for the truth
Comment by tvstudioasst — May 9, 2008 @ 4:30 pm
I figured CDub’s Austin Golden Hour would have been a lock.
Comment by Andrew — May 9, 2008 @ 4:52 pm
I figured CDub’s Austin Golden Hour would have been a lock.
Comment by Andrew — May 9, 2008 @ 4:52 pm
it’s still being looked at. it’s gone through three name changes now but it hasn’t been dropped yet by the network.
Comment by name withheld for obvious reasons — May 10, 2008 @ 10:15 am
Thanks, name witheld for obvious reasons, for the info.
And I can’t blame them for the name changes. “Austin Golden Hour” is an aweful name.
I’m sad to see that “Harper’s Island” isn’t on the Eye’s list, but maybe it could still have a chance?
Comment by Andrew — May 10, 2008 @ 4:00 pm
Austin Golden Hour- Was the only new CW show I was looking forward too. The others sounds like more of Gossip Girl, and really how many shows about rich kids is gonna work. Talk about over kill. They need something different. But this is the CW and they are stupid.
Comment by TV Fan — May 10, 2008 @ 9:39 pm
“Single White Millionaire” is fresh and down to earth, it’s the funniest sitcom pilot I have seen in three years! It deserves a shot on the fall schedule.
Comment by Mr. Eagle — May 10, 2008 @ 10:30 pm
…STILL waiting for CBS to announce the status of The Unit. Guess I’ll just have to be patient until the Wed upfronts.
Comment by Becca — May 11, 2008 @ 9:05 am