What's being developed at cable networks

Here are a few pilots that were picked up at cable networks. These are the projects that I find interesting. I'm actually a fan of science fiction, action adventure, or any period pieces:

Project is in contention at Syfy

Justin Marks

REWIND

This action thriller comes from feature screenwriter Justin Marks. His credit includes Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li. The project centers on a group of operatives and scientists that travel back in time. Using untested technology, this special team must alter the past in order to thwart a devastating terrorist attack in their time. Syfy has remained pretty conservative with pilot pick ups, proving their success with shows like WAREHOUSE 13, HAVEN, and SANCTUARY. No canceled shows, means no new shows. This is the first pick up in over a year for the network, with the last being ALPHAS and THREE INCHES (the former was eventually made into a series). However, the network is still hesitant with their pickups, as this project is a 2-hour back door pilot. This means the network will first test this show as a two hour movie. Depending on the audience reaction, the network will decide whether to pick it up to series.

Warehouse 13, Haven, Sanctuary, and Alphas

Project in contention at Starz

NOIR

This action-adventure espionage project is based on the 2001 Japanese anime NOIR. The story centers on two female assassins who are members of the underworld "murder mob." Soon, the women find out they're connected to each other, and they're then charged with working together. Duration of the partnership: until they find out the specifics of their mysterious link, or until they kill each other. This project is unusual for Starz because it's a graphic novel adaptation that normally does not get produce by the network. It's also not set in a historic period that the network specializes in like series SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE and MAGIC CITY. This project has actually already been picked up to a series (8-10 Episodes). As I mentioned, cable networks do not operate like broadcast networks and can straight up pick up a series. Noir will definitely test the waters at Starz and hopefully generate anime fans along with new viewers.

Spartacus: Vengeance and Magic City

Project is in contention at FX

GZA

IGOTCHABACK

This comedy loosely depicts the life of GZA, a rap artist and founding member of the Wu Tang Clan. As the aging artist questions the meaning of life, a young music manager, Heathcliff Berru, is chosen to represent him. This project is attractive to FX because the subject matter is right in the network's wheelhouse. They've seen success in SONS OF ANARCHY, THE LEAGUE, JUSTIFIED, and AMERICAN HORROR STORY. The network would love to address the viewing tastes of its growing affluent, well-educated urban audience. Further, the project represents the kind of narrative that the network has traditionally gravitated to in its dramas.

Sons of Anarchy, The League, Justified, and American Horror Story

Project is in contention at USA Network

Steven Pasquale

OVER/UNDER

This project is a family drama about a man who struggles to turn his life around. A day trader with a massive gambling problem is fired from his job six months after a bad trade costs his firm millions. Shut out of the job market, he and his beautiful, photographer wife retreat to a neighborhood on the cusp of gentrification. He finds an unlikely partner and starts to turn his life around in an unexpected way. Steven Pasquale is set to play the lead role. This project represents a bold attempt by USA to tackle the grit and disappointments of the modern financial climate. However, the premise contains a strong undercurrent of redemption compatible with current USA dramas WHITE COLLAR, ROYAL PAINS and SUITS.

White Collar, Royal Pains, and Suits

What I'm watching now

Oh! If you're wondering what broadcast shows I've been watching this season, here's the list below. The titles listed are linked to the show's website where they have free episodes.  I highly recommend these shows:

               REVENGE (ABC) Drama

           SUBURGATORY (ABC) Comedy

                    CSI (CBS) Drama

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (CBS) Comedy

                 BONES (FOX) Drama

 

                    HOUSE (FOX) Drama

               NEW GIRL (FOX) Comedy

        THE SIMPSONS (FOX) Animation

                  CHUCK (NBC) Drama

                 30 ROCK (NBC) Comedy

What's being developed now

To give you a better idea of what pilot season is like, I have listed a few projects that the broadcast networks have picked up to pilot:

Project in contention at ABC Entertainment

GILDED LILYS

GILDED LILYS comes from Shonda Rimes (left), creator of Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice. It is an epic love story set in 1895 that follows the opening of the first grand luxury hotel in New York, against a backdrop of vicious family rivalries, scandalous secrets, and conflict and commingling of classes. Even though Grey's Anatomy is the leading drama series on the network, the show is slowly losing its viewership. ABC is desperately looking for a drama project that will help bring back those viewers and once again they have put their faith in Shonda Rimes. Depending on how well her new series SCANDAL does, set to premiere April 2012, the network will probably wait and determine whether this project deserves to be made into a series. Keep in mind though, this season ABC has tried and failed to capture viewers with nostalgic throwback shows like PAN AM and CHARLIE'S ANGELS. If this project is done right, in the vain of freshman soap-drama series REVENGE, it can easily gain favor with executives at ABC.

Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Pan Am, Charlie's Angels, and Revenge

Project in contention at CBS Entertainment

TWEAKED

Comedy projects are the hot commodity these days. Amongst all the broadcast networks, CBS is leading the way in comedy viewership with their hit shows TWO AND A HALF MEN and THE BIG BANG THEORY. It is no surprise that the network has picked up TWEAKED, an ensemble comedy about the dating scene among single parents in Santa Monica, California. Jon Favreau (right), best known for directing the Iron Man movies, is set to write and direct this pilot. Even though the network has high profiled Jon Favreau attached to the project, it will be hard for it to be made into a series. The only comedy casualty this season for CBS is HOW TO BE A GENTLEMAN. With new sitcom ROB! has been off to a solid start and TWO BROKE GIRLS doing well, it will definitely be interesting to see if any life can be brought to this project.

Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, How to be a Gentleman, ROB!, and Two Broke Girls

Project in contention at The CW

ARROW AKA GREEN ARROW

The CW is looking to fill a void that was left when the series SMALLVILE ended last year. The network is obviously trying to bring back that crowd with ARROW, a action series based on DC Comic's Green Arrow. Green Arrow, aka Oliver Queen, is a vigilante superhero who fights crime using archery, martial arts and technology. This season, The CW has done a pretty good job in launching new series like THE SECRET CIRCLE and RINGER that stays true to its brand. However, this pilot season should be different for the network as comedy shows are now in demand and The CW not wanting to miss out on the wave. The one thing pulling ARROW being made into a series is that the character was featured already in SMALLVILLE. Due to his popularity, Green Arrow was made into a series regular towards the end of the series.

Smaville, The Secret Circle, and Ringer

This project is in contention at Fox Broadcasting Company

LITTLE BROTHER

FOX is not particularly known for their comedy shows but they broke through with success of RAISING HOPE and NEW GIRL. Therefore, the network is trying to continue this streak with LITTLE BROTHER. It centers on a former rock musician who discovers that he has a 20-something half brother who was the product of his absentee dad's one night encounters. He's thrilled to get this new information until he learns that his new little brother is a paroled criminal who wants to move in with him and his wife. T.J. Miller (right), a rising comedian and star of feature film Cloverfield, is set to play one of the brothers. With the status of I HATE MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER unknown, FOX is certainly preparing to beef up their comedy line up. LITTLE BROTHER is definitely a front runner to be made into a series.   

Raising Hope, New Girl, and I Hate My Teenage Daughter

This project is in contention at NBC

THE MUNSTERS

NBC has been having a hard time maintaining its viewership. It's sad to know that the best thing going for the network is SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL. Casualties this season have already included THE PLAYBOY CLUB, FREE AGENTS, and PRIME SUSPECT. Hopefully, a reboot of 1960's hit THE MUNSTERS will spark the interest of viewers. This version kicks off when 10-year-old Eddie, who has no idea that there's anything weird about him and his family, starts to transform into a werewolf. The family moves to a new town to protect Eddie from the truth about his transformation, but they ultimately have to share the truth about vampires, Frankenstein and werewolves. Due to the success of the original series, add that it is a modern take on the classic, you can speculate this project being one of the top contenders of being picked up to series at NBC. 

Sunday Night Football, The Playboy Club, Free Agents, Prime Suspect

Well, I hope this overload of information has kept you somewhat entertained. I did not include any projects from the cable networks because they do not operate like the broadcast networks. They tend to pick up pilots sporadically. Maybe my next post will include projects that I find interesting from the cable networks.

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to my blog! My name is Andy Park and this page is all about providing you with entertainment news! I  currently work as a research coordinator for Variety Insight, an online division of Variety Magazine, your #1 source for entertainment news.

If you haven't guessed already, I am absolutely enamored with the entertainment industry. Luckily, one of the responsibilities I have as a research coordinator is to find out what new shows the networks are looking to produce. Right now, this is my favorite time of year because it's considered to be PILOT SEASON in the industry.

Pilot season you say? Well, the term pilot refers to a stand alone episode of a show. In a nutshell, networks will select from a group of projects what they deem to be a potential hit and actually produce the pilot episode. Executives at the networks then determine whether or not the project deserves to be made into a series. That is why when you watch a brand new show for the very first time, the first episode is usually titled "Pilot".

So, pilot season is that time of year when all broadcast networks, and a few cable networks, spend a ton of cash to acquire and produce A LOT of pilots for the upcoming year. These pilots compete against each other to be made into a series. Unfortunately, majority of them will not make the cut and never see any air time. It's a crazy time of year for the television industry, but it definitely is exciting.