TV Pilots
Ellie Kemper to Topline ABC Comedy Based on BBC’s ‘Motherland’
ABC has formally ordered a comedy pilot based on the BAFTA-winning BBC series Motherland. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt star Ellie Kemper will topline the pilot, titled Drop-Off, from Lionsgate Television — which owns worldwide rights to Motherland — and ABC Signature. The original’s creators, Sharon Horgan, Holly Walsh and Helen Serafinowicz, are among the executive producers, […]
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Anthony Anderson Back at ABC in ‘Public Defenders’ Comedy
Anthony Anderson is headed back to ABC. The former Black-ish star will topline and be an executive producer of the network’s comedy pilot Public Defenders, from 20th Television and Wonderland Sound and Vision. His casting comes less than a year after Black-ish concluded its eight-season run, which netted Anderson six Emmy nominations for lead actor […]
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Amber Ruffin to Topline NBC Comedy
Amber Ruffin is plotting a move to primetime. The host of Peacock’s Amber Ruffin Show and writer and performer on Late Night With Seth Meyers will star in, write and executive produce a comedy pilot called Non-Evil Twin at NBC. Former Black-ish and Kenan showrunner Kenny Smith is writing and exec producing with Ruffin, and […]
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Damon Wayans, Damon Wayans Jr. to Star in CBS Comedy
CBS has handed out a pilot order for its first comedy project for the 2023-24 broadcast season. The network has picked up an untitled multicamera comedy set to star Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr. The project will be co-written by former Last Man Standing showrunner Kevin Hency as well as the senior of the […]
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Hospital Comedy From ‘American Auto’ Duo in the Works at NBC
NBC is looking for its own Abbott Elementary. The network has ordered a comedy pilot titled St. Denis Medical whose description is like a version of ABC’s breakout, albeit set in a different workplace. The project, NBC’s first comedy pilot order of the season, comes from American Auto and Superstore creator Justin Spitzer and Eric […]
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‘Good Fight’ Spinoff ‘Elsbeth,’ ‘Matlock’ Reboot With Kathy Bates Nab CBS Pilot Orders
CBS is adding two famed attorneys to its roster. Matlock, one of television’s most iconic crime dramas, is getting a new life at CBS. The Paramount Global-backed broadcast network has handed out a pilot order for a new take on the former defense attorney formerly played by Andy Griffith. Kathy Bates will take on the […]
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Andy Serkis, Greg Berlanti Team for Oliver Sacks Drama at NBC
How’s this for an unlikely pairing: Andy Serkis and Greg Berlanti are teaming to bring the life and work of famed neurologist Oliver Sacks to NBC. The broadcast network has handed out a pilot order for Wolf, a drama that is inspired by Sacks’ life and books The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a […]
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Retta-Led Murder Mystery Scores NBC Pilot Order
The creator and one of the stars of Good Girls are reuniting at NBC. The network has given a formal pilot order to Murder by the Book, a mystery drama starring Retta. The project comes from Good Girls creator Jenna Bans and executive producer Bill Krebs. The potential series has been in the works for […]
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Legal Comedy ‘Public Defenders’ Lands ABC Pilot Order
ABC is headed to court with its latest piece of development. The network has ordered a pilot for Public Defenders, a single-camera comedy from writer Eddie Quintana (Apple TV+’s Acapulco), 20th Television and McG’s Wonderland Sound and Vision. The project will focus on four inexperienced lawyers in a public defender’s office, “up to their earholes […]
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‘Peep Show’ Update From ‘Atlanta’ Grad With ‘Succession’ Creator Attached a Go at FX
FX is trying its hand at a Peep Show update again. The Disney-backed basic-cable network has handed out a pilot order to an update of the cult favorite U.K. series from Succession creator Jesse Armstrong. Atlanta grad Stefani Robinson will pen the script and exec produce the half-hour comedy that will be produced in-house via […]
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‘The Border’ Drama Based on Don Winslow Novels Moves Forward at FX
FX is heading to The Border. The Disney-owned cable outlet has ordered a drama pilot based on a trio of novels by best-selling author Don Winslow. The Border — named after the third book in Winslow’s cartel trilogy — will delve into the drug war at the U.S.-Mexico border via the lives of several people on […]
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ABC Puts Supreme Court Drama on Its Docket
ABC is headed to the highest court in the land with its latest piece of development. The network has ordered a pilot for a drama titled Judgement, from sibling studio 20th Television and writer Joey Falco (The CW’s Charmed). The self-described legal soap will center on a potential Supreme Court justice in the near future […]
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