Maybe See TV? The week in pilots, script commitments and development deals (Oct. 30, 2014)

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. 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? Oct. 30, 2014, edition

PUT PILOT — ABC

Family Practice, from writer/doctor Simon Stephenson and Dan Fogelman, about a dysfunctional family of doctors who run a family practice in small-town America. Stephenson will write the script and executive produce with Fogelman, Rhode Island Avenue.

PUT PILOT — NBC

Marley & Me, a single-cam adaptation and sequel of the 2008 movie based on John Grogan’s book. Jenny Bicks writing, film’s director David Frankel also directing the sitcom adaptation. From 20th Century Fox TV, with the film’s producer Karen Rosenfelt also on board as an EP. The sitcom has the family take in a stray puppy and also name it Marley.

PUT PILOT — ABC

Bachelor Party, an anthology series loosely inspired by the 1984 movie, from 20th Century Fox TV, Jason Winer’s Small Dog Picture Co. and The Walcott Co. Season would focus on one marriage, three couples and their perspective on it. Winer, Jake Johnson and Max Winkler and Renate Radford are EPs.

PUT PILOT — NBC

The IT Crowd, a multi-cam adaptation of the Channel 4 hit in the U.K., via Bill Lawrence, Neil Goldman and Garrett Donovan. Via Warner Bros. TV. and FremantleMedia. NBC previously ordered an adaptation of this to series in 2006-2007 but never aired it.

PILOT — HBO

Mamma Dallas, from Mike White. Shooting in 2015.

PILOT — TBS

Untitled from Jason Jones & Samantha Bee, starring Jones and inspired by the couple’s own family vacations. Pilot starts a family road trip to Key West.

PILOT — TBS

Wrecked, a single-cam from Justin Shipley & Jordan Shipley and producer Jesse Hara. Described as Lost meets It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, following a plane crash on a remote island.

PILOT — NBC

Bewitched, a “sequel” to the original sitcom from 1964-1972, written by Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein, and following Daphne  — Samantha’s granddaughter and Tabitha’s daughter — through her 20s. From Sony TV and Lucy Fisher and Douglas Wick’s Red Wagon Entertainment, which produced the 2005 Bewitched film. Television 360 and Daniel Rappaport also on board.

SCRIPT COMMITMENT — FOX

Untitled single-cam from Colleen McGuinness, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, via Universal TV and Pearl Street Films. About a 25-year-old woman who works at a frozen yogurt shop and whose life is going nowhere – until she discovers she is telekinetic. McGuinnes executive producing with Affleck, Damon and Pearl Street’s Jennifer Todd.

SCRIPT COMMITMENT — ABC

Mr. Chris, a single-cam from Greg Garcia and Chris Case about a trust-funder whose father cuts him off, so he moves in with a construction foreman and his family. Case writing.

SCRIPT COMMITMENT — NBC

An untitled single-cam about a circle of friends who grow closer when one of them “comes out” to the group — as a witch. Written and executive produced by Josh Siegal and Dylan Morgan from Universal TV, with Peter Traugott and Rachel Kaplan also EPs.

SCRIPT COMMITMENT — ABC

The Big Hole, a single-cam from Maggie Carey about the generation gap between an entitled millennial and her baby boomer boss at a failing PBS station in Big Hole, Montana. Carey will pen the script for 20th Century Fox Television and exec produce with Caroline Williams and 3 Arts’ Tom Lassally and Greg Walter.

SCRIPT COMMITMENT — ABC

Bookclub, from Patti Carr and Lara Olsen, Eva Longoria’s UnbeliEVAble Entertainment and Universal TV. About four female friends who pretend to be in a book club to avoid the rest of their lives. Carr and Olsen will write the script.

DEVELOPMENT — HBO

Untitled single-cam from Kari Lizer starring Kyra Sedgwick as a disillusioned nun.

DEVELOPMENT — CBS

Untitled comedy from Geoff Stults that he’ll write and potential star in, executive producing with Joe Port and Joe Wiseman, Will Gluck and Richie Schwartz. About a firefighter who’s filmed saving two kids, then becomes a national hero and the city’s mayor.

DEVELOPMENT — ABC

Totally Illegal, a multi-cam from Lee Aronsohn and ABC Studios, based on the real-life experiences of producer Kelly Slattery, who immigrated from rural Canada as an illegal alien and was taken in by a Mexican American family who had been U.S. citizens for many generations. Aronsohn will write the script for the project, which he will co-create with Slattery. Aronsohn and Marcus Wiley executive produce.

DEVELOPMENT — ABC

Plus One, based on the upcoming novel from Christopher Noxon, adapted by Noxon with The Mark Gordon Company. Novel is about a mid-level marketing executive who quits his job to focus on the family when his wife’s career takes off. He falls in with other plus-ones, men who are married to women whose recognition, income and fame far eclipse their own.

DEVELOPMENT — ABC

The Greater Good, a single-cam comedy from Elizabeth Banks and written by Caroline Williams, a relationship/workplace comedy set in the world of conspiracy theories. From 20th Century Fox TV and Brownstone Prods.

DEVELOPMENT — FOX

An untitled single-com inspired by former NBA all-star Baron Davis, from 20th Century Fox TV and the Walcott Co. Courtney Lilly writing the script, about a kid from South Central who receives a scholarship to attend a prestigious suburban school.

DEVELOPMENT — ABC

An untitled multi-cam starring stand-up comedian Fortune Feimster based on her life and comedy growing up in North Carolina, from Matt Hubbard, Tina Fey and Robert Carlock. Universal TV and David Miner from 3 Arts also on board.

DEVELOPMENT — FOX

Hitch, a single-cam inspired by the 2005 Will Smith movie. via Smith’s shingle Overbook Entertainment and Sony Pictures TV. Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont writing the adaptation.

DEVELOPMENT — NBC

An untitled series starring stand-up comedian Sebastian Maniscalco based on his life and comedy, from Greg Garcia and his Amigos De Garcia Productions. Austen Earl writing. CBS Studios producing. Earl and Maniscalco executive produce along with Garcia, Judi Marmel, Norman Aladjem and Alix Jaffe.

DEVELOPMENT — ABC

The Finger, a single-cam comedy written by Ben Karlin and Nick Frost, from ABC Studios and 3 Arts. With Frost starring as the world’s most famous jewel thief who wants to quit his life of crime, open up a humble sandwich shop and do right by his 9-year-old son. Karlin and Frost executive produce with 3 Arts’ David Miner.

DEVELOPMENT — FOX

The Courtship Of Eddie’s Father, already a 1969 sitcom on ABC, in reboot as a single-cam co-starring and produced by Willie Garson, written/executive produced by Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett. From Warner Bros. TV and Conaco. 

DEVELOPMENT — ABC

Raising Adults, a multi-cam based on a spec script from Mike Scully and Julie Scully, and loosely based on the Scullys’ own parenting experiences. From 20th Century Fox TV.

DEVELOPMENT — NBC

Untitled workplace single-cam from Amy Poehler and Aisha Muharrar, about a young agnostic woman who inherits a church. 3 Arts’ Dave Becky also executive producing. From Universal TV and 3 Arts.

DEVELOPMENT — ABC

The Mighty Camilla, based on spec script by Allison Kiessling and executive produced by Kristin Newman, about a New York social worker who gets recruited by a handsome man from the future as the unlikely savior of humanity. From Tall Girls Prods.

DEVELOPMENT — ABC

No Angels, a single-cam adaptation of the U.K’s Channel 4 series from 2004, via Julie Anne Robinson and Amblin TV. Written by Stacy Traub, it’s about a group of nurses who work and live together.

DEVELOPMENT — FOX

Marsha Goes To Jail, from Mike Ellis and Pamela Falk, inspired by Ellis’ mother, Marsha, as a substitute teacher assigned to a juvenile detention classroom. From Warner Bros TV and Offspring Entertainment.

TALENT DEAL — FOX

Brenda Song, who co-starred in Dads and New Girl this past season, has signed a talent holding deal to star in a 20th Century Fox Television project this development season.

TALENT DEAL — ABC

Adam Pally has a new two-year overall deal with ABC Studios to create, write and produce projects for broadcast, cable and new media through his newly formed Clone Wolf Productions.

CASTING — CBS

Lauren Graham will star as Gaby, the ex-wife of Matthew Perry’s Oscar Madison in the reboot of The Odd Couple, coming in midseason?

CASTING — SHOWTIME

Steve Coogan will star in the new pilot for Happyish, filming in New York in December. The lead role was played by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman and ordered to series previously.

PITCHING

Hollywood And Vine from Rainn Wilson and SoulPancake, along with 3Arts, Ashwant Venkatram and Tony DeNiro. Series would follows the live of five social media stars trying to become actual talent.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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