Know your 2009 pilots: The buzz at NBC
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It is anyone's guess at this point as to how NBC is going to deal with its shrunken schedule next fall -- including, presumably, a fair number of the people with shows currently on NBC.
Because the network is giving the 10 p.m. hour to Jay Leno every weeknight, NBC has a lot less room for comedies and dramas on the 2009-10 schedule. One current 10 o'clock show, "Law & Order: SVU," has already been renewed, and it seems likely that the solid performance of the new cop drama "Southland" will earn it some more episodes as well.
The network could go to a more cable-like model and schedule shorter seasons of some of its shows -- which could help on-the-bubble series like "Chuck" (for an eloquent plea on the need for a third season for that series), please read my colleague Alan Sepinwall's letter to the network) and opening up some spots for new shows as well.
NBC will be the first to announce its 2009-10 schedule at its "in-front" (rather than upfront) presentation on May 4 and 5 -- a mere two weeks from now. The first pilot buzz story appeared in The Hollywood Reporter on Monday (April 20), so for this edition of Know Your Pilots, I'm going to highlight the shows the trades are deeming buzzworthy at the moment, plus a couple more that sound like they could be worthwhile.
Will any of these be the show that helps lift NBC out of its fourth-place funk? Well ... there's nothing that screams "hit" on this list, but after a season filled mostly with remakes, retreads and half-baked concepts, it at least looks like the network is at least trying to return to the things -- well-written scripts and strong actors -- that made it strong in the past.
The buzzed-about shows
"Trauma"
What it is: A medical drama focusing on EMTs and doctors who are the first to administer care to trauma victims.
Why we're interested: The pilot reportedly is heavy on action, and with "ER" gone, a high-octane medical show could be welcome. The cast includes several likable actors, including Derek Luke, Kevin Rankin and Aimee Garcia. "Parenthood"
What it is: Ensemble family dramedy based loosely on the 1989 movie about four adult siblings, their own kids and their parents.
Why we're interested: It's another remake/update, sure, but it's got a really appealing cast -- Maura Tierney, Peter Krause, Erika Christensen, Craig T. Nelson and Bonnie Bedelia, among others -- and it's being written by "Friday Night Lights" showrunner Jason Katims.
"Off Duty"
What it is: Comedy about an unhinged cop (Bradley Whitford) and his straight-arrow new partner (Romany Malco).
Why we're interested: We like both lead actors a lot, and the idea of Whitford playing a little crazy could be quite a bit of fun.
"Community"
What it is: A comedy about a group of oddballs who are all enrolled at the same community college.
Why we're interested: Is this the show that finally catapults Joel McHale from "The Soup" to stardom? And will it be a further step in the career revival for Chevy Chase? We'll see, maybe.
"100 Questions for Charlotte Payne"
What it is: A comedy about a young woman living in New York; the "questions" frame each episode.
Why we're interested: We'd like to see the premise in action, and another female-centric comedy on TV would be nice too.
"Lost & Found"
What it is: Crime show about a detective who has to work cases involving anonymous victims.
Why we're interested: Katee Sackhoff as the detective and Brian Cox as her curmudgeonly partner. 'Nuff said.
A couple others
"Day One"
What it is: Drama about the residents of an apartment complex who survive a global disaster.
Why we're interested: We tend to be suckers for high-concept ideas like this one, and we like several of the people involved: Xander Berkeley, Julie Gonzalo, Catherine Dent and Carly Pope.
"Legally Mad"
What it is: David E. Kelley's latest, about a young lawyer (Charity Wakefield) who joins her dad's (Hugh Bonneville) firm.
Why we're interested: It promises the usual array of Kelley-esque eccentrics, played by the likes of Kristen Chenoweth, Loretta Devine and Kurt Fuller. The question is whether this will look and feel much different from previous DEK efforts.
Related:
Know your 2009 pilots: FOX edition, with guest star Earl Hickey
Know your 2009 pilots: Coming, perhaps, to CBS
Know your pilots: Coming soon (maybe) to ABC
Photos: The possible stars of 2009-10
Since I don't know the last time I watched NBC (I'm thinking Seinfeld), I can't believe how many of these shows I'd actually consider watching at least once to see how they are.
I love the Parenthood cast. Community and 100 Questions sound worth a look. Lost and Found, just like Parenthood, has an interesting cast. Day One may help fill the void left by Jericho. And with Loretta Devine, DEK may have me checking into Legally Mad (stupid title, in my opinion).
Of course most of these shows will most likely not by around at the "in fronts."
More losers on the upfront for NBC. I still believe a cleaning of the house in managament is needed and to take this network into a whole new direction. Silverman and Bromastad and Graboff seriously need to be let go and re-institute some form of energy back into this network before they finish close to 5th place. Seriously!
Did they cancel the pilot order for that legal comedy with Hillary Duff called "Barely Legal", because if they did, they made the right decision! I'm kind of interested in Parenthood, Legally Mad, and Trauma, but not Off Duty - they already have a cop show that is really excellent, SouthLAnd.
How's this for an ORIGINAL concept...KEEP ALL their current shows...Chuck and Life are among the BEST on TV...they could actually show RERUN FREE seasons...Chuck's 20 episodes followed by Life's 20 episodes...can you imagine...1st run episodes in January or April??? (of course it will NEVER happen!)
WTF? 7 seemingly hour long programs to fit into one remaining hour long slot? Is this a joke? Will Jay Leno introduce a program each night and then say goodbye after it's over? I think not. NBC = NoBody Cares.
i think this could be the yer nbc turns thinks around... abc is quickly on its way back down to the status it held in the late 90s.... nbc is ready for a rebirth.
"another female-centric comedy on TV would be nice too"
Are you fricken kidding me!?!
Kath and Kim
30 Rock
In the Motherhood
Parks and Recreation
Samantha Who?
Better off Ted (and don't say its got a male star. That show is written as the ideal fantasy work enviornment for women)
New Adventures of Old Christine
Desperate Houswives
Ugly Betty
And that's just off the top of my head.
Seriously, we can stop with the 'There aren't enough shows from a woman's point of view' act already!
"Life" is the best drama on television and anyone who reads this knows it's true. If it gets cancelled I'm going belt Leno one is the chops; is not everyone sick of his lame act? He's almost as bad as that predictable sellout Lettermen. "Life" rules!
Katee Sackhoff? I'd watch her read the frakkin phone book each week! Add Brian Cox...gold, Jerry! Gold!!!!
NBC has no hope of increasing it's audience share next season. The dumping of 5 hours of quality scripted programming in favour of more chat and fluff with Leno is ludacris ..... ain't nobody going to sit through 3+ hours of late night chat shows that will need to recycle each others guests just to have people to chat to.
Only Legally Mad seems worth watching in my opinion, and that is only for the fine, warm and engaging Loretta Devine who stole every scene of Eli Stone that she appeared in. She should team with Sherri Shepherd for a sitcom ..... now that would be a show worth watching.
Sadly, despite the involvment of Loretta Devine, Kristen Chenoweth & the always reliable David E Kelly, this show seems to have very little buzz and is probably dead on arrival.
At this point the only NBC show I watch is Chuck, and if that goes, well I can delete NBC from my remote control forever.