CBS was the last network to pick up its pilots and it did Sunday, picking up two comedies (Friend Me, Partners), four dramas (Elementary, Vegas, Made in Jersey, Golden Boy), and a reality show (The Job).
Friend Me is a new multi-camera comedy centering on two best friends who move from Bloomington, Indiana to Los Angeles to work for Groupon. The show could be paired with 2 Broke Girls depending on what CBS decides to do with that show.
Partners is a multi-camera comedy about the friendship between a gay and straight guy. The sitcom's pilot was directed by the legendary James Burrows and stars Michael Urie, Sophia Bush, and David Krumholtz. Both these sitcoms sound right on CBS brand for either Monday or Thursday nights.
One of the highest profile pilots, the Sherlock Holmes update Elementary was picked up to series. The show is a present day take on the famous detective starring Jonny Lee Miller. It also has the unique casting of Lucy Liu as Watson. This has been a hot pilot the whole way through and sounds like a nice twist on the procedural format. It will no doubt get a high profile timeslot from CBS with lots of promotion.
Another high profile pilot - Vegas (formerly Untitled Ralph Lamb) - was also picked up. The period drama takes place in the 1960s and stars Dennis Quaid as the real life cowboy-turned Las Vegas Sheriff Ralph Lamb. The all-star cast includes Michael Chiklis, Jason O'Mara, and Carrie-Anne Moss. The show is a departure from CBS's standard procedural format and could be a gamble especially since period dramas haven't excelled on network TV. But it's worth a shot with such great buzz and such a great cast.
Also picked up was Made in Jersey (formerly Baby Big Shot). The show stars Janet Montgomery as a working class woman who gets a job at a Manhattan Law Firm. The show was somewhat quiet during pilot season but always right under the radar as most attention focused on Vegas and Elementary.
The final drama pickup was Golden Boy which stars Theo James as a man who makes a meteoric rise from officer to detective to New York City Police Commissioner. The show was a frontrunner early on when it cast Ryan Philippe in the lead role but then didn't get as much buzz once Philippe dropped out. Either this or Baby Big Shot will probably join the other two dramas in the fall while the other will be held for midseason.
Picked up for midseason was reality show The Job. The show comes from reality guru Mark Burnett and focuses on five contestants who compete to land a job at a prestigious company. The show might be viewed as a half season alternative for Undercover Boss which seems to run out of steam quickly each season.
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