Network Notes: CBS to Mind "Mentalist," While ABC Reups "Jim"?
Despite comments made yesterday by CBS topper Les Moonves that pilots were "overrated" and that he would vow to do fewer expensive pilots, CBS announced its first post-WGA strike pilot order.The Eye has handed out a pilot order to The Mentalist, about a psychic who works as an independent detective in concert with the police, using his unique skills to solve crimes.
Project, from Warner Bros. Television, is written and executive produced by Bruno Heller (Rome). David Nutter (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) is said to be in negotiations to direct the pilot and come on board as an executive producer.
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Meanwhile, ABC is circling According to Jim... yet again. The beleaguered sitcom appears to have nine lives: after it fell off of ABC's fall schedule last May, the network then ordered 18 episodes a month later.
Once again, ABC is deliberating about whether to put the sitcom out to pasture or to bring it back for yet another season. The Hollywood Reporter is quick to point out that, while ratings are way down on the series, studio ABC Television makes a mint from syndication sales for the sitcom, which appears to have run about 3000 episodes. Or at least it seems that way to me.
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Elsewhere at the Alphabet, Miss/Guided will finally launch next month after lingering in the limbo section of the network's lineup.Series, which stars Judy Greer as a hapless wannabe who returns to her high school alma mater as a guidance counselor but still can't fit in, is scheduled to launch on March 18th at 10:30 pm, immediately following the season premiere of Dancing with the Stars.
Miss/Guided will then move to its regular timeslot on Thursdays at 8 pm later that week, where it will air back-to-back episodes.
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Finally, the writers strike has claimed its first official casualty: NBC's long-running drama Las Vegas will not resume production now that the strike has ended.
NBC has decided not to restart shooting the series, currently in its fifth season, despite having its last original installment end on a "to be continued."
Ouch.
Finally, the writers strike has claimed its first official casualty: NBC's long-running drama Las Vegas will not resume production now that the strike has ended.
NBC has decided not to restart shooting the series, currently in its fifth season, despite having its last original installment end on a "to be continued."
Ouch.