TV News

The pilot season has started, and lets just say it could be an interesting fall premiere season this year.  It's still anybodies guess  about what might or might not make it to our small screens next season, so all that's left to do is sit around and gossip about it.  There are a few interesting Pilots being worked on by the studios, as well as some disturbing and confusing choices as well.  Today, we're going to take a trip back to the 80s, and look at two pilots being put together currently by ABC and NBC.

Eastwick

The first is called Eastwick, a new pilot that was greenlit by ABC and just released that it will be headlined by actress Rebecca Romijn playing the part of Roxie.  The series will be based on the 1987 movie The Witches of Eastwick, which starred Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer, Susan Sarandon, and Cher.  The series will center around three women who realize that they have mystical powers when a mysterious man comes to town.

Maggie Friedman will be the scribe and exec producer of the show, while David Nutter is directing the series.  Eastwick comes from Warner Bros. TV.

Parenthood

Next up is Parenthood, a pilot that Imagine TV (the creators of Friday Night Lights) is working on for NBC.  FNL's writer/exec producer Jason Katims is running the show (or at least the pilot) and rumor has it that FNL director Jeffrey Reiner is on board as well.

Parenthoodwill be an hour-long comedy-drama and will have the same tone as the 1989 movie starring Steve Martin.  The pilot will have new characters and will center its storylines around the modern challenges that come with raising kids in today's post-Facebook, post iPod world.

Of course, this isn't the first time Imagine TV has tried to make a Parenthood series work.  In 1990 they debuted a half-hour long sitcom with the same name, featuring Ed Bagley Jr. in the title role.  That attempt only lasted for 12 episodes.

Commentary

The timing and choices for these two pilots comfuses me quite a bit.  Although both of these movies were certainly entertaining good movies in the 80s, I don't particularly remember them being huge box office draws (though admittedly, they could have been and I just don't remember).  So why these two shows, and why now?  What makes the networks feel that there is ANY interest in a series for each of these movies that are so old many people aren't even going to remember them.  Eastwick seems like the one of the two shows that might actually have a shot at being interesting, but I'm not convinced that either of these shows can be a big ratings hit for either network.  It'll be interesting to see who the remaining cast members end up being, as the star power on these shows might end up determining, at least to some small extent what their success will be.  Also, not mentioned above because it was actually a TV movie and series, but V, the 80s sci-fi mini-series is also being made into a pilot for this next season.  Yet another trip to the 80s for our current viewing pleasure.  Aren't there any writers out there with original ideas?  I mean, Bionic Woman and Knight Rider, this year and last year's remake series certainly didn't work out too well.  So what makes the networks think that we even want remakes?

So in closing, although I think Parenthood stands a good chance at being a well put together show, I'm going to jump out there and say that I'd be surprised if either show ends up lasting more than one season, if they even make it past the pilot stage.  Guess we'll just have to wait and see.  Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.