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Exclusive: ABC is developing a character-based procedural drama from top TV and film writer Drew Goddard and ABC Signature where Goddard and his Goddard Textiles are based. I hear the project, based on TF1’s popular detective series Hip (High Intellectual Potential), has been a standout and is looking good for a fall “second cycle” round of pilot pickups, which ABC is planning. According to sources, the network has an early, mid-October script delivery date deadline for a few projects that are in more advanced stages of development to contend for about 2-3 pilot orders. The Drew Goddard drama, which is considered a frontrunner for a spot, is targeted for the 2023-24 season.

The premise of the untitled drama, written by Goddard, evokes Good Will Hunting. In it, a single mom with three kids and an exceptional mind helps solve an unsolvable crime when she rearranges some...

ABC has given a series order to the spy drama “The Company You Keep” starring “This Is Us” alum Milo Ventimiglia, Variety has learned.

The series was originally ordered to pilot as part of ABC’s 2022 pilot season slate. It will now debut at midseason on ABC in 2023.

The show is based on the Korean series “My Fellow Citizens” from Korean Broadcasting System. In the American version, a night of passion leads to love between con-man Charlie (Ventimiglia) and undercover CIA officer Emma (Catherine Haena Kim), who are unknowingly on a collision course professionally. While Charlie ramps up the “family business” so he can get out for good, Emma’s closing in on the vengeful criminal who holds Charlie’s family debts in-hand – forcing them to reckon with the lies they’ve told so they can save themselves and their families from disastrous consequences.

The show also stars William Fichtner as Leo,...

ABC has opted not to pick up the drama pilot “Criminal Nature” to series.

This is now the second time the project has been passed over at the broadcast network. A different iteration of the pilot with a different creative team — which included Kevin Costner as co-writer — was in the works at ABC in 2021 before being axed in July.

The new version, which had been titled “Criminal Nature,” was part of ABC’s 2022 pilot season slate. It was described as a soapy procedural set in the stunning world of America’s great outdoors. The story revolved around the tangled, messy lives of the agents who work for the Investigative Services Branch (Isb) — an elite law enforcement unit responsible for solving all serious crimes that occur in our country’s 81,000 square miles of protected land.

Parker Young, Michaela McManus, Julia Chan, Ian Duff, and Yasha Jackson starred in the pilot. “Criminal Nature...

The drama series “Will Trent” has officially been ordered at ABC, Variety has learned.

The show was originally ordered to pilot at ABC in February as past of the broadcaster’s 2022 pilot season slate. The show will debut at midseason for ABC during the 2022-2023 broadcast season.

Based on Karin Slaughter’s “Will Trent” novel series, the show follows Special Agent Will Trent (Ramón Rodríguez) of the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (Gbi). Trent was abandoned at birth and endured a harsh coming-of-age in Atlanta’s overwhelmed foster care system. But now, determined to use his unique point of view to make sure no one is abandoned like he was, Will Trent has the highest clearance rate in the Gbi.

Along with Rodríguez, the show also stars Erika Christensen as Angie Polaski, Iantha Richardson as Faith Mitchell, Jake McLaughlin as Michael Ormewood, and Sonja Sohn as Amanda Wagner.

The pilot was...

Caterina Scorsone is sharing her excitement for Season 19 of ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy—with the script for the premiere episode in hand. The series is set to return on Thursday, Oct. 6 at 9 p.m. Et.

Scorsone, who portrays Amelia Shepherd in the long-running medical drama, also got fans riled up while describing what they can expect from the newly added cast members including Harry Shum Jr., Adelaide Kane, Alexis Floyd, Niko Terho, and Midori Francis.

“Memorizing lines for #1901. It’s here. There will be updates. The classic cast is ready and revving. The new cast additions are exciting and gorgeous. Inside and out. Here we go,” she tweeted on Saturday.

Memorizing lines for #1901. It’s here. There will be updates. The classic cast is ready and revving. The new cast additions are exciting and gorgeous. Inside and out. Here we go.

— Caterina Scorsone (@caterinatweets) July 31, 2022 Related Story Harry Shum Jr.

This Is Us star Chris Sullivan will not be returning to broadcast television just yet as ABC has passed on The Son in Law, a comedy pilot starring the Emmy-nominated actor. According to TV Line, the network will not be moving forward with Sullivan’s comedy pilot, which was set to revolve around Jake (Sullivan), a divorced, working-class plumbing contractor, and his 21-year-old daughter. The show would see Jake finding new love with a woman named Asha, who is basically South Asian royalty — but he would find resistance from Asha’s controlling parents, who do not approve of the match. In addition to Sullivan, the cast also included Reema Sampat, Meera Simhan, Evangeline Young, Anupam Kher, and Robert Bailey Jr. The pilot was written and executive produced by Ajay Saghal, alongside Jake Kasdan and Melvin Mar, who also served as exec producers. Adding to the bad news, ABC has also...

Update 3:30 Pm: There have been last minute developments as ABC is finalizing its decisions on off-cycle 2022 pilots. Drama Will Trent, which had been garnering the strongest buzz since early summer, has started to cool off. While Will Trent and The Company You Keep both appeared likely to go series, with writers rooms already up and running on both, I now hear that this is still a real possibility but no longer a lock. There is a chance that only one of the two dramas makes it to series.

Meanwhile, as we predicted earlier, ABC officially passed on the Untitled Kay Oyegun drama pilot and comedy pilot The Son in Law.

Related Story ABC Passes On Pilots: Comedy ‘The Son In Law’ Starring Chris Sullivan & Therapist Drama From Kay Oyegun Not Moving Forward Related Story 'Norman Lear: 100 Years Of Music & Laughter' Special Set For September On ABC Related Story Harry Shum Jr....

Chris Sullivan‘s return to network TV after This Is Us will have to wait: ABC has passed on The Son in Law, a comedy pilot starring Sullivan, TVLine has learned.

Sullivan would have played Jake, a divorced, working-class plumbing contractor with a 21-year-old daughter. Jake finds new love with a woman named Asha, who is basically South Asian royalty — but Asha’s controlling parents do not approve of the match. His casting was first announced back in March.

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ABC has opted not to move forward with two of its remaining pilots.

The single-camera comedy “The Son-in-Law” and an untitled drama series from Kay Oyegun have both been scrapped at the broadcast network. Both were picked up as part of ABC’s initial pilot season slate and were in contention for midseason orders as part of ABC’s year-round development cycle. Both were also produced by 20th Television.

With the news, ABC has now only ordered one new comedy to series for the 2022-2023 broadcast season. That is the single-cam “Not Dead Yet” starring Gina Rodriguez, which was ordered to series in May.

On the drama side, ABC is still considering the espionage series “The Company You Keep” starring Milo Ventimiglia as well as “Will Trent,” based on the novel series by Karin Slaughter.

“The Son-in-Law” followed a salt of the earth man (Chris Sullivan) who found himself seeking...

ABC is passing on pilots.

The Disney-owned network has passed on comedy The Son In Law, headlined by This Is Us’ Chris Sullivan, and the untitled therapist drama written by This Is Us writer Kay Oyegun.

It comes after Deadline told you that both projects were not looking good for pick ups as Will Trent and The Company You Keep, headlined by This Is Us star Milo Ventimiglia, were.

Written and executive produced by Ajay Sahgal and executive produced by Jake Kasdan and Melvin Mar, The Son in Law follows Jake (Sullivan), a salt-of-the-earth man who finds himself seeking the approval of his new fiancée Asha’s (Reema Sampat) sophisticated parents, played by Meera Simhan and Anupam Kher, including a difficult-to-impress father-in-law. Evangeline Young and Robert Bailey Jr. also starred in the pilot.

The Detective Agency produced and 20th Television was the studio.

Oyegun’s untitled drama series revolved around...

The final story of the Pearson family has been told, for now, as This Is Us aired its series finale. Among the cast members moving onto new projects is Chris Sullivan (Toby), who has been cast as the lead in The Son in Law, a sitcom pilot for ABC. “It was kind of a big shocking transition to do my last day of shooting on This Is Us, [then] drive onto the Fox lot to do a costume fitting and table read and those kinds of things [for The Son in Law],” Sullivan told TV Insider at an FYC Emmy event for This Is Us on May 22. “It’s interesting to be on a new set with new people and get used to the rhythm of the writing. It’s all going well. The feedback is good.” Despite Toby and Kate (Chrissy Metz) getting a divorce, Toby ...

L.A. Law not moving forward at ABC was one of the surprises of this pilot season.

ABC boss Craig Erwich told Deadline that “unfortunately the pilot just did not come together as we had hoped it would.”

ABC Upfront 2022: Deadline’s Complete Coverage

The reboot, which was headlined by Blair Underwood, reprising his role as attorney Jonathan Rollins, had a high bar to hit with big expectations. The original series’ Corbin Bernsen also reprised his role as Arnie Becker in the pilot alongside Hari Nef, Toks Olagundoye, Ian Duff, John Harlan Kim and Juliana Harkavey, and Kacey Rohl.

The pilot was written by Marc Guggenheim and Ubah Mohamed and directed by Anthony Hemingway.

It followed the law firm of McKenzie Brackman — now named Becker Rollins — as it reinvented itself as a litigation firm specializing in only the most high-profile, boundary-pushing and incendiary cases.

Underwood, Guggenheim and Mohamed executive...

As we are waiting for the onslaught of new series orders the next couple of days, here is some last-minute gossip on what is hot at the broadcast networks in an abbreviated edition of Deadline’s Pilot Buzz.

At ABC, the The Rookie planted spinoff starring Niecy Nash and Alaska Daily News, starring Hilary Swank, remain a lock. The L.A. Law sequel has faded but is not dead. Speaking of dead, comedy pilot Not Dead Yet, starring Gina Rodriguez, continues to be hot. Josep has not gotten a pass yet but its chances remain slim. On the renewal front, The Wonder Years and Home Economics continue to look good to return.

CBS

Firefighter...

Robert Bailey Jr. has been cast in “The Son in Law,” an ABC comedy pilot from writer and executive producer Ajay Sahgal.

Bailey will play Benjamin Greene, an Emt in a relationship with Charlie (Evangeline Young), a recent college graduate with plans to go to law school that get upended when she unexpectedly becomes pregnant. A ‘thoroughly nice guy,’ Benjamin craves the approval of Charlie’s father Jake (Chris Sullivan).

Most recently, Bailey had a guest arc in the first season of “All American: Homecoming.” In 2019, he played a lead in the ABC thriller series “Emergence,” co-starring with Allison Tollman and Donald Faison. He also had a regular role on medical drama “The Night Shift,” which ran from 2014 to 2017 on NBC. Other recent credits include a guest spot on Season 9 of Showtime’s “Shameless” and a supporting role in the Amazon Studios television pilot “Edge.” In 2009, he voiced a character...

Robert Bailey Jr. (Emergence) has been cast as a series regular in ABC’s comedy pilot The Son in Law, starring Chris Sullivan. In addition to Sullivan, he joins previously cast series regulars Reema Sampat, Meera Simhan, Anupam Kher and Evangeline Young.

Written and executive produced by Ajay Sahgal and executive produced by Jake Kasdan and Melvin Mar, The Son in Law follows Jake (Sullivan), a salt-of-the-earth man who finds himself seeking the approval of his new fiancée Asha’s (Sampat) sophisticated parents, including a difficult-to-impress father-in-law.

2022 ABC Pilots & Series Orders

Bailey plays Benjamin Green. He’s an Emt, a thoroughly nice guy. Benjamin is deeply in love with Jake’s daughter Charlie (Young), but he craves Jake’s approval and understandably is nervous about the way Jake will react to Charlie’s pregnancy and her plans to drop the idea of law school. Although Jake isn’t happy about the situation,...

The next installment of NatGeo’s Genius franchise will follow two subjects: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, and thus be titled Genius: MLK/X.

“The fourth season will explore the formative years, pioneering accomplishments, dueling philosophies and key personal relationships of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X,” per the official description. “While King advanced racial equality through nonviolent protest, Malcolm X argued forcefully for Black empowerment, identity and self-determination. With their formidable wives, Coretta Scott King and Betty Shabazz, by their sides, King and Malcolm X became synonymous with the civil rights era and the fight for racial and economic justice.

Evangeline Young has been cast as Charlotte Walton in “The Son in Law,” a comedy pilot from ABC.

“The Son in Law” stars Chris Sullivan as Jake, a single father who never thought he would love again, until Asha came along. The problem is that Jake, a hard-working plumbing contractor, is solidly middle class, while Asha hails from the equivalent of uber-wealthy South Asian royalty. Jake wants to marry Asha, and while he still needs to ask Asha’s father for his blessing, the real stumbling block is Asha’s loving but controlling mother, who doesn’t hide her feelings about Jake being all wrong for her daughter.

Charlotte aka Charlie is Jake’s only child, and is described as a smart, tough social-justice minded recent college graduate who is deeply in love with her boyfriend Ben, an Emt with whom she lives in a third story walk-up in the Bronx.

Evangeline Young (ABC’s Emergence) has been cast as a series regular opposite Chris Sullivan in ABC’s comedy pilot The Son in Law. In addition to Sullivan, she joins previously cast series regulars Reema Sampat, Meera Simhan and Anupam Kher.

Written and executive produced by Ajay Sahgal and executive produced by Jake Kasdan and Melvin Mar, The Son In Law follows a salt-of-the-earth man, Jake (Sullivan), who finds himself seeking the approval of his new fiancée Asha’s (Sampat) sophisticated parents, including a difficult-to-impress father-in-law (Kher).

Young will play Charlotte Walton. She’s Jake’s (Sullivan) only child, a smart, tough social-justice minded recent college graduate who is deeply in love with her boyfriend Ben, an Emt with whom she lives in a third story walk-up in the Bronx. Quirky, funny and strong-minded, Charlie is thrilled that she has become pregnant, and will opt not to apply...

Exclusive: ABC comedy pilot The Son In Law has found its father-in-law. Anupam Kher, who has starred in such series as NBC’s New Amsterdam and the Amazon film The Big Sick, has been cast as one of the leads alongside Reema Sampat, Chris Sullivan and Meera Simhan.

The Son In Law, a single-camera pilot from 20th Television, is written and executive produced by Ajay Sahgal and executive produced by Jake Kasdan and Melvin Mar. It follows a salt-of-the-earth man, Jake (Sullivan), who finds himself seeking the approval of his new fiancée Asha’s (Sampat) sophisticated parents, including a difficult-to-impress father-in-law.

Kher, who has starred in over 500 Hindi-language films, plays Om Mehta, the conductor of the New York Philharmonic who lives with his wife Khushi, played by Simhan, in an 18,000 square foot Fifth Avenue penthouse and hobnobs with an A-list circle of friends and celebrities. Despite that, Om, who was raised in relatively modest circumstances,...

Exclusive: Reema Sampat (Orange Is the New Black) has been tapped as the female lead opposite Chris Sullivan in The Son In Law, ABC’s single-camera comedy pilot from 20th Television.

In The Son In Law, written and executive produced by Ajay Sahgal and executive produced by Jake Kasdan and Melvin Mar, a salt-of-the-earth man, Jake (Sullivan), finds himself seeking the approval of his new fiancée Asha’s (Sampat) sophisticated parents, even as he is a difficult-to-impress father-in-law to his daughter’s longtime boyfriend.

Sampat’s Asha Mehta is an optimistic, practical, unpretentious architect who happens to hail from a wealthy and prominent family. She’s divorced from her first husband, who tried to take her into that exalted world — but she’s much more comfortable with her current boyfriend Jake, a plumber with whom she shares a nice but modest house in Queens. When Jake proposes to her, she’s happy to accept.