15 Fall Pilots We Want To See!
Critics Choice Television Awards, Los Angeles, America - 20 Jun 2011
POWERLESS
NBC Comedy
Why We're Stoked: Let's be honest: There may be two or ten too many series focused on characters with incredible gifts. Which is why we're tickled by the premise of this comedy "set in the DC Comics universe full of superheroes and villains" that follows "exceedingly average employees at an insurance company and their quest to find their own powers." Danny Pudi (Community), Vanessa Hudgens (Grease: Live), and Alan Tudyk (Suburgatory, Firefly) lead the cast.
Empire Film Awards, London, Britain - 29 Mar 2015
CONVICTION
ABC Drama
Why We're Stoked: We'd watch Hayley Atwell (Marvel's Agent Carter) even if (blasphemy alert!) she guest-starred on Keeping Up With the Kardashians. But with writer Liz Friedman (Jessica Jones, Elementary) putting the charismatic star — along with Shawn Ashmore, Emily Kinney, Merrin Dungey and Eddie Cahill— in a story about the "brilliant but ne'er-do-well daughter of a former President, who is blackmailed into taking a job" examining potentially wrongful convictions in Los Angeles, we're pretty much all in.
'Person of Interest' 100th Episode Party, New York, America - 07 Nov 2015
DREW
CBS Drama
Why We're Stoked: OK, we were a little taken aback at the idea of a Nancy Drew update that finds the teen detective in her 30s and working as an NYPD detective. But with Sarah Shahi (Person of Interest) in the lead role, we're willing to give a chance to this procedural from Grey's Anatomy writers Joan Rater and Tony Phelan — just as long as we get deep inside The Secret of the Old Clock and The Mystery at Lilac Inn.
Go Campaign, Los Angeles, America - 12 Nov 2015
THE MICK
Fox Comedy
Why We're Stoked: Kaitlin Olson (It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia) teams up with two writers from her ribald FX comedy (John and David Chernin) for a tale of "a hard-living, foul-mouthed woman who moves to affluent Greenwich, Conn., to raise the spoiled kids of her wealthy sister who has fled the country to avoid a federal indictment. She quickly learns what the rest of us already know — other people's children are awful." They had us at "Kaitlin Olson," and sealed the deal with "hard-living, foul-mouthed."
Macy's Passport Presents Glamorama 'Fashion Rocks', Los Angeles, America - 09 Sep 2014
RIVERDALE
The CW Drama
Why We're Stoked:
Yes, it's based on the iconic Archie Comics characters, but this drama from Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Looking, Glee and EP Greg Berlanti (Arrow, The Flash, Blindspot) promises a "darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale's wholesome façade." With a nifty ensemble of young'uns and reliable staples like Mädchen Amick (Witches of East End) and Luke Perry (Beverly Hills, 90210), we wouldn't be surprised if this is another comic-adaptation success for The CW.
NBC Universal Upfront, New York, America - 14 May 2015
THE DEATH OF EVA SOFIA VALDEZ
ABC Drama
Why We're Stoked: The yarn being spun by Devious Maids scribe Charise Castro Smith sounds as tumultuous and dangerous as a hurricane bearing down on the Miami coast. Gina Torres (Suits) plays "an entrepreneur and champion for immigrant rights" who made "dark sacrifices" to fulfill her dreams and still carries "a vendetta against the lover who betrayed her." Has ABC cooked up a soap to fill the Revenge-shaped hole in our hearts?
8th Annual Blossom Ball, New York, America - 19 Apr 2016
THE KICKER
CBS Comedy
Why We're Stoked: We've been waiting an eternity for Geoff Stults (Enlisted, The Finder, Happy Town) to find a breakout vehicle that exposes his outsized charms to a massive audience. Perhaps a script from Jack Burditt (30 Rock, The Mindy Project) about "an oddball athlete" who "drives family, friends and strangers insane after he unexpectedly finds himself cut from his professional football team" will do the trick? Working with Joanna Garcia Swisher (Privileged) and J.B. Smoove (Curb Your Enthusiasm) probably won't hurt the cause, nor will the involvement of EPs Tina Fey and Robert Carlock (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt).
'The Beauty Book For Brain Cancer' book launch party, Los Angeles, America - 03 Dec 2015
TIME
NBC Drama
Why We're Stoked: Shawn Ryan (The Shield, Terriers) and Eric Kripke (Supernatural) combine forces — be honest we could stop the sentence there, and you'd be intrigued — on a "high-octane drama that follows an unlikely trio who travel through time to battle a master criminal intent on altering the fabric of human history with potentially catastrophic results." Big writing talent. Big concept. And a cast that includes Rectify's Abigail Spencer , 90210's Matt Lanter, ER's Goran Visnjic, Better Off Ted's Malcolm Barrett, Sleepy Hollow's Sherrif Reyes (Sakina Jaffrey) and more!
'Barbershop: The Next Cut' film premiere, Los Angeles, America - 06 Apr 2016
THE ENFORCERS
Fox Comedy
Why We're Stoked: Honestly, isn't the presence of Niecy Nash (Getting On, Scream Queens) enough reason to tune in? But if you must know what this show is actually about, here's the logline: "A female buddy comedy about two wildly different single mothers with dreams of being police officers who find themselves partnered as inspectors in the Code Enforcement Department. Instead of fighting crime, they have been relegated to handling petty code breaking, like noise complaints, tree trimming and water misuse."
PaleyFest Previews: Fall TV with NBC 'Ironside', Los Angeles, America - 11 Sep 2013
UNTITLED MARS PROJECT
The CW Drama
Why We're Stoked: Creator Doris Egan has written for everything from Reign to House to Fox's short-lived (and underrated) Skin — and the logline to her latest project continues her genre-leaping trajectory: "Explorers arrive on Mars to join its first human colony, only to discover that their predecessors have vanished. Led by a woman whose husband is among the missing, the colonists are forced to change their mission from exploration/settlement to investigation/survival, while navigating the hostile planet and their own personal demons." With The Mysteries of Laura's Neal Bledsoe and Fringe's Georgina Haig leading the cast, we're ready to board this rocket to a spooky, uncharted territory.
'Heroes Reborn' TV series photocall, Comic-Con, San Diego, America - 12 Jul 2015
MIDNIGHT TEXAS
NBC Drama
Why We're Stoked: Based on True Blood author Charlaine Harris' best-selling trilogy, this ensemble drama from Monica Owusu-Breen (Alias, Brothers & Sisters, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) led by Dylan Bruce (Orphan Black, Heroes Reborn) and Sarah Ramos (Parenthood) is set in "a remote town where your neighbor could be a vampire, a witch, a werewolf, and even an angel. Mystery, horror and romance combine to both enthrall and frighten any outsiders who decide to venture into this unusual place." Ummm... we want to go to there!
'The Bronze' film premiere, Los Angeles, America - 07 Mar 2016
HAIL MARY
ABC Comedy
Why We're Stoked: Not only does this pilot reunite the brilliant Casey Wilson with Happy Endings writer Brian Gallivan (who penned two episodes of the late, great ABC sitcom), but it also puts her in the comedic playground with Retta (Parks and Recreation), Sarah Baker (Go On) and — brace yourselves! — the incomparable Jackee Harry (Baby Daddy, 227). Better still, the storyline for this adaptation of an Austrian hit — a small-town mayor fakes a miracle to help her deal with dysfunctional siblings, a dying father, disgruntled citizens, a nearly bankrupt town, and a threat from the mafia — doesn't sound like it'll saddle its first-rate cast with been-there-done-that plot lines.
CBS CW Showtime TCA Summer Party, Los Angeles, America - 17 Jul 2014
BULL
CBS Drama
Why We're Stoked: Whether or not you're a fan of Dr. Phil's eponymous talk show — in the interest of full disclosure, we are decidedly not — it's weirdly intriguing to think about NCIS star Michael Weatherly portraying a character inspired by the drawling Okie's early career as an in-demand trial consultant. (Bonus points for the casting of Six Feet Under's Freddy Rodriguez and Christopher Jackson of Broadway's Hamilton, too.)
Vanity Fair Oscar Party, Los Angeles, America - 28 Feb 2016
SHOTS FIRED
Fox Drama
Why We're Stoked: This one's already been ordered straight to series, but the re-teaming of Love & Basketball writer-director Gina Prince-Bythewood with leading lady Sanaa Lathan (Boss) has us unspeakably excited. The pedigree for this timely drama about a series of racially charged shootings in a small Tennessee town doesn't end there. The ensemble cast also includes Oscar winners Helen Hunt (Mad About You) and Richard Dreyfuss (Madoff), plus Stephen Moyer (True Blood), Stephan James (Selma), Aisha Hinds (Under the Dome) and Tristan Wilds (90210).
'It's Only A Play' opening night on Broadway, New York, America - 09 Oct 2014
ME & MEAN MARGARET
NBC Comedy
Why We're Stoked: Adam Barr (New Adventures of Old Christine, Will & Grace) is a proven commodity when it comes to writing hilariously cantankerous women. Which is why our internal guffaw function is resting up in preparation for this "unlikely buddy comedy that follows a fiercely candid and often offensive legendary actress (The Good Wife's Stockard Channing) and the ambitious 27-year-old lawyer (Allegiance's Gavin Stenhouse) forced to babysit her.