Are FOX’s pilot orders intriguing or funny? – Quibbling Siblings

Debbie:

A more logical place to go this week might have been to the CBS pilot orders, but to be honest, I’m not worried about the power network and what they have coming up. They have such a strong lineup as it is that they won’t have much room for new shows, so we can get to CBS eventually.

Today, I’m turning to the FOX pilot orders, because they will have some room in their schedule. I want to look at the dramas first, to see what they could possibly replace House with … and I may have found it. Guilty has big names (Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, McG) and a concept that reminds me of Dr. House as a lawyer, with a little bit of revenge thrown in for good measure. Could be a very fun ride. The Untitled Kevin Williamson Drama sounds very cool, and with Kevin Bacon, James Purefoy and Shawn Ashmore on board, the only drawback would be Williamson’s involvement. Did I just say that? Yes, yes I did, because without Julie Plec to save him, he becomes trite. And I have to say that the Untitled Teen Spy Drama sounds like the perfect cross between Alias and Buffy, so I’m anxious to follow that one.

Any dramas stand out for you?

Bob:

Um… not really. There is very little intrigue here. Yes, there is talent, and I think the Williamson project certainly has the most promise. There’s not a single show in the bunch though that has captured my attention or imagination like some of the pilots on ABC and NBC did. The Williamson project seems to have the most potential to be really original, but at the same time it could just turn into another cop drama. We’ll have to see on that one.

I mostly see cops and lawyers. Pardon me while I yawn.

The comedies, on the other hand, look like they might hold some promise. What do you see there?

Debbie:

I’m so glad you asked! I usually don’t care too much for comedies because it’s a rare one that will break out of the mold (Community, Cougar Town, Breaking In), but there are a couple that FOX is considering that could possibly fit into that category.

At this point, I’d follow Bill Lawrence anywhere, so his new comedy, Like Father, is on my list to root for. If nothing else, it will be quirky with heart. Rebounding I’m not quite too sure about, but seeing as some Modern Family and Better Off Ted talent is involved, it could show some promise.

I will say, that for many reasons, I am not remotely interested in the new Bays / Thomas pilot, The Goodwin Games. I’m not sure if groaning or rolling my eyes was my first reaction, but I’m just so done with them … not ready to ride that train of disappointment again.

 Bob:

Oh man! I thought The Goodwin Games sounded kind of interesting, I didn’t realize that it was from the brainchildren that brought us How I Met Your Mother.

I think the comedy that has me most excited is Mindy Kaling‘s project. I love her on The Office (where she is also a writer) and I’m excited to see what she can do with a whole show of her own. Coming from The Office, you know the show is going to be incredibly quirky with a lot of interesting characters. I’m looking forward to that one.

I think it’s much harder to judge comedies by descriptions. So many sound really stupid, but until you get to see something or get a hint of the type of humor on the show, it’s nearly impossible to say what’s going to work and what won’t.

Debbie:

Yes, Mindy Kaling’s got some talent, so it will be worth checking out her series. I was just thinking it was going to be full of a bunch of vagina jokes (she plays an OBGYN) and would get old fast, but it could surprise me.

That’s true about the comedy descriptions. Would you ever have known the creative genius that would come from Community from ” a smart comedy series about a band of misfits who attend Greendale Community College“? And who would have ever guessed that Cougar Town wasn’t actually about Cougars. The best part in checking out the pilot of a sitcom is that you only lose 22 minutes of your life if you hate it.

 Bob:

Well, the description did say it was a smart comedy.

Clacked by Debbie McDuffee
on Feb 23, 2012 @ 11:00 EST5EDT