Videoage International March/April 2021

14 March/April 2021 V I D E O A G E New U.S. TV Season Pilots (Continued from Cover) but in February, FilmLA received 777 film permit applications, an increase of 43.1 percent compared to the prior month. A late-month surge in production established last month as the third-busiest FilmLA has experienced since last June, although activity remains around 40 percent below normal for this time of year. After health officials gave production per- mission to move forward, applications peaked in October (with 880 applications), then declined to 813 in November, 613 in December, and just 543 in January. In February, SAG-AFTRA and the Producers Guild of America agreed that effective February 1, filming was clear to resume. The list of pilots indicated below is a clear sign that preparations for the 2021-2022 U.S. TV season is proceeding as close to usual as possible in Los Angeles, as well as in other U.S. cities and internationally. During the Upfront presentations (to be held May 17-20), the U.S. broadcast TV networks will unveil their picks for the new season’s line-up. ABC (Comedy) Adopted (2020 holdover) Prod Co: ABC Signature, Kimmelot Writers/Exec Prods: Shawn Vance, Daril Fannin, Jimmy Kimmel Premise: When a Green Beret returns home from military service, he and his family struggle with the challenges of adopting his new brother, a 12-year-old Russian boy. Inspired by a true story. Black Don’t Crack Prod Co: ABC Signature, JuVee Productions, Wilmore Films Writer/Exec Prod: Regina Hicks Exec Prods: Viola Davis, Julius Tennon, Larry Wilmore Premise: Three former sorority sisters lost touch after college and reunite during a pivotal point in their lives. They realize sometimes it’s OK to crack and when you do, no one will be there for you like your friends. Bucktown (pilot pick-up) Prod Co: ABC Signature Writers/Exec Prod: Emily Wilson Exec Prods: Sara Gilbert, Tom Werner, Marc Provissiero, Mandy Summers Premise: After being dumped by her boyfriend and kicked out of her apartment on the eve of a big promotion, Amy finds refuge at her mom’s house in the blue-collar neighborhood where she grew up. Harrity Elementary Prod Co: Delicious Non-Sequitur Productions, Warner Bros. Television, 20th Television Writer/Exec Prod: Quinta Brunson Exec Prods: Justin Halpern, Patrick Schumacker Premise: Workplace comedy starring Quinta Brunson about a group of teachers brought together at one of the worst public schools in the country, simply because they love teaching. Maggie Prod Co: 20th Television Writers/Exec Prods: Maggie Mull, Justin Adler Exec Prod: Evan Hayes Premise: Based on Tim Curcio’s short film of the same name, the comedy revolves around a young woman who tries to cope with life while coming to terms with her abilities as a psychic. Untitled Alec Baldwin-Kelsey Grammer co- medy (straight-to-series) Prod Co: 20th Television Writers/Exec Prods: Chris Lloyd, Vali Chandrasekaran Exec Prods: Alec Baldwin, Kelsey Grammer, Jason Schrift, Matt DelPiano, Tom Russo, Adam Griffin, Jeff Morton Premise: Revolves around three guys who were roommates in their 20s until their warring egos drove them apart. They reunite decades later for one more run at the lives they’ve always wanted. The Wonder Years (pilot pick-up) Prod Co: 20th Television, Lee Daniels Entertainment Writer/Exec Prod: Saladin Patterson Exec Prods: Lee Daniels, Marc Velez, Fred Savage, Neal Marlens Premise: While the original ABC series starred Fred Savage and revolved around a 1960s white suburban middle-class family, the net’s new take focuses on a Black middle-class family in Montgomery, Alabama, in the same era. ABC (Drama) Acts of Crime Prod Co: Universal Content Productions, ABC Signature, Esmail Corp. Writer/Exec Prod/Director: Sam Esmail Exec Prod: Chad Hamilton Premise: A unique spin on the crime procedural. Dark Horse Prod Co: Keshet Studios, Universal Television Writer/Exec Prod: William Jehu Garroutte Exec Prods: Jessica Goldberg, Peter Traugott, Avi Nir, Alon Shtruzman, Darren Dale, Miranda Dear, Rachel Griffiths Premise: Follows Alex Irving, a passionate Indigenous woman, on her unconventional journey into politics. Based on the Australian series Total Control. Epic (pilot pick-up) Prod Co: ABC Signature Writer/Exec Prod: Brigitte Hales Exec Prods: Adam Horowitz, Edward Kitsis Premise: A romantic anthology that reinvents fairy tales for a new audience. National Parks (pilot pick-up) Prod Co: A+E Studios, 20th Television, Anthony Hemingway Productions Writers/Exec Prods: Kevin Costner, Aaron Helbing, Jon Baird Exec Prods: Barry Jossen, Tana Jamieson, Rod Lake, Ivan Cohen, Ken Halsband Director/Exec Prod: Anthony Hemingway Premise: Revolves around a small group of elite NPS agents as they solve crimes while protecting these national treasures. Promised Land Prod Co: ABC Signature, Lit Entertainment Group Writer: Matt Lopez Exec Prod: Adam Kolbrenner Premise: An epic, generation-spanning drama about two Latinx families vying for wealth and power in California’s Sonoma Valley. Queens (pilot pick-up) Prod Co: ABC Signature Writer/Exec Prod: Zahir McGhee Exec Prod: Sabrina Wind Premise: Estranged and out-of-touch, four wo- men in their 40s reunite for a chance to recapture their fame and regain the swagger they had as a hit 1990s hip-hop group. Triage (2020 holdover) Prod Co: 20th Television, OutEast Entertainment Writer/Exec Prod: David Cornue Showrunner/Exec Prod: Erica Messer Director/Exec Prod: Jon M. Chu Exec Prods: Steven Marrs, Courtney Hazlett, Caitlin Foito Premise: A character-driven medical drama that follows a pioneering surgeon, Finley Briar, over three distinct decades at the same hospital. CBS (Comedy) Ghosts (pilot pick-up) (2020 holdover) Prod Co: CBS Studios, Lionsgate Television, BBC Studios, Monumental Television Writers/Exec Prods: Joe Port, Joe Wiseman Exec Prods: Mathew Baynton, Jim Howick, Simon Farnaby, Laurence Rickard, BenWillbond, Martha Howe-Douglas, Alison Carpenter, Debra Hayward, Alison Owen, Angie Stephenson Premise: A struggling young couple’s dreams come true when they inherit a country house, only to find it’s both falling apart and inhabited by deceased previous residents. Based on the British comedy series of the same name. Jury Duty Prod Co: CBS Studios, Fulwell 73, Big Talk Productions Writers/Exec Prods: Frank Pines, Dana Klein, Stephanie Furman Premise: A group of jurors are sequestered together until they all agree on a verdict and they can’t even agree on lunch. The Three of Us (2020 holdover) Prod Co: CBS Studios, Fulwell 73 Writer/Exec Prod: Frank Pines Exec Prods: Ben Winston, Jeff Grosvenor, James Corden Premise: Adult siblings who are children of divorce must circle the wagons when their sister’s husband unexpectedly announces he wants to call it quits on their marriage. Untitled Sarah Cooper/Cindy Chupack Project Prod Co: CBS Studios, PatMa Productions Writers: Sarah Cooper, Cindy Chupack Exec Prods: Nina Tassler, Denise Di Novi, Joan Boorstein Premise: Inspired by Cooper’s book How to be (Continued on Page 16)