
UPDATED: NBC has picked up to pilot REM, the spec by Lone Star creator Kyle Killen which was taken out by 20th TV a couple of weeks ago. Additionally, the network has given the green light to 3 more comedy pilots: Free Agents, LoveLives and an untitled project from Dan Goor.
Killen’s REM, from 20th TV, is described as an Inception-style thriller about a cop who wakes up after an accident to find he is living in two different realities. The project has been given a cast-contingent order. As expected, new NBC chief Bob Greenblatt has been very opportunistic with spec scripts, handing out a significant chunk of his pilot orders to project brought to the network as specs.
Free Agents, from UMS and Party Down co-creator John Enbom, is a single-camera romantic comedy based on the U.K. format that explores the attraction between two quirky co-workers who are both on the rebound, one from a divorce and the other from the loss of a fiancé. While in the original series, which ran on Channel 4 in 2009, the lovebirds were agents, in the NBC version they will be PR executives. Enbom is executive producing with Kenton Allen from Big Talk Prods., producer of the British series. Todd Holland and Karey Burke are also exec producing through their UMS-based company, with Holland directing. The comedy has been given a cast-contingent order.
LoveLives, from 20th TV and Chernin Entertainment, is a multicamera comedy about a couple who explore cheating on their spouse and the friends/family members around them who encourage it. Family Guy executive producer Chris Sheridan wrote the script and is exec producing with Peter Chernin and Katherine Pope.
The untitled Dan Goor project, from UMS and BermanBraun, is a multicamera comedy about a young doctor who joins his parents’ medical practice and spends as much time tending to his family as to his patients. It was was written by Dan Goor (Parks & Recreation) who is exec producing with Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun.
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Ah, more Berman and Braun. I wonder if they’ll go 0 for 4?
And it’s *great* to see Kyle Killen already back in action. I hope whatever he does has great success.
Can Kyle Killen only make shows about people living in two worlds? Lone Star – double life. REM – living in two alternate worlds… Writing style – One Track.
This Inception show sounds great.
‘Inception-style thriller’??? Puhleeease!
This sounds like the cancelled ‘Journeyman’ with Kevin McKidd.
Is Bob Greenblatt buying mostly specs because he knows that NBC’s development team can’t develop worth a damn? It certainly sounds like it. He seems like a smart guy.
M.A.W.M. again. And these concepts sound like cud.
I know I’m getting annoying, so I apologize again, but any word on Kari Lizer’s pilot? I heard it was one of the stand-outs on the comedy front, but no news still?
Once again, sorry for the constant questions about it!
I’m loving how few UMS pilots, especially on the drama side, are getting picked up at NBC. The studio has failed at developing innovative and yet broad-based shows for years now and I’m looking forward to Greenblat firing more people and really overhauling the place. 90% of the execs there trained under Zucker/Silverman and really have no clue what they’re doing.
How many cop shows does NBC need?
Seven.
Thank you for playing. Next question.
Here is my pitch to NBC
“Cops doing cop stuff”
The show centers around a male and female police offer who perform normal police duties, but also are vegetarians. This puts them at odds with the chief, who is not.
Development exec:
“Sounds like a hit! Now, let’s have the plot for the pilot center on the two cops trying to get their boss to try a veggie burger!”
Which one of us hurt you, Elia? Perhaps there’s so many of us getting greenlights because the only comedies on the air drawing large audiences were written by us? come on, E, the powers that be don’t care about skin tone or penises, they care about ratings. and if u could give them some, they’d care about you. keep at it, though. persistence is everything! and Chris Sheridan’s pilot sounds like anything but more of the same.
The Average White Male that had the staffing meeting at his house and said he’d hire me if I had sex with him. Maybe you know him?
I love ALL of them except for the single-cam comedy one
REM sounds promising. Big fan of Inception, and also loved Lonestar…….so REM sounds very promising!!!(Just hope it rates better than Lone Star!!!)
I wonder how many shows have been pitched as “Inception-style” (and I’d like to know what this means exactly)?
“Inception-style” means confusing and expensive.
I’m glad to see Free Agents picked up! The English Series was intriguing and hopefully this will be too.
People who form part of the power elite always believe theyve earned their privileges. If you are never given the opportunity to get on the air there’s no way to prove your talent.
“a cop who wakes up after an accident to find he is living in two different realities.” You mean the show “Life On Mars”?
“Free Agents” was spectacularly bad when it was on Channel 4 here in the UK. Good cast, but it wasn’t funny enough to get away with its lack of depth.
A show about people encouraging a married couple to cheat? Seriously? I realize we’re supposed to suspend disbelief when we watch TV, but who does that?
I miss the Cosby Show.
What is a spec?
A diversity writer.
Either Elia has a sense of humor, that isn’t Elia or IT’S THE FUNNIEST EXCHANGE EVER ON DEADLINE.
Get a fucking clue people because you’ve lost me now
Chris Sheridan rules. He’s the real talent behind Family Guy.
A cop who wakes up in an alternate reality? Wow, I loved that show – when it was called “Life on Mars.”
Chris Sheridan is a great guy and a huge talent. He wrote his pilot on spec for A FULL YEAR, working privately with Nicky Weinstock at the Chernin Co., before they showed it to anyone. Sheridan worked the same way (also with Weinstock) on his last pilot, which also got a pilot pickup at NBC. Great to see such a committed writer have some success in this town.
Chris Sheridan is just plain awesome.
You watched Life on Mars? Wow. I think that makes you the only one!