CW 2011-12 Pilots

Richard Dower

OK. CW is in ratings freefall, since the Winter break GG, 90210, Hellcats are in epic decline, based on certain spoilers OTH is ending this year, based on plotpoints for the season 8 finale.

Life Unexpected is done, never coming back....my guess is CW will pick up 3 new shows + possible fourth for midseason.

CW has six pilots in the works:

Awakening
Heart Of Dixie
Heavenly
Cooper & Stone
Danni Lowinski
The Secret Circle

Based on buzz, casting, synopsis, writers and showrunners etc. my educated guess is CW will pick three of these up: The Secret Circle, Awakening and Heart Of Dixie......why?

For one thing Heart Of Dixie has Rachel Bilson (The OC) + she already has an established fanbase, the premise sounds alot like Doc Hollywood. Awakening has Walking Dead buzz going for it + people who've read the script say it's excellent and original.

Secret Circle is a no brainer, it's the people behind Vampire Diaries. CW has alot of spots to fill for next season with Smallville ending, Life Unexpected gone, i think Hellcats will be axed + OTH is ending.

Heavenly may be something for mid season, but it's not looking good for CW and they need a complete overhaul of the network, Dawn Ostroff is heading for the Ostroff center by end of June....thank the gods.

The network is in shambles, the only hits it has is TVD and Nikita, and Supernatural i guess...but i pay no attention to that show

Nice article on Ostroff/CW: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/cw_moves_to_replace_entertainment_by2JvnMd5JhTK9cxN3lUeK

Richard Dower

Review of the pilot scripts are in:

Awakening
Grade: B

While not exactly Emmy worthy this is the strongest of the three CW fantasy scripts and thus the most likely show to get the post-Vampire Diaries slot next fall. It follows EMO zombie lawyer Jenna in denial trying to be human in a relationship with a human whose father is a zombie hunter. He recently discovered his father is a zombie hunter but isn't aware Jenna is a zombie. There's a Zombie Hunter working for the government who keeps hunting the zombies throughout the pilot -through their facebook friends lists! It's more True Blood than Vampire Diaries in its setting and tone. It is very different from The Walking Dead. Zombies can transform from human form into full decay form at will and there are zombie parties where they kidnap humans and eat them while dancing to Michael Jackson's thriller. Jenna's parents and sister are also Zombies but are more accepting of their zombie identity.

Heart of Dixie
Grade: B

More in the style of Life Unexpected and WB dramas than most stuff on the CW. Good characters and development in the episode. It's filled with quirky characters. Dialogue is charming and heartfelt. This is much deeper show than anything on the CW and might be considered off brand. Usual CW love triangle develops in the pilot.



Cooper and Stone
Grade: C

Yes it's completely ridiculous but it embraces its stupidity. It sort of works for the CW think Blair Waldorf style cops. Depending on the execution this could actually be a decent guilty pleasure with lots of cool dialogue. Basically a buddy cop comedy about light headed bitches.


Danni Lewinski
Grade: C -

Pretty bland lawyer show and completely off brand for the CW, i doubt they'll pick this up.

Secret Circle
Grade: D
More childish and much less intense compared to the Vampire Diaries. This is more of a high school drama than a fantasy. Some mythology and mystery in the background but ultimately Awakening was a much stronger script and should receive the Vampire Diaries lead-in next season. No strong romance like in the Vampire Diaries to grip the audience


Heavenly
Grade: F
An abomination - think the usual CW love triangle but with an Angel, a pastor and a lawyer - yeah Christians might boycott this!
Lawyer Lilly gets an Angel working for her who actually saved her life as a child when she was drowning. It had a boring case of the week about reckless driving. Seriously how was this even ordered to pilot?
SpoilerTV

Taken from: SpoilerTV http://www.spoilertv.com/2011/03/exclusive-cw-pilot-script-reviews-for.html#ixzz1FlMcHe3Y

^ based on this.......LOL!, Heart Of Dixie seems the best, Awakening seems oddly weiird and mildly interesting, but the basic premise....zombies but not zombies?

Also Starring LeVar Burton

I read both of those posts, but still am none the wiser as to what any of those pilots are about - was there a press release for any of these pilots that will explain to me what they're about?

Richard Dower

^ no, it's someone reading the pilot scripts and giving his opinion, but it's very likely these are either early drafts or subject to alot of revision. The reviewer gave a basic overview....but by all accounts Awakening on PAPER seems the best, it's all down to execution.

I'm just not sure HOW Awakening works in practice, they are zombies but look human and can transform back and fourth????....has this ever been done/seen in zombie lore previously?

Heart Of Dixie as the reviewer said smells of old skool WB but could end up like Life Unexpected, but a huge plus is Rachel Bilson, that girl has such charm and warmth i can't see it not being picked up (but cancelled).

Cooper & Stone, sounds like Priveleged to me, if it pokes fun and dosen't take itself too serious + has clever/funny dialogue it MIGHT work, as much as i loved Alexandra Breckenridge on LUX i feel she's too mature looking for a show/network like CW.

More i read about Secret Circle + having Britt Robertson as the lead, hmmm....the description fitted with my inital gut feeling, in many ways it reminds of last years Betwixt.

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/devwatch.aspx?series=&network=cw&daycode=2&statuscode=1&genre=&studio

Tucker.Tim

I love how Richard claims a network is in 'shambles', while only reluctantly referring to the network's star product (Supernatural) and in the process reaffirming that he doesn't pay it any attention.

I highly doubt it has anything to do with the fact it's the only CW show that doesn't involve school girls or scantily clad women on a regular basis.. right?

Richard Dower

^ nah, it's more the fact the actors, premise and general nature of the show holds no interest for me.

Skerries

Have you tried to get into it?
it's one of the only good 'Sci-Fi' shows left at the moment

Richard Dower

^ nope...i've watch 2/e eps.and it just dosen't hold any interest for me, i don't like Jensen and Ackles, douchebags.

Interesting graph here comparing current CW shows to old WB/UPN shows: http://www.thetvaddict.com/2011/03/02/infographic-how-does-your-favorite-brilliant-but-canceled-wbupn-series-stack-up-against-the-cws-current-lineup-of-hits/

Richard Dower

Also cast in pilots are Cress Williams, who joined CW's Rachel Bilson-starring medical drama Hart of Dixie playing a potential rival to Bilson's character.

Richard Dower

Woah!...Thomas Decker (Terminator: TSCC) joins Secret Circle pilot!

http://www.tvline.com/2011/03/thomas-dekker-kevin-williamsons-secret-circle/

Titus Weaver joins Awakening, seems Meredith Hagner has also been cast, she's on Lights Out as Lights' oldest daughter....so i guess this is another sign Lights Out will be axed: http://www.tvline.com/2011/03/pilot-scoop-titus-welliver-has-an-awakening/

chalkitdown1

J & J are most certainly not douchebags. How dare you.

JP Liz V1

Supernatural is one show that has something for everyone drama, comedy, romance, action etc and Jensen, Jared and Misha are 3 of the best looking actors on tv and Jensen is one of the best acting talents on tv imo.

As for the new shows, Cooper and Stone and Hart of Dixie are the two I am most interested in but having Titus Welliver join the cast ups
Awakening big time for me so will check this out also.

Awakening
Two sisters (Lucy Griffiths and Meredith Hagner) face off during a zombie uprising. William Laurin, Glenn Davis, Howard T. Owens, Carolyn Bernstein and Todd Cohen will executive-produce. Brian Hallisay and Titus Welliver will also star.

Cooper and Stone
Two young female Chicago detectives find a balance between discussing fashion and catching criminals. Laurie Arent will executive-produce. Alex Breckenridge and Riley Smith will star.

Danni Lowinski
After being brushed off by big law firms, recent grad Danni decides to open her own practice in a shopping mall kiosk. The project comes from 90210's Jennie Snyder Urman. Amanda Walsh, Carla Gallo, Neal Bledsoe, George Dzundza and Utkarsh Ambudkar will star.

Heavenly
A young female attorney and a former angel-turned-human (Ben Aldridge) take on cases at a legal-aid clinic. Richard Hatem, Rob Doherty and Ross Fineman executive-produce. Elizabeth Ho will also star.

Hart of Dixie
A New York City doctor (Rachel Bilson) inherits a small medical practice in the South. Gossip Girl's Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage will executive-produce. Jaime King, Cress Williams, Nancy Travis and Wilson Bethel will also star.

Secret Circle
Based on the three-book series from The Vampire Diaries author L.J. Smith, a young witch (Britt Robertson) is the key to a battle between good and evil. Diaries' Kevin Williamson will executive-produce. Thomas Dekker will also star.

Richard Dower

http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/03/11/cw-fall-development-witches-zombies-and-law-dogs/

Ostroff chimes in, fans will REJOICE when she leaves in June!

Richard Dower

Vanessa Ferlito has landed the second title role opposite Alex Breckenridge in CW's pilot Cooper & Stone. The pilot, from writer/exec producer Laurie Arent and CBS TV Studios, is about Jenna Cooper (Breckenridge) and Stone (Ferlito), two smart female detectives on Chicago’s North Side who are best friends, equally adept at discussing fashion, music and pop culture as they are solving homicides. Ferlito, repped by Innovative and attorney Carlos Goodman, did stints on 24 and CSI: NY and was recently seen in Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.

Source: Deadline

Richard Dower

Lauren Cohan joins Heavenly + others: http://www.tvline.com/2011/03/cw-lauren-cohan-kevin-zegers-ryan-eggold/

More interesting casting, great to see FNL actors in such demand, well deserved:

Scott Porter has been tapped as the male lead opposite Rachel Bilson in CW's drama pilot Hart of Dixie. The project, from writer Leila Gerstein, WBTV and Fake Empire, is a comedic drama centered on Zoe Hart (Bilson), a young New York City doctor who inherits a medical practice in a small Southern town inhabited by an eclectic and eccentric group of characters. Porter, repped by Gersh and Brillstein, will play Zoe's romantic interest, a charming and gallant local attorney who is engaged to marry, the daughter of Zoe's competitor at the medical practice.

Australian actress Phoebe Tonkin has joined the CW/WBTV one-hour pilot The Secret Circle. Written by Andrew Miller and Kevin Williamson and based on the book series from L.J. Smith, Secret Circle tells the story of a young woman (Britt Robertson) who moves to a new town and discovers that not only is she a witch and part of a secret coven, but she’s also the key that will unlock a centuries-old battle of good versus evil. Tonkin, repped by ICM and Australia's Marquee Management, will play Faye, part of the witches' circle.

Richard Dower

Shelley Hennig (Days of Our Lives) and Jessica Parker Kennedy (Smallville) have joined the CW one-hour pilot The Secret Circle, about Cassie (Britt Robertson), who moves to a new town and discovers that not only is she a witch and part of a secret coven, but she’s also the key that will unlock a centuries-old battle of good versus evil. Hennig, repped by Gersh and Alchemy, will play the head of the witches circle who quickly befriends Cassie. Kennedy, repped by Gersh and Armada Partners, will play another member of the coven of witches.


Marco Grazzini has booked two pilots this season. He is a regular in ABC's Poe, a crime procedural following Edgar Allan Poe (Chris Egan), the world’s very first detective, as he uses unconventional methods to investigate dark mysteries in 1840s Boston. Grazzini will play the beau of Poe's muse Sarah (Tabrett Bethell). Additionally, Grazzini, repped by Ambition Talent & Zero Gravity Management, will guest star in CW's Awakening.

DeWitt

Devon Sawa had a meeting with Kevin Williamson yesterday, I'm wondering if he's going to be a part of Secret Circle too.

JP Liz V1

DeWitt wrote: »

Devon Sawa had a meeting with Kevin Williamson yesterday, I'm wondering if he's going to be a part of Secret Circle too.

I'd prefer him on Nikita full time

DeWitt

Same here. We'll see where season 2 takes us.

Richard Dower

Natasha Henstridge has joined Kevin Williamson's drama pilot for the CW The Secret Circle. It centers on Cassie (Britt Robertson). who moves to a new town and discovers that not only is she a witch and part of a secret coven, but she’s also the key that will unlock a centuries-old battle of good versus evil. Henstridge will play Dawn Chamberlain, Vice Principal of New Salem High School, who was once a friend of Cassie’s mother and knows all about the secret coven of witches that has ruled the town for over 300 years. Henstridge, repped by Paradigm and Mosaic, recently did an arc on Lifetime's Drop Dead Diva.


Louis Hunter has signed up for a role in The CW's pilot Secret Circle.

The drama, which is based on books by The Vampire Diaries author LJ Smith, stars Britt Robertson as a young girl called Cassie who discovers that she is a witch.

Zap2It claims that Hunter has now been cast in the drama as Cassie's neighbour Nick Armstrong.

Nick, who is described as a "bad boy" and possible drug dealer, is also a member of Cassie's coven.

Hunter is a relative newcomer but did star in the Australian series Out Of The Blue in 2008.

Secret Circle, which is being executive produced by Vampire Diaries showrunner Kevin Williamson, also stars Thomas Dekker, Phoebe Tonkin, Shelley Hennig and Jessica Parker Kennedy.

Sources: Deadline; DS

Richard Dower

Showrunners exit Secret Circle, wouldn't read too much into this: http://www.deadline.com/2011/03/elizabeth-craft-and-sarah-fain-exit-cw-pilot-secret-circle/

Richard Dower

Woo!....Gale Harold, who has been recurring on the CW's Hellcats this season, has joined another CW project, drama pilot The Secret Circle. Co-written by Kevin Williamson, it centers on Cassie (Britt Robertson), who moves to a new town and discovers that not only is she a witch and part of a secret coven, but she’s also the key that will unlock a centuries-old battle of good versus evil. Harold, repped by Gersh and Principal, will play Thomas Meade, the father of Diane, the head of the witch circle and Cassie's friend.

JP Liz V1

http://www.tvline.com/2011/03/pilot-scoop-scott-porter-hart-of-dixie/

Friday Night Lights and Good Wife dynamo Scott Porter has joined the cast of Hart of Dixie, the hour-long comedic drama pilot produced by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage and starring Rachel Bilson.
Hart finds Bilson playing Zoe, a young New York City doctor who inherits a medical practice in a small Southern town inhabited by an eclectic group of characters.
Porter, whose extremely well received Good Wife stint comes to an end later this month, will play a longtime resident of the sleepy town who develops an intense connection with Bilson’s MD. Too bad he’s engaged to the daughter of Zoe’s chief rival at the medical practice.

Richard Dower

Ashley Crow has joined the pilot for The Secret Circle.

Another "Heroes" alum has joined The CW's "Secret Circle" pilot.

Zap2it has confirmed that Ashley Crow, who played Sandra Bennet on the NBC show, has been cast as Jane Blake, the main character Cassie's (Britt Robertson) grandmother.

Richard Dower

Pilot script review of Heavenly....expect big spoilers: http://travisyanan.blogspot.com/2011/04/pilot-script-review-heavenly.html