Thursday, May 12, 2016

PILOT PICKUPS: Still Star-Crossed, Conviction, Time After Time, Notorious, Downward Dog, Imaginary Mary, Untitled Sarah Dunn

Along with many renewals and cancellations, ABC picked up seven shows today joining the already ordered Designated Survivor. ABC picked up dramas Still Star-Crossed, Conviction, Time After Time, and Notorious and comedies Downward Dog, Imaginary Mary, and the Untitled Sarah Dunn project (formerly The Second Fattest Housewife in Westport).

Still Star-Crossed marks Shondaland's fifth show on the ABC lineup joining Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder, and The Catch. The period drama tells the story of Romeo and Juliet's families following their deaths but presumably in a very Shondaland way. Still Star-Crossed was a pilot that filmed late and will only have a presentation for upfronts which makes me wonder if it will be held for midseason. It stars Wade Briggs, Anthony Head, Zuleikha Robinson, Lashana Lynch, Ebonee Noel, and more.

Conviction has been a hot pilot throughout the process. Starring Agent Carter's Hayley Atwell, it is centered on a former first daughter who begins work for the New York DA on helping cases where there is credible suspicion of wrongful conviction while also helping her powerful family. Conviction also stars Eddie Cahill, Shawn Ashmore, Merrin Dungey, Emily Kinney, Manny Montana, and Daniel DiTomasso. If ABC ever does a non-Shonda show, this might be it but 10pm Monday is also a possibility.

Time After Time is another time traveling drama (it seems to be a theme this year). From Kevin Williamson and based on a book and movie, it is centered on famed writer HG Wells traveling to present day Manhattan to pursue Jack the Ripper. Time After Time stars Freddie Stroma, Josh Bowman, Genesis Rodriguez, and Regina Taylor.

Notorious is based on criminal defense attorney Mark Geragos and cable news producer Wendy Walker. It focuses on how criminal law and the media interact and intersect and sounds very much like an ABC show. Notorious stars Piper Perabo, Sepideh Moafi, Kate Jennings Grant, and Aimee Teegarden among others.

Downward Dog was an odd pilot but one that always seemed to have a legitimate chance. It is centered on a struggling millennial and her philosophical dog. The offbeat pilot may be tough to schedule but sounds unique. Downward Dog stars Allison Tolman, Lucas Neff, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Barry Rothbart, and Mo Collins.

Imaginary Mary is centered on a woman who is falling in love with a man with three kids just as her childhood imaginary friend appears to help her with this transition in life. It sounds a little like Angel From Hell to me and is another sitcom attempt from Jenna Elfman, who has had trouble getting anything to stick since Dharma & Greg. Coming from Adam Goldberg of The Goldbergs, it also stars Stephen Schneider, Rachel Dratch, Nicholas Coombe, Matreya Scarrwener, and Erica Trembay.

Finally, the Untitled Sarah Dunn was a hot pilot in recent weeks. It stars Katy Mixon as a plump but confident housewife in upscale Westport, Connecticut. She tries to live with the many perfect mothers and perfect children in the community. Formerly called The Second Fattest Housewife in Westport, it also stars Diedrich Bader, Johnny Sequoyah, Daniel DiMaggio, Julia Butters, Carly Hughes, and Ali Wong.

These are not all the ABC orders but it's getting close. Some high profile passes include Marvel's Most Wanted, The Death of Eva Sofia Valdez, Pearl, and The Jury. The last two are being redeveloped.

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