Pilots Ordered for 2002 - 2003

[Sitcomwriter]

Here's the rundown, courtesy of Toon Zone:

The WB

"Lost in Oz" (Drama): Melissa George ("Thieves") is a 22-year-old from
Kansas who is in the midst choosing between getting married and going to
graduate school, when a tornado carries her off to Oz. Once there, the
show's heroine gets political and leads a revolt against Emerald City
and the great Oz himself.

"Birds of Prey" (Drama): A possible companion piece for "Smallville,"
"Birds" is based on the DC Comics series about female crime fighters in
Batman's hometown, Gotham City. Devoid of superpowers, Black Canary and
Oracle (aka Barbara Gordan, aka Batgirl) work together to fight crime.
As an added twist, Oracle is crippled due to an ill-fated encounter with
the Joker resulting in a bullet to the spine.

"Prep" (Comedy): Not to be confused with FOX's never-aired "Manchester
Prep" (which was based on the hit movie "Cruel Intentions" ), this
comedy focuses on the day-to-day lives of the students at a co-ed
boarding school.

"Untitled Crazy Grandmother Project" (Comedy): Who's the parent here? A
free-spirited grandmother moves in with her uptight daughter and two
grandkids.

The Black Sash" (Drama): A former cop turns martial arts hero.

"Brats" (Drama): A drama about a military family.

"The Lone Ranger" (Drama): Also following on the heels of "Smallville's"
success, the tale of the masked man and his faithful sidekick gets a
reworking. Chad Michael Murray ("Dawson's Creek," "Gilmore Girls") and
Nathaniel Arcand are slated to star.

"Aces" (Drama) - Daniel Baldwin ("Homicide: Life on the Street") stars
as a professional card player whose son attends an elite private school.

"Do Over" (Comedy) - If you knew then what you know now, what would you
do differently? A grown man gets a chance to return to the 1980s in
order to relive his high school years.

"Brave New World" (Comedy): Two home-schooled kids enter into the
daunting-at-the-best-of-times world of public education.

"Everwood" (Drama): A widowed brain surgeon (Treat Williams) moves his
two sons to a picturesque Colorado town and opens a family practice.

"Horrid Little Girls" (Comedy): "Popular" mommy Delta Burke stars as the
headmistress of a girls prep school.

"Houseblend" (Comedy): Two opposite sex friends, David and Sally, decide
to set up house together after discovering they each need what the other
has to offer.

"In My Opinion" (Comedy): A young, hip, advice columnist, who, knowing
how these things go, could use some help sorting out her own life.

"This Time" (Comedy): Diversity. Diversity. Diversity. On the heels of
African-American comedies "My Wife and Kids" (ABC) and "The Bernie Mac
Show" (FOX), the WB gives it a go with a Latino family (much like ABC's
recently announced "The George Lopez Show" -- slated to premiere this
midseason).

"Bynes:UNPLUGGED The multi-million dollar saga" (Comedy): The 15-year-old Nickelodeon
star (whose contract expires this season), and Frankie Muniz's "Big Fat
Liar" partner-in-crime, gets her own WB show.

"Untitled Jeff Davis Project" (Comedy): Steve Martin's "The Downer
Channel" didn't make much of a splash last summer, but one of its stars,
Jeff B. Davis (no relation to Ann) gets his own improv gig.

"Old Maids" (Comedy):A comedy about a group of old ladies who have never been married
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FOX

"Firefly" (Sci-fi): From "Buffy" creator Joss Whedon. The crew of a
space-ship wanders the outer reaches of the galaxy. A "western" in
space.

"Eastwick": Follows the 15-year old versions of the babies from the
black comedy classic film "The Witches of Eastwick".

"Fast Lane": Described as a "multiethnic Starsky and Hutch for the 21st
century".

"Save the Last Dance": A TV series spin-off of the Julia Stiles drama.

"The Time Tunnel" (Sci fi): Based on Irwin Allen's 1960s TV series of
the same name, "Time Tunnel" follows a group that who travel back and
forth in time.

Untitled Secret Service Project (Drama): Centering on the Secret Service
agents.

"John Doe": An amnesiac who mysteriously washes ashore and realizes he
knows "everything knowable in the world except the truth about who he
is. Mimi Leder is attached to direct the pilot.

"The Grubbs": Based on the British TV series "The Grimleys," "Grubbs"
focuses on a blue-collar family with a long history of failure whose
teenage son falls in love with his beautiful new teacher.

"Keen Eddie": Revolves around an American police officer who goes to
London to delve into a mystery that ruined his career in the States.


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CBS

"Jo" (Drama): Andie MacDowell plays a veterinarian who runs a veterinary
hospital in Ascheville, N.C.

Untitled CSI spin-off. Emily Procter will play a member of the forensic
team who is quick to issue her opinion, but lacks the education and
experience to back it up.

"Sharon McCone" (Mystery): Based on the popular "Sharon McCone" mystery
novels by Marcia Mueller.

"The Lunchbox Chronicles" (Comedy): About a widowed mother of two young
children.

Untitled Comedy: Based on Nia Vardalos' one-woman show "My Big Fat Greek
Wedding".

"Hose me down" (Comedy):Comedy starring stand-up comic Bernie Wilkes as a car wash worker.
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ABC

Untitled Spy Kids style series from producer John Ridley.

Untitled father-son archaeological team show.

Untitled take on the "Nancy Drew" books.

"Astronauts": About rivals competing for a spot on the Mars mission.

"That Was Then": A sort of male version of "Peggy Sue Got Married"

"Paranormal Girl" (Sci-fi?): A teen with psychic abilities recruited by
the FBI.

Untitled primetime soap about a large family.

"8 Simple Rules": An overprotective dad and his teenage daughters, with
Flody Suarez ("The Tick" ).

Untitled comedy about an interracial couple

"The Oath": Doctors bucking the HMO system at a hospital.

"EIS": Investigators from the Centers for Disease Control.

"Homeward Bound": Centering on a woman who moves home to restart her
life

"Dexter Prep" (Comedy)

"The Funkhausers" (Comedy)

"Push, Nevada" (Mystery): An interactive mystery being written by
Affleck and producing partner Sean Bailey. Each episode will contain
clues that lead viewers to a cash prize hidden somewhere in the country.

Untitled Helen Hunt Project: A family comedy. She and Don Lake will also
write and executive produce the pilot.

Untitled comedy from writer Terri Minsky about an office temp who gets a
sweet placement and is surrounded by competitive co-workers.

"George Lopez" (Comedy)

"Dr.West" (Comedy):Comedy about a doctor with many problems

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NBC

"Kingpen": Spelling-produced "Kingpin" about a drug lord and his family.
A Mexico-set drama about a drug operation from David Mills.

Untitled take on the early years of King Arthur.

War Stories": Jeff Goldblum as a war correspondent.

"St. Georges": A big city family going to work on an African game
preserve.

"Miss Miami": Latina cop drama.

"Boomtown": Ensemble cop drama starring Donnie Wahlberg -- a bright,
shyly charming and soulful detective, who seemingly has it all -- a
perfect job and a perfect family -- but is falling apart on the inside

"Camelot" (Dramety): A former pro golfer who now runs a local course and
befriends a young boy.

Untitled Dennis Farina Project: A trucking business owner whose
overprotective attitude toward his only daughter causes strife within
the family.

"A.U.S.A." (Comedy): A single-camera comedy about the (mis)adventures of
young prosecutors.

"Leave Me Alone" (Comedy): A buddy comedy starring "Saturday Night Live"
alumni Lovitz and MacDonald and executive produced by Sandler.

"Hidden Hills" (Comedy): A family comedy from writers Peter Segal and
Ric Swartzlander that looks beyond the well-manicured lawns of American
suburbia.

An untitled comedy about a man who leaves a high-stress job and becomes
a teacher, from former "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" writer Jonathan
Groff.

An untitled comedy about Greg Giraldo as a comedian who hires a
caretaker to watch his young daughter while he works the stand-up
circuit.

"Mr. Sterling": About an idealistic U.S. senator. Starring Josh Brolin.

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MTV

"Spider-Man" (Animated): Spin-off of the live-action "Spider-Man" movie
opening this Summer

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UPN

"The Twilight Zone" (Anthology, Horror): Third incarnation of this
classic series. Pen Densham ("Moll Flanders" ) will write and executive
produce the new project. Densham has worked on updates of several
classic movies and series, including the current version of "The Outer
Limits" and TV remakes of "The Magnificent Seven"

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NETWORK UNKNOWN

Warner Bros. Television.
"Two Families" (Comedy): Laurie Metcalf, who
most recently starred in the comedy "Norm," will play the lead
character, a widow who is mourning the death of her husband.

DreamWorks TV and Touchstone Television
Untitled Washington-based pilot: Tom Berenger will play a powerful,
arch-conservative Senate majority leader in the Washington-based pilot,
while Kyle Chandler will play the legislative director for Rep. Benny
Fletcher (David Paymer), who develops a romantic interest in Fletcher's
assistant, the show's leading character, Paige Armstrong (Leslie Bibb).

[Sean Snow]

Cool...don't they usually announce what shows they're picking up in May? The primetime soap on ABC sounds good.......I like a lot of the ABC ones.

[Sitcomwriter]

Originally posted by Sean Feeney Snow
Cool...don't they usually announce what shows they're picking up in May? The primetime soap on ABC sounds good.......I like a lot of the ABC ones.

Yeah

[JT]

The ones I like are:
The WB

"Brave New World":It's just something I like about school related sitcoms!

"Untitled Crazy Grandmother Project":Sounds like the grandma will probably be like Sophia Petrillo.I'll watch it.It'll prolly air on Fridays!

"Brave New World":It's just something I like about school related sitcoms!

"Horrid Little Girls":Can we say FOL?!

"This Time":I'll give it a try.I already watch Taina so....

"Bynes:UNPLUGGED The multi-million dollar saga":Is also on my list.


FOX

"The Grubbs":If its a comedy I'll watch it!

CBS

"The Lunchbox Chronicles":It seems like a good show.

ABC

Untitled take on the "Nancy Drew" books:I love Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew when they were own TVLand for Christmas so......

"That Was Then":I love "Peggy Sue Got Married"!!!!!

Untitled primetime soap about a large family.I love ABC soaps so I'll love this!!!!Sounds like another kind of 8's Enough.

"8 Simple Rules":I know this plot is being overused but I'll give it a try.

"Dexter Prep":About?

"The Funkhausers":About?

Untitled Helen Hunt Project:I like Helen Hunt so maybe.......

NBC

"Leave Me Alone":Can we say Odd Couple?!

"Hidden Hills":Seems like a new Wonder Years without the nostalgia.

UPN

"The Twilight Zone":I watch Twilight Zone on Sci-Fi sometimes so I'll give this one a spin.

NETWORK UNKNOWN

Warner Bros. Television.
"Two Families":I liked Metcalf in Roseanne so I'll watch......The title reminds of the Cindy Williams/Telma Hopkins sitcom Getting By which airs on Goodlife.

So I'll check all the big networks this fall!!!!
Including NBC!!!!!!!

[Sitcomwriter]

Originally posted by JT


"Horrid Little Girls":Can we say FOL?!

That's what I thought too

[TJL]

Originally posted by Sean Feeney Snow
Cool...don't they usually announce what shows they're picking up in May?

These are the shows the networks are ordering. In May they'll announce the ones they will KEEP.

Jean Smart is also developing a pilot with the creative gurus of "Frasier." Keley Grammer's company will produce it along with Paramout.

MTV is doing "Spiderman?"
My Spider-sense is tingling...big mistake.

[Sitcomwriter]

The first thing I noticed in the script is that the series takes place in "New Gotham City," and it's clearly marked "the future." In some ways this may be to separate the series from the Batman movie franchise and not cause any inconsistency; but it also immediately will put viewers in a very different place. The closest connections I can think of are that this "New Gotham" is a cross between what we get in "The Dark Knight Returns" and what is seen in the "Batman Beyond" animated series. In other words, this is not your father's Gotham.

...Despite the slight change in Dinah's background, unlike the last foray into the Batman universe, "Batman and Robin," this stays very true to the comics continuity. Long-time fans will know that yes, in the pre-Crisis comic books the Huntress *was indeed* the daughter of Batman and Catwoman. And, like the AICN review pointed out how cool is it that we're going to see a variation of a scene from "The Killing Joke" onscreen, as Barbara Gordon is paralyzed?

Laeta Kalogridis, the pilot's writer, has a definite knack and respect for the characters and I think it will turn out to be a great pilot for a great series. Not many pilot episode scripts give off that "this will be a success" vibe, but this one certainly does. If the WB passes on this one they will really be missing out."

[winkwilliams]

Wow, I can't believe Helen Hunt is doing a pilot. She told me she had no interest in doing another series when I proposed a buddy comedy starring me and her. It would have been classy, with her being an Oscar winner and all. She was also on "Inside the Actor's Studio" not to long ago and groaned at the idea of another series. Possibly she realizes that features don't have many parts for women over 40.

http://winkwilliams.blogspot.com/

[Freakzilla]

The pilot I'm most excited about is "Dexter Prep". That's because Paul Simms, the creator of the totally underrated but great sitcom NewsRadio, is the creator of this show as well. I hope he can do for prep schools what he did for A.M. news stations. Only with more success ratings-wise.

I also hope his old show can find a new cable home soon after April. NewsRadio, along with Night Court and L.A. Law, is being replaced by more reruns of Murder, She Wrote and second airings of "The View" on A&E as of April 1st.

[Chocoholic]

Originally posted by Freakzilla

I also hope his old show can find a new cable home soon after April. NewsRadio, along with Night Court and L.A. Law, is being replaced by more reruns of Murder, She Wrote and second airings of "The View" on A&E as of April 1st.

Ugh! I'm so bummed now. First, USA dumps Wings and now A&E is dumping NewsRadio. I'm tired of seeing my favorite shows treated like garbage. I hope another station picks them up soon, or better yet, they're released on VHS and DVD. I'll take reruns of NewsRadio and Wings over reruns of Friends and Seinfeld any day.

[JT]

More Murder She Wrote?Yeah!!!!
But I'm gonna miss mah Night Court.

[Sitcomwriter]

Now what ones will each channel pick up?

[Sitcomwriter]

BUMP!