After a seriously troublesome couple of years, NBC could use a miracle and The Voice, despite critical acclaim and ratings success, can't be the turnaround NBC so needs at the moment. So with Jeff Zuckerburg out and a new regime behind the scenes, will NBC bounce back as the ratings giant it once was a few years ago?
The dramas in the running this year are mostly of the sci-fi genre variety. NBC seemingly are still looking for their sci-fi hit and no matter how much retooling it went through, The Event is not holding up in that area. With high profile shows like Wonder Woman, 17th Precinct, and Playboy getting a lot of buzz, NBC might have found a decent set of shows to bring it from the brink of disaster. Let's see the candidates who could possibly make it to the fall schedule:
Wonder Woman
The most talked about pilot on NBC's development schedule has to be David E. Kelly's take on Wonder Woman, the iconic DC Comics superheroine who was already brought to the screen in the 70s and starred Lynda Carter in the iconic role. This go round, Adrienne Palicki (Friday Night Lights) is the Amazonian princess who will juggle her career as a crimefighter with the role of corporate woman as she is the head of her own company. Some have called it Ally McBeal Revisited. Others are crying foul after seeing the costume. We just hope the show does the character justice. Cary Elwes, Tracie Thoms, Pedro Pascal, Justin Bruening, and Elizabeth Hurley join Palicki in the pilot, which was directed by Jeffrey Reiner and written by Kelly himself. There is one last thing we are wondering: will we have a revamped version of the 1970s Wonder Woman theme song?
17th Precinct
If you are having severe Battlestar Galactica withdrawal symptoms and miss the actors of both BSG and Caprica, then this pilot might be for you. Created by Ronald D. Moore, the man behind the BSG reboot, 17th Precinct tells the story of a San Francisco police precinct in an alternate reality where science is out and magic is in. A twist on the police procedural that might have genre fans reeling in excitment or slapping their foreheads in disdain. We think the former will come through since the show has a what might be a strong cast featuring BSG and Caprica vets Tricia Helfer, Jamie Bamber, James Callis, and Esai Morales with Kristen Kruek, Stockard Channing, Matt Long and Eamonn Walker rounding out the cast. Moore is the executive producer/creator of the pilot, which will be directed by another BSG alum Michael Rymer.
Grimm
This pilot takes another spin on the crime drama by bringing in the fantastical aspect of fairy tales. Grimm involves a police detective who discovers that the beasts from fairy tales are indeed real and that he must be tasked to protect the human race from these beings. It beats solving murders day in and day out that we might forget after three episodes in. The pilot stars David Giuntoli, Russell Hornsby, Sasha Roiz, Kate Burton, Silas Weir Mitchell, Bitsie Tulloch, and Regie Lee. David Greenblatt and Jim Kouf created the potential series and share executive producer duties with Will & Grace's Sean Hayes.
Prime Suspect
The latest U.K. import looking for an American facelift, could finally make its way to primetime after a lot of false starts and dead ends in the development department. Alexandra Cunningham (Desperate Housewives) is in charge for bring the U.K. drama to American shores with Friday Night Light's EPs Sarah Aubrey and Peter Berg helping along the way. The pilot, which starred Helen Mirren in the U.K. series, will follow Maria Bello as Jane Timoney as she solves crime and fights her bigoted superiors and coworkers. Interesting to see how this works since sexism is almost nonexistant on the police dramas we've seen for the last few years, but... anything is possible. Joining Bello in the pilot are Adrian Quinn, Kirk Acevedo, Toby Stephens, Tim Griffen, Brian O'Byrne, and Joe Nieves
Mann's World
Don Johnson returns to television in a role that is a sharp contrast from his previous tough guy roles in Nash Bridges and Miami Vice. This time around Johnson is Allan Mann, a straight hairdresser from Beverly Hills who is trying to keep up with the times and looks of the ever changing community. Seems like Rogaine and a daily workout is not doing the job, which for us could lead to hilarious situations on a weekly basis. Co-starring with Johnson in this pilot are Ellen Barkin, J.R. Bourne, Kelly Hu (Nash Bridges), Taylor Kinney (Trauma), Mario Cantone (Sex and the City), D.J. Pierce (RuPaul's Drag Race), Caitlin Crosby, Sandra Vergara, and Amanda Warren. Michael Patrick King, one half of the creative force behind the Sex and the City franchise, is the creator of the pilot with John Melfi serving as an executive producer.
Smash
This pilot has been billed as a "show-within-a-show" and revolves around a group of people trying to get a broadway musical off the ground, which surrounds the legendary screen actress Marilyn Monroe. At first glance, the series might turn some folks off, but there are two words that might change your mind: Steven Spielberg. The director himself is serving as an executive producer of the pilot, which comes from the mind of Theresa Rebeck. The pilot stars Anjelica Huston, Debra Messing (Will & Grace, The Starter Wife), Jack Davenport (Flash Forward), Katharine McPhee (American Idol), Raza Jeffrey (Mistresses), Christian Borle, Megan Hilty, and Brian d'Arcy James.
Playboy
One of the shows this fall that could give the Parent Television Council an epic heart attack, Playboy takes the Mad Men formula and instead of ad execs inserts the eyecandy that are 1963 era Playboy Bunnies of the Playboy Club in Chicago. Amber Heard, Eddie Cirbrian, David Krumholtz, Jeff Hephner, John Hoogennaker, Jenna Dewan-Tatum, Naturi Naughton, Laura Benanti, Leah Cudmore, Sean Maher, and Wes Ramsey will play the movers and shakers in this period piece pilot, which comes from the mind of Chad Hodge. If it goes to series, we wonder how much NBC will let the show get away with in trying to tell the story of the most tasteful 'gentleman's magazine' known to man.
REM
This pilot asks the question of which reality would you rather live in? The one where your son is still alive? Or the one where wife is still alive? This is the dilemma one man has to face after surviving a car accident that spawned two realities where his son is alive in one and his wife in another. Jason Isaacs (Brotherhood) stars as the man in the center of this unique drama pilot with a supporting cast that consists of Wilmer Valderrama (That 70's Show), Michaele McManus (One Tree Hill, The Vampire Diaries), Steve Harris (Heist), Cherry Jones (24), B.D. Wong (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit), Dylan Minette (Saving Grace), and Laura Allen (Terriers). Kyle Killen created the pilot with Isaacs, Howard Gordon (24), and Tim Minear (Angel, Dollhouse) serving as co-producers.
Reconstruction
A period piece drama that takes place during the post-Civil War era where a veteran of the war finds himself a reluctant champion of a troubled town. Sound like a western to us, but it could be oh so much more. The cast includes Emma Bell (The Walking Dead), Robert Knepper (Prison Break, Heroes), Rachelle Lefevre (Off The Map), Billy Brown, Martin Henderson (Off the Map), Bill Sage, and Claire Wellin. Joshua Brand created the pilot, which has Peter Horton (Grey's Anatomy) serving as director and executive producer.
Metro
The last drama pilot offered by NBC is a crime drama dealing with the relationship between crime, politics, and the police officers caught in the middle. Sound like a lite version of The Wire lite with dashes of Southland thrown in for good measure, but we could totally be wrong in that assessment. The pilot stars Jimmy Smits, Madchen Amick, Luis Chavez, Noah Emmerich, Danny Pino, Daniella Alonso,Matthew Levy and Emma Dumont. Stephen Gaghan is the mastermind behind this pilot.
What do you guys think about these batch of drama pilots?
REM. Or maybe I should say I don't care about any other pilot except this one or if NBC doesn't pick it up I'm gonna cry….Bottom line, I need REM next season!!!
GRIMM!!!!!!!!
wow. Grimm is my vote and holy crap is it in the lead. I like this person's suggestion: "I would really like Grimm to be choosen for the pilot season. Hwever, for the fall I would make some changes. I would love to have Tim Minear join David Greenwalt. Also, I would love it if Joss Whedon came on board."
Grimm in the lead by A LOT.
You forgot POE… I want that xD
17th Precinth, Grimm and A Mann's World also sounds good.
POE is at ABC so head to that article and make sure to place your vote!
Oof, it's been a long time since I haven't been able to get excited by a single pilot, but I'm not a remotely interested in any of these. Always happy when Maria Bello gets work though!
17th Precinct by a country mile. However, because this is NBC, I expect to be disappointed.
GRIMM is better than 17th Precinct, I read both pilots, and i highly doubt Greenblatt will pick up both to series. Plus as many fans as BG has, Greenwalt & Kouf will bring with Buffy & Angel (& Profit) fans like me.
Go grimm!
REM for the concept and Jason Isaacs. 17th Precinct since I've already followed those actors to even more dodgy projects and it sounds as if I could be fun. If it makes it to series, I'm sure it'll be canceled promptly. I love Kelly Hu and JR Bourne of A Mann's World so I'll at least check it out if it airs, but I wish they were attached to a project that sounded more interesting. The rest I have no interest in.
Funny that the three I really want, Grimm, Smash and Playboy are all in the lead here. Hopefully the big wigs feel the same and give all three a chance.
Several of those sound quite interesting and I'd not heard about them before. The one I want the most is REM. Jason Isaacs is just incredible in anything he's in and I cannot wait for a chance to see him every week!
Playboy! I love Mad Men and feel this show will be the same for my viewing habits! Fingers Crossed for Playboy.
REM! CHERRY JONES – that's what I'm talkin about! Cherry's going to portray a shrink in one reality; BD Wong will play the shrink/therapist in another' reality.' So probably BD Wong's fans are happy too. They're running around shouting 'Woo-hoo!" Bang a gong! BD Wong!
But we Fans O' Cherry- We want REM to become a series! It would have been nice if Cherry Jones had been chosen for "Prime Suspect,' but they went with a younger broad.
I would really like Grimm to be choosen for the pilot season. Hwever, for the fall I would make some changes. I would love to have Tim Minear join David Greenwalt. Also, I would love it if Joss Whedon came on board. Then it would be perfect if Sarah Michelle Geller, Nicholas Brendon, Charisma Carpenter, Emma Caulfield, James Marsters, Juliet Landu as Marie, Seth Green, Alexis Dennisoff, Andrew Sachs, Anthony Stewart Head, Amy Acker, etc. It would please the Buffy fans at the same time. It sounds good to me.
If Grimm does not make it on the NBC fall schedule then it should go to either Chiller or maybe over to Fox. It sounds very promising.
It would be interesting if both REM and Grimm were chosen for the fall. Maybe Joss Whedon could join Tim Minear on REM. I wish that it could have some of the cast members from Buffy the Vampire Slayer on it. It sounds interesting also. If REM is not choosen by NBC in the fall it could go to Chiller or Fox.
After waiting a decade for a Wonder Woman film fans are handed a pile of crap for a TV show. Hands down hope they sink there own ship for this f'ing prank by David E. Kelley. DC & Warner Bros are IDIOTS for destroyng Wonder Woman. Everybody who enjoys Batman and Superman among many other male heroes can enjoy their movie treatment and yet comics biggest female heroine gets nothing but CRAP!!! Then when this pile of waste flushes down the toilet the blame will be that nobody is interested in female super heroes when the REALITY is it could be an excellent movie if given the right treatment by somebody who actually knows Wonder Woman. David EPIC FAIL Kelley knows NOTHING about Wonder Woman and for christ sakes can't even dress the woman in the correct costume. Cow crap smells better then this JOKE!!! Hope the joke is back on all that failed Wonder Woman in the end. You all suck and can sit and spin on your heads.
I meant to say Robin Sachs. Please forgive me!
What would really be a smart move for NBC is not to pick up Grimm or REM. Then annouce to the world that they are making Buffy the Vampire Slayer season eight. Starring Sarah Michelle Geller, Nicholas Brendon, James Marsters, Eilza Dushku, Charisma Carpenter, Emma Caulfield, Anthony Stewart Head. Also, it could have David Greenwalt, and Time Minear, along with Joss Whedon as producers. It would not only please the Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans it would bring in some younger viewers. Also, it would completely shock Fox since they passed up on it years ago!
It could be possible to have Grimm, REM and Buffy the Vampire season 8. I think that could work out.