Primetime Pilot Panic (Fall TV: Dollhouse, Castle, Lie To Me, Scrubs, Better off Ted renewed)

Deadline Hollywood Daily ^ | May 16, 2009 | Nikki Finke

[tlb]

7TH UPDATE: ABC has officially picked up Jerry Bruckheimer's pilot THE FORGOTTEN to series.

6TH UPDATE: I'm told ABC just picked up THE MIDDLE with a 13 episode order. The pilot starring Patricia Heaton. Same with the pilot that Kelsey Grammar was exec-producing and starring in, AWESOME HANK which ABC also picked up.

5TH UPDATE: I just heard that ABC offered to pick up 6 episodes of V -- but Warner Bros has not accepted. ABC also has ordered the hour-long HAPPY TOWN.

4TH UPDATE: ABC has officially renewed Better Off Ted.

3RD UPDATE: I've just learned that ABC has picked up to series the UNTITLED DAVE HEMINGSON LEGAL SHOW. The network is offering five plus pilot. But my sources say Twentieth Century Fox TV has not accepted the order yet though I hear it's probably a go.

ABC TV Studios pilots still in the mix: UNTITLED JEFF STRAUSS, THE LAW with Cedric The Entertainer, THIS LITTLE PIGGY.

UPDATE: The comedy COUGAR TOWN starring Courtney Cox was always considered one of AMC's hotter pilots. It was expected that ABC would renew its ABC TV Studios production Scrubs after taking over the veteran sitcom after NBC didn't renew it last season. Appealing newcomer Castle won a second season from ABC.

AbFab', 'Eva Adams', 'Two Dollar Beer' All Dead At Fox # New Fox Hot List; 'Sons Of Tucson' & 'Human Target' Join 'Glee' On Sked # New CBS Hot List; 'The Good Wife' & 'NCIS' Spinoff OKed # New ABC Hot List; 'Modern Family' Picked Up # New CW Hot List; Yes To 'Melrose Place', No To 'Gossip Girl' Spinoff # NBC Cancels 'Life', Renews 'SVU' & 'Medium', Horsetrades 'Chuck' & 'Earl'

[TomGuy]

Anyone heard anything about “The Unusuals”?

The last I heard, it was iffy, probably gone. I hate that. It has gotten progressively better since its start.

Networks are not giving some programs a chance, while pushing other duds. Many times, it takes months for a series to find an audience.

[kb2614]

I was worried about Dollhouse getting canned. Joss Whedon hasn't had much luck with his shows on Fox. Cancelling Firefly was the worst thing Fox has ever done!!! the preceding sentence was written by a silly SciFi fanboy, pay no attention to his silly overblown geekery :-)

[TomGuy]

They’re remaking “V”?

Yes.

Remaking is about all they can do. They lost originality a long time ago. They keep doing remakes, even of movies. Melrose Place and 90210 are from previous decades, too.

[Dr. Ursus]

Actually,they’re democrats in this one!

[Paul8148]

Is lost killed of Juiet for nothing?

[ninergold3]

Glad to hear that Castle has been renewed. That, along with The Mentalist, is a new favorite!

[newfreep]

Although a longtime “House” fan, I grew to really enjoy “Chuck” that was on at same time as House. Any news on Chuck’s renewal?

[Texas_shutterbug]

Anyone know if “Chuck” is being renewed?

[Texas_shutterbug]

I asked the question before I scrolled down to read the comments!

Chuck is my favorite show: sweet, funny, entertaining, likeable characters, and you can actually watch it with the kids! The last part is probably the kiss if death, huh?

[sionnsar]

Does anyone watch prime time network TV any more?

Not here. Last time I turned on the teevee, it was for the Superbowl. I don't have plans to turn it on again this year.

[greyfoxx39]

Life was a good show and sorry to see it lost.

I thought Damien Lewis was masterful as Soames in the Masterpiece Theater's Forsyte Saga on PBS...

I was only able to catch Life a couple of times, but it didn't spark my interest enough to make a special attempt to do so. The depth of the Life character fell far short of approaching that of Soames Forsyte, IMO.

If anyone has the Sleuth channel on their satellite provider, Simon Baker, Jane of The Mentalist, starred with Dabney Coleman in a very good old series named The Guardian and it is currently in re-runs on Sleuth.

[newfreep]

Yep, I agree with all you said about Chuck. It also seem to have a little twist at the end of each episode, too. I loved "Jeffster's" performance of "Mr. Roboto" at the church in last episode!

I just found this NBC link - not looking good for Chuck.

http://www.nbc.com/upcoming-shows/

[windcliff]

Ping

[TomGuy]

not looking good for Chuck.

A few months ago, The CW expressed interest in picking up Chuck, if NBC didn't renew it.

Since NBC has delayed making any decision, The CW apparently has lost interest and moved on.

[razorboy]

Both Heaton and Grammer starred in shows that ran a decade, kind of rough to say they don’t appeal to an audience. Yes their most recent one didn’t do so well (lasted 14 episodes) but they both have a proven track record of success.

[Larightgirl]

The only show I ever watch on network TV anymore is “The Office”. It’s always good for a laugh or two.

On another note, I’m not sure if anyone has seen “Breaking Bad”, the AMC Sunday night series starring Brian Cranston...it’s fantastic! I highly recomend checking it out if you get a chance.

[spodefly]

I don’t watch TV ... I watch HULU ... :)

“Kings” is the best show I have seen in a while. Found it on Hulu. Loved the first 5 episodes, and then NBC started mucking around with time slots and such. Now it looks like one season is all it will last.

“Doll House” is interesting too. Glad it will be around next season.

“Lie to me” is good as well. The last couple of episodes have had some snarky lefty tones I could do without.

[GreenLanternCorps]

I’m sorry to hear that. It was a very creative show.

[RainMan]

Kings was a great show ... and nobody knew about it. I emailed the local station complaining about it being cancelled. If anyone had half a brain, they would buy the rights and run the series ... has the potential to be the biggest show on TV once people find it.

[Political Junkie Too]

I sensed an NCIS spin-off last week when they focused on a new undercover unit in LA.

-PJ