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EXCLUSIVE: Because of the writers strike cutting short this past spring’s pilot season, ABC delayed its development so that most of the network’s new primetime scripted series would go midseason. Pilots were shot in July, and today ABC finally started making decisions. None of this has been officially announced:
Better Off Ted — The formerly untitled laugher from Victor Fresco (Andy Richter Controls The Universe) and 20th Century Fox stars Portia de Rossi.
Single With Parents – Starring Alyssa Milano, Annie Potts and Beau Bridges, this sitcom is from ABC Studios and DreamWorks Television and was created by Kristin Newman who’s exec producing with Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey.
The Unusuals — This Sony Pictures Television show was written by Noah Hawley who’s exec producing with Peter Tolan. It stars Amber Tamblyn and Adam Goldberg.
Cupid — The ABC Studios/Sony show was written by Rob Thomas (who remade his 1990s series starring Jeremy Piven) and stars Bobby Cannavale and Sarah Paulson.
Castle — This ABC Studios/Beacon TV show was created by Andrew Marlowe who’s exec producing with Armyan Bernstein and Laurie Zaks. Rob Bowman directed the pilot which stars Nathan Fillion.
(There’s a lot of talk that Prince Of Motor City and Captain Cook’s Extraordinary Atlas are possibles. Prince Of Motor City, from ABC Studios, is the well-received hour-long written by Jessica Goldberg and Hamish Linklater who are also exec producing with Chris Brancato and Bert Salke. Starring Annie MacDowell and Aiden Quinn, it’s had good buzz from the start. And Captain Cook’s Extraordinary Atlas, the Warner Bros TV show, is from writer-exec producer Tom Wheeler and directed by Tommy Schlamme. It’s got a high concept and high budget.
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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According to my friend, a longtime, big-time TV writer-producer, this pilot season is the worst in a loooooooong time. And it’s the same at all the major networks, it’s become a choice of picking the bad vs. truly lousy. And, of course, everyone at the networks blame the writers. This despite the fact that they’ve been presented with ideas for good, even great shows, but passed them over for budget and bottom line reasons.
What’s the old saying, pennywise and pound foolish? It applies.
Great. Now all of the annoying Veronica Mars fans will be out in full force again when they cancel Cupid. Thanks, ABC!
“Cupid” shows an interesting plan by network management if IMDB is right. Instead of rehashing old hits, which usually fail, they’re rehashing an old failure in the hope that this time it will be a hit.
It’s a brave new world in avoiding anything new.
Cancel Cupid again you mean.
Isn’t this the 2nd time around for Cupid? (different cast -)
Whatever happened to the strike was good, changes development to year round?
isnt bobby cannavale playing Trevor Hale (aka Cupid) in this reworking? That alone is enough to avoid the show.
Quote: According to my friend, a longtime, big-time TV writer-producer, this pilot season is the worst in a loooooooong time.
As a mere viewer, hee hee, I’ve got to agree. And I’m a big sf/f fan – a large proportion of the pilots are sf/f to some degree – but I’m just not jazzed about this season at all. The Christian Slater show looks decent; and the midseason “Harper’s Island” could be good. But there’s usually at least a couple shows I’m really interested in, and half a dozen I’d consider possibilities.
I dunno. I read the pilot script for “Single With Parents” that was going around (when it was still Untitled) and it was pretty damn great. Hopefully the network didn’t mess it up!
Feels like ABC is trying to, once again, re-define who they are. Why can’t they just figure out what works and stay on a path. The other networks have done well in “branding” themselves but it seems like Mcpherson and Co. are still trying to figure out who they are and who’s watching. What makes me say this? Unusuals and Castle are a step in the completely opposite direction from where the network seemed to be going. In addition to already gritty cop show LIFE ON MARS, the Unusuals is the same old New York cop beat show from Peter Tolan and Castle is, surprise, surprise, a third NEW YORK cop show. Guess they don’t believe in the female demo they always crow so much about. Hard to understand how something like Prince of Motor City doesn’t get consideration when it’s exactly what seems to have been working for the network. Oh well, changing brands and changing demos will eventually turn into the same old changing executives…..
I’m starting to suspect that ABC’s decision to revive Cupid may have more to do with the memo that angered so many foreign TV producers, than the merits of the show itself.
But that’s just me being suspicious.
I’m like that.
What’s up with Finnegan with Teri Polo? Mid season replacement?
WTF?! The classic Cupid series is being done again?! A TV series that was one of the Best Ever is being remade?
What horror is next? CBS remaking EZ Streets?!
Why aren’t either one on DVD, by the way?
If I were a space alien, and only got my information from American tv shows….. I would think that the only occupations in America were: cop, doctor, lawyer, and slutty high school student.
Gotta say ABC is the only network that look to even be bothering to air some halfway decent shows. That’s more than I can say for Fox or NBC (don’t get me started on CBS where every second show is about a cop).
“What’s up with Finnegan with Teri Polo? Mid season replacement?”
No. Read the post. Finnegan is dead. Goner. ABC didn’t pick it up.
Thank you, Nikki.
That gives us a pretty decent idea of the 2008-2009 mid-season “body count”.
@Fiestagal: That’s for men. Women get plucky reporter, sassy secretary, or stern teacher.
@ along for the ride, the Unusuals has a female lead (Amber Tamblyn) and Castle stars Nathan Fillion (HOT!). I would say that ABC is still aiming straight at the female demo.
As usual it’s more people speculating on things that they have no idea about. Wait to see the shows before you slam them. A lot of people worked hard on them and I’m not talking about the “evil network” execs.
TLA, I thought ABC was more interested in getting the gay viewers based on their biggest hits like Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty, Brothers & Sisters, All My Children, Dancing with the Stars etc. They dont’ seem too interested in the straight male viewership but I guess that’s what FX is for.
@ Crystal Diane Stevens
Your comments are usually somewhat insightful. This one spews ignorance and hatred. Get a life.
Not Gay, Just Part of the Human Race
Macy, how is my post ignorant? I’m not homophobic. Far from it. Just pointing out that ABC is the most gay-friendly network around as evidenced by their biggest shows. Those shows are aimed just as much – it not more – than a female audience. Think about it – Desperate Housewives for example has three gay regular characters. Ugly Betty has two. To say that ABC isn’t aiming for a gay audience is absolutely ridiculous. There’s no problem with that of course. Just stating a fact.
If you think that fact is homophobic, then you’re simply trawling for excuses to take offence and I feel sorry for you. It must be a bitch to walk around all the time with that chip on your shoulder.
That is the network that kicked homophobe Isaiah Washington’s ass to the curb after what he said about costar TR Knight which I applaud them for because you know Isaiah would expect the same result if one of his then cast members said an equally derogatory name to him.
In this business, you need to grow a thicker skin, sweetheart, and not look to be insulted where no insults are.
Crystal Diane – I don’t think Macy was off base. Your comments were at the very least, reinforcing stereotypes – citing “Dancing With The Stars” as being aimed at gays. Where are you? In 1987?
And are these shows (Like Desperate and Brothers and Sisters) aimed at gays or just reflecting what America looks like today?
Evolve, sweetheart, evolve.
Stevie-O, o enlightened one, exactly how many straight men do you know watch Dancing With The Stars?
Ummm, I happen to BE a straight man, and I LOVE “Dancing With the Stars.” Most of my friends do as well, and most of THEM are straight too. That show appeals to anyone, that’s WHY they end up having pro football players and the like. Your straight men comment, Crystal, shows an extreme prejudice.