or


[08/01/03 - 12:00 AM]
Trio Slates Failed Pilots for September
By Brian Ford Sullivan (TFC)

CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- Trio will celebrate failure in September as the network plans to dust off a handful of pilots that never made the cut as part of its new "Brilliant But Cancelled" ongoing series. The ten rare pilots include some of the early TV work of George Clooney, Edie Falco, Kiefer Sutherland, James Spader and Steven Spielberg. Also as part of the launch, Trio will debut a new documentary entitled "Brilliant But Canceled: Pilot Season" narrated by Paul Rudd ("Friends").

Here's a breakdown of everything you can expect from Trio beginning in September (taken from the network's press release):

LOOKWELL! (Monday, September 1 at 8:00/7:00c): This camp classic, written by Conan O'Brien and Robert Smigel, stars Adam West as a washed up former TV detective who decides to use his fake crime fighting skills to solve real crimes. (NBC, 1993)

BEAT COPS (Monday, September 1 at 8:30/7:30c): Filmed in a cinema-v�rit� style and without a laugh track, this low-budget half-hour comedy stars Sam Seder and Jon Benjamin as two NYPD desk cops sent out on the holiday beat. The two clueless policemen are oblivious to the city and the volatile citizens around them. Seder co-wrote the pilot with Charles Fisher. (FOX, 2002)

BRILLIANT BUT CANCELLED: PILOT SEASON (Monday, September 1 at 9:00/8:00c): Co-produced with World of Wonder, examines the pitch process - from idea to show order � and programs that should have, could have and would have, but never did, make it to air. The documentary showcases previously un-aired clips from pilots that have never seen the light of day. The full story behind these landmark pilots comes from producers, writers and stars caught up in the trenches of pilot season including Adam West (star, "Lookwell"); Conan O'Brien (creator, "Lookwell"), Warren Littlefield (former NBC Entertainment President); Darren Star (creator, "Sex and the City"); Marshall Herskovitz (creator, "thirtysomething"), Tom Fontana (creator, "Oz") and Bernie Brillstein (producer, "Just Shoot Me").

L.A. CONFIDENTIAL (Monday, September 1 at 10:00/9:00c): Starring Kiefer Sutherland as embattled police detective Jack Vincennes, this dramatic pilot is based on the critically acclaimed film of the same name and follows the glamour and seediness of 1950's Los Angeles. Eric Roberts is also featured. (FOX, 2000)

FARGO (Tuesday, September 2 at 9:00/8:00c): Based on the 1996 Academy Award winning film by Joel and Ethan Coen and starring pre-"Sopranos" Edie Falco, this pilot brings the very pregnant chief of police, Marge Gunderson, to the small screen. Developed by Bruce Paltrow and Robert Palm, and directed by Kathy Bates, the series features the quirky characters of a small Midwestern town and the investigative prowess of Chief Gunderson. (CBS, 1997)

DEAR DIARY (Tuesday, September 2 at 10:00/9:00c): A sort of love letter to New York City, the pilot chronicles a day in the life of a married New Yorker, played by Bebe Neuwirth. A reworked version of the show won the Oscar for best short film. (ABC, 1996)

SICK IN THE HEAD (Tuesday, September 2 at 10:30/9:30c): In this screwball comedy, a newbie shrink gets a suicide case as one of his first patients. Starring Kevin Corrigan, Andrea Martin, David Krumholtz as a new psychiatrist and Amy Poehler as hispatient. (FOX, 1999)

REWRITE FOR MURDER (Wednesday, September 3 at 10:00/9:00c): Pam Dawber stars as a prim female mystery writer who clashes with ex-con George Clooney both on and off screen when they are forced together to help revitalize her television show. (CBS, 1991)

SAVAGE (Thursday, September 4 at 9:00/8:00c): Steven Spielberg directs this pilot about a television news magazine show. Starring Martin Landau and Barbara Bain (real-life husband and wife) as an investigative journalist and a television producer for the politically charged television show. The pilot also guest stars Dabney Coleman and Will Geer. (NBC, 1973)

DINER (Friday, September 5 at 9:00/8:00c): Based on Barry Levinson's 1982 hit movie set in 1960 Baltimore, the pilot focuses on 5 men who are making an awkward transition into adulthood and who gather nightly at the local diner to hash out problems and grapple with responsibilities. Starring James Spader, Michael Madsen, Paul Reiser, and Michael Binder. (CBS, 1983)

BLACK BART (Friday, September 5 at 9:30/8:30c): Based on Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles, Louis Gossett, Jr. and Steve Landesberg star in this pilot that chronicles the adventures of a black sheriff and his quick-draw deputy working in a small, bigoted Arizona town in the Old West. (1975)

Each of the pilots will be repeated at various times during the week.

Then beginning Monday, September 8, "Brilliant But Cancelled" will being its regular run of weeknights at 8:00/7:00c. The one-hour block will feature one drama or two comedies from the network's current stable of programs such as "The Ernie Kovacs Show," "East Side/West Side," "The PJs," "God, The Devil and Bob" and "Gun," all of which have previously been showcased on the channel. The network has also acquired one "new" brilliant but cancelled series for its repeat stable:

BAKERSFIELD P.D. (1993): When successful D.C. detective Paul Gigante moves to the small town of Bakersfield, he joins the madcap adventures of the quirky police squad. From a Captain that can't make any decisions to a partner that is a little too obsessed with TV cop shows, this squad of misfits and imbeciles provides plenty of sitcom fodder. Ron Eldard, Giancarlo Esposito, Chris Mulkey and Brian Doyle Murray star. The series makes its cable premiere on Monday, September 8, with a new episode airing each night during the week at 8:00 p.m., ET/PT.

For complete showtimes of all its series, check the network's official web site for more information.





  [august 2003]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· FRIENDS (NBC)
· GOD, THE DEVIL AND BOB (NBC)
· JUST SHOOT ME (NBC)
· OZ (HBO)
· PJS, THE (WB)
· SEX AND THE CITY (HBO)
· SOPRANOS, THE (HBO)





[11/26/24 - 12:03 PM]
Netflix Top 10 Week of Nov. 18: "The Merry Gentlemen" and "A Man on the Inside" Take the Top Spots
Season 2 of the animated series "Arcane" laid siege to #2 (6.4M views), while Season 1 took #5 with 2.2M views.

[11/26/24 - 11:44 AM]
TNT Sports to Debut "Evolve and Flex" with Lance Fresh Friday, Dec. 6, on truTV and Max
The show is hosted by sports-lifestyle expert Lance Fresh and features candid conversations with guests to discuss how life's events have contributed to their sense of style.

[11/26/24 - 11:19 AM]
MGM+ Announces 2025 Premiere Date for "NFL Icons" Season Four
In the upcoming fourth season, the docuseries will feature Pro Football Hall of Famers Joe Montana, DeMarcus Ware, Kurt Warner and Gale Sayers.

[11/26/24 - 10:24 AM]
Video: "Rogue Heroes" (MGM+ 2025 Series) Season 2 Tease
"Rogue Heroes" is a dramatized account of how the world's greatest Special Forces unit, the SAS, was formed under extraordinary circumstances in the darkest days of World War Two.

[11/26/24 - 10:09 AM]
Video: Acorn TV Releases Official Trailer for Second Season of Hit Australian Drama, "Darby and Joan"
The new season debuts with a two-episode premiere, exclusively on Acorn TV, on December 30, followed by weekly episodes through January 27.

[11/26/24 - 10:01 AM]
ABC News Studios Announces Fourth Season of Hit True-Crime Series "Wild Crime," Streaming Dec. 5 Only on Hulu
"Wild Crime: Eleven Skulls" delves into the haunting 2012 disappearance of Samantha Koenig, an 18-year-old Anchorage barista last seen leaving her place of work with an unknown man on a dark winter night.

[11/26/24 - 08:32 AM]
Bravo Greenlights "Vanderpump Rules" Season 12 with a New Group of SUR-vers
In addition, "Vanderpump Rules" will celebrate the past decade of heartbreaks, friendship rifts and scandals with a retrospective special highlighting the past 11 seasons.

[11/26/24 - 08:30 AM]
Video: Paramount+ and Nickelodeon Reveal Teaser, First-Look Images and Premiere Date for "Henry Danger The Movie"
"Henry Danger The Movie" will be available to stream in the U.S. on Paramount+ Friday, January 17, and premiere on Nickelodeon that same day at 7 p.m. (ET/PT).

[11/26/24 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Makayla's Voice: A Letter to the World" - Official Teaser - Netflix
Makayla is a teenage girl who has spent her life grappling with a rare form of autism that rendered her essentially nonverbal until her parents, filled with unwavering belief in their daughter's potential, embarked on a transformative journey to discover the true depth of Makayla's inner world.

[11/26/24 - 08:01 AM]
HBO Announces Ian Bonhote & Peter Ettedgui's Award-Winning "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story," Debuting December 7 on HBO and Max
The critically acclaimed film had its world premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and recently won six Critics Choice Documentary Awards.

[11/26/24 - 08:00 AM]
HGTV Greenlights Gutsy Las Vegas Renovation Series "Sin City Rehab" (wt) Starring Indomitable Designer Alison Victoria
The eight-episode series will document Alison, best known for her Emmy-nominated series "Windy City Rehab," taking the biggest gamble of her career as she expands her successful design business out West.

[11/26/24 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "The Manny" Season 2 - Release Date Announcement - Netflix
A busy executive hires a cowboy to care for her kids in a moment of panic. Little does she know he'll challenge her views of gender roles - and of love.

[11/26/24 - 06:58 AM]
"The Talk" Series Finale to Air Live on Friday, December 20
Over the show's 15 season run, "The Talk" will have aired 2,993 episodes, garnered over 70 awards/nominations, promoted over 10,800 guests, gifted over $103 million in giveaways, and welcomed over 250,000 audience members.

[11/26/24 - 06:01 AM]
"Star Wars: Skeleton Crew" Will Debut Early - Watch the Two-Episode Premiere Streaming December 2 Only on Disney+!
Look for new weekly episodes every Tuesday starting at 6 p.m. PT on December 10.

[11/26/24 - 06:01 AM]
Paramount+ Sets December 9 Premiere for Docuseries on American Soccer Star Christian Pulisic
The first episode will premiere in December, while episodes two and three will premiere in January.