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Sony Pictures TV is adding some top-level behind-the-scenes reinforcement to freshman drama Pan Am in anticipation of a back order from ABC. Veteran writer-producer Steven Maeda will be joining the 1960s-set series as showrunner, working alongside creator/executive producer Jack Orman and director/executive producer Tommy Schlamme. ABC is yet to make a decision on Pan Am, but word is that the rookie has strong internal support 
at the network, which has several promotional events for the series slated for the coming weeks. Despite its modest ratings — 1.8 in adults 18-49 last night — the drama has leveled off, gets a big bump from DVR viewing and has become popular with advertisers who consider it a premium buy. ABC is expected to wait to hear Maeda’s input on the potential back nine episodes before making a call. Earlier this year, UTA-repped Maeda signed a premium two-script deal with ABC Studios. He previously served as executive producer/showrunner on the CBS series Miami Medical and executive producer/showrunner on Fox’s Lie To Me and also did stints on ABC’s Lost and Fox’s The X-Files.
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Anyone think they are going to move the show to another night and time?
Steve’s the man. As good as they get.
Way to go, hire a loser who ran two previous failures to take on a show that desperately needs a strong hand at the helm. Get some good writers to give this show some meat and depth. This show has potential… just nothing happening in it so far… feels like the same episode every week! And please stop showing the stewardess weighing in. We get it.
This words can only be typed by someone who a) has never met My My Maeda! b) has never read My My Maeda c) has never been subjected to the horrible stink of brocoli My My Maeda fills a kitchen with and d) has ZERO CLUE WHAT THEY’RE TALKING ABOUT.
You won’t find much better writers than Steve and even fewer better people in this business.
Good luck Steve. If anyone can get Pan Am out of it’s nose-dive and flying again, it’s you!
cj is absolutely right. The shows listed were pretty much all failures (“let’s get the guy from Miami Medical!!!”). And yet he is going to turn Pan Am into a hit? Never going to happen.
Just to let you know, I have seen many of Steve’s shows and episodes and I thought they were fantastic. I am sure this show will be better with him running it and if you are criticising him, you obviously haven’t seen any of his work…GOOD JOB STEVE!
This show definitely has potential; now get some meat and depth into the show!
GOOO PAN AM!!! GOOOO!!!
Great series let’s hope abc keeps it going
This show is beautiful and classy, and deserves a chance to find its footing. Best new show of the season.
Sounds like a positive sign for Pan Am. I’m pulling for this show! I really like it, and I feel it has a lot of potential.
Glad ABC is sticking by it and giving it chance.
This selling at all overseas?
It starts on the BBC in the UK in November. It is the only US show the BBC bought this year. And Pan Am apparently premiered big in Sweden.
Seriously, is ABC having their interns shill for this? It’s a bad show with low ratings that’s bleeding its lead-in. Tommy Schlamme aside, this thing is a trainwreck, and no amount of unpaid Deadline posters will change my mind.
I often wonder what people think is the point of shilling on Deadline. Do they think execs read these threads, then say to themselves “Damn, the numbers are terrible and it’s costing me a fortune, but fourteen obviously involved posters on Deadline said they love it. Screw it, renew the damn thing!” Or do they think Betty from Skokie is going to tune in because of it? Maybe. I guess it doesn’t hurt. But I can’t see that it really helps.
I’m not an ABC intern. I’m a frustrated viewer who is sick of there being nothing worth watching on broadcast TV. Except Pan Am. And maybe Once Upon a Time, the premiere was okay.
No wonder viewers are fleeing to cable. Nothing but cookie cutter cop shows and dopey sitcoms.
If ABC is going to throw their support behind the best new show on broadcast this season (and unless Hell on Wheels kicks some ass, it might be the best new show anywhere on TV), then good for them. Maybe they don’t want to be left behind in the garbage ghetto of broadcast TV.
Personally I quit watching the show–too much wrong with it–but I’m still pulling for it because it’s not a cop/doctor/lawyer procedural.
Note to producers: Can you PLEASE get the hair right at least? Millions on that JFK airport set but the actors’ hair is so scraggly. Brylcreem/pomade for the men, hairspray/beehives for the women. Please see any TV show from the early ’60s to get it right.
And while you’re at it: stand up to the network. Nobody believes this show is set in 1963 when nobody smokes!
The show isn’t perfect and has some kinks to work out, but add me to the group of people who thinks this one deserves a chance to find its voice throughout the season. It has a really talented cast and an incredible amount of potential.
Might be too little too late. I’m a fan of Pan Am and I even I’ve pushed it DVR status to watch later (I currently have three weeks worth). They need better stories.
Agreed–I caught the first two episodes, but DVRd the next two (which I haven’t really felt the urge to see.) And when I saw the most recent installment, it seemed like a lot of dramatic air had gone out of the show. There just doesn’t seem to be much at stake here, once you get past the nifty 60′s look. It’s is too surface and not enough real drama. I hate to compare this to MAD MEN, but that show has better-defined characters, conflict that cuts a lot deeper and puts a lot on the table, and a definite POV beyond “Wow, old-school air travel and pre-feminist women were glamourous, huh?” And MM doesn’t waste too much time with characters/plotlines that can’t carry their weight. Come on–did anyone really care about Laura’s efforts to give her engagement ring back? She cut out on her wedding and ain’t going back, and that’s all we need to know. The spy stuff seems even more softpedaled than a 60′s Bond movie (it could use a bit more le Carre, to put it mildly), and Dean is not nearly as fascinating as he needs to be. MAD MEN hits the sweet spot between nostalgia and tough-minded drama; PAN AM is opting too much for the former.
Pan Am had a great concept but the lousiest execution. Won’t be surprised when it’s announced that this expensive turkey has gottne the fork. And for a show that gives Christina Ricci top billing, she’s awfully scarce in the actual show.
This show has some nice potential BUT it has to get its ducks in order sort to speak and remain consistent, as I like the fact ABC is giving this show some support, whereas they could have already CXled it after last week. This is a good show but it truly needs some serious tweaking if it expects to stay relevant. It doesn’t help that DH is its lead-in as that shows absolutely sucks and thank goodness DH is finally going away after this season.
Steve can handle the turbulence, and help bring this baby in for a smooth 2nd season pick-up. Art
I do wish it was on another night…Sunday at 10 is a hard night to build an audience and a hard slot to stay up for!
I also wish ABC was repeating the hell out of this on Saturdays, as it did for shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Castle when they first came on, so we could sample it on other nights.
The way ABC is dealing with this reminds me of what they did with “V” as its ratings “leveled off.” Ultimately this is a dumb long-term business move and will fail.
Chris,couldn’t agree more.terrible show. Between Pan Am and Once upon a time,I don’t know which they should cancel first! Then again, they’re brought to you by the same guy that thought “Charlie’s Angels’ would be a hit..
Nothing will save this show.
Should have taken me up on my offer to write for the show. You are scare on originality, even after interviewing dozens of the real stewardess. How, yes, I am asking how could that happen?
A show with a stinking 1.8 in the demo is a hot property among ad buyers? LOLOL!
Love the show. Will watch it faithfully until the very last ep and hope that doesn’t come for seven more years.
Anxious to see what will change and hope the changes don’t take any of the charm out of it. I’d hate to see it become Pan Am:CSI or Pan Am:Lost
What are you talking about? A different dead body on a plane every week? A procedural with 1960′s forensic technologies? I’d watch that!
I’m certainly not watching the current drivel that paints a very rosy picture of 1963 (psst ABC – people have actually watched Mad Men, so they know exactly what that era was like, and it’s not your show).
If I were Weiner, doing a MM episode on ad creative for Pan Am would be hilarious… of course Don would need to experience the flights firsthand, if you know what I mean…
My wife loves the series and I watch it with her. It’s true they have been slow to get anywhere with the characters and the stories have been too similar and some of the actors pushed aside in favor of others…but it’s still one of the best offerings of this season and with time I hope they can grow it and follow a different path.
I have faith they will improve it…use Ricci a bit more.
We did not wear hats during service. Too many thinks are wrong, please get it right.I’m lost with all the jumping around. The real stories are much better. Interview and listen to the real people that worked for the best airline in the world. Please.