[TV]

Ah, welcome back. Anyone still out there?

Suppose I should re-introduce myself. I'm Mike- I used to talk about TV on regular basis in these parts.

And then a funny thing happened- reality television, that is. And then I just lost interest in the goings on in the ivory halls of the programming wizards. There was simply nothing on Television I wanted to talk about-because it was mostly shit. Yeah- even the mighty Joss tossed Firefly into the crapper, leaving his other creations twisting in the wind.

Meanwhile, Simon Callow continued his invasion; ABC continued to pair Bachelors and Bachelorettes (all of whom break up long before the series even airs); and CBS single handedly allowed David Caruso and Arsenio Hall back on the tube.

All of which lead to a stark conclusion: if this is what the erosion of network television is going to be-then by all means have at it. We're long past the point of no return, people. The networks have given up any attempt at programming with any intelligence in favor of whatever will get a rise out of the public- because anyone who wanted TV worth watching already has 500 digital cable channels and HBO to keep them occupied. The rest of the sheep are watching this shit. 

Snobbery? Elitism? Then you explain Joe Millionaire to me- because I'd really like a chat with someone who actually watched that and will admit to it. If just one of the 24 million people who had nothing better to do that night could explain what the hell could have prompted you to watch it- just so I can bask in the glow of your collective stupidity.

I want to understand this, really I do. But I just can't wrap my brain around the attraction to all these God-awful reality shows. I seriously think 24's ratings jump is simply because most of the country is so busy spending the following hour trying to vote for American Idol that they simply never bothered to change the channel. Which is just fine with me-as 24 is one of the few network shows I can still watch and not feel cheap and dirty about afterwards.

And yet reality TV still marches on, and you have to wonder when it's going to stop. It's not, unfortunately- because networks have figured out that it just costs too much money to actually produce Quality scripted shows. Comedians will still get lame sit-coms, of course- but the scripted hour drama is getting the shaft.

Sci Fi? Forget it. Networks aren't going to invest in Sci-Fi programming in the wake of Firefly and Dinotopia's failure- they too cost too much to make, and to promote. And even judging by the severe flat lining of a show like Enterprise- even established brands can't draw viewers. Enterprise is not that good, and Dinotopia was scheduled against Friends and Survivor- but programmers see it as another Sci Fi show that isn't catching on with an audience and costing millions to make for little results.

Why did a show like Farscape get the ax, whereas Stargate continues to limp along? In it's seventh year, Stargate's actually cheaper to continue, by using effects that were created earlier in the series- and it's not really an effects heavy series to begin with. Virtually all the effects used on a series like Farscape or Enterprise have to be created specifically for each episode-which drives up the cost per episode. Sci-Fi and UPN can just throw on reality shows that put more money in the coffers, and produce more of them for the cost of one Farscape episode. Networks are more willing to produce hugely expensive miniseries or limited run series, because it will reap the biggest investment over a traditional series.

Also, it might help if the programmers weren't complete idiots- don't put a high concept show that viewers will have to have some time to invest in against a reality show that requires no investment from the viewer to understand, or a long running highly rated sitcom that has it's audience locked until it dies. 

So, if you're like me- and you want quality scripted dramas and Sci Fi on the tube to fight back against these reality shows, you're gonna have to accept a few changes.

1) Effects heavy shows go back to being rare occurrences- not every concept has have massive effects to catch an audience or to be good. Buffy and Angel have often been spared the ax because the biggest part of the cost of production comes from the payroll of it's main cast-not from the effects.

2) Smarter writing. Not every lame concept (Andromeda anyone?) should get on the air solely because it has a star attached on the dregs of Gene Roddenberry's ashes. You're gonna have to come with something good from the get go.

-jm tuffley

[development hell]

The networks do still have a development slate for scripted programming, which is a surprise. So, here's a look at what they've got brewing for the fall season in between reality shows.

-NBC has been taking its time developing an Americanized version of the hit British sit-com Coupling. Originally groomed as the successor to Friends (which is quite strange considering the original show is based on Friends- just with more sex added in), NBC has had the rights to the show for about three years. The network's been keeping it in reserve since Friends has been on a year-to-year basis in that time. With the option running out and Friends finally coming to end next year, however, NBC had to make the show or lose the rights. The series has already had many actors, writers, and producers going through its revolving doors- as the show is now on the 2003-2004 schedule- and becomes the first series commitment for the fall season.

-Meanwhile, NBC is also still eyeing the matter of Britain. Boomtown producer Graham Yost shot a pilot called Young Arthur for last year's slate, and NBC has reportedly re-considered the prospect of making the medieval teen action/drama. The series focuses on a teenage Arthur learning to be knight (and befriending Lancelot and Guenevere) while secretly being guided to Kinghood by Merlin, and fighting against Votigern- who's plotting to off the future king. Cue teen angst with a bit of swords and sorcery. You've got a "watcher" (Merlin), some Scoobies (Lance and Guenevere, whose relations with Arthur in the pilot script damn near mirrored the initial Buffy/Xander/Willow/Angel storyline) and a BIG BAD (Vortigern). Plays a bit too close to the Hellmouth, doesn't it? It's why NBC originally passed on it- too much Buffy, not enough Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter.

This year's a different story, however. Boomtown's critical success and recent ratings rebound has given Yost and his development projects a new clout with the network. With Buffy leaving the airwaves, the final LOTR installment in theaters this fall, and with a new Potter film not due in theaters until Fall 2004- the network may have it's desired audience wide open, and is considering whether re-tweaking the show is worth the investment. And they'd almost have to put it on Sundays, which already has tough competition.

Considering NBC's dumping what few reality shows they do have on Friday and Saturday, I doubt they'd spend the cash to do this show just to put it there. They'd almost have to put it on Sunday- where the competition's already tough, unless the network plans to completely overhaul it's Tuesday Night (with Jane Pauley leaving Dateline, and Frasier on its last legs- it's a definite possibility). So the gamble for NBC isn't as bad as last year-and they have a few more open spots to place such a program this year- but still enough of costly one to make them pause.  

-NBC's not the only one trying to get an Arthur show off the ground. Wes Craven is currently producing Kamelot- a pilot for the WB that puts a Sci Fi spin on the mythos.

The WB has been known to groom DC properties in recent years (as a result of the UPN/Buffy deal- that network also had an option to gain the spin off should the Frog cancel it. In response, the WB developed Smallville and Birds of Prey to eventually fill it's shoes). No word yet if the series may be the network's attempt to spin a series off the pub's Camelot 3000- but interestingly enough, DC has plans to re-issue the Camelot 3000 trade this fall.

-Meanwhile, CSI copycat shows are springing up. NBC's shooting a pilot with soap stars Vanessa Marcil (ex-General Hospital), and Josh Duhamel (ex-All My Children) about surveillance experts solving crimes in Las Vegas. 

Go back and read what I said about Young Arthur. Go ahead, I'll wait.

Ok, so why would NBC openly ape CSI when they passed on a Buffy ape last year? If Buffy and Angel were doing CSI numbers, NBC wouldn't have blinked on it last year. But cult shows seldom have that effect- ABC's the only network that tried X-Files apes, and they died quickly. Also- tale of the tape, let's say NBC moved Crossing Jordan up an hour, and then slid this show in- this puts a serious hurt on CSI:Miami. Even if the knock off's bad- the gamble is that it would be enough to make CBS flinch and move it to another night. Only they can't- because CBS purposely scheduled the two CSI shows apart from each other, the void between the two shows is dotted with reality and news programs that are cheaper to make and net higher ratings than Miami. CBS would have to go head to head, or cancel it. The first part of the season wouldn't matter- since Monday Night Football takes the night through January anyhow. Either way, it damages CBS' schedule, since it would only take viewers away from CBS' Monday Night, which is their strongest night.

It's full disclosure time. The nets have unleashed their development hounds, and below is a network by network rundown on what the players have come up with. Let's start with who's in last place.

UPN

UPN will be facing an uphill battle to prove it's still a network next fall. Having already announced that they will be cutting their entire daytime programming block, UPN is under the gun. In light of the announcement, the Nielsen folks won't rank UPN as a network next year in their ratings reports. Which means it's over for UPN. The loss of Buffy, the Vampire Slayer isn't doing much to help. UPN will live for another two years- dated so due to the network's recent contract with WWE and the net's commitment to Enterprise, which gets another Star Trek series in syndication.  But I'm thinking two years max. Look at the development slate, they're marking time- these shows are all pretty cheap to produce and most of them can either be moved to Viacom's cable outlets, or CBS if any of them really take off. But they won't.

So here's what they've got.

All of Us (Comedy)
Studio: Warner Bros. TV, Overbrook
Production Team: Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Betsy Borns, James Lassiter
Premise: A blended family comedy loosely inspired by the home life of producers Will and Jada Pinkett Smith.
Stars: Duane Martin
Status: Pilot order

The Edge (Drama)
Studio: 20th Century Fox TV
Production Team: Matthew Carnahan , Scott Vila
Premise: DEA and FBI agents in a town on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Stars: Nicholas Gonzalez , Paul Wasilewski
Status: Pilot order

Game Over (Comedy)
Studio: Carsey-Werner-Mandabach
Production Team: David Sacks , David Goetsch , Jason Venokur , Ross Venokur
Premise: Computer animation is used in a show about a suburban family's everyday life.
Vocal Talent: Patrick Warburton , E.G. Daily, Rachel Dratch , D.L. Hughley, Marisa Tomei, James Sie, Marie Matiko
Status: Pilot order

Hotel (Drama)
Studio: Spelling TV
Production Team: Aaron Spelling , E. Duke Vincent , C. Tynan, Denise Di Novi
Premise: An update of the 1980s series, set in a trendy Miami hotel.
Stars: Michael Jai White, Christina Vidal
Status: Presentation only

Kamelot (Drama)
Studio: Miramax TV, Abandon Entertainment
Production Team: Wes Craven , Ron Milbauer , Terri Hughes
Premise: King Arthur in the Matrix
Stars: To Be Decided
Status: Pilot order; contingent on showrunner (was at the WB)

The Mullet Brothers (Comedy)
Studio: Warner Bros. TV
Production Team: Bill Oakley , Josh Weinstein , Eric Tannenbaum, Kim Tannenbaum
Premise: Two brothers who own a roofing company and like to drink beer and watch wrasslin'.
Stars: To Be Decided
Status: Presentation only

Newton (Drama)
Studio: Warner Bros. TV, Silver Pictures
Production Team: Joel Silver , Craig Silverstein
Premise: A family moves to a town that's actually a testing area for high-tech gadgets.
Stars: To Be Decided
Status: Pilot order

Old School (Comedy)
Studio: Paramount Network TV
Production Team: David Tochterman , Chris Parrish
Premise: Conflicts among a group of young adults.
Stars: To Be Decided
Status: Pilot order

The Opposite Sex
Studio: Warner Bros. TV, Greenblatt Janollari Studio
Production Team: Meg DeLoatch , Troy Carter, Robert Greenblatt, David Janollari
Premise: Romantic comedy about a clothing designer that looks at relationships from both male and female perspectives.
Stars: Eve
Status: Presentation only

Vegas Dick (Drama)
Studio: 20th Century Fox TV, Original TV
Production Team: Rich Wilkes , Neal H. Moritz , M. Adelstein, Dawn Parouse
Premise: A reformed con artist works as a detective for a casino.
Stars: To Be Decided
Status: Presentation only

Weapon X (aka Untitled Nanobot Project) (Drama)
Studio: Viacom Productions
Production Team: Gena Matthews, Grant Scharbo, Silvio Horta
Premise: A National Security Agency technician is accidentally injected with nanobots that give him super powers.
Stars: Christopher Gorham,  Matt Czuchry, Marina Black
Status: Pilot order, possible legal problems with Marvel Comics and Fox Television over the current name and premise of the series.

Untitled Tim Kelleher Project (Comedy)
Studio: Warner Bros. TV
Production Team: Tim Kelleher , Tony Krantz
Premise: Twentysomethings making the transition from single life to raising families.
Stars: To Be Decided
Status: Pilot order

Untitled Mutant Enemy project

Studio: Fox Televison/ BBC Television ????

Production Team: Joss Weadon

Premise: The continuation of the Buffy-verse, pending the fate of Angel and remaining Sunnydale residents. However there has been movement in the Ripper department (the BBC has commissioned a mini-series development and is interested in co-producing), so this may become "the spinoff". And then there could still be the Faith series. Or Fray, based on Weadon's still unfinished Dark Horse Comics series. Don't ask us, but you probably won't see it until midseason-if at all at this pont, due to the two-year theory.

Stars: Whoever doesn't move over to Angel, should it return. In the case of Ripper, Anthony Stewart Head. But don't bet on it. CBS doesn't want the expense of getting another Buffy verse show, and doesn't need the franchise anymore- it'd be too expensive to produce if allowed to continue on cable, and unless ME spikes the coffee, it's not gonna be on CBS.

WB

The WB is also under the gun- due to UPN's non-network status, they get last place as a default.

All About the Andersons (Comedy)
Studio: Warner Bros. TV
Production Team: Marco Pennette , James Widdoes , Anthony Anderson, Adam Glass
Premise: A struggling actor with a young son moves back in with his parents.
Stars: Anthony Anderson , Roz Ryan , John Amos , and Paul Bartholomew
Status: Pilot order

Are We There Yet? (Comedy)
Studio: Carsey-Werner-Mandabach
Production Team: Mark Burnett , Jason Venokur, Ross Venokur, David Goetsch
Premise: The adventures of an American family traveling through Europe.
Stars: John Higgins ,Maggie Welsh, Dan Byrd, Abigail Spencer, Kenan Thompson
Status: Pilot order

Chasing Alice (Drama)
Studio: Warner Bros. TV, First Move Prods
Production Team: Scott Lobdell, Susanne Daniels
Premise: Scotland Yard sleuth comes to New York City searching for her sister in a loose take-off on "Alice in Wonderland."
Stars: Theresa Russell
Status: Pilot order

Coming Home (Comedy)
Studio: Warner Bros. TV, Tannenbaum, Co.
Production Team: Betsy Thomas, Eric Tannenbaum, Kim Tannenbaum
Premise: A teen girl is raised by her three older siblings.
Stars: Kyle Howard
Status: Pilot order

The Courtship of Eddie's Father (Comedy)
Studio: Warner Bros. TV, Pariah
Production Team: Jay Kogen , Gavine Polone
Premise: Fresh take on the 1970s sitcom (itself based on a 1963 film) about a boy trying to find a wife for his widowed father.
Stars: Ken Marino,  Josh Hutcherson
Status:Pilot order

Dicks (Drama)
Studio: Sony Pictures TV, Jersey TV
Production Team: Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher, John Landgraf , Zach Helm
Premise: Twentysomething slackers in LA become private investigators.
Stars: Cory Gums , Judy Greer , Rhea Perlman
Status: Pilot order

Exit 9 (Comedy)
Studio: Warner Bros. TV
Production Team: Eric Zicklin
Premise: A family show centered around a 14-year-old boy navigating his way through his first year of high school, and his 16-year-old troublemaker sister.
Stars: Alex Linz
Status: Pilot order

Family Curse (formerly "Shadow Walkers" ) (Drama)
Studio: Regency TV
Production Team: Mel Gibson, Bruce Davey, Greg Coote, Jeff Hayes, Billy Brown, Dan Angel
Premise: An archeologist and his family track down creatures from myth and folk tales.
Stars: Ted McGinley, Lindsay Frost , Brian Sites , Britt Irvin
Status: Pilot order

Family Friends (Comedy) (aka "Like Family" )
Studio: Warner Bros. TV
Production Team: Warren Littlefield, Kenny Schwartz , Rick Weiner
Premise: Mother and teenage son move in with her African-American best friend.
Stars: Mack Slaughter , Holly Robinson Peete , Kevin Michael Richardson , Megalyn Echikunwoke
Status: Pilot order

Fearless (Drama)
Studio: Warner Bros. TV, Bruckheimer TV
Production Team: Jerry Bruckheimer, Jeremy and Jonathan Littman
Premise: A girl without the gene for fear becomes an FBI agent.
Stars: Rachael Leigh Cook , Eric Balfour , Ian Somerhalder , Bianca Lawson , Leo Fitzpatrick
Status: Pilot Order

The Help (Comedy)
Studio: Warner Bros. TV
Production Team: Ron Leavitt , Marty Adelstein
Premise: Focuses on the servants of a very rich family in the vein of "Upstairs, Downstairs."
Stars: Antonio Sabato Jr., Al Santos , Keri Lynn Pratt 
Status: Pilot Order

Immediate Family (Drama)
Studio: Spelling TV
Production Team: Aaron Spelling, E. Duke Vincent, Stephen Tolkin, Brad Isaacs
Premise: Single career woman, with her friends, becomes a surrogate family to her sister's orphaned kids.
Stars: Lori Laughlin
Status: Pilot order

Jack (Drama)
Studio: Warner Bros. TV
Production Team: Thomas Schlamme
Premise: The teen years of a future President of the United States.
Stars: To Be Determined
Status: Pilot order

Kid Mayor
Studio: Sony, Happy Madison
Production Team: Adam Sandler, Adam Resnick , Jack Giarraputo , Doug Robinson
Premise: A 19-year-old becomes mayor of a small town.
Stars: Harry Groener , Ben Feldman , Samm Levine , Christine Ebersole
Status: Pilot order

MacGyver
Studio: Paramount Network TV
Production Team: Henry Winkler, John Rich, Stephen Downing
Premise: MacGyver's 23-year-old nephew rights wrongs and blows things up using chewing gum, a paper clip, a hair net and some duct tape.
Stars: Jared Padalecki , Kiele Michelle Sanchez , Ron Canada
Status: Pilot order (was at UPN)

Ravens (Drama)
Studio: Warner Bros. TV, Tollin/Robbins
Production Team: Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola , Mark Schwahn
Premise: Estranged half-brothers in a small town.
Stars: Craig Sheffer, Chad Michael Murray, Moira Kelly, James Lafferty
Status: Pilot order

Sixteen to Life (Comedy)
Studio: 20th Century FOX TV
Production Team: Rob Lotterstein and Ellen Idelson, Michael Hanel and Mindy Schultheis
Premise: 16-year-old blue collar girl works at a country club and takes care of her father.
Stars: Sprague Grayden
Status: Pilot order

The Spaces (Comedy)
Studio: Warner Bros. TV, Laura Ziskin Prods.
Production Team: Dan Milano , Laura Ziskin, Kevin Chinoy, Jay Daniels
Premise: Slacker teenager on a 31st Century space colony.
Stars: To Be Determined
Status: Pilot Order

Sweet Potato Queens (Comedy)
Studio: Warner Bros. TV
Production Team: Jill Connor Browne, Kyle Jennings, Pamela Eells , Lindy DeKoven
Premise: Based on Jill Connor Browne's bestselling books about a Southern mom and her teen daughter.
Stars: Delta Burke , Katherine Cunningham-Eves, Allison Munn , Nick Zano
Status: Pilot Order

Tarzan (Drama)
Studio: Warner Bros. TV
Production Team: Laura Ziskin, David Gerber, David Nutter , Eric Kripke
Premise: Tarzan uncles brings him to contemporary New York City where he meets police detective Jane.
Stars: Travis Fimmel, Mitch Pileggi , Miguel Nunez Jr.
Status: Pilot order

Trash (Comedy)
Studio: Regency TV
Production Team: Chris Thompson
Premise: "Romeo and Juliet" -style tale of a trailer park boy and a rich girl.
Stars: Mike Erwin , Pippi , Lisa Blount, Richard Burgi
Status: Pilot order

Untitled Bow Wow Project (Comedy)
Studio: Paramount Network TV
Production Team: Felicia Henderson
Premise: A high school teacher who's the same age as his students.
Stars: Bow Wow
Status: Pilot order (was at UPN)

Untitled Gilmore Girls Spinoff (Drama)
Studio: Warner Bros. TV
Production Team: Amy Sherman-Palladino
Premise: Jess deals with his estranged father.
Stars: Milo Ventimiglia , Rob Estes, Sherilyn Fenn
Status: Pilot order

ABC

Let's face it: ABC is waiting for something to go right. Yanking Who Wants to Be a Millionaire , even though it still cranked out solid numbers was perhaps not the best idea they ever had. Neither was banishing Dinotopia to Thursday hell. Or putting The Practice on Monday. The only reason they aren't dead last is due to The WB and UPN- and once again, without UPN to taking the bottom dweller prize, and there being no way ABC will have a top three finish this year- they look to start the fall locked in fourth. Disney is not pleased.

10-8 (Drama)
Studio: Spelling TV, Touchstone TV
Production Team: Aaron Spelling, E. Duke Vincent, Jorge Zamacona
Premise: Dramedy about rookie cops and training officers in LA sheriff's department.
Stars: Danny Nucci,, Ernie Hudson, Mercedes Colon, Scott Winters, Travis Schuldt, Michael Rispoli
Status: Pilot order

111 Gramercy Park (Drama)
Studio: Warner Bros. TV, Tannenbaum Co.
Production Team: Bob Brush
Premise: An exclusive New York apartment building and the people who live and work there.
Stars: Frank Langella, Peter Strauss, Jaleel White, Joanna Going, Brittany Daniel, Joel Grey, Tippi Hedren
Status: Pilot order

Alaska (aka "The Circle" ) (Drama)
Studio: Touchstone TV
Production Team: John August
Premise: Chilly crime investigation by an Alaskan state trooper.
Stars: Brad Johnson, Michael Ironside , Dahlia Salem , Gary Farmer
Status: Pilot order

The DA (Drama)
Studio: Warner Bros. TV
Production Team: James Duff , Greer Shephard, Michael Robin
Premise: A District Attorney partners with a private investigator to solve the murder of a co-worker.
Stars: Steven Weber, Sarah Paulson, J.K. Simmons, Bruno Campos
Status: Pilot order

The Flannerys (Drama)
Studio: WBTV, Tollin/Robbins
Production Team: Kevin Falls, Peter O'Fallon, Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins
Premise: A recovering alcoholic gives up his big-firm job and, with the help of his Irish family, becomes a lawyer in a strip mall.
Stars: Jeffrey Nordling, Mary Page Keller, Trevor Morgan, David Ramsey , Mira Delaney, Sophia Bush
Status: Pilot order

Hench at Home (Comedy)
Studio: Touchstone, DreamWorks, Lottery Hill
Production Team: Michael J. Fox, Mitch Hurwitz, Danelle Black
Premise: Retired NHL player moves returns home to his wife and kids.
Stars: Craig Bierko , Tracy Pollan, Lyndon Byers, Molly Ephraim, Nicholas Reese Art, Michael Charles Roman
Status: Pilot order

Hope and Faith (Comedy)
Studio: Touchstone, Industry Ent.
Production Team: Keith Addis, Michael Edelstein, Joanna Johnson, Emile Levisetti
Premise: Soap opera star moves in with her housewife sister.
Stars: Faith Ford, Kelly Ripa, Harve Presnell
Status: Pilot Order

Karen Sisco (Drama)
Studio: Universal TV, Jersey TV
Production Team: Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher, John Landgraf, Jason Smilovic
Premise: Based on Elmore Leonard's female federal marshal character played by Jennifer Lopez in the 1998 film "Out of Sight."
Stars: Carla Gugino, Bill Duke, Robert Forster
Status: Pilot order

Lines of Duty (Drama)
Studio: DreamWorks TV, Touchstone TV
Production Team: Rod Lurie
Premise: New FBI agent and a Virginia mobster play cat and mouse.
Stars: David Paymer, Leslie Bibi, Leslie Hope, Brian Goodman, Jeffrey Sams
Status: 13 episode pick-up

Mr. & Mr. Nash (Comedy)
Studio: Carsey-Werner-Mandabach
Production Team: Steve Martin, Joan Stein
Premise: Gay couple are professional designers by day and amateur private eyes by night.
Stars: Alan Cumming
Status: Midseason

My Life with Men (Comedy)
Studio: Touchstone TV
Production Team: Denise Moss , Sy Dukane, Nena Rodrigue
Premise: Wife/mom/feminist raises household of men.
Stars: Wendie Malick, Geoffrey Lewis, Michael Angarano ("Will & Grace"), Shawn Pyfrom
Status: Pilot order

The Partners (Drama)
Studio: Touchstone TV
Production Team: Kerry Ehrin, Nina Rodrigue
Premise: Pair of female undercover cops.
Stars: Liz Vassey, Richard Gunn, Rick Hoffman, Mary Catherine Garrison
Status: Pilot order

Platonically Incorrect (Comedy)
Studio: Touchstone, Shady Acres
Production Team: Michael Bostick , Tom Shadyac , Darlene Hunt
Premise: Platonic relationship between a man and woman who are friends and colleagues.
Stars: Tom Everett Scott, A.J. Langer, Carmine Giovinazzo
Status: Pilot order

The Street Lawyer (Drama)
Studio: Touchstone TV
Production Team: John Grisham, David Levien, Brian Koppelman, David Gernert
Premise: Based on the John Grisham novel, hot shot lawyer goes to work for the common people.
Stars: Hal Holbrook, Eddie Cibrian , Mario Van Peebles , James LeGros , Kadee Strickland
Status: Pilot order

Slice O' Life (Drama)
Studio: Universal Television
Production Team: Bill Diamond
Premise: Janeane Garofalo stars as a producer of light, human interest segements on a news show
Stars: Janeane Garofalo
Status: Midseason

Then Came Jones (Drama)
Studio: Touchstone TV
Production Team: Chris Brancato, Bert Salke
Premise: Period Western based around an El Paso brothel in 1899.
Stars: Sean Patrick Flanery , Melissa Gilbert , Jsu Garcia, Taylor Handley, Mary Elizabeth Winstead , Ariel Gade
Status: Pilot order

These Guys (Comedy)
Studio: Carsey-Werner-Mandabach
Production Team: Marcy Carsey, Tom Werner, Caryn Mandabach, Tim Allen, Mark Brazill ( "3rd Rock From the Sun"), Ron Zimmerman ("7th Heaven")
Premise: Tim Allen narrates as four men confront marriage, parenthood, divorce and dating.
Stars: Patrick Warburton, Currie Graham
Status: Pilot order

Threat Matrix (Drama)
Studio: Touchstone TV, Industry Ent.
Production Team: Daniel Voll, Emile Levisetti , Michael Edelstein, Keith Addis
Premise: Former spouses fight terrorism side-by-side.
Stars: Kelly Rutherford , Jamie Denton, Melora Walters, Will Lyman, Kurt Caceres
Status: Pilot order

Untitled Armyan Bernstein Hotel Project (aka "Naked Hotel" ) (Drama)
Studio: Warner Bros. TV
Production Team: Armyan Bernstein
Premise: Life in a Hamptons luxury hotel.
Stars: To Be Decided
Status: Pilot order

Untitled Dan Finnerty Project (Comedy)
Studio: WBTV, Mohawk, Wonderland
Production Team: Dan Finnerty, Bruce Helford, Deborah Oppenheimer, Bruce Rasmussen, McG
Premise: Ordinary guy finds himself as the star at his family's lounge.
Stars: Dan Finnerty, Michael DeLuise, Gerald McRaney ("Major Dad," "Simon & Simon" )
Status: Pilot order

Untitled Flett-Giordano/Ranberg Project (Comedy)
Studio: Paramount, Touchstone, Storyline
Production Team: Ann Flett-Giordano and Chuck Ranberg, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron
Premise: Conservative guy falls in love with the daughter of a gay couple.
Stars: Reid Scott, Maggie Lawson, John Benjamin Hickey
Status: Pilot order

Untitled Henchy/Pennette Project (Comedy)
Studio: WBTV, Tollin/Robbins
Production Team: Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins, Marco Pennette, Chris Henchy
Premise: Romantic comedy inspired by Henchy's relationship with wife Brooke Shields.
Stars: Teri Polo, David Sutcliff, Danny Comden
Status: Pilot order

Untitled Jenny McCarthy Project (Comedy)
Studio: Touchstone TV
Production Team: Donald Beck
Premise: Riches-to-rags story about a spoiled woman who must adapt when her father is sent off to jail and her money is gone.
Stars: Jenny McCarthy, Missi Pyle, Robin Bartlett, Geoff Shults,  Dan Lauria
Status: Pilot Order

Untitled Kevin Hart Project (Comedy)
Studio: Imagine TV, 20th Century FOX
Production Team: David Nevins, Brain Grazer
Premise: "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" in reverse as a wealthy African-American has to move from Malibu to Philadelphia after his father loses all his money.
Stars: Kevin Hart, Faizon Love
Status: Pilot order

Untitled Scherick/Ronn Project (Comedy)
Studio: Touchstone TV
Production Team: Jay Scherick, David Ronn, Nina Rodrigue
Premise: Three adult siblings at different points in their lives.
Stars: Samantha Mathis ("Mists of Avalon" )
Status: Midseason

Untitled Tom Hertz Project (Comedy)
Studio: 20th Century FOX TV, Brad Grey TV
Production Team: Tom Hertz, Brad Grey
Premise: A shy New Yorker marries into a family of boisterous Kansans.
Stars: Emily Rutherford
Status: Pilot order

FOX

For the first time in its existence FOX is in the position to make a move, and EVRYONE KNOWS IT. The Problem? Other than 24 and The Simpsons, they really don't have any solidly performing non-reality shows. They'll finish the season in third place, and with their announced opening gambit of launching new shows in late summer- leading up to their National League Baseball playoffs/World Series coverage- it's very likely FOX could open the 2003-2004 season at Number Two without doing very much. They got the ground, what will they do with it?

About a Boy (Comedy)
Studio: Tribeca, Working Title, Universal TV
Production Team: Matthew Carlson
Premise: Based on the Nick Hornby novel about a self-absorbed man who forms a friendship with a 12-year-old boy and his mom.
Stars: Patrick Dempsey
Status: Presentation only

Arrested Development (Comedy)
Studio: 20th Century Fox TV, Imagine TV
Production Team: Mitchell Hurwitz, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, David Nevins
Premise: A wealthy family is forced into a new life when its patriarch is arrested for fraud and family assets are frozen.
Stars: Jason Bateman, Portia de Rossi, Michael Cera, Jessica Walter, Will Arnett, Tony Hale
Status: Pilot order

The Big Wide World of Carl Laemke (Comedy)
Studio: 20th Century Fox TV
Production Team: Bob Odenkirk
Premise: Suburban family life from the title character's point of view.
Stars: Bob Odenkirk, Beth Littleford
Status: Pilot order

The Break (Drama)
Studio: 20th Century Fox TV, Imagine TV
Production Team: John Stockwell, Brian Grazer, David Nevins
Premise: A mainland cop moves back to his home state of Hawaii with his estranged son.
Stars: Dylan Bruno, Brooke Langton, Kris Kristofferson
Status: Pilot order

The Circuit (Drama)
Studio: Pariah TV
Production Team: Tom Fontana , Barry Levinson, James Yoshimura, Gavin Polone
Premise: A circuit court case seen through the eyes of the jury, with key elements shown in flashback.
Stars: To Be Decided
Status: Pilot order

Cracking Up (Comedy)
Studio: 20th Century Fox TV, Brad Grey TV
Production Team: Mike White, Brad Grey
Premise: A psychology student lives in the guest house of a Beverly Hills family with some issues.
Stars: Nicholas D'Agosto, Molly Shannon , Christopher McDonald
Status: Pilot order

Heroine (formerly Untitled Feldman/Cohen project) (Drama)
Studio: 20th Century Fox TV, Original TV
Production Team: Jon Feldman , Rob Cohen,  Neal H. Moritz , Marty Adelstein, Dawn Parouse
Premise: A young woman discovers she has the ability to go back in time for 24 hours at a stretch and save people's lives.
Stars: Eliza Dushku , Shawn Reaves
Status: Pilot order

A Minute with Stan Hooper (Comedy)
Studio: Paramount Network TV
Production Team: Norm Macdonald,  Barry Kemp , Lori Jo Hoekstra
Premise: A New York couple moves to a small town in Wisconsin.
Stars: Norm Macdonald, Penelope Ann Miller , Daniel Roebuck
Status: Pilot order

Mister Ed (Comedy)
Studio: 20th Century Fox TV, Original TV
Production Team: Jack Handey , Marty Adelstein, Neal H. Moritz , Dawn Parouse
Premise: An update of the 1960s sitcom featuring a talking horse.
Stars: To Be Decided
Status: Pilot order

No Place Like Home (Drama)
Studio: Sony Pictures TV
Production Team: Chris Keyser and Amy Lippman
Premise: Families from different backgrounds are forced together when their teen children get married.
Stars: Rebecca De Mornay, Jordi Vilasuso, Danielle Panabaker, Carlos Gomez, Amanda Righetti
Status: Pilot order

NYPD 2069 (Drama)
Studio: Paramount Network TV, Steven Bochco Productions
Production Team: Steven Bochco, Nicholas Wootton, Matt Olmstead, Gregory Hoblit
Premise: A New York cop is cryogenically frozen in 2003 and re-animated in 2069.
Stars: Josh Hopkins, Annie Parisse, Danny Pino, Kevin Dunn, Mark Pellegrino, Anna Gunn
Status: Series commitment

The O.C. (Drama)
Studio: Warner Bros. TV
Production Team: McG, Josh Schwartz, Joseph Dougherty
Premise: A city kid moves to the affluent suburbs of Orange County, Calif.
Stars: Peter Gallagher, Tate Donovan, Adam Brody, Mischa Barton, Benjamin McKenzie
Status: Pilot order

The Pool at Maddy Breakers (Comedy)
Studio: 20th Century Fox TV, Original TV
Production Team: Ron Leavitt, Marty Adelstein, Neal H. Moritz, Dawn Parouse
Premise: Three women in their late 20s face the realization that they may have peaked in high school.
Stars: Jodi Lyn O'Keefe, Jill Ritchie, Reagan Pasternak
Status: Pilot order

Skin (Drama)
Studio: Warner Bros. TV, Jerry Bruckheimer TV
Production Team: Jerry Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman, Jim Leonard
Premise: A modern-day "Romeo and Juliet" set against the backdrop of politics and porn in Los Angeles.
Stars: Ron Silver, Kevin Anderson, Rachel Ticotin, D.J. Cotrona
Status: Pilot order

The Snobs (formerly "The Mallards" ) (Comedy)
Studio: 20th Century Fox TV, Imagine TV
Production Team: David Isaacs , Ken Levine
Premise: The life of a blue-collar family that believes it deserves more from life.
Stars: Greg Germann, Kat Dennings, Paget Brewster
Status: Pilot order

Still Life (Drama)
Studio: 20th Century Fox TV, Original TV
Production Team: Kip Koenig, Neal H. Moritz, M. Adelstein, Dawn Parouse
Premise: A family drama told from the point-of-view of their 20-year-old son, who recently died.
Stars: Jensen Ackles, David Keith, Susanna Thompson, Audrey Marie Anderson
Status: Pilot order

Titletown (Comedy)
Studio: 20th Century Fox TV, Brad Grey TV
Production Team: Linda Wallem, Brad Grey
Premise: Families in Green Bay, Wis., who live and die with the Packers.
Stars: Curtis Armstrong
Status: Pilot order

Untitled Fuller/Holland Project (Drama)
Studio: 20th Century Fox TV, Regency
Production Team: Bryan Fuller , Todd Holland
Premise: An "Amelie" -like young woman has visions that cause quirky ramifications for her family.
Stars: Caroline Dhavernas, Diana Scarwid , Kate Finneran
Status: Pilot order

Untitled Kohn/Sliverstein Project (aka "Splitsville" ) (Drama)
Studio: 20th Century Fox TV
Production Team: Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein
Premise: A couple who write an advice column breaks up but continues to work together.
Stars: Kristoffer Polaha , Kate Beahan, Christopher Gartin, Katharine Towne , Heather Stephens
Status: Pilot order

Untitled Luis Guzman Project (Comedy)
Studio: 20th Century Fox TV
Production Team: Will Gluck
Premise: A donut-shop owner is the unofficial mayor of his Spanish Harlem neighborhood.
Stars: Luis Guzman, Michael McMillian
Status: Pilot order

Untitled Ron White Project (Comedy)
Studio: 20th Century Fox TV, Regency
Production Team: Al Higgins
Premise: A man and his girlfriend run a Mexican pottery factory.
Stars: Ron White, Yvonne De La Rosa, Chelsea Rendon, Melinda McGraw, Brent Sexton, J.R. Villarreal
Status: Pilot order

Untitled Twins Project (Comedy)
Studio: Warner Bros. TV, Tollin/Robbins
Production Team: Michael Glouberman, Andrew Orenstein, Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola
Premise: Fraternal twins separated at birth reunite in their 20s and move in together.
Stars: Carrie Butler, Stephen Tobolowsky, Meagan Fay
Status: Pilot order

NBC

NBC is in trouble. They've been on autopilot so long, they let FOX sneak up on them. They've got one more year of guaranteed Thursday night success. When Cosby, and Cheers left the building- Seinfeld, Friends, and ER took their place. Thursday night is not gonna be enough, Law and Order isn't enough. NBC needs to get some new hits, before most of their old ones die off. FOX is betting they don't. But they've already gotten out of the King Arthur race- having dropped their teenaged Excalibur entry in the face of the Wes Craven /UPN project, the Speilberg-produced HBO mini series, and the upcoming Disney film.

Alligator Point (Comedy)
Studio: Paramount TV, Grammnet
Production Team: Robert Peacock, Kelsey Grammer, Steve Stark
Premise: The lives of a fisherman and the residents of an eccentric Florida town.
Stars: Nathan Fillion, Jamie Pressly, James McDaniel, Jim Rash, Park Overall
Status: Pilot order

Come to Papa (Comedy)
Studio: Warner Bros. TV, NBC Studios
Production Team: Greg Malins, Tom Papa
Premise: An aspiring writer is stuck in his small New Jersey hometown.
Stars: Tom Papa, Hal Linden, Shirley Jones
Status: Pilot order

Coupling (Comedy)
Studio: Reveille, NBC Studios
Production Team: Phoef Sutton, Steven Moffat, Ben Silverman, Beryl Vertue, Sue Vertue
Premise: Based on the British series, six thirtysomething friends wallow in past and present relationships.
Stars: Christopher Moynihan, Rena Sofer, Sonya Walger
Status: Pilot order

EDNY (Drama)
Studio: NBC Studios
Production Team: Anthony Drazan
Premise: Legal drama about New York district attorneys.
Stars: William Baldwin, David Cubitt ,Jacob Vargas
Status: Pilot order

Future Tense (Drama)
Studio: Warner Bros. TV, NBC, Silver Pictures
Production Team: Javier Grillo-Marxuach, Joel Silver
Premise: High tech law enforcement unit in the near future.
Stars: Christopher Titus, Naveen Andrews
Status: Pilot order

Happy Family (Comedy)
Studio: NBC Studios
Production Team: David Guarascio and Moses Port
Premise: A couple can't enjoy being empty-nesters if their children keep coming back to the roost.
Stars: Christine Baranski, John Larroquette, Hamish Linklater, Susan Gibney
Status: Pilot order

Homeland Security (Drama)
Studio: Paramount Network TV
Production Team: Christopher Crowe, Kerry McCluggage
Premise: Government agency fights terrorism.
Stars: Scott Glenn, Tom Skerritt, Marisol Nichols, Kal Penn
Status: Pilot order

HUB (Drama)
Studio: NBC Studios
Production Team: Mark Gordon, Nick Thiel
Premise: Lives intertwine at an international airport.
Stars: To Be Determined
Status: Pilot order

Lyon's Den (Drama)
Studio: 20th Century Fox TV, Brad Grey
Production Team: Remi Aubuchon, Brad Grey, Bernie Brillstein
Premise: Ensemble legal drama starring Rob Lowe.
Stars: Rob Lowe, Kyle Chandler, James Pickens Jr., David Krumholtz, Frances Fisher , Matt Craven, Rick Ravanello
Status: Pilot Order

Mr. Ambassador (Comedy)
Studio: Touchstone, NBC Studios
Production Team: Rupert Everett, Marc Platt, Vic Levin
Premise: Rupert Everett plays a British ambassador in Washington.
Stars: Rupert Everett, Derek Jacobi, Megan Ward
Status: Pilot order

Miss Match (Drama/Comedy)
Studio: 20th Century Fox TV, Imagine TV
Production Team: Darren Star, Jeff Rake, David Nevins, Brian Grazer
Premise: Alicia Silverstone plays a lawyer by day, matchmaker by night.
Stars: Alicia Silverstone, Ryan O'Neal, JoBeth Williams, Jodi Long, David Conrad, Lake Bell, James Roday
Status: Pilot Order

Once Around the Park (Comedy)
Studio: NBC Studios
Production Team: Jamie Widdoes and Flody Suarez
Premise: A divorced couple are still attracted to each other, but their children don't want them to get back together.
Stars: Heather Locklear, Hart Bochner
Status: Pilot order

The Ortegas (Comedy)
Studio: Hat Trick Prods., Pariah TV
Production Team: Gavin Polone, Wally Wolodarsky, Jimmy Mulville, Denise O'Donoghue
Premise: Sitcom/talk show hybrid about a man whose son hosts a talk show in his back yard. Based on the British series "The Kumars at No. 42."
Stars: Cheech Marin, Al Madrigal, Terri Hoyos, Renee Victor
Status: Pilot order

The Real Deal (Comedy)
Studio: NBC Studios
Production Team: Eileen Heisler, DeAnn Heline
Premise: Clinton-esque Pennsylvania governor and staff.
Stars: To Be Determined
Status: Pilot order

The Ripples (Comedy)
Studio: NBC Studios, DreamWorks TV
Production Team: Peter Mehlman, Jon Hayman
Premise: A couple that has been married for 4,000 years.
Stars: Diane Farr, Adam Arkin
Status: Pilot order

Spellbound (Comedy)
Studio: Warner Bros. TV
Production Team: Rob Greenberg, Suzanne Martin
Premise: A warlock falls in love with a mortal woman.
Stars: Richard Rucculo, Fred Willard
Status: Pilot order

Stuck in the Middle with You (Comedy)
Studio: NBC Studios
Production Team: Tim Doyle
Premise: Middle class family struggles to stay middle class.
Stars: Annie Potts, Timothy Busfield
Status: Pilot order

Sunset Division (Drama)
Studio: NBC Studios
Production Team: Tim Kring
Premise: Jerry O'Connell in a spinoff of "Crossing Jordan" set in Los Angeles
Stars: Jerry O'Connell
Status: Pilot will air as an episode of "Crossing Jordan"

Touch 'Em All McCall (Comedy)
Studio: NBC Studios
Production Team: Jay Tarses, Norman Steinberg, Michael Brandman
Premise: A retired baseball player returns to his hometown and winds up coaching a farm team.
Stars: Tom Selleck
Status: Pilot order

Untitled Howie Mandel Project (Comedy)
Studio: Pariah TV
Production Team: Howie Mandel, Mark Driscoll, Gavin Polone, Michael Rotenberg
Premise: Mandel, a comedian who does hidden camera bits on "The Tonight Show," plays a comedian who does hidden camera bits on a talk show.
Stars: Howie Mandel, Eddie Jemison, Julianne Phillips
Status: Pilot order

Untitled Las Vegas Project (aka "Casino Eye" ) (Drama)
Studio: NBC Studios, DreamWorks TV
Production Team: Broderick Thompson, Scott Steindorff, Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank
Premise: Surveillance experts at a Vegas casino.
Stars: James Caan, Nikki Cox, Josh Duhamel, Vanessa Marcil , Cheryl Ladd, Molly Simms, James Lesure, Marsha Thomason
Status: Pilot order

Untitled Phil Hendrie Project (Comedy)
Studio: NBC Studios
Production Team: Peter Tolan, Phil Hendrie
Premise: Radio host Phil Hendrie plays a security guard at a gated community.
Stars: Phil Hendrie, Laurie Metcalf, Christian de la Fuente, Rebecca Creskoff
Status: Pilot order

Untitled Tracy Morgan Project (Comedy)
Studio: Carsey-Werner-Mandabach, NBC Studios
Production Team: Jim O'Doherty and David M. Israel, David Miner, Lorne Michaels, Marcy Carsey, Caryn Mandabach, Tom Werner, Dave Becky
Premise: Blue collar business owner and father dreams of life in New York City.
Stars: Tracy Morgan, Tamala Jones
Status: Pilot order

Untitled Whoopi Goldberg Project (Comedy)
Studio: Carsey-Werner-Mandabach, NBC Studios
Production Team: Whoopi Goldberg, Marcy Carsey, Caryn Mandabach, Tom Werner
Premise: An ex-diva mixes a little charm with a lot of larceny in New York City.
Stars: Whoopi Goldberg
Status: Pilot order

CBS

Honestly, CBS doesn't have to put any of these damn shows on- though if any of these are a lock, it's most likely the JAG spinoff. Because they can. It's a safe bet that CBS isn't going anywhere- because even if FOX gets to number two, they don't have the stations or coverage to beat them.

All Grown Up (Comedy)
Studio: Warner Bros. TV, LivePlanet, Bull's Eye
Production Team: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Casey Affleck, Sean Bailey, T. Nunan, J. Lacopo
Premise: A group of friends comes to terms with the fact that two of them are now parents.
Stars: Michael McDonald, Alexander Chaplin
Status: Pilot order

The Brotherhood of Poland, N.H. (Drama)
Studio: 20th Century Fox TV, David E. Kelley Productions
Production Team: David E. Kelley, Michael Pressman
Premise: Three brothers and their families in a small New England town.
Stars: John Carroll Lynch, Randy Quaid, Brian Haley, Mare Winningham, Elizabeth McGovern, Ann Cusack, Angela Goethals , Megan Henning
Status: Series commitment

Century City (Drama)
Studio: Universal TV
Production Team: Ed Zuckerman, Paul Attanasio, Katie Jacobs
Premise: A legal drama set 50 years in the future.
Stars: Eric Schaeffer, Viola Davis, Ioan Gruffudd, Kristin Lehman, Hector Elizondo, Nestor Carbonell
Status: Pilot order

Crazy Love (Comedy)
Studio: Touchstone TV, CBS Productions
Production Team: Bob Stevens, Jamie Tarses
Premise: A childless baby boomer couple adopts a girl from China.
Stars: Peter MacNicol, Jonathan Silverman
Status: Pilot order

Criminology 101 (aka "Not a Clue" )(Drama)
Studio: 20th Century Fox TV, Spyglass Entertainment
Production Team: Nell Scovell, R. Birnbaum, G. Barber, M. Wolpert
Premise: Two women studying criminology solve cases as an extension of their class work.
Stars: Busy Philipps, Marisa Coughlan, Gary Cole, Jay R. Ferguson, Rick Ravanello
Status: Presentation only; cast-contingent

Expert Witness (Drama)
Studio: 20th Century Fox TV, Firm TV
Production Team: Hart Hanson, Keith Ablow
Premise: Ensemble drama about forensic psychologists.
Stars: Matthew Modine, Sasha Alexander, Enrico Colantoni, Anna Deavere Smith
Status: Pilot order

Family Show (Comedy)
Studio: Sony Pictures TV
Production Team: Matthew Carlson
Premise: Parents are thrown for a loop when their teenage kids become parents.
Stars: To Be Decided
Status: Pilot order

Harry's Girl (Comedy)
Studio: Warner Bros. TV, CBS Productions
Production Team: Rob Greenberg
Premise: A single woman's life, as narrated by her dog.
Stars: Christine Taylor, Willie Garson, Diane Farr
Status: Pilot order

Joan of Arcadia (Drama)
Studio: 20th Century Fox TV
Production Team: Barbara Hall
Premise: A latter-day Joan of Arc sees God in a different form each week.
Stars: Amber Tamblyn, Joe Mantegna, Mary Steenburgen
Status: Presentation only

The Lunchbox Chronicles (Comedy)
Studio: Universal TV, CBS Productions
Production Team: Bill Diamond
Premise: A recently widowed woman adapts to life as a single mom.
Stars: Monica Potter, Andy Richter, Susan Sulliva, Bret Loehr, Lyndon Smith
Status: Pilot order

Rubbing Charlie (Comedy)
Studio: Big Ticket Television
Production Team: Tom Palmer
Premise: A doctor has no problems helping others but can't fix his own life.
Stars: Scott Wolf
Status: Pilot order

The Stones (Comedy)
Studio: Warner Bros. TV, KoMut Entertainment
Production Team: Jenji Kohan, Max Kohan and David Muthcnick
Premise: Grown siblings are shocked when their parents tell them they're getting divorced.
Stars: Jay Baruchel, Lindsay Sloane, Robert Klein, Judith Light
Status: Pilot order

Street Boss (Drama)
Studio: Viacom Productions
Production Team: Chris Haddock
Premise: Cop show centered on the man who trains undercover officers.
Stars: Joe Pantoliano, Hill Harper
Status: Cast-contingent pilot order

Two and a Half Men (Comedy)
Studio: Warner Bros. TV
Production Team: Chuck Lorre, Lee Aronsohn, Eric Tannenbaum, Kim Tannenbaum, Eric Lapiduss
Premise: A bachelor has to change his ways when his brother and 10-year-old nephew move in with him.
Stars: Charlie Sheen, Jon Cryer
Status: Cast-contingent pilot order

Violent Crime (Drama)
Studio: Universal TV
Production Team: Samantha Corbin
Premise: Two female detectives working the violent crimes unit in Boston.
Stars: Jennifer Esposito, Robert Pastorelli, Matthew Rhys , Audra McDonald , Paul Adelstein
Status: Pilot order

Untitled Bruckheimer/Stiehm Project (formerly "Cold Cases" ) (Drama)
Studio: Warner Bros. TV, Jerry Bruckheimer TV, CBS Productions
Production Team: Jerry Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman, Meredith Stiehm
Premise: Follows a female detective who works on cases whose leads have seemingly been exhausted.
Stars: Kathryn Morris, Justin Chambers, Mel Winkler
Status: Pilot order

Untitled Danny Glover Project (aka "The Law & Henry Lee" ) (Drama)
Studio: Universal TV, CBS Productions
Production Team: John Wirth, Walter Mosley, Ken Sullivan
Premise: The cases of a private eye in Oakland, Calif.
Stars: Danny Glover, D.B. Woodside, Bill Smitrovich, Tequan Richmond
Status: Pilot order

Untitled JAG Spinoff (Drama)
Studio: Paramount Network TV
Production Team: Donald Bellisario, Don McGill
Premise: A spin-off from the popular drama focusing on officers in the Navy's Criminal Investigative Services division.
Stars: Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, David McCallum
Status: Pilot order

Untitled Nicole Sullivan Project (Comedy)
Studio: Touchstone TV
Production Team: Susan Dickes
Premise: A newly married woman also has to deal with her husband's three brothers.
Stars: Nicole Sullivan, Kate Walsh
Status: Pilot order

Untitled Staley/Long Project (Comedy)
Studio: Paramount Network TV
Production Team: Dan Staley and Rob Long
Premise: A widowed mother of two boys raises her kids and works at a bar with her mother.
Stars: To Be Decided
Status: Pilot order

Untitled Tony Kornheiser Project (Comedy)
Studio: Regency TV
Production Team: Jeff Martin, Lindy De Koven
Premise: Based on the life of Washington Post sports columnist/ESPN host/father Kornheiser.
Stars: Evan Peters
Status: Pilot order

Next: Which shows are coming back, and upfront fun.

Tibby's Bowl Entertainment Magazine copyright 2005 by Kenneth Plume. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in part or in whole without permission is prohibited. All articles, stories, and columns contained within are copyright their respective authors.