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With NBC brass back from NBCUniversal’s weirdly-timed (for NBC) corporate retreat in Florida last week that was smack in the middle of the broadcast pilot pickup season, they’re getting right to business with pilot orders. In what is expected to be a very busy pickup day at the network, NBC has greenlighted 2 hourlong pilots produced by Universal TV: Chicago Fire, a firefighter drama from feature writers Michael Brandt & Derek Haas (3:10 to Yuma) and Dick Wolf Films, and County, a medical drama from Parenthood and Friday Night Lights exec producer Jason Katims starring Parenthood recurring player and The Event alum Jason Ritter.
Chicago Fire, which NBC announced at its summer TCA presentation, is an action-driven drama exploring the complex and heroic men and women of the Chicago Fire Department. The project, which had been garnering a lot of buzz, is executive prodced by Brandt, Haas, Wolf, his new development exec Danielle Gelber and Peter Jankowski. County takes us into the lives of a group of young doctors, nurses, and administrators, in a frenetic underfunded and morally compromising LA County Hospital.
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Wish Katims wouldn’t dip his toe in the medical world…
He’s better than that.
totally agree. it is very annoying
Why? He’s a great writer. I’m interested in anything he wants to do. Football, family life, hospital…he’s a pretty sharp guy.
Katims is a great writer and I welcome his take on this world. I’m sure he has a lot to say.
Congrats to Brandt/Haas!
No, congrats to Haas/Brandt!
I’m hearing 2-3 more pickups coming from NBC and that they might eat the penalty on Revolution. Anyone else hear anything?
Surely they’re going to at least make ten with that network’s needs. Which means at least three. As for Revolution, if that’s true, that’s probably good news for other WBTV scripts awaiting their fate.
I hear they’re ‘green lighting’ a pilot staring Maria Bello’s hat from Prime Suspect.
Sounds awesome.
I guess the hat gets a job as a ‘tough, in your face cop working the mean streets of NYC.’
So sorry you didn’t get the staff writer job on PRIME SUSPECT. Better luck on CHICAGO LIGHTER FLUID and COUNTY COLOSTEMY. Your wit is “it.”
NBC should NEVER have canceled that show. They’re the gang that can’t shoot straight. The Firm was so much better?
Jen Salke and Bob Greenblat are in way over their heads. They should have held on to Prime Suspect and launched it on another night. After SMASH.
Agreed. Huge mistake for NBC not to give “Prime Suspect” more air time. It was spot on – great writing and a terrific supporting cast of actors who were believable as NYC cops. I think the real reason it didn’t work on NBC is that it was just too smart for NBC viewers.
Just another lesson that most Americans have already learned – don’t commit to an NBC show, because no matter how GOOD (or bad) it is, it will be cancelled after a few episodes.
Don’t we have enough medical shows on the air as it is? NBC needs to start focusing on other brands and genres and experiment with those to see what will resonate with viewers and those that won’t.
Congratulations Michael. I’ll be watching.
Fire!!!!
Congrats to Brandt and Haas. Smart writers, fresh voices and a big win for Dick Wolf to have these guys as show runners.
Firemen!
Doctors!
It’s 1964!
Is it in color, too? And only 2 other channels? I am IN!
Can I just say the entire group of one hour picks ups on NBC seem catered to dudes and the half hour to women. Kind of stupid if you ask me. This emphasis on genre is too much. All their picks up seem very depressing. Just what audiences want.
Seems like women writers are behind the half hours, men the hours.
It’s weird.
Just sayin.
Can someone please pass the following info to Bob at NBC:
- In which planet is Dick Wold still relevant to network TV? The name and the concept very original indeed
- Seriously, because Jason Ritter did such a good job headlining The Event, so let’s give him another show to lead. Seriously?
Jason Kaitems is responsible for some of the best writing on television over the last decade. I watched the last season og FNL over the weekend again and could not believe how great it was. Jason Ritter is a star in the making with great appeal, charm and wit. Kaitems has crafted a great role for Ritter on Parenthood. I wish this was my project . As a traditionalist, I think television will always have room for a great medical series. Always.
Guess you have to stick with that Katims dude. Hasn’t disappointed to date. Is this the death knell for Parenthood?
How is this the nail in the coffin for Parenthood? It’s their number one drama in the 18-49 demo. Why on earth would they get rid of it? That makes no sense at all.
Excited for Chicago Fire. Solid idea, great writers. This is the right direction NBC.
Apparently Jen Salke is the one responsible for al the pilot picks. One would imagine if you’re Greenblat and the head of a failing network, being paid millions of dollars (and you’ve already yanked PRIME SUSPECT off the air and put on THE FIRM) you might read every single pilot script.
You might want to make a discovery, do something daring. Find the next SMASH and give it everything.
But between multiple vacations, retreats you give it ALL over to your number two. Who is in Mexico, Utah, Tahoe, Bahamas or the likes and she reads a few scripts between sailing and skiing and tells you what’s good…. that way she can pass on a tired Dick Wolf concept that’s underdeveloped and you just say yes. You don’t pour through the pile of development. You just leave it to her while you do what? Exactly what while being made millions of dollars? Leave it all to the taste of someone else. Have her vet all your product through her out of touch perspective? Her bias.
That’s a terrific way to make groundbreaking television to get you out of a last place slump.
Hard work, taste, and being in touch with the audience always leads to that. But not here.