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The first new scripted series pickup for the 2010-11 season has gone to NBC’s spy drama Undercovers from J.J. Abrams. The network made the 13-episode order this morning, two weeks before its upfront presentation in New York. Also on the fast track for an imminent series order is another Warner Bros.-produced drama pilot at NBC, Jerry Bruckheimer’s Chase. “We have tremendous confidence in this promising series and feel this is a great way to kick off our upcoming Upfront development announcements,” said Jeff Gaspin, chairman of NBC Uni Television Entertainment., said of Undecovers. Abrams serves is the co-creator, executive producer and director of Undercovers, which stars Boris Kodjoe and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as a typical married couple who happen to be spies. Josh Reims co-created the show and is executive producing with Bryan Burk.
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Black people on TV!!! YIPPPEEEEEEEE!
Is there anybody here who saw the test screening for the pilot episode? I’m anxious to hear how good or bad the pilot was. Please reply.
boy that sounds so original. maybe nbc will pick up another show about lawyers or doctors too. tv sucks.
Well, as long as they also renew Chuck, I’m good. This show could easily be paired with Chuck on mondays
Considering all 3 shows hail from Warner Bros. (these two shows + Chuck), I’d say it’s chances of pickup just got a hell of a lot better. Warner Bros. will likely (or perhaps already has) tie Chuck’s renewal to the pickup of one of these.
I find it hilarious that Josh Schwartz takes the time to plant CHUCK plugs in these comments.
Jeff Gaspin seems to be doing wonders for NBC. He seems to be getting a good group of pilots. Hopefully Im right about Gaspin
I agree. Jeff Gaspin at USA was responsible for Burn Notice, Monk and Royal Pains. He sems to be taking the same approach for NBC. Undercovers seems like a show that would work well on USA.
I am so glad this show was picked up. NBC is going to do great next season. They have the best pilots.Alias was amazing, so I am sure Undercovers is going to be the biggest hit next fall.
I saw the pilot while in Vegas attending a trade show. The show has promise and possibilities, but there were a few dead spots that caused me to want to tune out.
The show has potential once they work the various kinks out.
And besides, it is refreshing to find intelligent people of color doing what the Caucasians do…
Really, because it’s directed by JJ Abrams and has been getting a lot of praise from others who. have seen it.
Does anyone know what accent Gugu Mbatha-Raw will be using in her role? Her native accent is a British one…not American. (Nothing wrong with not having an American accent…just curious.)
Hoping NBC will also pick up the other series they have out there this season with a British lead actor…one who Gugu would regularly guest on his series in the UK a few years back.
You know Bruckheimer has gotta be kicking himself since he didn’t get to take a look at Fox’s Breakout Kings pilot. It’s so much better than the Closer-like-knock-off that NBC bought.
I give it three eps and done.
I thought Breakout Kings was a comedy until I realized I was reading it wrong.
No dice on BK. Better bet on Bruckheimer.
@BFan
No, you’re correct… the script had some funny moments. It’s called good TV. Plus some great action and suspense…
Lemme guess, you’re all ‘up in Bones’ aren’t ya? Nuff’ said.
@LB
It wasn’t “good TV” as much as zero suspension of disbelief. Tonally, it was all over the map.
Not sure what “up in Bones” means. I don’t watch that show, if that was even what you were getting at. So, not ‘Nuff said.
Gaspin is a good guy. Too bad he’s working for such a shitty network as NBC.
Mikey, Jeff Gaspin seems to be pretty much running NBC. Angela Bromstad is reporting to him. Unfortunately, he’s reporting to that idiot, Jeff Zucker.
@ Can’tBelieveIt
“Black People on TV!!!!!”
Yes, its a great day for black actors. Not sure if America will watch TV with black actors, but JJ’s a hell of a storyteller, so maybe people will look past color and just see a good show, not a “black show.”
Why is this a surprise. NBC is in last place. They always put blacks on TV when they have nothing to lose. Same story.
As long as it’s good it doesn’t matter. For whatever reason black always means less than to white people. The bottom line is “The Cosby Show” and “A Different World” made millions for NBC. They were about family and school. THIS IS A GREAT DAY FOR BLACK PEOPLE IN HOLLYWOOD. FINALLY!!!
There are so many people of color that have the credentials that have worked on major dramas. Let’s hope JJ hires some of them without mentioning color and not fill the whole staff with white guys and one minority writer from a diversity program who will be made to feel like crap every day just because they have different color skin.
Progressive people hire a range of voices in the room without calling agents and labeling writers as DIVERSE WRITERS and then making them feel like tokens on staff. Please JJ. Be progressive. Don’t go “I have two black leads now let’s hire two black people and remind them everyday that they are there for the diversity.” Writers write. If you’re black you don’t need to be reminded of it. Trust me, if you have a mirror you know.
jj is responsible for the most groundbreaking show on television in terms of diversity informing storytelling, LOST. And he puts his money and actions where his mouth is in real life supporting Homeboy Industries and art programs for schools with a majority minority student population. He is a true hero and I hope he represents on his staff which I don’t think he really did over the seasons on LOST, though I may be wrong.
as for these “diversity staffing” lists, at least there is recognition of writers of color at agencies which is a step up I believe although it is still a prett lame way to push the talents of writers of color. one day at a time i guess.
Separate but equal staffing lists?
Let us ask why no black person could have ever gotten a network to buy this show.
What a joke this business is.
How many series does Shonda Rhimes have on the air?
If anybody wants up-to-date news on the show ALL the time… I usually go to: http://www.UndercoversBlog.com
White guys have to save us. Then they have to make lists and decide which ones of us can get a job on their show and then the white guys on the show will act like complete pedantic jerks and not listen to us because we are black and consequently don’t know as much as them. But the truth is that’s bullcrap we actually threaten them and the last thing a white guy wants is a black person who can out pitch them or write them. Talk about a white guys worse fear. “Oh no, the black person has better pitches… Got to cut them down.” THIS TOWN SUCKS.
I love the substance of the plot, marriage, love and encountering life. This is great I celebrate with Mr. Boris Kodjoe.
Yay diversity. Go Shonda. It’s just her. One black person gets two shows on the air. YAY… too bad there are a zillion channels. Oh, Im sorry we’re not allowed to complain. People would be marching in the streets if only one white guy had two shows on the air and everything else was from women and people of color. WAKE UP JERKS.
Abrams has never hired a black writer in his life. Am I wrong? Don’t think so.
Anonymous — Gina Prince-Bythewood, for one.
Monica Breen, for another — on Alias
let the silly season begin. announcement like this for the next couople of weeks.
Great writers will always be able to get work, regardless of ethnicity. No one knows what color you are when they read a script. And even if they do, if it’s good, it won’t make a difference.
Ideally great writers will be able to get work, regardless of ethnicity. That’s one part. The other half is access. This business runs entirely on referral and white males refer other white males 99.9% of the time. It’s a vicious circle that’s been going for 50 years and it essentially keeps everyone else out. No one is inraged and that outrages me.
But I won’t stop.
yay.. a show that will appeal to 12.5* of the population.. brilliant business move..lol
And considering your use of an asterisk instead of this tricky little symbol %, I’m looking for the footnote that says appealing to 12.5% of the population means 30 million plus people would be interested in the show, which is more than any TV series has ever averaged. Well, I’ll do it for you. *12.5% of the United States population that would find this appealing, excluding the smartasses that confuse asterisks for percent signs, consists of over 30 million people.
And it also excludes ignoramuses who fail to realize NBC’s Cosby Show existed and was, indeed, a “brilliant” move while the numerous failed NBC pilots focusing on white actors were not.
Any other insightful commentary you’d like to share?