Every year around this time the networks pin all of their monetary aspirations on several pilots that they hope will eventually be the next Friends. The 2013 pilots have been released and several trends have floated to the top.
1. Single-camera Comedies With the critical success of comedies like The Office and Parks and Recreation, multi-camera comedies look trite and Cosby-esque. The single-camera show is cleaner looking, gives more opportunity for actor reaction and looks less robotic. While multi-camera comedies are still plentiful, of the new shows being released most of them are hopping on the single-camera bus.
2. 30-something All Over Again It's not surprising that with the 20-something market tapped out someone might have the grand idea that another cohort needed some TV love. The influx of new middle age (oh lord) focused shows remind us that 30-year olds are just as lost and mixed up as those a decade younger. Twenty-somethings shouldn't have all the unprotected sex, should they?
3. Old Standbys We've got new shows from trusted producer/creators Shane Brennan (NCIS), Lorne Michaels (SNL), Chuck Lorre (Two and a Half Men), Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, other things awesome), Mike Schur and Dan Goor (Parks and Recreation), J.J. Abrams (Lost) and Jason Katims (Parenthood), among others. There are also quite a few famous names that the networks are banking on - Rebecca Romijn, Andy Samberg, Ken Marino (yes!) Allison Janney and many other household names.
So what's coming out to look forward to and what is going to sink really quickly? Here's my predications - and note that I was totally wrong about Revolution, which I still say is a terrible show.
I give you the 2013 comedies
ABC
How the Hell Am I Normal? (previously How the F Am I Normal) Logline: A dysfunctional Wonder Years set in the simpler times of the 1980s, inspired by Adam F. Goldberg's childhood. Cast: Wendi McLendon-Covey Team: W/EP Adam F. Goldberg (Breaking In); EP Doug Robinson, EP/D Seth Gordon Studio: Sony Pictures Television, Happy Madison Format: Single-camera Location: Los Angeles Thumbs Up! I don't know why, but this sounds like it could be OK.
Mixology Logline: A high-concept single-camera comedy from the writers behind The Hangover set in the world of a sexy Manhattan bar chronicling the exploits of singles in search of love -- all over the course of one night. Cast: Team: W/EP Jon Lucas, Scott Moore (The Hangover) Studio: ABC Studios Format: Single-camera Location: Thumbs way, way down. This will be canceled immediately.
Pulling Logline: The story of three dysfunctional women in their 30s living their lives the way they want, even if society tells them they should have it all figured out by this point. Cast: Team: W/EP Lee Eisenberg, Gene Stupnitsky (Bad Teacher); EP Aaron Kaplan, Sharon Horgan, Dennis Kelly Studio: ABC Studios, Kaplan Entertainment Format: Single-camera Location: Sorry ladies, unless you get Lizzy Caplan to star I ain't watching.
Spy Logline: Based on the British series of the same name, a well-intentioned father of a highly intelligent and verbal son, who also happens to be his complete opposite, inadvertently takes a job at the secret service in order to prove himself a worthy father. Cast: Team: W/EP Simeon Goulden; EP Jimmy Mulville, Helen Williams Studio: ABC Studios, Hat Trick Productions Format: Single-camera Location: Thumbs down. This sounds like a bad conglomeration between Spy Kids and True Lies.
Super Fun Night (rolled from CBS last year) Logline: Revolves around three nerdy female friends, including Pitch Perfect's Rebel Wilson, on a "funcomfortable" quest to have "super fun" every Friday night. Cast: Rebel Wilson, Kelen Coleman, Kevin Bishop, Lauren Ash, Liza Lapira Team: W/Co-EP Rebel Wilson; EP Conan O'Brien, David Kissinger, Jeff Ross, EP/D John Riggi Studio: Warner Bros. Television, Conaco Productions Format: Single-camera Location: Los Angeles Yes! Anything Rebel Wilson does is brilliant.
Trophy Wife Logline: A reformed party girl finds herself with an instant family when she falls in love with a man who has three manipulative children and two judgmental ex-wives. Cast: Bradley Whitford, Malin Akerman, Marcia Gay Harden, Michaela Watkins, Natalie Morales, Ryan Lee Team: W/EP Emily Halpern (Private Practice), Sarah Haskins; EP Gene Stupnitsky, Lee Eisenberg; D Jason Moore Studio: ABC Studios Format: Single-camera Location: Los Angeles No way, thumbs way down. Wait, is that Natalie Morales of the Today Show? The untitled Cullens project Logline: When Terry Gannon, a recently divorced, single mother, temporarily moves in with her estranged father (James Caan), a beer swilling former baseball player, she reluctantly starts coaching her son's underdog little league team and is drawn back into the world of sports she vowed to leave behind. Cast: James Caan Team: W/EP Mark Cullen, Robb Cullen (Las Vegas); EP Aaron Kaplan Studio: 20th Television, Kaplan Entertainment Format: Single-camera Location: James Caan as a divorced drunk? I'll take it!
CBS
Bad Teacher Logline: Based on the film, a sexy, foul-mouthed divorcee becomes a teacher to find her next husband. Cast: Team: W/EP Hilary Winston (Community); EP Lee Eisenberg, Gene Stupinsky (the original Bad Teacher screenwriters), Sam Hansen, Jimmy Miller Studio: Sony Pictures Television, Mosiac Format: Single-camera Location: Bad Teacher was a bad movie. Now Bad Santa, I'll watch that every week.
Ex-Men Logline: A young guy (Chris Smith) who finds camaraderie living among the more experienced guys he meets in a short-term rental complex. Cast: Chris Smith, Kal Penn, Jerry O'Connell, Tony Shalhoub, Rebecca Brooks Team: W/EP/D Rob Greenberg (How I Met Your Mother); EP Eric and Kim Tannenbaum Studio: CBS Television, Tannenbaum Co. Format: Single-camera Location: Los Angeles Pass.
Friends With Better Lives Logline: A group of thirtysomething friends who each think the other has it better. Cast: Team: W/EP Dana Klein (Friends); EP Aaron Kaplan Studio: 20th Television, Kapital Entertainment Format: Multicamera Location: And what do you suppose these thirtysomethings will find out? Hmm... I wonder. Thumbs down!
Mom Logline: Revolves around a newly sober single mom (Scary Movie's Anna Faris) who tries to pull her life together in Napa Valley. Cast: Anna Faris, Allison Janney Team: W/EP Chuck Lorre, Eddie Gorodetsky, Gemma Baker (Two and a Half Men) Studio: Warner Bros. Television, Chuck Lorre Productions Format: Multicamera Location: Los Angeles Anna Faris can walk around and moo like a cow for 30 minutes and I will watch that.
The McCarthys Logline: A family comedy about a loud, sports-crazed Boston clan. Cast: Team: W/co-EP Brian Gallivan (Are You There, Chelsea?); EP Will Gluck Studio: Sony Pictures Television, Olive Bridge Format: Single-camera Location: Los Angeles NO!
