18 Casting is done and shooting underway for the U.S. networks’ fall 2013, winter and spring 2014 commissioned pilots. We’ll have to wait until the week of May 13 — the networks’ advertiser Upfronts — to find out the fate of these pilots, but for now here’s what we know for sure: there are nearly 100 pilots in the running, with NBC coming in at the most with over two dozen. Two pilots have already been ordered to series: An NBC sitcom starring Michael J. Fox that’s loosely based on his life and Fox’s live-action Seth MacFarlane comedyDads. As usual, this year the L.A. Screenings will follow the Upfronts. It’ll all kick off on May 16 with Fox’s general screenings and Paramount and Lionsgate’s screenings for the Latin American contingent (see the full calendar at: videoageinternational.com/screenings). Among the comedy pilots that have been ordered, the vast majority are single-camera (even CBS, which has resisted the genre in the past is embracing it with seven out of 12 sitcoms being shot as single-camera). And many are inspired by true life, often those of the show’s producers and/or writers. In addition to the aforementioned Michael J. Fox comedy at NBC, there’s an NBC comedy pilot presentation based on the life of Jessica Simpson, ABC comedy How the Hell Am I Normal?, based on the dysfunctional childhood of writer Adam F. Goldberg; an untitled ABC comedy from John Leguizamo based on his life as a husband and father and fish-out-of-water in Manhattan; CBS’s untitled Jim Gaffigan comedy based on the comedian (and father of five) and an untitled John Mulaney/Lorne Michaels comedy at NBC that’s loosely based on the life of stand-up comic John Mulaney, among others. As for the dramas, the genres really run the gamut. There are the futuristic ones — including the CW’sThe Selection, set 300 years in the future, as well as some anchored way in the past, like the CW’s Reign, about Mary Queen of Scots. There are also a handful of already established brands being revisited. In addition to remakes of series from Israel, Argentina, England, Australia, and other countries, there are based-on movie series like About A Boy for NBC, Beverly Hills Cop and Bad Teacher for CBS. ABC’s S.H.I.E.L.D, which will be produced, written and directed by Joss Whedon, is based on the secret intelligence organization that’s appeared in countless Marvel comics. Of course there are the spin-offs, too: NCIS: Red (spin-off of NCIS: LA) and The Originals, a CW spin-off of The Vampire Diaries. And what would pilot season be without some cop dramas? There’s CBS’s aforementioned Beverly Hills Cop, and a whole slew of them on Fox, including Gang Related, about a gang member who infiltrates the San Francisco Police Department, Human, which gives a futuristic spin to the drama, taking place in a world where cops have been paired with robots. Fox also has a cop comedy, now untitled, from Dan Goor and Mike Schur. Therearealsosoaps—likeABC’sGothica,which is set in present day but incorporates legends like Dracula and Jekyll and Hyde as well as ABC’s Betrayal, about a photographer having a torrid affair with her husband’s professional rival; and the medical dramas — like ABC’sBig Thunder, set in the 19th century, CBS’s The Surgeon General, about the U.S.’s most prestigious medical job and NBC’s After Hours, about army doctors. Call it the Homeland effect, because this year we’re seeing lots of drama pilots that focus on the U.S. government, including CBS’s Hostages, about a political conspiracy that leads a surgeon and his family into a hostage situation; CBS’s Intelligence, about the U.S. Cyber Command, a unit created around an agent with a special gift; Fox’s Boomerang, about a family of assassins for the U.S. government and The List about a U.S. Marshal on the hunt for the person who killed members of the Federal Witness Security Program; and an untitled Rand Ravich project that follows an idealistic Secret Service agent who finds himself at the epicenter of an international crisis when the president’s son and friends are kidnapped. For more, see the full pilot list on the right. U.S. network pilots commissioned for the new season ABC COMEDY Back in the Game A recently divorced singlemothermoves inwith her estranged father, a former baseball player. Bad Management Set in a luxury department store, a female boss finds her ways challenged by the boss’s son’s plans to sex up the place. Divorce: A Love Story Based on an Israeli format about a recently divorced couple who can’t stay out of each other’s lives. How the Hell Am I Normal? Inspired by writer-producer AdamF. Goldberg’s dysfunctional childhood, set in the 1980s. Keep Calm and Karey On Karey is the clean-nosed black sheep in a family of petty thieves, addicts, and narcissists — but when her brother is sent to prison, she must raise his kids. Middle Age Rage A fed-up middle-aged mom begins to speak up and demand respect. Mixology Set in the sexy world of New York City nightlife, the show chronicles the exploits of singles looking for love — over the course of one night. Pulling Based on a British series, about three 30something women living the lives that they want (not the ones society tells them to have). Spy Based on a British series, the father of a highly intelligent and verbal son —who also happens to be his complete opposite — inadvertently takes a job at the Secret Service. Super Fun Night Revolves around three nerdy female friends and their quest to have “super fun” every Friday night. Trophy Wife A former party girl falls for a man with three manipulative children and two difficult exwives. Untitled John Leguizamo Project Based on the actor/comedian’s life. A Bronxborn man with Latin roots marries into a more privileged lifestyle. DRAMA Betrayal A female photographer begins a torrid affair with a lawyer for a powerful family who turns By Lucy Cohen Blatter Sneak Preview of Hot New U.S. TV Season 2013-’14 Pilots March/April 2013 L.A. Screenings 2013 Seth MacFarlane’s first live-action sitcom, Dads, has already received a six-episode order from Fox (Continued on Page 20)
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