ABC has been busy greenlighting more comedy pilots. The latest orders courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter, and the latest TAGs (Totally Arbitrary Grade) courtesy of PopWatch:
• Cougartown: Courteney Cox stars as a recently divorced 40-year-old mom with a 17-year-old son. I’m guessing she’s hot. It’s from Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence. I’m not a fan of the word cougar but Cougartown should have good name recall. As long as she isn’t trashy like Kath & Kim or My Name Is Earl, I’d give it a chance. TAG: B-
• The Law (working title): This Cedric the Entertainer vehicle "revolves around reserve police officers for the LAPD who balance their full-time off-duty lives with the excitement of being weekend cops," says THR. I’m actually loving this, mostly because I can already picture the Die Hard-inspired episode. And it being funnier than Fox’s mall cop comedy, Walorsky. TAG: A-
• Untitled Kelsey Grammer project: We wrote an item when ABC ordered a script from Everybody Loves Raymond alum Tucker Crawley, and the response to the idea of Grammer returning to TV as "a hotshot Wall Street executive who loses his job and is forced to reconnect with his small-town family" was mixed. I still think it sounds like a good, funny role for him. TAG: B+
• Canned: It’s an "ensemble comedy about a group of friends who all get fired on the same day," THR reports. Like the title. It’s certainly timely. I’ll be optimistic. TAG: B+
• Planet Lucy: It’s based on the Fiona Neill book Slummy Mummy, which you know would have stayed the title had this been for Fox. (I prefer it, actually.) It "centers on an endearing Everywoman prone to disaster who gave up an impressive professional career to be a stay-at-home mom raising three kids." Sounds a little too Lynette on Desperate Housewives. And the title is as annoying as I assume the children will be. TAG: C+
• Untitled Anita Renfroe project: The Christian comedian Anita Renfroe has received a presentation order for this "parenting show centered around the thought that family comes first, by any means necessary." So I guess it could be paired with Supernanny or Wife Swap?Or get According to Jim off the air? Tempting… But no. TAG: C
CBS has also been busy greenlighting, only dramas. The Eye’s latest orders, courtesy of Variety:
• Confessions of a Contractor: Based on Richard Murphy’s novel, it’s described as "a provocative look at life in L.A. through the eyes of a successful contractor." So, I guess he gets laid a lot. If he looks like Simon Baker, excellent. If not, change the title, then get back to me. Do you think this would be a serial, or do you think it’d be a new project in every episode to make it feel procedural? Tough call. This is CBS we’re talking about. TAG: C+
• I Witness: CSI: NY EP Pam Veasey is behind this procedural about "a gumshoe professor who uses her physiological skills to solve crimes." I don’t know what that means. But it’s a procedural. On CBS. So, okay. TAG: B
• Untitled medical drama: This one (there are so many this pilot season) centers on "a complicated family of doctors." Not much to go on, but if mom and dad are old enough to have kids through medical school, it could appeal to CBS’ wide, devoted demographic. TAG: C+
Any of these sound promising to you?
More on pilot season:
Cybill Shepherd on Lifetime? Yes!
More CBS procedurals, more slackers
Twilight for television: The CW orders pilot for Vampire Diaries
Kristen Johnston: The scoop on her Absolutely Fabulous return to TV
CBS orders more than procedurals after all
CBS plans arranged-marriage reality show. Discuss.
Bruckheimer, star-crossed lovers, and ‘Fame’ comparisons
CBS plans arranged-marriage reality show. Discuss.
ABC likes Lauren Graham, CBS more procedurals!
Grade the latest orders, including ‘Parenthood’
Grade the latest orders, including one from Shonda Rhimes and a detective show with an 11-year-old genius
V and Lost in the ’80s a go
Ab Fab import and Witches of Eastwick-based drama a go
Grade Fox’s latest orders
Comments (1-4) of 4 Add your comment
okay that last one from CBS sounds so similar to a comedy a couple years back, anyone remember “Out of Practice” the one with henry winkler??? why CBS must you greenlight yet ANOTHER procedural. one day man, one day all this will backfire on them and they will suffer.
Dr Rand Pink has been hired by Jimmy Kimmel’s production company to star in Pinks show that will air from 3:00a to 6:00a Monday through Friday that features Pink sleeping in his bed.The production costs are low and it is meant to relax his fan base after a long night of partying.If the show has traction there has been talk of Pink’s morning shows called Shower and Breakfast may be given the greenlight.
Tv land is really hurting from a lack of strong sitcoms. How refreshing to see so many sitcoms being backed by big time stars and top notch creators. Cougartown should be phenomenal. Star wattage plus the highly skilled proficiency of Bill Lawrence = a grade “A” series. Cedric the Entertainer as a peusdo Barney Fife/”A” class officer wannabe struggling to make ends meet; hilarious-grade(A). They need to tweak the title to something less generic: Family Law, Courting the Law, Domestic Laws, etc. The Kelsey Grammer Project will be a winner for several reasons. It’s a muti-cam. It’s a fish out of water type role. Most importantly, Kelsey Grammer as a humiliated ex-Wall St. exec. who must mend fences with his rural roots is so timely (A+). Canned also has a can’t miss premise. It’s “Friends” revamped- (A). Planet Lucy should be sent straight to the Lifetime channel in exchange for Project Runway (C-). The Anita Renfroe Project- Christian comedian extraordinaire in a family sitcom- A+.
Also please do a makeover on the Canned title. In the Can is a much funnier title and it can have multiple meanings.