Here is the second part of a look at some of the genre pilots currently in production for each of the major networks. (Thanks to Blastr for some of the background information!) As usual, CBS is slim pickings for the genre crowd…
PERSON OF INTEREST
Stars: Michael Emerson (Lost), Jim Caviezel (The Passion of the Christ) and Taraji P. Henson (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
Log Line: A billionaire (Emerson) recruits a CIA agent who’s been presumed dead (Caviezel) to stop violent crimes in New York City before they happen.
Getting Michael Emerson back on weekly television is a priority, IMHO, and this has all the hallmarks of a solid genre premise with the Abrams pedigree. Then again, so did “Undercovers”, so it’s all about the execution.
UNTITLED SUSANNAH GRANT PROJECT
Stars: Patrick Wilson (Insidious), Jennifer Ehle (The King’s Speech) and Julie Benz (No Ordinary Family,Dexter)
Log Line: This drama from Susannah Grant follows an ultra-competitive surgeon who finds his life forever changed when his ex-wife dies, only to reappear to him as a ghost who wants to teach him what life is really all about. From Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich) and pilot director and executive producer Jonathan Demme (The Silence of the Lambs).
This reads like a train wreck. I love Julie Benz, but there’s no way I would watch this show. At the most, this sounds like the premise of a mediocre Lifetime movie.
And that’s it. Seriously, that’s all CBS is bringing to the table. Sad, isn’t it, especially when ABC had so many genre pilots competing for survival…