#abc pilots

[pilotseason2020]

THE BRIDES (ordered to pilot)

based on characters created by Bram Stroker

A vampire soap about empowered, immortal women and the things they do to maintain wealth, prestige, legacy — and their nontraditional family.

Cast (thus far)

Gina Torres (Suits) as Cleo Phillips. One of the three Brides of Dracula and the leader of this vampire trio, Cleo is an imperious woman with a queenly manner—understandably, as she was a queen in her former life— who was turned by Dracula after the death of her husband. Now a maven of New York City real estate, Cleo is challenged professionally by a mysterious newcomer —even as her ties to her sisters are dangerously fraying. (Mar 2)

Erin Richards (Gotham) as Renée, the head of a top modeling agency in New York City, known for her torrid affairs with her beautiful female models. In her former life, she was the wife of the Marquis de Sade when she invited Dracula into her “house of pain” and asked to be “turned” by him. (Mar 11)

Katherine Reis (Claws) as Lily Stevens, the youngest of the three Brides of Dracula, a striving singer in New York City whose relationship to a news reporter threatens to tear apart her marriage to her “sisters.” In her former life, she braved the streets of Jack the Ripper’s London, until being “rescued” by Dracula. (Mar 3)

Goran Višnjić (Timeless) as Count Dracula, the powerful, ageless, and iconic King of Night who “turned” each of his three brides. Dracula is left for dead at his destroyed castle in the Carpathian mountains while his three wives flee to start a new life together. (Mar 9; SeasonZero hinted at it hours before the announcement on Twitter)

Chris Mason (Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists) as Roland Grant. This stylish real estate mogul arrives in town to challenge Cleo— the “Queen of New York City real estate” — for professional supremacy. With secret ties to Dracula, Roland has a personal stake in the destruction of the Brides. (Mar 3)

Sophia Tatum (I Am Not Okay With This) as Justine Strang. Completely friendless and new to town, Justine shows up at the studio of Renée Pélagie, a top modeling agent in New York City and the “middle” bride of Dracula. Renée soon takes this young, hungry, aspiring model under her wing, unaware that Justine may have a past with Dracula as well. (Mar 3)

Charlie McElveen (The Deuce) as Arthur Seward. An ambitious young news reporter, Arthur works the graveyard shift at his paper, covering news of the bizarre. He becomes infatuated with Lily— unaware that she is, in fact, an immortal vampire. (Mar 11)

Series Creator: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Maggie Kiley

Producers: Greg Berlanti, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Sarah Schechter

Studios: Warner Bros. TV, ABC Studios, Berlanti Productions

Genre: Soap, Family, Horror, and Supernatural

Primetimer Pilot Preview: “consider”

Primetimer’s Character Descriptions

[pilotseason2019]

WOMAN UP (rejected as series)

Two former teen moms have worked their asses off to see their daughters all the way through high school graduation. Now, at 35, they’re ready to make up for the youth they never had.

Cast (thus far)

Mary-Elizabeth Ellis (The Grinder) as Liz. (Feb 26)

Tawny Newsome (Bajillion Dollar Propertie$) as Phoebe. (Feb 26)

Tate Moore (newcomer) as young Liz. (Mar 15)

Bryce Charles (Black-ish) as young Phoebe. (Mar 15)

Abby Quinn (Good Girls Get High) will play Liz’s daughter Grace. (Feb 26)

Gabrielle Elyse (Snatchers) as Phoebe’s daughter Angela. (Feb 26)

Kym Whitley (Young & Hungry) as Phoebe’s mom Edna. (Feb 26)

Leon Thomas III (Victorious) as Jeff, Phoebee and Liz’s younger neighbor in their apartment building. (Mar 5)

Genre: Single-Camera Comedy

Created by: Zoe Lister-Jones.

Directed by: Zoe Lister-Jones.

Produced by: Zoe Lister-Jones, Jason Winer, Jon Radler & Liz Meriwether.

Studios: 20th Century Fox Television, Small Dog Picture Company, Elizabeth Meriwether Pictures & Lister Films.

[pilotseason2018]

May 11 Series Orders

FOX’s Last Man Standing revival has been officially ordered

CBS comedy Fam starring Nina Dobrev, has been ordered to series

CBS drama The Code has been picked up to series (though with two key roles to be recast, including the male lead)

CBS also has ordered comedy God Friended Me and dramas Magnum P.I. and The Red Line, while it seems like cop dramas Cagney & Lacey and Chiefs are dead on arrival

ABC has ordered to series the comedy Single Parents

ABC also ordered dramas Grand Hotel and Whiskey Cavalier

ABC’s Marcia Clark-inspired project The Fix has been picked up to series

ABC has picked up the formerly untitled Tim Doyle comedy, now called The Kids are Alright

ABC’s soap False Profits has not officially been picked up, but is in consideration for midseason with its redevelopment a priority; to that end, ABC is developing a writers room for three more scripts and they’ve extended their contracts with the cast; all other ABC pilots not picked up are now dead

The CW has picked up to series the Charmed and Roswell, New Mexico reboots, the Originals spin-off Legacies, football drama All American (fka “Spencer”) and In the Dark; Supernatural spin-off Wayward Sisters will officially not go forward

NBC comedy Guess Who Died was technically passed on, but creator and icon Norman Lear is said to be shopping it around; the situation is similar for fellow SONY-produced NBC Pilot and Bad Boys off-shoot L.A.’s Finest

*SeasonZero is saying that NBC comedy Friends-in-Law is done for (see here) and FOX comedy Dan the Weatherman and drama No Apologies are both headed for redevelopment (see here)

[pilotseason2017]

THE TRUSTEE STUDIO: Warner Bros Television/Brownstone Productions TEAM: Jay Scherick, David Ronn, Elizabeth Banks, Max Handelman, Michael Engler

LOGLINE: A driven but stubborn detective finds unlikely help from her precinct’s trustee, a larger-than-life ex-con finishing out her prison sentence doing menial tasks for the police department. Although these two have completely opposing views on crime and punishment, a successful partnership is born.

 Cast (thus far)

Meaghan Rath (Being Human) will play Eliza Radley, a driven but stubborn detective who finds unlikely help from her precinct’s trustee.

Laverne Cox (Orange Is the New Black) will play the titular trustee, Amanda Jones, a larger-than-life ex-con finishing out her prison sentence doing menial tasks for the police department.

David Warshofsky (Scandal) will play Anthony Radley, a tough retired cop who retreats into the bottle on the anniversary of his police officer son’s death.

L. Scott Caldwell (Mercy Street) will play Odelle Jones, Amanda’s feisty and spry grandmother. Odelle raised Amanda the “right way” and is disappointed with her incarceration.

Lance Gross (Sleepy Hollow) will play police detective J.D. Hayes, who’s not only a colleague of Radley, he’s also dating her. He delights in her toughness but is not so thrilled when an old tragedy threatens their relationship, which he wants to take to the next level.

Michael Cudlitz (The Walking Dead) will play Timothy Waits, a wry and sardonic police captain who has learned to appreciate Radley’s unorthodox policing methods.

Tim Kang (The Mentalist) will play the agreeable Detective Wu. He and his partner, Detective Martinez, are assigned to a case that puts them into conflict with Detective Radley.

Berto Colon (Orange Is the New Black) will play Detective Martinez. Muscle-bound, arrogant and “not too bright,” he clashes with Detective Radley.

 Further details:

the pilot will be shot in Vancouver

this review is very positive

[pilotseason2019]

UNTIL THE WEDDING (rejected as series)

The story of how one couple’s decision to get married can affect everyone in their lives. The show will explore the intimate relationships of a group of friends and family as they are forced to reckon with their own romantic lives and come to terms with the realities of love and marriage.

Cast (thus far)

Olivia Thirlby (Goliath) as Adrienne, the one all her friends go to first for advice. She’s super empathic and warm with a biting sense of humor. Idealistic, ambitious and really smart, Adrienne has an especially high IQ. She’s a highly skilled psychologist who’s sometimes better at taking care of other people than she is of herself. A trauma specialist, she’s still a little commitment-phobic after a terrible breakup with a fellow do-gooder she met in Kenya two years ago. She regrouped back home in New York and fell in love with a stable, menschy guy. When the fellow do-gooder makes an unexpected reappearance at the moment the mensch is about to propose, Adrienne is thrown for a loop and her world goes topsy turvy. (Feb 28)

E.J. Bonilla (Unforgettable) as Danny Garcia is a serious mensch, warm, funny, wears his heart on his sleeve. He’s not afraid to say what he thinks or express emotion. He’s the kind of guy who was born 40, and then had to shoulder a lot of responsibility growing up. Super-smart and tech savvy, Danny came from nothing. He built an online fraud detection company that’s about to go public, but he’s a family guy first. He’s a romantic, and madly in love with his girlfriend Adrienne. Things get complicated when Adrienne’s ex-boyfriend shows up on the weekend Danny plans to propose. (Mar 1)

Christian Borle (Smash) as Miles, Adrienne’s charming, highly accomplished brother and stay-at-home dad. (Mar 15)

Michael Benjamin Washington (30 Rock) as Sam, Miles’ husband. (Mar 11)

Britt Lower (Man Seeking Woman) as Naomi, Adrienne’s roommate and best friend. Defiantly single, defiant in general — there’s nothing Naomi loves more than a good fight. Smart, uncensored, very funny, Naomi’s an up- and-coming writer with a new book of essays that’s getting serious traction. Though Naomi would say anything to anyone, there are very few people she truly lets in. A fiercely loyal friend, Naomi would go to the end of Earth for the people she loves. (Mar 4)

Liza Colón-Zayas (Titans) as Nancy, Danny and Laura’s mother. (Mar 11)

Vered Blonstein (The Good Doctor) as Laura, Danny’s sister. (Mar 11)

Michael Stahl-David (The Deuce) as Will, Adrienne’s ex and an incredible surgeon. (Mar 11)

Christian Coulson (Nashville) as James, Will’s sexy international friend and plus-one at the wedding, who is an investor in Nick’s restaurant. (Mar 12)

Trent Garrett (Andi Mack) as Nick. (Mar 11)

Juani Feliz (Shades of Blue) as Isabel. (Mar 11)

Genre: Relationship Drama

Created by: Becky Mode.

Based on: an Israeli format.

Directed by: Susannah Grant.

Produced by: Becky Mode, Alon Aranya, Avi Zvi, Ami Amir, Carl Beverly & Sarah Timberman.

Studios: ABC Studios, Paper Plane Productions, Reshet Media & Timberman-Beverly Productions.

Primetimer Pilot Preview

[pilotseason2019]

HANNAH (rejected as series)

The story of Hannah and her Indian-American immigrant father Sid. They always have been close, but after she admits to herself that she’s in a dead-end job and he reveals his marriage is over, they’re starting over together and each finding a new path. This new chapter will either make them crazy close — or just crazy.

Cast (thus far)

Hannah Simone (New Girl) as Hannah. (Oct 31, 2018)

Art Malik (The Jewel in the Crown) as Sid, a newly retired and once-adventurous man who has fallen into a routine. But he is still enthusiastic and gung-ho for all things American and fond of Western wear. Sid had moved to the United States so that his family could have a better life, and he is bursting with pride at Hannah’s many accomplishments. However, all is not as it seems, and when Sid learns that Hannah is in pretty dire straits, he becomes razor-focused, calling on his keen organizational skills to make sure Hannah doesn’t fall down on the job. (Mar 25, Variety)

Jane Leeves (Frasier) as Caroline. She is New Age-y with a fondness for crystals and meditation, the type who “really wants to know your sign.” She is also effusive, warm, a bit batty and flamboyant, but well-meaning. She stuns her grown children by announcing she and Sid are divorced and she has fallen in love with someone new…herself. (Feb 26)

Deniz Akdeniz (Once Upon a Time) as Jack. Vain and manicured, yet hip-hop, Jack lives in a townhouse next door to his parents and drives a BMW. He looks up to his big sister Hannah but can’t believe she hasn’t figured out that success equals getting paid. (Mar 14)

Alanna Ubach (Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce) as Susan, the family’s closest friend, filled with confidence and booze and always over-the-top. Susan can be counted on to say exactly the wrong thing at all times. (Feb 27)

Genre: Single-Camera Comedy

Created by: Matt Fusfeld, Alex Cuthbertson & Hannah Simon.

Directed by: Todd Holland.

Produced by: Matt Fusfeld, Alex Cuthbertson & Hannah Simon.

Studios: ABC Studios

[pilotseason2019]

EMERGENCE (ordered to pilot at NBC; ordered to series at ABC)

A sheriff takes in a young child that she finds near the site of a mysterious accident who has no memory of what has happened. The investigation draws her into a conspiracy larger than she ever imagined, and the child’s identity is at the center of it all.

Production Note: When word came that NBC was not picking this pilot up to series, the executive team at ABC, who loved the pilot from their studio, swooped in to pick it up.

Cast (thus far)

Allison Tolman (Fargo) as Jo, the police chief on Long Island’s Peconic Bay. Newly divorced from Alex, Jo lives with her 14-year-old daughter, Bree, and her ex-firefighter father, Ed. (Feb 7)

Alexa Skye Swinton (Billions) as Piper, the child Jo finds. She is intelligent, curious and a bit mysterious. (Feb 27)

Donald Faison (Scrubs) as Alex, Jo’s recently divorced husband and the father of their daughter. (Mar 11)

Ashley Aufderheide (The Slap) as Jo’s teenage daughter Bree, who is strong-willed with a sense of humor. (Feb 27)

Clancy Brown (Carnivàle) as Jo’s father Ed, a retired firefighter with a great sense of humor. (Feb 27)

Zabryna Guevara (Gotham) as Abby, a pediatrician who is a longtime friend of Jo. (Mar 15)

Robert Bailey, Jr. (The Night Shift) as Chris, an industrious police officer. (Feb 27)

Owain Yeoman (The Mentalist) as Benny, an investigative reporter for Reuters. (Mar 4)

Genre: Mystery Thriller Drama

Created by: Michele Fazekas & Tara Butters.

Directed by: Paul McGuigan.

Produced by: Paul McGuigan, Robert Atwood, Michele Fazekas & Tara Butters

Studios: ABC Studios

Primetimer Pilot Preview

First trailer

This series will air on Tuesdays, from 10:00 PM to 11:00 PM after black-ish

[pilotseason2019]

HEART OF LIFE (awaiting redevelopment)

Two sets of adult siblings from wildly different worlds discover they’re related and must reassess everything they thought they knew about their shared father. As they explore the mystery of their separate childhoods, they’ll experience the difficulty in overcoming the sins of the past, and learn the joys of reuniting with long-lost family.

Production note: Although audiences enjoyed the first pilot, the concept will likley be adjusted the script redone to improve execution. 

Cast (thus far)

Katie Findlay (Man Seeking Woman) as Sydney Winter. (Mar 7)

Jessica Stroup (Iron Fist) as Alexandra Reid, Wes’ sister. (Mar 18)

Harry Shum Jr. (Glee) as Brendan Winter. (Mar 7)

Dave Annable (Brothers & Sisters) as Wesley “Wes” Reid. (Mar 7)

Ming-Na Wen (Agents of SHIELD) as Lily Winter. (SeasonZero, Mar 30)

Nick Thune (Dave Made a Maze) as Jimmy, a wiry, aloof, singer/guitar player and aging rock star who drank too much, partied too much, and enjoys the lifestyle. But he’s surprisingly sweet, thoughtful, and a good listener. (Mar 21)

Genre: Family Drama

Created by: Ben Queen.

Based on: John Mayer’s song.

Directed by: Anne Fletcher.

Produced by: Ben Queen, Paul Weitz, Melvin Mar & John Mayer.

Studios: 20th Century FOX Television & ABC Studios

Primetimer Pilot Preview