BLT
05-07-2003, 06:56 PM
NBC Eyes Tuesday Night
Wednesday May 7 3:29 AM ET
The pilot pickup rumor mill went into overdrive Tuesday as industry insiders kept close tabs on projects emerging as hot contenders for NBC, which kicks off next week's parade of fall schedule unveilings in New York on Monday.
Sources said the comedies looking good at the network include a pair of untitled projects from Carsey-Werner-Mandabach and NBC Studios -- one starring "Saturday Night Live (news - Y! TV)" alumnus Tracy Morgan and the other featuring Whoopi Goldberg (news) -- quite possibly for a Tuesday comedy block that would lead into "Dateline."
NBC Studios' John Larroquette-Christine Baranski (news) starrer "Happy Family" also has strong pickup buzz, as do NBC Studios' "Stuck in the Middle With You," featuring Annie Potts (news) and Timothy Busfield as the heads of a typically harried middle-class family, and "Coupling," a sexy ensemble comedy about six thirtysomething friends from NBC Studios and Reveille.
On the drama side, Darren Star's dramedy "Miss/Match," starring Alicia Silverstone (news) as a high-end professional matchmaker, from 20th Century Fox and Imagine TV, continues to look like a shoo-in; sources said producers were already canvassing the town for writing staffers.
Rob Lowe (news), late of "The West Wing (news - web sites)," looks like a strong contender to re-emerge as the star of 20th TV/Brad Gray TV's "The Lyon's Den," an ensemble drama set at a tony New York law firm. NBC Studios/DreamWorks TV's untitled Las Vegas project with James Caan (news) is also said to have solid shot at a time slot next season.
Meanwhile, high-profile NBC projects that once had a lot of heat but seem to be cooling off include the Heather Locklear (news) vehicle "Once Around the Park." The pilot is said to have tested poorly, though one source said the network still hoped to redevelop the project or develop another property with Locklear. The Tom Selleck (news) starrer "Touch 'Em all McCall" also appears to be dead. NBC reps stressed Tuesday that no formal pickup or scheduling decisions had been made on any pilot projects.
(reuters)
Wednesday May 7 3:29 AM ET
The pilot pickup rumor mill went into overdrive Tuesday as industry insiders kept close tabs on projects emerging as hot contenders for NBC, which kicks off next week's parade of fall schedule unveilings in New York on Monday.
Sources said the comedies looking good at the network include a pair of untitled projects from Carsey-Werner-Mandabach and NBC Studios -- one starring "Saturday Night Live (news - Y! TV)" alumnus Tracy Morgan and the other featuring Whoopi Goldberg (news) -- quite possibly for a Tuesday comedy block that would lead into "Dateline."
NBC Studios' John Larroquette-Christine Baranski (news) starrer "Happy Family" also has strong pickup buzz, as do NBC Studios' "Stuck in the Middle With You," featuring Annie Potts (news) and Timothy Busfield as the heads of a typically harried middle-class family, and "Coupling," a sexy ensemble comedy about six thirtysomething friends from NBC Studios and Reveille.
On the drama side, Darren Star's dramedy "Miss/Match," starring Alicia Silverstone (news) as a high-end professional matchmaker, from 20th Century Fox and Imagine TV, continues to look like a shoo-in; sources said producers were already canvassing the town for writing staffers.
Rob Lowe (news), late of "The West Wing (news - web sites)," looks like a strong contender to re-emerge as the star of 20th TV/Brad Gray TV's "The Lyon's Den," an ensemble drama set at a tony New York law firm. NBC Studios/DreamWorks TV's untitled Las Vegas project with James Caan (news) is also said to have solid shot at a time slot next season.
Meanwhile, high-profile NBC projects that once had a lot of heat but seem to be cooling off include the Heather Locklear (news) vehicle "Once Around the Park." The pilot is said to have tested poorly, though one source said the network still hoped to redevelop the project or develop another property with Locklear. The Tom Selleck (news) starrer "Touch 'Em all McCall" also appears to be dead. NBC reps stressed Tuesday that no formal pickup or scheduling decisions had been made on any pilot projects.
(reuters)