by You’ll hear a lot in the trades and the trade winds from now through pilot season, which starts in earnest in January, all the way up to the cable Upfronts in the spring and the broadcast network Upfronts in May — when TV programmers present their new and returning lineups to impress and attract advertisers for 2015-2016.
When a network orders a pilot to series, that’s newsworthy and vital information for you to know. Like FX yesterday greenlighting Baskets, starring Zach Galifianakis and coming from him, Louis C.K. and Jonathan Krisel; it’ll go into production in 2015 with a launch date in 2016. Mark your calendars accordingly.
Everything else is speculation. In fact, that’s what the programming suits do is invest in a speculative market, buying up sitcom ideas and their writers and producers, not only for the prospect that their idea will evolve into a hit series, but also to keep those writers, producers and creators off the market from other networks. The news that a comedian has a script commitment or a development deal is valuable to that comedian and his/her landlord and family and friends, but doesn’t mean much to us as viewers until that deal pays off in the form of a TV series that’s actually on the air. So. Instead of bombarding you with hundreds of separate posts from TV wheeling and dealing, The Comic’s Comic this TV cycle will present a weekly roundup of what’s in the mix for 2015-2016.
MAYBE SEE TV? Sept. 18, 2014, edition
PUT PILOT
PILOT — CBS
A multi-cam written and executive produced by Jeff Astrof, with Bill Lawrence, about two BFFs opening a restaurant together who seek guidance from a couples therapist. Based on the real-life Meatball Shop guys in NYC, Daniel Holzman and Michael Chernow, who’ll be consulting producers.
PRODUCTION COMMITMENT — ABC
The family comedy reuniting Vacation’s Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo, only as a different married couple in their 60s forced to raise their grandchildren, now has a writer: Brad Copeland. It’s coming from Kapital Entertainment and ABC Studios.
SCRIPT COMMITMENT — CBS
An untitled multi-cam from writer/EP Bobby Bowman, with Greg Garcia, set in a workplace. Alix Jaffe also will EP.
SCRIPT COMMITMENT — CBS
An untitled multi-cam from writer/EP Chris Harris, with Greg Garcia and Alix Jaffe, about a couple romantically setting up their two friends.
SCRIPT COMMITMENT — CBS
Letters To My Daughter’s Future Therapist, a multi-cam, from Jon Turteltaub. Written/executive produced by Jordan Roter, from CBS TV Studios and Junction Entertainment. Title explains it. Letters from the daughter’s mother explaining her side of the story.
SCRIPT COMMITMENT — ABC
Jimmy Kimmel writing a pilot script and producing with Carson Daly, untitled comedy inspired by Daly’s life/career arc. About a popular VJ forced to move in with his parents and take a job in local morning radio. With Dan Fogelman also as an EP. From ABC Studios.
SCRIPT COMMITMENT — ABC
A single-cam starring and co-created by Angela Kinsey, with EP Will Gluck, co-written by Kinsey with Rachel Specter and Audrey Wauchope. About a woman who becomes best friends with her ex’s new girlfriend. Darlene Hunt also EP. From Sony TV and Olive Bridge Entertainment. Commitment has a penalty attached. Tentatively I Love Your Ex.
DEVELOPMENT — ABC
An untitled idea from Stephnie Weir about a credit union manager competing with a big national bank. From CBS TV Studios.
DEVELOPMENT — Amazon Studios
NORAD, a sci-fi comedy from Jason Micallef and EPs Jim Field Smith, Trevor Engelson and Josh McGuire.
DEVELOPMENT — NBC
A single-cam adaptation of 1990 film Problem Child, via writer/EP Scot Armstrong. With Universal TV and TBD Prods, and EPs Peter Traugott and Rachel Kaplan.
DEVELOPMENT — CBS
Wife of Crime, a multi-cam from Kevin Sussman. Via CBS TV Studios and Original Film. About a Staten Island guy who marries into the mob. Sussman writing and EP with Neal Moritz, Vivian Cannon.
DEVELOPMENT — NBC
Kevin Nealon and Susan Yeagley writing an untitled comedy about a divorced couple who remain in the family business running a Las Vegas bar. Both are EPs and may star or co-star.
DEVELOPMENT — CBS
A Sort of Family, a multi-cam from Aaron Kaplan and Sharon Horgan, with Horgan writing alongside Neil Forsyth. About a one-night stand many years ago that produced a child, and the man who tries to connect with that child, now in his teen years. From CBS TV Studios, Kapital Entertainment and Merman Films.
DEVELOPMENT — NBC
The Walk-Up, a multi-cam based on a magazine article about two Brooklyn couples who buy a brownstone together. From Julia Brownell and Jason Katims, Universal TV, True Jack Prods.
DEAL — UNIVERSAL TV
Adam and Naomi Scott have a new first-look deal with Universal TV. Their Gettin’ Rad Productions has put together multiple Adult Swim specials under the title, The Greatest Event in Television History.
