Know your fall TV pilots! Cop, doctor, lawyer, remake or a new idea?

"We want a 'Mentalist'!" network executives cry. 

This pilot season, broadcasters are ordering more of what's been working: close-ended procedural stories.

Cops, doctors and lawyers are in.

Serialized and complex story lines or quirky subjects are out.

About two thirds of the current crop of major network TV pilots are considered workplace procedurals. There's also several pre-branded projects such as new versions of "V" and "Witches of Eastwick" -- familiar-sounding remakes that attract networks even though they're not perfectly formulaic. Also, expect a few apocalyptic stories thrown in for good measure.

Below is a rundown of the broadcast drama pilots complete with handy icons indicating if the show is about a cop, doctor, lawyer, a remake, the apocalypse or something (gasp) unique. Plus, what exactly makes each show supposedly different than what we've seen countless times before.

Each network has its own page. Be sure to click through all of them or NBC wins. 

NBC

Percentage-wise, NBC has the most procedure-tastic of pilot slates. This network is clearly determined to have a doctor or cop on the air next fall (just not at 10 p.m.).

Mercy
From the people who brought you "Friday Night Lights" (Liz Heldens)
Logline: A look at three nurses and their personal and professional lives
How it’s different: They’re not doctors, they’re nurses

Trauma
From the people who brought you “Faceless,” “Hancock” (Dario Scardapane, Peter Berg)
Logline: Ensemble series where EMTs help people
How it’s different: They’re not doctors, they’re paramedics, and they move around a lot

Legally Mad
From the people who brought you “Boston Legal” (David E. Kelley)
Logline: Father and daughter lawyers work at firm with eccentric characters
How it’s different: They’re not just lawyers, they’re family members. Will there be unresolved tension from their past that spills into their professional lives?

Lost & Found
From the people who brought you “Law & Order” (Dick Wolf)
Logline: Female cop upsets superiors and is sent to her department's basement as punishment, finds items from the lost & found and uses them to solve cold cases
How it’s different: Puts Katee Sackhoff in a basement

Day One
From the people who brought you “Heroes” (Jesse Alexander)
Logline: In the aftermath of a "global event" that devastates the world's infrastructures, a small band of survivors strive to rebuild society and unravel the mysteries of why the event took place
How it’s different: Can "Jericho" protesters just pretend this is "Jericho" and stop buying ads lobbying CBS to bring back the show?

Parenthood
From the people who brought you "Friday Night Lights" and “Parenthood” (Jason Katims, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer)
Logline: A dramedy a based on Howard's 1989 feature that centered on a Midwestern family
How it’s different: Family dramedy, with a name you’ve heard before

 

Southland
From the people who brought you “ER” (John Wells)
Logline: A group of police officers in Los Angeles solve crimes; fast-tracked to series
How it’s different: Um...

                <<<< NEXT: FOX >>>>

JUMP TO:

ABC DRAMA PILOTS: 'V,' 'Eastwick,' 'Flash Forward,' 'Happy Town' ...

CBS DRAMA PILOTS: 'NCIS' spinoff, 'House Rules,' 'Washington Field'...

FOX DRAMA PILOTS: 'Virtuality,' 'Masterwork,' 'Human Target' ...

Comments

[Adam]

Great post! I love the doctor/lawyer/police officer/apocalypse/copy machine classification system. Very clever! I'm not surprised NBC is sticking to the basics, considering the abysmal year they've been having. And yet, even these picks sound pretty lackluster. I wouldn't bet on any of their shows except "Trauma" (something's gotta replace "ER") and maybe "Southland." But the rest... well let's quickly break it down:

"Mercy" - Nurses? Really? No offense to the profession, but I'd rather not watch a bunch of people taking blood pressures and putting in IVs. Snoooooooze.

"Legally Mad" - Father and daughter lawyers, eh? I guess no sexual tension then. How UNfun. Snoooooooze.

"Lost & Found" - A lady in a basement solves crimes out of the lost and found... Sounds awfully one-note to me. One boring note at that. Major snoooooooze.

"Day One" - Oh good. Since "Jericho" didn't work for CBS, let's try the exact same thing here at NBC. But no! We can pair it with our monster sci-fi hit "Heroes"! Oh wait...

"Parenthood" - Other than "M*A*S*H" and maybe "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," what movie-based TV shows have ever really succeeded?? "Friday Night Lights!" Oh wait... Oh! "My Big Fat Greek Life!" Oh, no not that one either... How about "Terminator?" Oh wait, no...

NBC isn't getting out of the toilet any time soon.

[N2N2]

Day One
From the people who brought you “Heroes” (Jesse Alexander)
Logline: In the aftermath of a "global event" that devastates the world's infrastructures, a small band of survivors strive to rebuild society and unravel the mysteries of why the event took place
How it’s different: Can "Jericho" protesters just pretend this is "Jericho" and stop buying ads lobbying CBS to bring back the show?

NO!

[outlaw2448]

Day one is like a slap in the face to Jericho fans.

It's like you have a great toy, lose it, and then a friend has the same exact toy and is like wish you had one so we could play together.

DAY ONE and giving in NO!!!!

["real" jericho fan]

I don't think so, NBC! Why oh why would any Jericho fan want an imitation when the real thing was so well done? Well, tell us why?

[K6]

Jericho is Jericho!

NBC is going waste millions on a pilot that is destine to hit the trash can. Not going to pull in the Jericho fans with a knock off.

What a waste but it is NBCs money throw away.

Do it right the first time and just buy Jericho.

[Lizzo]

I'd like to review this review ****

Way to concisely give a huge wrapup. golf clap to YOU.

That just saved me a lot of otherwise wasted time watching pilots.

[Dbalcer]

I am not interesting in a knock off of Jericho I want the real show revived. Sorry NBC I won't be checking it out. I wish networks would realize that what makes a show worth watching is not necessarily the genre but writing and casting. I love medical shows and crime shows but don't want to watch only them I am so ready for a quality show that is different that is what Jericho was. I hope that someone picks it up but also that creative juices are allowed to flow again in Hollywood.

[Azlady]

No, Jericho fans won't be happy with a cheap immitation of their masterpiece show, and copycats never succeed. Wouldn't it be more sensible and less costly to simply bring back the original product? Sorry NBC, you're wasting your time and money.

[Rob]

Geee.. and the exec's wonder why we don't want to watch network T.V anymore.

I like house, but I don't want to watch a dozen doctor shows.. I liked Hill Street Blues, bud don't want to see a dozen COP shows..

COME on. take a risk.. come up with something orginal or semi orginal.....

[scotch476]

Trust me alot of these pilots will hit the trash can.

[Scott1]

Talk about a lack in creativity. Almost all of these pilots show none. No wonder all of the networks are losing their audiences. They seem to be afraid of trying something new. They forget that new innovative shows are usually the ones that garner viewers which equals to increased ratings.

[beebull]

Can "Jericho" protesters just pretend this is "Jericho" and stop buying ads lobbying CBS to bring back the show? Jericho fans are not protesters they are ''rangers'' and if you would have watched the series you wouldn't have asked that question, the simple fact is Jericho ''rangers'' 6 million plus strong are not going to settle for anything less than the original not some wanna be Jericho copy cat.

[Tony]

Lets start the predictions of what gets picked up...

ABC-V,Limelight, JB drama, I claudia
CBS-NCIS Spinoff, Washington Field
NBC-Parenthood,Day One, Lost and Found ..Southland already picked up
FOX-Maggie Hill, Human Target

[bestdmnshow]

No, absolutely unequivicably NO!! Jericho fans will NOT accept a copy cat. VERY, VERY disappointed in NBC for even trying such a move...

[xericwit]

@Scott1: They go with the formula because (unfortunately) it does pull in the ratings. Which is why, in the end, House will destroy poor Chuck and why Pushing Daisies was replaced with re-runs of Scrubs!

[xericwit]

Also, awesome job on this post! Very informative and funny.

[Scott1]

That's the problem. They go with the "formula". And unfortunately the ratings overall are going down. There seems to be a distinct lack of creativity with very few networks willing to take a chance on good will written and produced shows.

[Rangerette]

I am seriously disappointed in NBC for coming up with Day One. If they had any brains they would have spent the money on buying Jericho instead of throwing it down the drain trying to make a wannabe show. Jericho could have been a perfect fit on one of their cable networks but no instead they will try and make a substitute that will end up in the nearest trash bin.

No Jericho Rangers will not settle for less than Jericho back on the airwaves for season 3, 4, 5......

[Digger5]

In the UK, we get very little quality shows from the US shown on terestrial TV period.

There are two of the current batch that are entertaining stories (Heroes and Jericho). From the list above, Day One is IMHO a repeat of Jericho and/or Survivors. Will it have the same budget as Jericho? Will it deliver as much as Jericho Season two which came in on time and to budget? What about the story, will it be well researched and written? What about the cast, will it have the excellence and camaderie of Jericho? What about production, will it be anything as excellent as Jericho?

From another British show, Little Britain - Computer says "NO!", come again? Computer says "NO!"

Diggers

Snowbound England

[justamom]

Sorry NBC, unless you can pick up Jericho,I will not be checking in on a pale imitation of the real thing. Jericho was not just a good story, it had a great cast that had excellent chemistry. We re-watch Jericho to watch our favorite characters develop. We would appreciate and follow any station that is willing to pick Jericho up for a Season 3. Think about it, air Jericho and you have a built in fan base for your station.

[kedzucat]

If Jericho were such a failure then why would NBC try to make a copycat. They could have had the real deal with fans included but opted not to, so we say NO to Day One.

[KrzyKitty]

Not one pilot interests me. Just give me Jericho back.

[Gwen]

I'm not interested in a Jericho copy.

I do find it interesting that NBC has chosen to make a Jericho clone. I think that is quite a compliment to Jericho and Jericho's fans!

Gwen
www.jericho-kansas.com

[redsox 1986]

Unfortunately television executives have not learned anything from Firefly or Jericho fan groups. The old way of somply lumping something into a genre and then continuing to produce similiar type shows has to stop.

Jericho was fesh, original and in tune with current events. It was a show that attracted millions across the globe from every demographic group imaginable.

Jericho do not have protestors. It has a consumer group who have found a product they like and are trying to get one of the networks to continue the story. With a feature film in development maybe someone at CBS Paramount has discovered that there is still money to be made and a market for the original Jericho.

[Thecolours]

Jericho has run itself into the ground. What once was an intersting and engaging story in season one, turned into a complete mess at the end of season two. There's no person in hollywood who could make Jericho a hit again. Just let it be...

[Adam]

Jericho was BORING. It is beyond me why all of these die-hards just won't wake up or go away.

[Tony]

Jericho fans just give it up. It is over. the show didn't succeed because it just wasn't that good of a show!! I watched it and it was just ok. Obviously if it was such an incredible show it would still be on the air. As for NBC...who sad this new show would be a rip off?? get over yourselves The ideas of the writters could take the show in a totally different direction from what Jericho was. So no network can ever take a chance on any type of appocolyptic show now because your precious show was cancelled? Life goes on without Jericho.

[wisstardark]

i have been a upset TV watcher since early to mid 90's, I have seen a lot of good shows come and go, some lasted a few episodes some last a few seasons. I cannot stand when a network cancels a show after a few runs. I wish these writers and shows would come up with a better method of airing their shows, I know money is involved but I feel if a show is gonna be on the air it should have a start and a respectable finish, not a cancel. The networks should give these programs enough lead way to at least have time to close the story. The one that burns me the most and probably still influences me on what to watch is the NBC highly promoted DARKSKIES, this show was on for I think one full season, maybe, it was so good, I was 21 or 22 and I would come home from work on a Friday night just to watch it, and not go out drinking with my friends it was that good, I even sent letter to "bring it back" once it was canceled at the birth of the cheap internet days, still to this day I would bring it back. really how would if feel to see HEROS canceled right now or LOST, and we never got to understand what the writer wanted to surprise us with. I think this is why so many people like the reality shows, we get a start and a finish, and if it gets canceled well we no how it ended at least.

[myvibes]

I guess, given your litmus test for a great show, Idol rules...

I disagree with your comment. The description for Day One demonstrates little if any divergence from the theme of Jericho....

In the aftermath of a "global event" that devastates the world's infrastructures, a small band of survivors strive to rebuild society and unravel the mysteries of why the event took place.

...except they might be making it a blend of Jericho and Survivor to make another survivor-type story out of it. As someone else said first, nothing original there.

Why the hostility?i.e..."precious show". The fact that people stand behind something they like shouldn't be a problem for you or anyone else. No one is saying they are better than anyone else here...just that NBC took an idea from a show (which would indicate that it is a good show or else no one would have cared) and that most people who liked the original show aren't going to suddenly have brain damage and watch a fascimilie.

Any network can take a chance with an apocalyptic show if they choose...but fans of Jericho obviously are going to stick with their program...and I'll be standing with them.

[theporchlady]

Love Jericho and will stick with it.

[merryann]

I haven't watched NBC since Crossing Jordan was abruptly cancelled 2 years ago without a proper conclusion for loyal fans of 6 years. I certainly won't watch a Jericho-knockoff when the real thing is available for sale. Good luck with your ratings, NBC, you'll need it!

[masscas]

I want the "Real Deal" with Jericho. A knock off and ripp off will not do. We know why NBC is 4th of the 4 networks now don't we ? There doesn't seem to be an original or logical thought there. The original Jericho is economically sound with an established fan base. Or maybe there 2 brain cells were held together by a spirocete and someone gave them penicillin.

[jeremighla]

I'm not watching a Jericho rip off

[artzylady]

There will never be another Jericho. The only thing that will satisfy Jericho fans is more of Jericho itself and not some lookalike series.

[polyesterbride]

jericho rangers will not stop until we get jericho back...not a cheap imitation!!!

[Dood]

When in the hell are "Cops, doctors and lawyers" not in?

That's 95% of TV right there. 90% of it set in NYC.

[NightShade]

"Day One
From the people who brought you “Heroes” (Jesse Alexander)
Logline: In the aftermath of a "global event" that devastates the world's infrastructures, a small band of survivors strive to rebuild society and unravel the mysteries of why the event took place
How it’s different: Can "Jericho" protesters just pretend this is "Jericho" and stop buying ads lobbying CBS to bring back the show?"

Can people/journalists/bloggers and other uninterested parties stop telling tax paying adults what to do with their own money? (I didn't think so!) In that case, the answers a resounding: NO! Or NUTS, your choice :-) Have a great day!

[beebull]

Jericho fans want more, and after all this time are growing stronger every day in numbers.

[Fred Garvin]

Jericho had a cast with C-H-E-M-I-S-T-R-Y. That's why we Jericho fans will not settle. We deserve and want the best and Jericho as it was should return on some outlet.

[JerichoFan]

I think as a loyal Jericho fan we need to give CBS and all the networks continual rounds of NUT drops untill they bring our show back . Drown their asses in nuts from here to eternity.