Tell-Tale TV’s 2019 Pilot Season Round-Up

Tell-Tale TV’s 2019 Pilot Season Round-Up, organized by network (continued):

ABC • CBS • FOX • NBC • The CW

CBS 

Alive (Status: Dropped)

Logline: A San Francisco homicide detective is mysteriously brought back to life after being killed in the line of duty, but as he resumes his old life and he and his wife realize he isn’t the same person he used to be, they zero in on the strange man behind his resurrection: Dr. Victor Frankenstein.

Here’s who’s involved: Ryan Phillippe (Shooter, Cruel Intentions), Katrina Law (Training Day, Arrow), Aaron Staton ( Mad Men, Girlfriend’s Guide To Divorce), Saidah Arrika Ekulona Crew: W/EP Jason Tracey (Elementary); EP Rob Doherty, D Uta Briesewitz (Westworld, Stranger Things)

Keep an eye on this one: If you like police dramas, science fiction, and the general premise of Russian Doll. That’s such a weird sentence this one just might work. 

All Rise (Status: Ordered to Series)

Logline: Follows the dedicated, chaotic, hopeful and sometimes absurd lives of the judges, assistant district attorneys and public defenders as they work with bailiffs, clerks, cops and jurors to bring justice to the people of Los Angeles.

Here’s who’s involved: Jessica Camacho, Wilson Bethel, Simone Missick, J. Alex Brinson, Marg Helgenberger, Lindsay Mendez, Ruthie Ann Miles Crew: W/EP Greg Spottiswood (Frontier); EP Leonard Goldstein; EP/D Mike Robin; CP Gil Garcetti

Keep an eye on this one: Legal fanatics unite. The logline doesn’t give much away, but Courthouse stands out from other legal dramas by promising insight into the lives of clerks and jurors. Maybe that will be enough to get it on screen. 

Evil (Status: Ordered To Series)

Logline: A drama about the battle between science and religion, Evil focuses on a skeptical female clinical psychologist who joins a priest-in-training and a blue-collar contractor as they investigate supposed miracles, demonic possessions and other extraordinary occurrences to see if there’s a scientific explanation or if something truly supernatural is at work.

Here’s who’s involved: Katja Herbers (Westworld, Divorce), Mike Colter (Luke Cage), Aasif Mandvi, Michael Emerson Crew: W/EP Robert and Michelle King (The Good Fight); EP Liz Glotzer; D Robert King

Keep an eye on this one: Supernatural fans! The CW‘s parent company may have an eventual replacement for you with Evil. 

FBI: Most Wanted (Status: Ordered To Series)

Logline: Revolves around the division of the FBI tasked with tracking and capturing the notorious criminals on the FBI’s Most Wanted list.

Here’s who’s involved: Julian McMahon (Nip/Tuck), Keisha Castle-Hughes (Game Of Thrones), Alana de la Garza (Law & Order), Kellan Lutz (What Men Want), Roxy Sternberg, Nathanial Arcand Crew: W/EP Dick Wolf, Rene Balcer; EP Arthur W. Forney, Peter Jankowski; D Fred Berner

Keep an eye on this one: Fans of FBI and cop shows in general should watch out for this one. It has the rare advantage of a planted pilot, but that could just mean that the public just gets to see this test episode, whereas usually failed pilots just disappear. 

Apr. 5 Update: Here is a sneak peek of the show from TV Line

The Republic of Sarah (Status: Dropped)

Logline: A small New Hampshire town is thrust onto the world stage when the discovery of a valuable resource within its borders compels the residents to declare themselves an independent nation, setting the unlikely young mayor and her cabinet of inexperienced locals on the path of running a brand new country.

Here’s who’s involved: Sarah Drew (Grey’s Anatomy, Everwood), Kirsten Nelson (Psych), James Lesure (Good Girls, Girlfriend’s Guide To Divorce) Kimberly Guerrero, Daniel Ings, Annie Funke, Jonathan Slavin, Carlos Leal Crew: W/EP Jeffrey Paul King (Elementary); EP Leo Pearlman, Jeff Grosvenor, Anna Fricke; EP/D Marc Webb

Keep an eye on this one: Sarah Drew fans — the stars have aligned for this one. It’s just a coincidence that Drew got the lead role in a show with her name in the title, but it happened. The Republic Of Sarah seems like a cross between Everwood and Northern Exposure (Crossing my fingers for this one. I want to meet the people of this town.)

Surveillance (Status: In Contention/Unknown)

Logline: A spy thriller about around the head of communications for the NSA (Sophia Bush), a charming operative who finds her loyalties torn between protecting the government’s secrets and her own.

Here’s who’s involved: Sophia Bush (The Chicago franchise, One Tree Hill) Dennis Haysbert, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Matthew Modine, Allen Leech, Raphael Acloque, Nick Blood, Spencer Moss, Tina Huang, Judith Scott, Brian Markinson, Catherine Curtin Crew: W/Co-EP David C. White (Sons of Liberty); EP Matt Reeves (The Passage); D/EP Patricia Riggen (Jack Ryan) — Casting complete according to The Hollywood Reporter

Keep an eye on this one: Sophia Bush a badass head of communications at the NSA — I just feel it in my bones. I’m not saying anyone compares to Olivia Pope, but the logline is giving me Scandal vibes. 

Tommy (Status: Ordered To Series)

Logline: When a former high-ranking NYPD officer (Edie Falco) becomes the first female chief of police for Los Angeles, she uses her unflinching honesty and hardball tactics to navigate the social, political, and national security issues that converge with enforcing the law.

Here’s who’s involved: Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie, The Sopranos)  Michael Chernus (Orange Is The New Black), Adelaide Clemens (Watchmen), Russel G. Jones, Olivia Lucy Phillip, David Fierro, Joseph Lyle Taylor Crew: W/EP Paul Attanasio (Bull); EP Darryl Frank, Justin Falvey; EP/D Kate Dennis

Keep an eye on this one: If you like cop dramas, the history aspect of this one could be interesting. 

Under the Bridge (Status: Dropped)

Logline: When a scandal rocks the medical practice she runs with her husband and their friends, a surgeon (Jennifer Morrison) rises to the occasion and takes the lead in trying to mend both the practice and her own marriage.

Here’s who’s involved: Jennifer Morrison (Once Upon A Time), Justin Kirk (Modern Family), David Ajala (Nightflyers), Sarayu Blue (second position to NBC’s I Feel Bad), Reggie Lee Crew: W/EP Rina Mimoun (Mistresses, Everwood); EP Jerry Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman, KristieAnne Reed; D/EP Vic Mahoney (Star Wars Episode IX)

Keep an eye on this one: Somehow, CBS has gotten me intrigued by a new medical drama. I’ll definitely tune in if this one makes it to air, just to discover what the scandal is. If you’re drawn to medical dramas like me, you might like this one.  

Bob Hearts Abishola (Status: Ordered To Series)

Logline: Follows Bob (Mike and Molly grad Billy Gardell) who, after having a heart attack, falls in love with his Nigerian nurse (Folake Olowofoyeku, Transparent) and sets his sights on getting her to give him a chance.

Here’s who’s involved: Billy Gardell, Folake Olowofoyeku, Christine Ebersole (Wolf Of Wall Street, Madam Secretary)  Maribeth Monroe, Shola Adewusi, Barry Shabaka Henley, Matt Jones, Travis Wolfe Jr. Crew: W/EP Chuck Lorre, Eddie Gorodetsky (Mike and Molly), Al Higgins, Gina Yashere; EP/D Beth McCarthy Miller

Keep an eye on this one: If you’re drawn to quirky love stories, this could be a fun show if it makes it to the small screen. If Abishola is interested, that is. 

Broke (Status: Ordered To Series)

Logline: When an outrageously wealthy trust-fund baby (Jaime Camil, Jane the Virgin) is cut off by his father, he and his wife move into her estranged sister’s (Pauley Perrette, NCIS) Reseda condo, forcing the two siblings to reconnect.

Here’s who’s involved: Jaime Camil (Jane the Virgin), Pauley Perrette (NCIS), Natasha Leggero (He’s Just Not That Into You) Izzy Diaz Crew: W/EP Alex Herschlag (Will & Grace); EP Jennie Snyder Urman (Jane the Virgin), Joanna Klein, Ben Silverman, Jaime Camil, Guillermo Restrepo, Gonzalo Cilley, Maria Lucia Hernandez Frieri

Keep an eye on this one: If you enjoy watching rich people fall from grace or need a break from your own family, Broke will probably make you laugh. 

Carol’s Second Act (Status: Ordered to Series)

Logline: Revolves around Carol Chambers (Patricia Heaton), who, after raising her two children and retiring from teaching, embarks on a unique second act: becoming a doctor.

Here’s who’s involved: Patricia Heaton
, Kyle MacLachlan (Twin Peaks, Desperate Housewives) Sabrina Jalees, Jean-Luc Bilodeau, Ito Aghayere, Bonnie Dennison Crew: W/EP Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins (Trophy Wife); EP Patricia Heaton, David Hunt, Adam Griffin, Rebecca Stay, Aaron Kaplan, Dana Honor; EP/D Pam Fryman

Keep an eye on this one: You’ll definitely get to follow Carol’s journey, as it’s part of a pod deal Heaton has with CBS, essentially meaning they found it for her. If you consider yourself in your second act, or just like medical shows, it’s for you. 

The Emperor of Malibu (Status: Dropped)

Logline: When the son of a Chinese billionaire announces his engagement to an American woman, his outrageous family descends upon the couple to win their son back and test drive the American dream.

Here’s who’s involved: Ken Jeong (Crazy Rich Asians), Deborah S. Craig, Max Willems , Taylor Louderman (Broadway’s Frozen) Crew:  W/EP Kevin Kwan (Crazy Rich Asians), David Sangalli; EP/showrunners Michelle Nader (2 Broke Girls), Christina Lee (Search Party); EP Danielle Stokdyk; EP/D Andy Ackerman

Keep an eye on this one: If you’re a Crazy Rich Asians fan, this one is for you. Kwan, the book’s author, wrote this series. 

Our House (Status: Dropped) 

Logline: A devoted mom and dad are committed to raising their children with the love and support the mom never got as a kid, but discover how difficult that is with her insane parents and siblings back in the picture.

Here’s who’s involved: Katherine Heigl, Malcolm Barrett (Timeless), Nancy Lenehan & Phil Hendrie Crew: W/EP Brendan O’Brien (Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates); EP Nick Stoller, Conor Welch; D James Burrows

Keep an eye on this one: I really wish the logline used another word for “insane” but this seems like a good option for anyone who likes family comedies and celebrating diversity. 

Super Simple Love Story (Status: Dropped)

Logline: Explores how an unlikely couple becomes an unlikely family, as told through interviews and vignettes spanning 10 years.

Here’s who’s involved: Ronny Chieng (Crazy Rich Asians), Susan Wokoma, Parker Young, Laura Marano, Vanessa Marano, Elizabeth Alderfer, David Walton, Crew: W/EP Mike Royce (One Day at a Time); EP Nick Stoller, Conor Welch; EP/D Pam Fryman

Keep an eye on this one: If you like love stories, time jump storytelling, and diverse representation this is one to watch out for. But Chieng & Wokoma only supporting players. 

The Unicorn (Status: Ordered To Series) 

Logline: A widower is eager to move on from the most difficult year of his life, only to realize he’s utterly unprepared to raise his two daughters on his own, and equally unprepared for the dating world where, to his shock, he’s suddenly a hot commodity.

Keep an eye on this one: Walton Goggins (Justified), Rob Corddry, Michaela Watkins, Omar Benson Miller, Maya Lynne Robinson Crew: W/EP Bill Martin, Mike Schiff (Fam); EP Aaron Kaplan, Dana Honor, Wendi Trilling, Peyton Reed; EP/D John Hamburg

Keep an eye on this one: If you like watching men in awkward situations, I’m guessing this one will give you a laugh. 

To Whom It May Concern (Status: Dropped)

Logline: Evan sets out with his group of 20-something friends to accomplish a list of challenges he wrote for himself years ago in an effort to turn around his banal life.

Here’s who’s involved: Michael Angarano (This Is Us), Briga Heelan (Great News), Adhir Kalyan  , Michael Cassidy, Taylor Dearden, Ana Villafane Crew: W/Co-EP Mike Metz; EP Gail Berman; D Mark Cendrowski

Keep an eye on this one: If you need ideas for how to make your life less boring, keep an eye on To Whom It May Concern.

 

Next up: FOX