pilotseason2019

[pilotseason2019]

May 16- Updates

From the CW Upfronts:

the release of the fall Schedule:

SUNDAY 8-9 P.M. — Batwoman 9-10 P.M. — Supergirl

MONDAY 8-9 P.M. — All American 9-10 P.M. — Black Lightning

TUESDAY 8-9 P.M. — The Flash 9-10 P.M. — Arrow

WEDNESDAY 8-9 P.M. — Riverdale 9-10 P.M. — Nancy Drew

THURSDAY 8-9 P.M. — Supernatural 9-10 P.M. — Legacies

FRIDAY 8-9 P.M. — Charmed 9-10 P.M. — Dynasty

new series held for midseason: Katy Keene, Glamorous??

Presentation liveblog

The trailers for Batwoman, Nancy Drew, and Katy Keene

CW boss Mark Pedowitz on yesterday’s announcement about the end of the Netflix pact- reportedly, CW’s strategy will not be affected as a result

They are still planning to retool the pilot for Glamorous

Jane the Novela wasn’t picked up because it didn’t have the same “quirkiness and fun” as mother-series Jane the Virgin- the network is still interested in developing another spinoff

CBS is also open to the idea of more Big Bang Theory spinoffs in the future

No news was given on the potential redeveloping of fellow rejected CW pilot, The Lost Boys

Riley Smith joined the cast of new series Nancy Drew

Meanwhile, over at ABC, Karin Gist has been set as the showrunner for new series mixed-ish.

[pilotseason2019]

May 15- Updates

From the CBS Upfronts:

the release of the fall Schedule:

SUNDAY

60 Minutes, God Friended Me, NCIS: Los Angeles, Madam Secretary

MONDAY

Monday 8-8:30 P.M. — The Neighborhood 8:30-9 P.M. — Bob <3 Abishola 9-10 P.M. — All Rise 10-11 P.M. — Bull

TUESDAY NCIS, FBI, NCIS: New Orleans

WEDNESDAY Survivor, SEAL Team, S.W.A.T.

THURSDAY 8-8:30 P.M. — Young Sheldon 8:30-9 P.M. — The Unicorn 9-9:30 P.M. — Mom 9:30-10 P.M. — Carol’s Second Act 10-11 P.M. — Evil

FRIDAY Hawaii Five-O, Magnum P.I., Blue Bloods

new series held for midseason: comedies: Broke dramas: FBI: Most Wanted, Tommy

Presentation liveblog, and rundown of Stephen Colbert’s remarks

Trailers for the new series

About the Les Moonves controversy: here and here

About the Michael Weatherly controversy and changes to expect

About racial diversity in their new series

About the Murphy Brown reboot and the future of others

Additionally, the CW elected not to renew their pact with Netflix that automatically granted the streamer rights to all their series- now, those contracts will be made on the basis of individual shows.

[pilotseason2019]

May 14- Updates

From the ABC Upfronts:

the release of the fall Schedule:

SUNDAY

America’s Funniest Home Videos (at 7), Kids Say the Darnedest Things, Shark Tank, The Rookie

MONDAY

Dancing with the Stars (2 hours), The Good Doctor

TUESDAY 8-8:30 P.M. — The Conners 8:30-9 P.M. — Bless This Mess 9-9:30 P.M. — mixed-ish 9:30-10 P.M. — black-ish 10-11 P.M. — Emergence

WEDNESDAY 8-8:30 P.M. — The Goldbergs 8:30-9 P.M. — Schooled 9-9:30 P.M. — Modern Family 9:30-10 P.M. — Single Parents 10-11 P.M. — Stumptown

THURSDAY Grey’s Anatomy, A Million Little Things, How to Get Away with Murder

new series held for midseason: 

comedies: United We Fall

dramas: The Baker and the Beauty, For Life, NYPD Blue???

Trailers for Stumptown, Emergence, and mixed-ish

The Conners, which United We Fall was presumably developed to air with, might have its largest episode count yet at 19 episodes, which could benefit United

pilots update: NYPD Blue is still being reworked, with an eye towards getting the kinks worked out and this revival on air; Heart of Life is still in redevelopment, and now Nana might also be redeveloped

over at FOX, Patty’s Auto might be repiloted

[pilotseason2019]

ABC- Newly Ordered Series

Drama

The Baker and the Beauty: here

The story of the unlikely romance between a blue-collar baker and an international superstar. Theirs is a relationship that not only upends their own lives, but the lives of their two very different families.

For Life: here

Once wrongfully convicted as the kingpin behind one of the largest drug distribution networks in New Jersey, the true story of a man who now practices law in the same courtroom where he was sentenced to life behind bars. His quest for freedom is driven by his desperate desire to get back to the family he loves and reclaim the life that was stolen from him. Formerly the Untitled Hank Steinberg Project.

Stumptown: here

Inspired by the spirited graphic novel, this series follows Dex Parios, a sharp tongued, whip smart, down on her luck, making-it-up-as-she-goes-along, hot mess of a P.I., working in Portland, Oregon. It’s a distinct world populated by oddball characters where seemingly simple cases unfold with surprising turns, emotional stakes, and always a healthy dose of humor. At its heart, our reluctant heroine, solving other people’s messes with a blind eye toward her own. Dex usually gets it right … usually after all other options have been exhausted.

Emergence: here

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. The pilot was developed for NBC.

Comedy

mixed-ish: here (first series order of the season at any network!)

Black-ish spin-off set in the 1980s-90s. Bow’s parents Paul and Alicia decide to move from a hippie commune to the suburbs to better provide for their family, with her mom Alicia going to work for her rich grandfather Harrison at Johnson and Johnson Esquire. As her parents struggle with the challenges of their new life, Bow and her siblings navigate a mainstream school in which they’re perceived as neither black nor white.

United We Fall: ordered to series

Based on writer Julius Sharpe’s life. The parents of two young kids struggle to achieve the ordinary. Even if two people with young children and overzealous extended families truly love each other, barely anything is possible.

Might NYPD Blue or Triangle still get ordered to series? They won’t be on the fall schedule, that’s for sure!

Returning Series:

Grey’s Anatomy, s16 (and also already renewed for s17)

Modern Family, s11- and probably final (though they could change their minds again)

Agents of SHIELD, s6/7- probably not coming back from being a summer show, though

How to Get Away with Murder, s6

The Goldbergs, s7, and Schooled, s2

Fresh off the Boat AND Black-ish, S6

American Housewife, s4

The Good Doctor, s3

s2: A Million Little Things, The Rookie, The Conners, Single Parents, Bless this Mess

Cancelled:

Speechless

For the People and Splitting Up Together finished their sophomore seasons

Freshmeat: The Fix, Whiskey Cavalier, The Kids are Alright

Primetimer posted their fantasy schedule; our thoughts:

this is my favorite of their fantasy schedules so far

I’d say put For Life right after The Good Doctor, and save comics-based Stumptown for the 10 o’clock hour

YES to the theme nights: 80s shows The Goldbergs and mixed-ish, 90s shows Fresh off the Boat and Schooled; however: how about putting all four of these together on one night (Wednesday)?

conservative darling Last Man Standing, which started on ABC before getting dropped and picked up by FOX, is being moved away from Fridays with FOX’s new wrestling contract; how about moving The Conners to Fridays to sweep up that night of comedy, and put its natural partner, United We Fall, right behind it?

we definitely agree with the midseason selections (Baker and the Beauty in particular, but also positioning NYPD Blue where a midseason pick-up would allow the reboot to return to old stomping grounds)

you can also see Primetimer’s Upfront Preview

[pilotseason2019]

CBS- Newly Ordered Series

Drama

All Rise- here

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. Formerly titled Courthouse.

Evil- here

About the battle between science and religion. A skeptical female clinical psychologist 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.

FBI: Most Wanted- here

The division of the FBI tasked with tracking and capturing the notorious criminals on the FBI’s Most Wanted list.

Tommy- here

When Abigail Thomas, a former high-ranking NYPD officer, 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.

Comedy

Bob Hearts Abishola- here

After having a heart attack, a man falls in love with his Nigerian nurse and sets his sights on getting her to give him a chance.

Carol’s Second Act- here

Carol Chambers, after raising her two children and retiring from teaching, embarks on a unique second act: she’s going to become a doctor.

Broke!- here

Two siblings are forced to reconnect when an outrageously wealthy trust fund baby is cut off by his father, and he and his wife move into her estranged sister’s Reseda condo. Formerly titled From Riches to Rags and Broke in Reseda.

The Unicorn- here

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.

“The Big Bang Theory,” “Elementary,” “Fam,” “Happy Together,” “Life in Pieces,” “Murphy Brown,” “Salvation”

Returning Series:

NCIS, s17, NCIS: LA, s11, and NCIS: NOLA, s6

Criminal Minds, s15 and final

Blue Bloods, s10

Hawaii Five-O, s10, and MacGyver, s4

Mom, s7

Madam Secretary, s6 and final (with 10 episodes)

Bull, s4

Man with a Plan, s4

Young Sheldon, s3

SEAL Team and S.W.A.T., s3

sophomores: FBI, Magnum P.I., God Friended Me, and The Neighborhood

Cancelled:

The Big Bang Theory is finishing it’s run as planned after 12 seasons, and the same for Elementary after 7 seasons

Life in Pieces after four seasons

Freshmeat: Fam, Happy Together, Murphy Brown (sorta)

???

The Code started late, but is likely in the freshmeat category

Ransom- this one is on the Canadian producers- if they keep making it, CBS will likely keep airing it on Saturdays, with no effect on the rest of the schedule

Instinct, which hasn’t yet aired its second season, seems relegated to the spring at this point

Here are Primetimer’s upfront preview and fantasy schedule

first off, CBS’ rejections this seasons are the ones I was most disappointed by- Republic of Sarah and Under the Bridge both appealed personally, as did comedy To Whom It May Concern... alas, they didn’t go to series, but I am really looking forward to All Rise and Tommy

Primetimer recommended airing All Rise and Bull back-to-back, but that seems a bit too much courtroom drama for our taste, so how about FBI on Mondays at 10, with FBI: Most Wanted on Tuesdays at 9 followed by Bull at 10?

Evil will definitely need a 10 o’clock timeslot, and to share slots with Criminal Minds, which veers into its own sort of horror, definitely makes sense

Thursdays and Fridays seem perfect, but for Sunday, we’d say NCIS: New Orleans before NCIS: Los Angeles for a more gradual tone shift (and it moves from east to west: NYC, NOLA, LA)

Madam Secretary and Tommy together in the spring for Sundays is an ideal match- which makes it all the more shame that neither Republic of Sarah or Under the Bridge got picked up to go with them

Man with a Plan and The Unicorn would also go well together, and could be interchanged with the Neighborhood and Bob <3 Abishola pairing recommended

[pilotseason2019]

Returning Series:

for their final seasons: Supernatural, s15, and Arrow, s8

The 100, s7- likely for late spring

The Flash, s6, Legends of Tomorrow and Supergirl, s5, and Black Lightning, s3

Riverdale, s4

Dynasty, s3

sophomore seasons: All American, Charmed, Legacies, Roswell New Mexico, and In the Dark

Jane the Virgin (s5), Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (s4), and iZombie (s5) have finished filming their final seasons and will soon be done airing them.

So what would be our ideal programming schedule for the CW?

launch Katy Keene on Sundays at 8, to be followed up by Charmed at 9

pair Black Lightning with All American for the fall- preferably on Mondays

Flash stays at 8 on Tuesdays, followed by Legacies

partner the soapy Riverdale and Dynasty for Wednesdays

Thursday is for aliens with superpowers: Supergirl at 8 and Roswell at 9

partner Arrow and Supernatural for Fridays for their final seasons, allowing the “Crisis” crossover for the DC-comics shows event to air its final episode on Arrow

notes:

swap Legends of Tomorrow in for Legacies after about four episodes (or first completed arc); use these as utility players as necessary (for crossover week, though, plug Legends into BL’s Monday slot)

once Arrow ends, move Dynasty back to Fridays and plug Batwoman into Wednesdays after Riverdale

hold In the Dark, The 100, and Nancy Drew (and Glamorous, if it’s picked up) as late spring, shorter-run series

You can check here for Primetimer’s upfront preview and their fantasy schedule.

CW Pilots Masterlist

Batwoman- ordered to series

Armed with a passion for social justice and a flair for speaking her mind, Kate Kane soars onto the streets of Gotham as Batwoman. She is an out lesbian and highly trained street fighter primed to snuff out the failing city’s criminal resurgence. But don’t call her a hero yet. In a city desperate for a savior, Kate must overcome her own demons before embracing the call to be Gotham’s symbol of hope.

Katy Keene- ordered to series

The lives and loves of four iconic Archie Comics characters — including fashion legend-to-be Katy Keene — as they chase their twenty-something dreams in New York City. This musical dramedy chronicles the origins and struggles of four aspiring artists trying to make it on Broadway, on the runway and in the recording studio.

Nancy Drew- ordered to series

The summer after her high school graduation,18-year-old Nancy Drew thought she’d be leaving her hometown for college, but when a family tragedy holds her back another year, she finds herself embroiled in a ghostly murder investigation — and along the way, uncovers secrets that run deeper than she ever imagined. Formerly titled “The Haunting of Nancy Drew.”

Glamorous- still undecided

A gender non-conforming recent high school graduate lands the gig of a lifetime interning at a cosmetics company whose products he panned on YouTube. But not everyone is happy to have him there, and they are doing everything they can to take him down.

The Lost Boys- will be retooled and repiloted off-cycle

Welcome to sunny seaside Santa Carla, home to a beautiful boardwalk, all the cotton candy you can eat…and a secret underworld of vampires. After the sudden death of their father, two brothers move to Santa Carla with their mother, who hopes to start anew in the town where she grew up. But the brothers find themselves drawn deeper and deeper into the seductive world of Santa Carla’s eternally beautiful and youthful undead.

Jane the Novela- rejected

A soapy, telenovela-inspired anthology series in the tradition of Jane the Virgin, where each season is based on a different fictional novel “written by” Jane Villanueva and narrated by the author herself. The first installment takes place at a Napa Valley Vineyard, where family secrets (and family members) don’t stay buried for long.

[pilotseason2019]

May 13- Updates

From the NBC Upfronts:

Deadline’s liveblog of the presentation, and liveblog of Seth Meyers’ comedy set

Promising a free (ad-supported) streaming service next year, which may include additional original programming

News on the ongoing process of finding Universal Studios’ productions New York Undercover and Prism new homes after they didn’t secure series pick-ups last week

From the FOX Upfronts:

the release of the fall Schedule:

SUNDAY

The Simpsons, Bless the Harts, Bob’s Burgers, Family Guy

MONDAY 8-9 P.M. — 9-1-1 9-10 P.M. — Prodigal Son

TUESDAY The Resident, Empire

WEDNESDAY 8-9 P.M. — The Masked Singer 9-10 P.M. — Not Just Me (fka Sisters)

THURSDAY — NFL Football

*after football season is over*

8-8:30 P.M. — Last Man Standing 8:30-9 P.M. — Outmatched 9-10 P.M. — Filthy Rich

new series held for midseason: 

comedies: Duncanville and The Great North (animated); *Outmatched

dramas: 9-1-1: Lone Star, Deputy, *Filthy Rich, neXT

Deadline’s liveblog of the presentation

Trailers for Outmatched, Filthy Rich, Prodigal Son, Deputy, Not Just Me, neXT, and BH90210

FOX addresses diversity challenge after the cancellation of several black-led series

FOX addresses the cancellations of Lethal Weapon and Star, as well as the upcoming end of Empire

CBS: the news of CBS rejecting Surveillance was premature; they are currently considering “non-conventional models” of airing for the series

[pilotseason2019]

May 12- Updates

From the beginning of NBC Upfronts:

the release of the fall Schedule:

MONDAY 8-10 P.M. — The Voice 10-11 P.M. — Bluff City Law

TUESDAY The Voice, This Is Us, New Amsterdam

WEDNESDAY Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D.

THURSDAY 8-8:30 P.M. — Superstore 8:30-9 P.M. — Perfect Harmony 9-9:30 P.M. — The Good Place 9:30-10 P.M. — Sunnyside 10-11 P.M. — Law & Order: SVU

FRIDAY 8-9 P.M. – The Blacklist 9-11 P.M — Dateline NBC

new series held for midseason: 

comedies: Indebted and The Kenan Show

dramas: Council of Dads, Lincoln, and Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist

Co-chairmen George Cheeks and Paul Telegdy on flexible episode orders and the NBC “Must See” brand

Trailers for Bluff City Law, Perfect Harmony, and Sunnyside

Insight on the renewal chances of this year’s midseason entries (like Abby’s, The Enemy Within, and The Village)

What will happen with Kenan Thompson’s schedule?

The NBC bosses on ABC’s pick-up of Emergence

the future of Law & Order: Hate Crimes

CBS: released a teaser trailer for Evil

FOX

Filthy Rich will see a recast for a series regular

FOX ordered a 9-1-1 spin-off, 9-1-1: Lone Star, which will star Rob Lowe, straight to series (no pilot needed)

A sophisticated New York cop (Lowe) relocates with his son to Austin, and must try to balance saving those who are at their most vulnerable with solving the problems in his own life.

[pilotseason2019]

FOX- Newly Ordered Series

Drama

9-1-1: Lone Star- here (no post here, as there was not a standard pilot)

A sophisticated New York cop (played by Rob Lowe) relocates with his son to Austin, and must try to balance saving those who are at their most vulnerable with solving the problems in his own life.

Deputy- here

Career lawman Deputy Bill Hollister is very comfortable kicking down doors... and utterly lost in a staff meeting. But when the LA County Sheriff drops dead, Bill becomes acting sheriff of Los Angeles County, in charge of 10,000 sworn deputies policing a modern Wild West.

Filthy Rich- here

The family of a mega-wealthy Southern businessman are stunned to learn there are three previously-unknown heirs to his fortune; when the family tries to pay them off to go away, the newly legitimate heirs have very different ideas.

neXT- here

A brilliant but paranoid former tech CEO joins a Homeland Cybersecurity Agent and her team to stop the world’s first artificial intelligence crisis: the emergence of a rogue AI with the ability to continuously improve itself. Marrying pulse-pounding action with a layered examination of how technology is invading our lives and transforming us in ways we don’t yet understand, the series also presents us with a villain like we’ve never seen before, one whose greatest weapon against us is ourselves.

Prodigal Son- here

Malcolm Bright knows how killers think, how their minds work. Why? His father was one of the worst — a notorious serial killer called “The Surgeon.” That’s why Bright is the best criminal psychologist around; murder is the family business. He will use his twisted genius to help the NYPD solve crimes and stop killers, all while dealing with a manipulative mother, annoyingly normal sister, a homicidal father still looking to bond with his prodigal son, and his own constantly evolving neuroses.

Not Just Me- here

“Only child” Julia Bechly finds her life turned upside down when her father is forced to reveal that over the course of his pioneering career as a fertility doctor, he used his own sperm to conceive dozens of children. Based on the Australian show Sisters.

Comedy

Outmatched- here

A blue-collar couple in South Jersey try to get by and raise four kids, three of whom just so happen to be certified geniuses. Formerly titled Geniuses.

Returning Series:

The Simpsons, Family Guy, Bob’s Burgers: Animation Domination on Sundays

Last Man Standing, s8 (s2 on Fox): moving from Friday’s due to Fox’s WWE commitment

Empire, s6

9-1-1, s3

The Resident, s3

The Orville, s2

Cancelled:

Gotham finished its five-season run

Lethal Weapon and Star (Empire’s airing-buddy) were cancelled after three seasons each

The Gifted was cancelled after its second season

Freshmeat: The Passage, Proven Innocent, The Cool Kids, Rel

Primetimer posted their fantasy schedule; our thoughts:

as they pointed out, Outmatched and Deputy both belong in some proximity to the comedy Last Man Standing, so a night of LMS, Outmatched, and then Deputy definitely seems the way to go

based on Primetimer’s own preview of Prodigal Son, I think it would fit super well with dark medical drama The Resident

Masked Singer, the musical competition series that brokeout last season, will likely return in the fall; given Sisters star Brittany Snow’s own musical history, that pairing seems like a fit to me

Primetimer’s suggestion of Orville and neXT together definitely sounds right, and of course Filthy Rich was developed to be paired with Empire

Note: Primetimer has another article about the FOX Upfronts here.

[pilotseason2019]

NBC- Newly Ordered Series

Drama

Bluff City Law: here

The lawyers of an elite Memphis law firm specialize in the most controversial landmark civil rights cases. Led by legendary lawyer Elijah Strait and his brilliant daughter, Sydney Keller, they take on the toughest David-and-Goliath cases while navigating their complicated relationship.

Council of Dads: here

Scott Perry and his family’s lives are thrown into upheaval when he gets a potentially terminal diagnosis. Facing his mortality, he and his wife, Robin, assemble a unique group of carefully chosen friends to support his family and guide them through the ups and downs of life’s many challenges.

Lincoln: here

Legendary forensic criminologist Lincoln Rhyme was seriously injured during his hunt for the diabolic serial killer known as the Bone Collector. Called back into action when the killer re-emerges, Lincoln forms a unique partnership with Amelia Sachs, a young beat cop who helps him hunt the deadly mastermind while also taking on the most high-profile cases in the NYPD.

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist: here

A whip-smart but socially awkward girl in her late 20s is suddenly able to hear the innermost thoughts of people around her as songs and even big musical numbers that they perform just for her. With this new ability at her disposal, she is able to use her “gift” to not only help herself understand people in her life, but also to help others around her.

Comedy

Indebted: here

Young parents Dave and Rebecca end up having to take care of Dave’s parents, who have mishandled their finances and need help to pay down a sizable debt. Formerly titled Uninsured.

The Kenan Show: here

A newly widowed dad is determined to be everything for his kids while begrudgingly letting his persistent father-in-law become more involved in their lives. Formerly titled Saving Kenan.

Perfect Harmony: here

A rural church choir get the director they never thought they needed when a salty, Ivy League music professor stumbles through their door. Formerly titled All Together Now.

Sunnyside: here

Former New York City Councilman Garrett Shah finds his calling when faced with six recent immigrants in need of his help and in search of the American Dream. Formerly the Untitled Kal Penn Comedy.

Returning Series:

The Voice: not as popular as it once was, still high though

Law & Order: SVU, s21: will it be the final one?

This is Us, s4

Will & Grace, s11 (s3 for the revival)

Chicago Fire s8, Chicago PD s7, and Chicago Med s5: Weds night One Chicago!

The Blacklist s7 and Blindspot s5&final

Superstore s5, Brooklyn Nine-Nine s7 (s2 NBC), The Good Place s4

Good Girls, s3

New Amsterdam, s2

Manifest, s2

Cancelled:

Freshmeat: I Feel Bad

???

AP Bio and Abby’s

The Enemy Within and The Village

The Inbetween- definitely feels like a summer show so it shouldn’t matter

Primetimer posted their fantasy schedule; our thoughts:

first off, wow, that’s a lot of shows (that being said, the mod hopes they’re not going to cancel Abby’s! it’s a personal favorite)

is it too much cancer drama to partner medical drama New Amsterdam (where the lead Max has throat cancer) with new family drama Council of Dads? would that just be too heavy for viewers?

could SVU’s record-breaking season be used to launch crime drama Lincoln? or would that push be better served on a show without the IP-advantage Lincoln already has?

the network definitely ought to find a way to slot in its new comedies with the existing Thursday night comic block, but I Feel Bad, just this season, showed it’s tough; is it just me or would Perfect Harmony and The Good Place be a match made in heaven? perfectly harmonious? I couldn’t decide which pun to go with!

new comedy Sunnyside, meanwhile, feels like it could be a great fit with new drama Bluff City Law

is there any way they could cut back on the Voice, maybe move it down from three hours a week to two? Or move the results event into the tail-end of Sunday Night Football? Something to free up some space, and maybe even reenergize the Voice during its airing time?

Note: Primetimer has another article about the NBC Upfronts here.

[pilotseason2019]

May 11- Updates

ABC picked up its final series

comedy: United We Fall

A profoundly realistic family sitcom that follows the trials and tribulations of Jo Bill, parents of two young kids, as they try to make it day-to-day as a functioning family. Bill’s very judgmental live-in mother and Jo’s large Latinx Catholic family will never hesitate to let our couple know they’re seemingly screwing up, but Bill and Jo will always have each other’s backs, united against everyone – other parents, teachers, doctors, specialists, coaches, co-workers, and especially their kids

dramas: For Life (formerly Untitled Hank Steinberg Project)

Primetimer posted its pilot preview today

A fictional serialized legal and family drama (inspired by the life of Isaac Wright, Jr.) about a prisoner who becomes a lawyer, litigating cases for other inmates while fighting to overturn his own life sentence for a crime he didn’t commit. His quest for freedom is driven by his desperate desire to get back to the family he loves and reclaim the life that was stolen from him. The show will also, through the window of his ferocious struggle and his complicated relationship with a progressive female prison warden, examine the flaws and challenges in our penal and legal systems.

and picked up underdog The Baker and the Beauty

Daniel Garcia is working in the family bakery and doing everything that his loving Cuban parents and siblings expect him to do. But on a wild Miami night he meets Noa Hamilton, an international superstar and fashion mogul, and his life moves into the spotlight. Will this unlikely couple upend their lives to be together and pull their families into a culture clash?

ABC also took on NBC-reject Emergence

A character-driven genre thriller that centers around a police chief who 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.

FOX picked up its final series, a drama one, Filthy Rich

A southern Gothic family drama in which wealth, power and religion collide – with outrageously soapy results. When the patriarch of a mega-rich Southern family, famed for creating a wildly successful Christian television network, dies in a plane crash, his wife and family are stunned to learn that he fathered three illegitimate children, all of whom are written into his will, threatening their family name and fortune. With monumental twists and turns, this is a world in which everyone has an ulterior motive – and no one is going down without a fight.

and NBC picked up its final series

drama: adaptation Lincoln

Inspired by the best-selling book “The Bone Collector,” former NYPD detective and forensic genius Lincoln Rhyme was at the top of his game until a serious accident at the hands of a notorious serial killer forces him out of the field. When Amelia Sachs, an intuitive young officer who’s got her own gift for profiling finds herself hot on the killer’s trail, Rhyme in turn finds a partner for this new game of cat and mouse. As the unlikely detective duo joins forces to crack the city’s most confounding cases, they must also race to take down the enigmatic “Bone Collector” who brought them together.

and comedies Perfect Harmony

Find inspiration in the most unlikely places. When former Princeton music professor Arthur Cochran unexpectedly stumbles into choir practice at a small-town church, he finds a group of singers that are out of tune in more ways than one. Despite the ultimate clash of sensibilities, Arthur and his newfound cohorts may just be the perfect mix of individuals to help each other reinvent and rediscover a little happiness, just when they all need it most.

and Indebted (fka Uninsured)

Young parents Dave and Rebecca are ready to reclaim their life after years of diapers and sleepless nights. However, things take an unexpected turn when Dave’s parents show up unannounced and broke, leaving Dave with no choice but to open the door to the people who gave him everything. But these boomerang parents aren’t great with boundaries and the question of who’s parenting who quickly become blurred in this multi-generational comedy.

Meanwhile, CBS finished its series orders with drama Tommy, and the CW is still working on negotiating for Glamorous.

So the tone and tenor of the content here is about to change, from anticipating what could be picked up, to anticipating what’s to come with what has been picked up!

[pilotseason2019]

May 10 Updates (posted May 11)

The mod was sick and the original post was unformatted.

ABC

NYPD Blue (announcement) and Heart of Life (announcement) were each slated for redevelopment with an eye towards midseason pick-ups (but for the time-being rejected)

New York Undercover was rejected by ABC and producing studio Universal Television is working on finding it another home

The male lead of mixed-ish (Bow’s father, played by Anders Holm in the pilot) will be recast

CBS

Primetimer posted its preview for the already picked-up Bluff City Law

Tommy- ordered to series (expected midseason, may be final new CBS drama)

When a former high-ranking NYPD officer 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.

NBC (comedy masterlist)

The Kenan Show- ordered to series (expected midseason)

A family comedy that centers on Kenan, who strives to be a super dad to his two adorable girls while simultaneously balancing his job and a father-in-law who “helps” in the most inappropriate ways.

Also:

ABC, CBS, and FOX released decisions on renewals and cancellations for numerous of their already existing shows, including many freshmen, this “Black Friday”

After a surprisingly low number of pick-ups by ABC to start off the weekend, Deadline decided to do another, last-minute buzz article, offering some insight to what projects were still alive at not just ABC, but CBS, FOX, and NBC as well

[pilotseason2019]

May 9- Series Pick-Ups

CBS Dramas (article, masterlist)

although most drama pick-ups have been made, another new drama still is a possibility

All Rise (fka Courthouse)

Primetimer posted its pilot preview

A drama that follows the dedicated, chaotic, hopeful, and sometimes absurd lives of judges, prosecutors, and public defenders as they work with bailiffs, clerks and cops to get justice for the people of Los Angeles amidst a flawed legal system.

Evil

this announcement included the casting of Brooklyn Shuck, Skylar Gray, Maddy Crocco, and Dalya Knapp

A psychological mystery that examines science vs. religion and the origins of evil. The series focuses on a skeptical female forensic psychologist who joins a priest-in-training and a carpenter to investigate and assess the Church’s backlog of supposed miracles, demonic possessions and unexplained phenomena.

FBI: Most Wanted

Spin-off of FBI. Series centered on the Fugitive Task Force of the FBI that tracks and captures the notorious criminals on the FBI’s Most Wanted list.

CBS Comedies (article, masterlist)

it is unlikely that CBS will pick up any more new comedies

Bob Hearts Abishola

this announcement included the casting of Travis Wolfe Jr.

After having a heart attack, a middle-aged sock businessman from Detroit unexpectedly falls for his cardiac nurse, a Nigerian immigrant, and sets his sights on getting her to give him a chance.

Broke! (fka From Riches)

this announcement included the casting of Antonio Corbo

When an outrageously wealthy trust fund baby is cut off by his father, he and his wife move into her estranged sister’s Reseda home, forcing the two siblings to reconnect.

Carol’s Second Act

this announcement included the casting of Sabrina Jalees

After raising her two children and retiring from teaching, Carol Chambers embarks on a unique second act: pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor.

The Unicorn

this announcement included the casting of Ruby Jay and Makenzie Moss

A tight-knit group of friends and family help a widower move on following the most difficult year of his life, which includes being an ill-equipped but devoted single parent to his two daughters, and taking the major step of dating where, to his shock, he’s a hot commodity.

FOX Dramas (article, masterlist)

fellow drama pilot Filthy Rich is still in contention, with contracts left to work out, while final drama pilot Lovestruck is not going forward at FOX but is being shopped elsewhere, like last year’s Mixtape which landed at Netflix

Deputy

A modern cop drama that blends the spirit of a classic Western with a modern-day attitude and gritty authenticity. When the Los Angeles County’s Sheriff dies, an arcane rule forged back in the Wild West thrusts the most unlikely man into the job: a fifth-generation lawman, more comfortable taking down bad guys than navigating a sea of politics. He leads a skilled team of ambitious and complicated human beings who won’t rest until justice is served.

neXT

this announcement included the casting of Evan Whitten

A propulsive, fact-based thriller about the emergence of a deadly, rogue artificial intelligence that combines pulse-pounding action with a layered examination of how technology is invading our lives and transforming us in ways we don’t yet understand. A Silicon Valley pioneer discovers that one of his own creations – a powerful A.I. – might spell global catastrophe, and teams up with a cybercrime agent to fight a villain unlike anything we’ve ever seen – one whose greatest weapon against us is ourselves.

Prodigal Son

A fresh take on a crime franchise with a provocative and outrageous lead character and a darkly comedic tone. Malcolm Bright knows how killers think. Why? His father was one of the best, a notorious serial killer called “The Surgeon.” That’s why Bright is the best criminal psychologist around; murder is the family business. He uses his twisted genius to help the NYPD solve crimes, while dealing with a somewhat manipulative mother, an annoyingly normal sister, a homicidal father still looking to bond with his prodigal son and his own constantly evolving neuroses.

Sisters

A story of an unusual family formed through extreme odds, exploring such hot-button issues as identity, human connection and what it truly means to be a family. An only child finds her life turned upside down when her father reveals that, over the course of his prize-winning career as a pioneering fertility doctor, he used his own sperm to conceive upwards of a hundred children, including two new sisters. As these three young women slowly embrace their new reality, they will attempt to form an untraditional bond as sisters, even as they must welcome a tidal wave of new siblings into their rapidly expanding family. Based on the original Endemol Shine Australia series, “Sisters,” from Jonathan Gavin and Imogen Banks.

FOX Comedy (masterlist): according to this Deadline article, it’s unlikely any more live-action comedy pilots will go to series this season

Outmatched, ordered to series

the four actors for the children were revealed: Connor Kalopsis, Ashley Boettcher, Jack Stanton, and Oakley Bull

A family comedy about a blue-collar couple in South Jersey trying to get by and raise four kids, three of whom just happen to be certified geniuses.

NBC Drama (masterlist)

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, ordered to series

Zoey Clarke, a whip-smart computer coder, is forging her way in San Francisco. After an unusual event she starts to hear the innermost wants and desires of the people around her through songs. At first, she questions her own sanity but soon realizes this unwanted curse may just be an incredibly wonderful gift.

Recasting News:

Mark Weber tweeted that he has been let go from Stumptown, where he was one of the male leads, reportedly due to executives who disapproved of his appearance

Scott Wolf has replaced Freddie Prinz Jr. in the CW’s Nancy Drew

[pilotseason2019]

May 8- Updates

Primetimer posted their pilot preview for New York Undercover

Catch-Up

on May 2, it was announced that Julian Fellowes’ straight-to-series period drama The Gilded Age has moved from NBC to HBO, alongside former NBC exec Bob Greenblatt

on May 6, the Upfronts schedule was released

Monday May 13, 10:30 A.M. NBC Universal Presentation, Radio City Music Hall

Monday May 13, 4:00 P.M. Fox Entertainment Presentation, the Beacon Theatre

Tuesday May 14, 4:00 P.M. Walt Disney Company (ABC) Presentation, David Geffen Hall

Wednesday May 15, 4:00 P.M. CBS Presentation, Carnegie Hall

Thursday May 16, 11:00 A.M. The CW Presentation, New York City Center

Series order for Stumptown, starring Cobie Smulders, on ABC

Based on the “Stumptown” graphic novel series, it follows Dex Parios, a strong, assertive, and sharp-witted army veteran with a complicated love life, gambling debt, and a brother to take care of in Portland, Oregon. Her military intelligence skills make her a great P.I., but her unapologetic style puts her in the firing line of hardcore criminals and not quite in alliance with the police.

* this article also mentioned the casting of Tantoo Cardinal and Cole Sibus

[pilotseason2019]

May 7- Series Pick-Ups

NBC (drama masterlist; comedy masterlist)

Sunnyside- see here

Garrett Modi was living the American Dream. As the youngest New York City Councilman ever, he was rubbing elbows with the political elite, attending star-studded parties and was the pride of Queens. But instead of spending his time in office helping the people that got him elected, he lost his way amidst the power and glamour of politics. When his downward spiral got him busted for public intoxication (and downright stupidity), it was all caught on tape and ended his career. Now, Garrett’s crashing with his sister, Mallory, and wondering where it all went wrong. That is, until he’s hired by a diverse group of hopefuls who dream of becoming American citizens and believe he can help – giving him a new sense of purpose and a chance for redemption, as long as he remembers where he came from.

Bluff City Law- see here

Coming from a famous Memphis family known for taking on injustice, brilliant lawyer Sydney Strait used to work at her father Elijah’s celebrated law firm until their tumultuous relationship got in the way. After barely speaking to him for years, Sydney is suddenly thrust back into the family fold when her philanthropist mother passes away unexpectedly. In the wake of her loss, hoping to reconnect with the daughter he loves, Elijah asks Sydney to rejoin his firm. She agrees because despite her lingering resentment and distrust, she knows that working alongside her father is her best hope at changing the world … if they can ever get along.

Council of Dads- see here

this also includes news of the casting of Tom Everett Scott

When Scott, a loving father of four, has his entire life’s plan thrown into upheaval by a cancer diagnosis, he calls on a few of his closest allies to step in as back-up dads for every stage of his growing family’s life. Scott assembles a trusted group of role models that includes Anthony, his oldest friend; Larry, his AA sponsor; and Oliver, his surgeon and best friend to his wife, Robin. These men agree to devote themselves to supporting and guiding Scott’s amazing family through all the triumphs and challenges life has to offer – just in case he ever can’t be there to do so himself.

CW (masterlist)- see this article

Batwoman

Armed with a passion for social justice and a flair for speaking her mind, Kate Kane soars onto the streets of Gotham as Batwoman, an out lesbian and highly trained street fighter primed to snuff out the failing city’s criminal resurgence. But don’t call her a hero yet. In a city desperate for a savior, Kate must overcome her own demons before embracing the call to be Gotham’s symbol of hope.

Katy Keene

In a timeless New York City, as enchanting as Riverdale is moody, aspiring fashion designer Katy Keene meets Josie McCoy, fresh off the bus to chase her musical dreams. Their world is populated with kindred-spirit starving artists, including mysterious socialite Pepper Smith and Broadway-bound performer Jorge Lopez – and his drag queen alter ego, Ginger. While their climb to the top is rife with obstacles, this found family will stop at nothing to see their names in lights. Based on the Archie Comics characters.

Nancy Drew

Set in the summer after her high school graduation,18-year-old Nancy Drew thought she’d be leaving her hometown for college, but when a family tragedy holds her back another year, she finds herself embroiled in a ghostly murder investigation — and along the way, uncovers secrets that run deeper than she ever imagined.

The CW has not yet decided the fate of Glamorous, has decided to retool Lost Boys, and has officially rejected Jane the Novela. We will share more information on the former two as it comes out.

[pilotseason2019]

May 6- Updates

Primetimer has posted three more pilot previews:

this one for Triangle

this one for Jane the Novela

this one for Stumptown

[pilotseason2019]

More Buzz and Our Rankings

Deadline has released its final “latest buzz” piece and Hollywood Reporter has released its top ten list with additional commentary.

You may see below the cut for a synthesized ranking, which also considers information from Wednesday’s Variety article and previous Deadline articles.

ABC Dramas:

Stumptown

NYPD Blue

Heart of Life

NY Undercover *this is likely tied to the fate of freshman The Rookie

Hypnotist’s Love Story

Untitled Hank Steinberg

Triangle *only a sizzle reel; a decision likely won’t be made until after Upfronts

The Baker and the Beauty

Until the Wedding

ABC Comedies:

Mixed-ish has already been ordered to series, and Deadline doesn’t think another new comedy will necessarily be ordered. But if so,

Hannah

Untitled Leslie Odom

Woman Up

Untitled Jessica Gao

Happy Accident

United We Fall

Nana

CBS Dramas:

Evil

FBI: Most Wanted

Courthouse

Tommy

Under the Bridge

Surveillance

Republic of Sarah

Alive

CBS Comedies:

Carol’s Second Act

Bob <3 Abishola

From Riches

To Whom it May Concern

The Unicorn

Super Simple Love Story

Our House

Emperor of Malibu

The CW

The CW has offerings from two parent studios, and they like to split orders evenly. Likely they’ll go for four series pick-ups, though it’s unknown if the network will aim for more.

Batwoman (WB)

Katy Keene (WB)

Nancy Drew (CBS)

Glamorous (CBS)

Lost Boys (WB)

Jane the Novela (CBS)

FOX Dramas:

The network is going to have very limited space, given its sports contracts, already-existing series, and two new already-ordered animated series.

Filthy Rich

Next

Prodigal Son

Deputy *midseason?

Sisters

Lovestruck

FOX Comedies:

Geniuses

Richard Lovely

Patty’s Auto

Adam & Eve

NBC Dramas:

Council of Dads

Prism

Bluff City Law

Emergence

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist

Lincoln

NBC Comedies:

The Kenan Show

Perfect Harmony

Like Magic

Sunnyside

Village Gazette

Uninsured

Friends-in-Law