Are the CBS pilot pick-ups promising? – Quibbling Siblings

Debbie:

You yourself said CBS has defined itself as the crime drama (and old person) network. In light of that description, I’m finding many of CBS’s pilot pickups very interesting. Lots of them could still be considered crime drama, but not necessarily procedurals, and they also seem to be trying to attract some younger audiences.

Granted, Sarah Michelle Gellar may not be all that young anymore, and neither are many of her fans, but her pilot, Ringer, seems the most promising and unique of the selection, especially with Nestor Carbonell now cast opposite her. This in no way sounds like a procedural and I’m excited by the possibilities.

I know I’ll love the first episode or two and then dump it, but I’m planning on checking out Hail Mary, with Minnie Driver as a mom who solves crime with a streetwise hustler. Sounds too cute not to check out, but I’m guessing it will wear off fast.

A couple of medical dramas snuck in there too (on CBS?). Those seem to fit with the old person network, but at least The Doctor has a great cast (Scott Foley, Kyle MacLachlan). Not sure about the untitled one with the dead wife as a main character, but I loved Raines so anything’s possible.

The comedy pilots are just about the most uncommentable (yeah, I totally made that word up) ones I’ve looked at so far. I just can’t tell.

Bob:

Yeesh… Lots of cops and doctors, eh? Alright, I am certainly interested in Ringer, but I am also very nervous about it. The description is interesting, but I have absolutely no sense about what the show is going to be. Is it a procedural? Is it a serial? Is it about her running from the mob, or is about her trying to make her life work in her sister’s identity? I just don’t know, but I am definitely going to check it out and keep my fingers crossed.

Michael Emerson is enough to get me to check out Person of Interest, but J.J. Abrams’s recent ventures certainly have me a little more cautious than I would have been a few years back. It seems like there is a lot of good talent spread out through the other pilots (Patrick Wilson, Leelee Sobieski, Driver, Foley, MacLachlan), but the descriptions of the shows don’t have me counting down the days until fall.

I find it really, really odd that CBS is developing two comedies based on ESPN personalities when ESPN is a sister network of ABC. Very odd. Generally, though, I think you’re right, most of those look like stinkers. Though, I do really like Kat Dennings, so I will probably check out Brooklyn Girls if it doesn’t look too female-focused.

Debbie:

Maybe we’re the least excited by these pilots so far simply because CBS isn’t that motivated by them. NBC and ABC both have a lot at stake and need some excellent new shows in a very bad way. CBS is doing really well right now, clearly the top network, so they’ll have fewer slots to fill with new shows. Seriously, NBC could practically start from scratch, a position CBS is definitely not in.

Bob:

That’s an interesting point. CBS definitely has a formula for most of their shows, so it’s not hard to plug a few things into the schedule. In fact, that fact has me a little nervous about Ringer, which sounds really different. I’m still eager to check it out, though.

Debbie:

I bet you’ll be less nervous about Ringer when I tell you that the producers are comparing it to Damages in the storytelling through flashbacks aspect of it. …

Bob:

That, my dear sister, is a very lofty comparison to live up to!

Clacked by Debbie McDuffee
on Mar 24, 2011 @ 11:00 EST5EDT