Upcoming Pilots for the Fall (and Cancellations)

[Qalbert]

saw this and thought might as well have a thread to encompass upcoming shows as a whole and wait til they start to make individual threads.
http://blastr.com/2011/03/heres-tv-pilots-that-we-m.php

With dozens of television pilots ordered during pilot season, the sci-fi, fantasy and horror possibilities look promising. We found 17 network pilots with potential. While most of them won't ever be ordered to series, a lucky few will join Steven Spielberg's Terra Nova on the fall schedule.

Here's a look at the pilots the broadcast networks are developing, along with our best guesses on their chances based on how they sound and who's involved:


ABC
HALLELUJAH
Stars: Terry O'Quinn (Lost), Donal Logue (Terriers), Jesse L. Martin (Law & Order) and Frances O'Connor
Log Line: The tiny town of Hallelujah, Tennessee is torn between the forces of good and evil. Del Roman (O'Quinn) is the town's kingpin and Rye Turner (Logue) is an honest family man and owner of the local diner who's tired of Del's rule. However, everything changes when a mysterious stranger comes to town and Rye and his wife welcome the man into their home. From writer Marc Cherry (Desperate Housewives) and director Michael Apted (The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader).
Why Hallelujah might not make it: While we'd love to see Terry O'Quinn in another complex, villainous role, the series sounds a little heavy handed. Past shows, even really good ones, about small communities caught in the battle between good and evil (American Gothic, Carnivàle) haven't fared very well.

THE LAST DAYS OF MAN
Stars: Tim Allen (Home Improvement)
Log Line: While we're not sure that there's any sci-fi to be had here, this half-hour comedy follows a married father of three (Allen) who tries to hold on to his manliness in a world increasingly dominated by women. From creator Jack Burditt (30 Rock) and pilot director John Pasquin (Home Improvement).
Why The Last Days of Man might make it: ABC is determined to develop more comedy series to build on the success they've had with shows like Modern Family. Tim Allen is a big name when it comes to TV and the pilot sounds like it will play to Allen's strengths.

ONCE UPON A TIME
Stars: Jennifer Morrison (Star Trek, House), Robert Carlyle (Stargate Universe), Ginnifer Goodwin (Robot Chicken) and Jamie Dornan
Log Line: A woman with a troubled past (Morrison) finds herself drawn to Storybrooke, a small Maine town where magic and fairy tales might just be real. From creators Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis (Lost), with Mark Mylod (Entourage) direcing the pilot.
Why Once Upon a Time might work: You've got to love a series that has Robert Carlyle cast as Rumplestiltskin. This sounds like it could be lots of fun, or it could go a little Twin Peaks. Either way, there's interesting potential.

POE
Stars: Chris Egan (Kings), Kevin McNally (Pirates of the Caribbean), Natalie Dormer (Captain America: The First Avenger) and Tabrett Bethell (Legend of the Seeker)
Log Line: Set in 1840s Boston, the story follows Edgar Allan Poe as the world's first detective, who used unconventional methods to investigate dark mysteries. From creator Christopher Hollier (Kyle XY), director Alex Graves (Terra Nova, Journeyman) and executive producer/showrunner Brad Kern (Charmed, Human Target).
Why Poe may not make it: While we kind of like the possibilities when it comes to seeing Poe run into some of the characters during his investigations who eventually end up in his writing, period shows can be very expensive to make. It seems like a long shot.

THE RIVER
Stars: Bruce Greenwood (Nowhere Man, Star Trek), Paul Blackthorne (The Dresden Files, The Gates), Joe Anderson (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn), Leslie Hope (24) and Eloise Mumford
Log Line: When a TV explorer (Greenwood) and his crew go missing in the Amazon, a group sets off to find them in a state-of-the-art research vessel. From creators Michael R. Perry and Michael Green (Kings) and director Jaume Collet-Serra (Unknown), with Green, Zack Estrin (No Ordinary Family) and Oren Peli (Paranormal Activity) executive producing.
What we like about The River: Pitched as a horror story, The River might well have a touch of Lost in its bones. It seems likely this will be a serialized story, and ABC's been looking for a series to fill Lost's shoes since that series ended.


CBS
PERSON OF INTEREST
Stars: Michael Emerson (Lost), Jim Caviezel (The Passion of the Christ), and Taraji P. Henson (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
Log Line: A billionaire (Emerson) recruits a CIA agent who's been presumed dead (Caviezel) to stop violent crimes in New York City before they happen.
Why Person of Interest has potential: It's from Lost's J.J. Abrams and The Dark Knight's Jonah Nolan, and it stars Emerson and Caviezel, so we love the cast and the behind-the-scenes talent. Let's just hope it's not another Undercovers.

UNTITLED SUSANNAH GRANT PROJECT
Stars: Patrick Wilson (Insidious), Jennifer Ehle (The King's Speech) and Julie Benz (No Ordinary Family, Dexter)
Log Line: This drama from Susannah Grant follows an ultra-competitive surgeon who finds his life forever changed when his ex-wife dies, only to reappear to him as a ghost who wants to teach him what life is really all about. From Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich) and pilot director and executive producer Jonathan Demme (The Silence of the Lambs).
Why this pilot may not make it: The fact that the pilot doesn't have a title yet isn't much of a concern. However, CBS is coming off of low ratings for Medium and Ghost Whisperer, and it seems unlikely they'd go back into the ghost business at this point. Also, there's very little room on CBS's successful schedule these days. That said, Demme and Grant could pull off a stunning pilot that might surprise us.


NBC
17th PRECINCT
Stars: Esai Morales (Caprica) and Battlestar Galactica's James Callis, Tricia Helfer and Jamie Bamber.
Log Line: This police drama from Battlestar's Ronald D. Moore takes place in an alternate version of San Francisco where magic rules instead of science. Michael Rymer (Battlestar Galactica) directs the pilot.
What we like about 17th Precinct: It's from Moore and he's filled it with Battlestar and Caprica alumn. And you have to admit the idea is pretty cool.

GRIMM
Stars: David Giuntoli (Eli Stone), Reggie Lee (No Ordinary Family), Bitsie Tulloch (Lonelygirl15), Russell Hornsby (Haunted), Sasha Roiz (Caprica) and Silas Weir Mitchell
Log Line: A cop discovers that fairy tale creatures are real and ends up being tasked with protecting humans from them. From David Greenwalt (Angel) and Jim Kouf (National Treasure).
Why Grimm might not make it: Fairy tales are popular this year, but we like the sound of ABC's Once Upon a Time a little better. This seems a little too much like Special Unit 2. Plus there's no big stars to get excited about in the cast.

REM
Stars: Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter), Laura Allen (The 4400), Dylan Minnette (Lost), Cherry Jones (24), B.D. Wong (Jurassic Park)
Log Line: An Inception-like thriller that follows a police detective (Isaacs) after a horrible car accident when he finds himself living in two different realities. In one his son survived and in the other his wife lived. From creator Kyle Killen (Lone Star), executive producer Howard Gordon (24) and consulting producer Tim Minear (Firefly, Angel).
Why REM has potential: We like this idea a lot and Isaacs is a terrific actor. However, we'll have to see how many genre shows NBC will pick up since Wonder Woman seems like a shoe-in.

WONDER WOMAN
Stars: Adrianne Palicki (Friday Night Lights), Justin Bruening (Knight Rider), Cary Elwes (Saw, The Princess Bride), Elizabeth Hurley (Austin Powers) and Pedro Pascal (The Adjustment Bureau)
Log Line: Updated from the DC comics, this Wonder Woman is a successful corporate executive and modern woman in L.A. when she's not taking on bad guys as a vigilante crime fighter. From creator David E. Kelley (The Practice), with Jeffrey Reiner (The Event) directing the pilot.
Why Wonder Woman will probably get a pick up even though we're not sure it should: Considering all the excitement regarding the casting of Palicki and the coverage of what her costume looks like, NBC has managed to create a lot of buzz for this reboot. While we love Kelley (and maybe he can even pull off a modern Wonder Woman with Palicki), we're still stinging from the recent disastrous Bionic Woman and Knight Rider remakes. Add into the mix Knight Rider star Justin Bruening taking on the role of Steve Trevor and 17th Precinct and REM start to look even better.


Fox
ALCATRAZ
Stars: Sarah Jones (Sons of Anarchy), Jorge Garcia (Lost), Robert Forster (Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle), Sam Neill (Jurassic Park), Jason Butler Harner (Next) and Jonny Coyne
Log Line: A group of Alcatraz prisoners and guards vanish only to reappear 30 years later leading a team of FBI agents to try to track them down and figure out the mystery behind their disappearance. From executive producer J.J. Abrams (Star Trek, Lost) and created by Bryan Wynbrandt (Kyle XY), Elizabeth Sarnoff (Lost) and Steven Lilien (Kyle XY). Danny Cannon (Judge Dredd) directs the pilot.
What we like about Alcatraz: Abrams knows how to put together a great pilot and this sounds like it's got tons of Lost-esque potential. Also, this might make a good companion with the just renewed Fringe on Friday nights.

LOCKE & KEY
Stars: Jesse McCartney (Young Justice), Mark Pellegrino (Lost, Syfy's Being Human), Miranda Otto (The Lord of the Rings), Nick Stahl (Carnivàle), Harrison Thomas, Sarah Bolger and Skylar Gaertner
Log Line: Based on the comic book series by Joe Hill (Stephen King's son), the series follows the adventures of the Locke children, who after the murder of their father, move in with their uncle to the family's estate in Lovecraft, Massachusetts. There they discover special doorways that can be opened with keys hidden within the walls. Created by Josh Friedman (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles). Executive produced by Steven Spielberg and Fringe's Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman.
Why Locke & Key has potential: It's got a strong cast and an even stronger creative team behind-the-series. And considering Fox is also taking on Spielberg's Terra Nova, they might want to give this one extra consideration.

TOUCH
Stars: Kiefer Sutherland (24)
Log Line: Life gets complicated for a JFK baggage handler when he discovers his autistic, mute son can predict the future. This midseason replacement comes from Tim Kring (Heroes), with Charles McDougall (The Good Wife) directing the pilot. Sutherland is also on board as one of the executive producers.
Why Touch might make it: Fox's schedule this year hasn't seemed quite right without Sutherland on it. This is planned as a midseason replacement and it could turn into a good option to fill holes in their schedule come 2012.


The CW
AWAKENING
Stars: Brian Hallisay (Priviledged), Lucy Griffiths (Robin Hood), Meredith Hagner (Lights Out) and Lost's Titus Welliver.
Log Line: Two combative sisters "come of age amid the beginning of a zombie uprising." From partners Bill Laurin and Glenn Davis (The Listener). David Van Ancken (The Vampire Diaries) directs the pilot.
What we like about Awakening: The CW knows how to jump on a trend, and zombies are hot thanks to The Walking Dead. It's a bunch of bright, pretty stars, with Welliver around to add some punch to the cast.

HEAVENLY
Stars: Lauren Cohan (The Vampire Diaries, Chuck), Ben Aldridge, Elizabeth Ho and Ryan Eggold (90210)
Log Line: The series revolves around a San Francisco attorney who teams up with a former angel in an effort to save their clients and their clients' souls. Created by Richard Hatem (The Gates, Supernatural), with Robert Doherty (Medium, Tru Calling) and Ross Fineman executive producing. Mimi Leder (Deep Impact) directs the pilot.
Why Heavenly might not make it: While Lauren Cohan looks like a star to us after her strong outings on Vampire Diaries and Chuck, her pilot is up against zombies and witches. And since the CW doesn't have that many available slots for new shows ... well, you do the math.

SECRET CIRCLE
Stars: Britt Robertson (Scream 4), Thomas Dekker (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), Jessica Parker Kennedy (Smallville) and Phoebe Tonkin
Log Line: Adapted from the book trilogy, Secret Circle, by L.J. Smith, the story follows a California teen named Cassie Blake, who moves to her mom's hometown of New Salem, Maine and discovers she comes from a family of witches. Created by Andrew Miller (Ball & Chain), with Kevin Williamson (The Vampire Diaries) executive producing and Liz Friedlander (The Vampire Diaries) directing the pilot.
What we love about Secret Circle: We'd actually be shocked if the CW didn't pick this one up. Considering the CW's mega hit The Vampire Diaries is based on a series of books by L.J. Smith and Kevin Williamson brought that one to life on the network, Secret Circle has all the elements going for it. Sprinkle in a pretty and talented young cast and you have the CW's next new hit.

[Odesseiron]

I have faith in none of these. Except maybe Person of Interest since Michael Emerson is in it. He's a great actor. I'll check out Alcatraz and Hallelujah to see Terry O Quinn and Jorge Garcia, but don't expect much of either. JJ Abrams tries to do too much shit, and some of it ends up tanking. I will also watch Wonder Woman to see how bad it is (incoming trainwreck!) I think all of these shows or at least 90% of them will be cancelled.

[Priran]

I must see Poe

[Iono]

TOUCH
Stars: Kiefer Sutherland (24)
Log Line: blah blah blah

Wth Jack Bauer quit CTU to do this??


I'll wait and see I guess. If you woulda told me there'd be a new Gilligan's Island, with polar bears, time travel, and the battle between good and evil I woulda doubted the fuck out of it. And that proved me wrong so.....

[ronin sparthos]

Most of these sound like they will stink.

17th precinct and Alcatraz are the only two that sound remotely interesting to me. What can I say, im a sucker for alternate timelines.

Grimm/Once Upon a Time sound like they are going to be so bad it's worth a watch. Anything that tasks a character to protect humans from Rapunzel, Red Riding Hood or Elves and a Shoemaker is doomed before it even starts.

Pretty sure all eyes are on Wonder Woman imploding though.

[Qalbert]

17th precinct and Alcatraz are the only two that sound remotely interesting to me. What can I say, im a sucker for alternate timelines.

add Poe and that's my list.

[Akiyama]

So more TV shows for NBC to cancel after a year. Cool

[Shuichi]

17th Precinct and Grimm sound interesting. The rest are "meh" for me.

[Titanss]

I predict Alcatraz the only one to make it

[Selamis]

I would watch Heavenly once just to see if Lauren Cohan looked smoking hot again like she did while on Supernatural and not with her chopped haircut that made her less hot, but still hot enough to bang, that she wore on Vampire Diaries. That's a deal breaker for the first episode, but anything after that...yea...doesn't sound promising.

Last Days of Man could be good if it was like, Home Improvement v 2.0 and at least featured him going Oh-oh-oh-oh lol.

[Acturus]

I must see Poe

Ayup. Me too.

[aduidarnenye]

17th Precinct sounds like someone was reading a City Watch Discworld novel and thought it was a good idea.

Most of this stuff sounds like all the nerds from the 80s and 90s have finally grown up and wrested the reins of power from the people who've been making endless medical and law dramas for the last 20 years.

[Cantih]

Holy crap there are a lot of genre shows this year if these all go through.
I was hoping my TV intake might get cut down next season =\

[ZarakiKujata]

All of this looks like shit and I found out no Mad Men till 2012 today.


Fuck TV.

Only shit coming this year that will remotely be worth your time.

Spoiler: show

Treme Season 2
Game of Thrones Season 1
Curb Season 8
Breaking Bad Season 4
Boardwalk Empire Season 2
Walking Dead Season 2 (MAYBE)

I honestly cannot believe that they aren't doing that pilot w/ O'Quinn/Emerson that was bandied about after Lost ended, or that no tv exec thought to recapture 50% of the magic of Lost from S2 onwards.

[TummieGaruda]

17th Precinct and Grimm sound interesting. The rest are "meh" for me.

Too bad we have to see Kristin Kreuk and her giant forehead again...she's a guest start but if the show gets picked up she might become a regular.

[Titanss]

Curb Season 8 is on the way? nice.

[Qalbert]

can't wait for BrBa

[Ksandra]

Last Days of Man could be good if it was like, Home Improvement v 2.0 and at least featured him going Oh-oh-oh-oh lol.

I'm surprised others didn't mention it. Sounds like they want to remake the success with Home Improvment, and I will be the first to admit I watched the shit out of that show back in the day.

Comedies are pretty easy to recreate once you have it, and there aren't many good comedies out there anymore tbh. I look forward to it.

[Not Kuno]

I'm surprised others didn't mention it. Sounds like they want to remake the success with Home Improvment, and I will be the first to admit I watched the shit out of that show back in the day.

Comedies are pretty easy to recreate once you have it, and there aren't many good comedies out there anymore tbh. I look forward to it.

Agreed 100%. Only show I'm looking forward to, not for the premise but for the actor.

[ZarakiKujata]

Curb Season 8 is on the way? nice.

Promos said Spring 2011. They finished filming it over the fall. I assume its gonna take over the 10pm slot once Treme/Game of Thrones finish. So like 13 weeks from late April... so July maybe?