1 month ago
In hindsight, possibly nan broadcast networks should’ve ever done arsenic fewer arsenic 8 pilots a year. That’s really galore NBC ordered this play — 5 dramas and 3 comedies — and nan harvest whitethorn person produced arsenic galore beardown bid contenders arsenic nan contingents of 20-25 pilots nan networks utilized to prime up successful a azygous twelvemonth backmost successful nan day.
Going into soul screenings this week, location was coagulated buzz connected virtually each 8 NBC pilots. Not overmuch has changed arsenic nan screenings did not look to whittle down nan batch of pilots significantly, truthful testing results whitethorn thief break immoderate ties.
NBC is now moving to nan last shape of preparations for its May 11 upfront presentation, locking successful nan 2026-27 schedule, and nan holes that request filling whitethorn beryllium nan deciding facet which pilots get ordered to series. Word is that nan last pickup and cancellation decisions won’t travel until precocious adjacent week.
That said, the early NBC aviator frontrunners, nan Dan Goor/Luke Del Tredici single-camera drama starring Jake Johnson, now titled Sunset P.I., and The Rockford Files reboot starring David Boreanaz, person remained strong.
Sunset P.I., successful particular, is considered nan undisputed frontrunner of nan full pack, pinch its bid order considered a formality arsenic a imaginable companion for St. Denis Medical.
The section is wider connected nan play broadside but The Rockford Files is believed to still beryllium a judge bet, pinch Boreanaz getting a batch of props for his return connected nan classical PI, delivering nan correct operation of rugged charm and barren wit.
NBC’s strategy of hiring established TV stars for its pilots seems to beryllium paying disconnected arsenic nan actors are winning complete those who person seen nan pilots. Emily Deschanel and Taylor Schilling are some getting precocious marks for their performances successful Key Witness (fka untitled Dean Georgaris/John Fox) and What The Dead Know, respectively.
That could beryllium 1 of nan 2 ties that would request breaking. NBC is said to beryllium keen connected picking up a caller female-led procedural that could beryllium paired pinch nan network’s stalwart, Law & Order: SVU. What The Dead Know, from SVU producer Wolf Entertainment, was developed pinch that compatibility successful mind, I hear, but Key Witness has beardown support too. I perceive nan 2 whitethorn beryllium vying for 1 slot.
Also getting affirmative feedback and successful nan moving for an bid is play In nan Line of Fire (fka Protection, which is much serialized than nan axenic procedural pilots and has a beardown family element. Peter Krause is nan star, Hope Davis nan female lead, pinch sources praising really bully nan 2 are together.
Puzzled, starring Damon Wayans Jr., has been, well, puzzling. It is — quiet intentionally — lighter and funnier than nan different play pilots, pinch Wayans Jr. cracking jokes arsenic he solves crimes. That is not needfully NBC’s play brand; Puzzled is much successful statement pinch ABC’s existent ray procedural bent. While considered a longer changeable for a bid order than others, NBC brass are keeping Puzzled in play successful lawsuit an hourlong play is needed to travel a half-hour drama connected nan schedule, I hear.
Another imaginable bake-off business is emerging connected nan multi-camera drama broadside wherever 2 pilots, Newlyweds, starring real-life joined mates Tèa Leoni and Tim Daly (with immoderate scene-stealing impermanent prima action from nan project’s executive shaper Jamie Lee Curtis), and Jill & Ginger (fka untitled Kari Lizar), starring Katey Sagal and Jane Lynch, person travel successful astatine a akin level, pinch awesome chemistry betwixt nan 2 leads connected some projects.
There is simply a mini chance for some to go; nan much apt script is for 1 to beryllium picked up arsenic a companion to Reba McEntire’s Happy’s Place.
NBC this day made its first cancellations for 2026-27, single-camera comedy Stumble and play Brilliant Minds. That is not helping overmuch successful cracking nan aviator puzzle arsenic those slots would easy beryllium taken by Sunset P.I. and The Rockford Files.
Beyond that, NBC has a operation of 4 play pilots and 2 bubble play series, Law & Order and The Hunting Party, to activity with. (On nan drama side, The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins is looking bully for renewal, apt pinch different shorter order.)
The much pilots nan web wants to prime up to series, nan much bubble shows it will person to cancel arsenic NBC’s primetime inventory is limited, pinch NBA hoops and NFL shot accounting for a important chunk of nan existent estate.
Peacock is simply a chaotic card. An NBC play aviator could conceivably get picked up by nan related streamer instead, though it is unclear really realistic that script is.
