ABC picked up nine new pilots tonight with the pickups of dramas Marvel's Agent Carter, How to Get Away With Murder, Forever, American Crime, and The Whispers, and comedies Black-ish, Galavant, Selfie, and Manhattan Love Story.
One of the most secretive projects of pilot season was Marvel's Agent Carter. After the successful-ish launch of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. this year, ABC wanted to stay in the Marvel business. Agent Carter is set in 1946 and stars Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter (from Captain America), who goes on secret missions. It has been rumored that it will be a bridge show between two "batches" of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
How to Get Away with Murder was one of the most sure-thing pilots of the year thanks to its creator: Shonda Rhimes. Starring Viola Davis, the show centers on a group of law students and their professor who get wrapped up in a murder plot. The question now is will it join (or replace) one of Shonda's hits (Grey's Anatomy and Scandal) on Thursday night?
Forever is about a medical examiner who is immortal. The supernatural/procedural mix seems like a show right out of ABC's wheelhouse. Starring Ioan Gruffudd, Judd Hirsch, and Alana de la Garza, the show seems like it might be a midseason candidate.
American Crime is a dark drama about a racially-motivated murder and the subsequent court case's impact on the people involved. Starring Felicity Huffman and Timothy Hutton, this show was a candidate to have a limited run though ABC has not made any formal decisions one way or another.
The Whispers is a sci-fi drama about an alien invasion where the enemies possess children's bodies. Staring Lily Rabe, Barry Sloane, and Milo Ventimiglia, it is the latest ABC alien drama. Doesn't it seem like they come out with these at least once every 2-3 years?
Black-ish is a black family sitcom starring Anthony Anderson. Featuring Laurence Fishburne in a recurring role, the show is ABC's latest addition to the family sitcom genre and it's been awhile since we've had a black family sitcom. Right now it got the nod over the Kevin Hart comedy, which was seemingly going for the same audience.
Galavant is ABC's big swing of the season (there's always one). It is a musical comedy about Prince Galavant and his quest for revenge on a king who stole his love. Sound a little out of left field? The show comes from creator Dan Fogelman, who also created the offbeat The Neighbors (which doesn't bode well for the veteran alien sitcom).
Selfie stars Karen Gillian and John Cho and centers on a woman who goes through a social media crisis and needs help getting out of it. The show seems very "of the now" and that rarely means long term success. Will anyone care about a show called Selfie in 20 years?
Manhattan Love Story was under the radar in pilot buzz. The show centers on a new couple who just begin dating and that's about as detailed as the logline gets. With a no-name cast, this was a surprising pickup but ABC must have liked what they saw.
We still could get some more ABC pickups though it seems like they're close to being done with their orders.
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