This year promises to deliver a lot of dramatic comedies and some more female leads. My favorites all lie in ABC's hands. S.H.I.E.L.D. was already greenlit nearly as soon as its announcement. So let's take a look at the nerd-centric pilots that could potentially be airing on our TVs in the fall or midseason.
S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC)
Joss Whedon will direct, produce, and co-write the pilot. His brother Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen will work on the pilot as well and will take the reigns post-pilot. Jeffrey Bell and Jeph Loeb will also be developing the pilot. The espionage, peacekeeping government organization will follow a group of its active members. Some Avengers may show up, as well. Clark Gregg resumes (and revives) his role as Agent Colson, alongside Ming-Na, Brett Dalton, Elizabeth Henstridge, Ian De Caestecker, and Chloe Bennet. (UPDATE: S.H.I.E.L.D. was picked up.)
Murder in Manhattan (ABC)
Bridget Regan (eh-hem excuse me...BRIDGET REGAN!!!!!!!) and Annie Potts star as daughter (Lex) and mother (Blythe) as a duo of amateur sleuths. Lex, described as sexy, works at the Mayor's office by day. The joy I have at this duo is only exacerbated by the addition of Enver Gjokaj (Lex's best childhood friend Jack) and Brendan Hines (Bylthe's son/Lex's brother). Jack works for the NYPD and Hine's character works as an Assistant District Attorney, both of whom I'm sure help the mother-daughter sleuths out. (UPDATE: ABC has not order the pilot to series. I have been CRUSHED.)
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| Regan, Potts, Hines; photo courtesy of Brendan Hines (@Brendan_Hines) |
Tomorrow People (CW)
A show that is based off a U.K. series and is basically X-Men, Tomorrow People is about a group of people who have developed powers as the next stage of human evolution and form a superhero team. Political Animals writer Phil Klemmer writes the pilot. Robbie Amell, Luke Mitchell, Mark Pellegrino, Madeleine Mantock, Aaron Yoo, and Peyton List star. The Amell brothers could very well be taking over the CW, one superhero show at a time. (UPDATE: CW has order the pilot to series.)
Pulling (ABC)
Yet another British show is adapted for the American audience. The original was brilliant. I'd be wary of the cross-continental adaptation, but it looks good with the casting of June Diane Raphael as Donna, Kristen Schaal as Louise, and Jenny Slate as Karen. Schaal replaced Mandy Moore, who dropped out due to drastic creative differences. Pulling is about a trio of friends in their 30s who refuse to live by social norms in getting married by their age. (UPDATE: ABC has passed on ordering the pilot to series. Double crushed.)
To My Future Assistant (Fox)
Brittany Snow stars as Jen, an aspiring attorney in a law firm. Catherine O'Hara co-stars as an attorney, Melissa Tang as an assistant, and Joe Egender as a paralegal. The pilot is based off Lydia Whitlock's blog and upcoming book To My Assistant.
Turn (AMC)
AMC is out to make another hit with a Revolutionary War pilot Turn, based off the book. It centers around a group of people who form the first American spy ring to advance the rebellion against the British. Jamie Bell stars.
Halt and Catch Fire (AMC)
Look at you, AMC, trying to be relevant now that you've had a hit with The Walking Dead. Now you're trying to win me over with Turn AND this gem, starring my favorite actor of evertime Lee Pace? It's too much! The show is set in the early 1980s and is about a computer company in Dallas. Honestly, it sounds boring, and I don't care who else is in it. I just need more Lee Pace in my life.
Untitled Greg Garcia Comedy (CBS)
It's Always Sunny's waitress Mary Elizabeth Ellis will co-star with Will Arnett, Margo Martindale, Michael Rapaport, JB Smoove, and Beau Bridges in Greg Garcia's CBS comedy about a man struggling with his own recent divorce while his parents are going through one as well. (UPDATE: CBS has order the pilot to series, and it's now called The Millers.)
Super Fun Night (ABC)
I'm glad CBS passed on Rebel Wilson's new pilot comedy about three nerdy females, which as been in development for quite some time as I've previously reported. CBS won't taint it with generality, and ABC will let it be quirky. Rebel Wilson, Lauren Ash, Liza Lapira, Kelen Coleman, and Kevin Bishop star. Rebel Wilson co-wrote the pilot with Conan O'Brien, John Riggi (who also directed), David Kissinger, and Jeff Ross. Clearly it's going to be nerdy and weird. I love it already. (UPDATE: ABC has order the pilot to series.)
Trophy Wife (ABC)
Starring Malin Akerman, Bradley Whitford, Marcia Gay Harden, Michaela Watkins, Natalie Morales, Ryan Lee, Trophy Wife follows Akerman's Kate a party girl who falls for a man with three kids and two ex-wives. (UPDATE: ABC has order the pilot to series.)
Killer Women (ABC)
Killer Women stars Tricia Helfer as Molly Parker, the only female member of the Texas Rangers. Her brother is being played by none other than Michael Trucco, fellow BSG alum. (UPDATE: ABC has order the pilot to series.)
Brenda Forever (NBC)
Brenda Miller’s (Ellie Kemper) past and present mix and mingle to tell her story of how a chubby, awkward, but
incredibly confident 13-year-old grew up to be a 31-year-old woman who
still marches to the beat of her own drum. Da’vine Joy Randolph also stars. David Wain directs and Andrew Leeds and David Lampson write. (UPDATE: NBC has passed on ordering the pilot to series.)
Family Guide (NBC)
Family Guide, or what I'll call "Welcome Back, Parker Posey", will be written by DJ Nash, Jason Bateman, and Jim Garavente. Family Guide revolves around a family's relationship as it grows tighter through a divorce. Parker Posey, Harold Perrineau, Eli Baker, Ava Deluca-Verley, and JK Simmons star. (UPDATE: NBC order the pilot to series, but Parker Posey left the show. I won't be watching unless someone awesome fills in.)
The Sixth Gun (NBC)
Based off the Oni Press comic, The Sixth Gun follows the story of six mythical guns,
each with its own other-worldly powers. Laura Ramsey, W. Earl Brown, Graham McTavish, and Aldis Hodge star, Jeffrey Reiner directs, and Ryan Condal writes. (UPDATE: NBC passed on a series order.)
The Gabriels (Fox)
The Gabriels is about a Wisconsin family, and it stars Angela Kinsey, Brooke Sorenson, Rob Riggle, and Tim Meadows. Kinsey's character is a therapist, prone to make her patients feel horrible about themselves. (UPDATE: Fox has passed on ordering the pilot to series.)
The Vatican (Showtime)
I don't want to watch this show, but I really do now that Anna Friel is attached as starring in the Showtime drama, directed by Ridley Scott and Paul Attanasio. She plays the sister of a cardinal and is extremely opposite of him as a New York party girl. Kyle Chandler, Matthew Goode, Sebastian Koch, Bruno Ganz, and Rebecca Ferguson co-star.
Do It Yourself (TBS)
Chuck alum Ryan McPartlin co-stars as the artistic co-worker to starring role Nick, a former math teacher, at the local Home Time (think Home Depot/Lowe's). His co-stars are Melora Hardin (Jan, The Office), Ben Rappaport (Todd, Outsourced), Bill Engvall, Parvesh Cheena, Anne Heise, and Nicky Whelan.
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