Maybe See TV? The week in pilots, script commitments and development deals (Sept. 25, 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. 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. 25, 2014, edition

PUT PILOT — FOX

Fantasy Life, a multi-cam with Kevin Connolly starring, written by Tim McAuliffe. From 20th Century FOX TV. An office comedy set in the fantasy sports department of a TV network; based on the memoir by ESPN’s Matthew Berry, Fantasy Life:The Outrageous, Uplifting, And Heartbreaking World Of Fantasy Sports From The Guy Who’s Lived It. Connolly also executive producing through his 20th TV deal, with McAuliffe and 3 Arts’ Michael Rotenberg, Jonathan Berry, Greg Walter and Troy Zien.

PILOT — NBC

Telenovela, a potential series starring Eva Longoria, and at least a pilot if not starring her. Based on her idea about a telenovela star and the drama behind the scenes. With Chrissy Pietrosh, Jessica Goldstein and Universal TV.

PILOT PRODUCTION COMMITMENT — CBS

Tommy Johnagin has a commitment from CBS for a new multi-cam inspired by his own life as a stand-up comedian and father raising his kids in the Midwest. Written by Johnagin with Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker, and executive produced by Bill Lawrence. Halpern, Schumacker, Lawrence and Jeff Ingold executive produce, with Johnagin co-executive producing.

SCRIPT COMMITMENT — ABC

An untitled sitcom with a pilot and full-season penalty if Eva Longoria agrees to star in it, from ABC Studios, Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky. About a home renovator who tries to renovate the rest of her life, too.

SCRIPT COMMITMENT — NBC

A single-cam TV adaptation of the 1985 movie, Real Genius, which starred Val Kilmer. Deal includes a penalty, from Sony TV, Happy Madison and 3 Arts. Written by Craig DiGregorio and David King and set in present-day workplace. Original film was set on a college campus where a rock-star genius and his new roommate was a teen-aged prodigy got involved in heady stuff.

DEVELOPMENT — NBC

Tuned, a single-cam musical comedy, executive produced by Zachary Levi and Eva Longoria. About a New Yorker who has musical hallucinations. From UnbeliEVAble Entertainment and Universal TV, with writers Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont, Levi, Longoria and Ben Spector executive producing.

DEVELOPMENT — ABC

Follow Your Heart, a single-cam from Nastaran Dibai and Aaron Kaplan, Warner Bros TV and Kapital Entertainment. About a widow and single mother who finds a second chance with a new neighbor who received her dead husband’s heart in a transplant operation.

DEVELOPMENT — CBS

A multi-cam from Gail Berman, Andrew Reich and Ted Cohen, written by Reich and Cohen, about a multi-generational family. CBS TV Studios.

DEVELOPMENT — NBC

A single-cam written by Shawn Wines, executive produced with Aaron Kaplan, John Krasinski, Allyson Seeger and Universal TV. About a law student who leaves school and works with NYC garbage.

DEVELOPMENT — NBC

A single-cam family workplace idea, written/executive produced by Josh Siegal and Dylan Morgan, with John Krasinski, Allyson Seeger and Universal TV. About a middle-aged ad exec who loses his job and forms a new agency out of his garage.

DEVELOPMENT — FOX

A single-cam adaptation of the Spanish multi-cam, Los Serrano. Written by Mike and Julie Scully, from 20th TV. The original Spanish series ran for five seasons in the previous decade, about a widowed father of three sons who marries his high school sweetheart, a divorcee with two daughters. Brady Bunch much?

DEVELOPMENT — NBC

The Greatest Love Story Ever Told, a single-cam from Ruben Fleischer, David Bernad and Justin Spitzer. Fleischer directing, executive producing with Bernad and Spitzer through Universal TV. Set in a big-box store in America.

Previously in “Maybe See TV”

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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