CBS is placing its bets on big
names and big franchises next season. The network has given series orders to new takes on the film “Training Day” and 1980s
TV series “MacGyver,” as well as sitcoms starring Matt LeBlanc, Joel
McHale and (as previously announced) Kevin James.
With the departure of
“Supergirl” to The CW, it’s clear that CBS is eyeing a return to
sitcoms on Monday night, and with male-centric shows starring those familiar
faces. Even the auspices are sitcom vets: Legendary TV director James Burrows
helmed the pilot for LeBlanc’s show, “Man with a Plan,” while
“Seinfeld” director Andy Ackerman directs McHale’s “The Great
Indoors.”
READ MORE: Network TV Carnage: What’s Canceled, What’s Renewed and What’s New
Meanwhile, CBS is high on
“Bull,” which ticks off several boxes for the Eye network: It
features an established CBS star (departing “NCIS” member Michael
Weatherly); it’s based on the life of Dr. Phil McGraw, whose talk show is
distributed by CBS; and it comes from CBS Television Studios. Plus, Steven
Spielberg is an executive producer through his Amblin Television label.
Also, although Jerry Bruckheimer
just lost the last of his “CSI” series at CBS, he does pick up
“Training Day” there.
Here are the latest pickups at
CBS:
Dramas
“Training Day” (Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Fuqua Films in
association with Warner Bros. Television)
Executive Producers: Jerry Bruckheimer, Antoine Fuqua,
Jonathan Littman, Will Beall, Barry Schindel. EP/Director: Danny Cannon.
Logline: Based on the feature film from Warner Bros.
Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures. A crime thriller that begins 15 years
after the events of the feature film left, about an idealistic young police
officer (Justin Cornwell) who is appointed to an elite squad of the LAPD where
he is partnered with a seasoned, morally ambiguous detective (Bill Paxton).
Cast: Bill Paxton, Justin Cornwell, Drew Van Acker,
Katrina Law, Lex Scott Davis, Julie Benz.
“Bull” (CBS Television Studios)
Executive Producers: Paul Attanasio, Dr. Phillip C. McGraw
(Stage 29 Productions), Steven Spielberg (Amblin Television), Justin Falvey
& Darryl Frank (Amblin Television), Jay McGraw (Stage 29 Productions). EP/Director:
Rodrigo Garcia.
Logline: A drama inspired by the early
career of Dr. Phil McGraw as the founder of one of the most prolific trial
consulting firms of all time. Brilliant, brash and charming, Dr. Bull
(Michael Weatherly) is the ultimate puppet master as he combines psychology,
human intuition and high tech data to learn what makes jurors, attorneys,
witnesses and the accused tick.
Cast: Michael Weatherly as ‘Dr. Jason Bull’, Freddy
Rodriguez, Geneva Carr, Chris Jackson, Jaime Lee Kirchner, Annabelle Attanasio.
READ MORE: Ten Ways to Figure Out Which TV Shows Will Be Renewed or Canceled
“Pure Genius”
(working title) (Universal
Television in association with CBS Television Studios)
Executive Producers: Jason Katims, Michelle Lee. EP/Director:
David Semel.
Logline: “Pure Genius” follows a young
Silicon Valley tech titan (Augustus Prew) who enlists a veteran surgeon with a
controversial past in starting a hospital with a cutting edge, “new school”
approach to medicine.
Cast: Augustus Prew, Dermot Mulroney, Brenda Song, Reshma
Shetty, Ward Horton, Aaron Jennings, Odette Annable.
“MacGyver” (CBS Television Studios in association with Lionsgate)
Executive Producers:
Peter Lenkov, Henry Winkler, Lee
Zlotoff, James Wan, Michael Clear. EP/Director: David Von Ancken.
Logline: A reimagining of the television series of the
same name, following a 20-something MacGyver as he creates a clandestine
organization where he uses his knack for solving problems in unconventional
ways to help prevent disasters from happening.
Cast: Lucas Till as ‘MacGyver’, George Eads.
Comedies
“Man With a Plan” (CBS Television Studios)
Executive Producers: Jeff & Jackie Filgo, Matt LeBlanc, Michael
Rotenberg, Troy Zien. Director: James Burrows.
Logline: A contractor (Matt LeBlanc) whose wife goes back
to work starts spending more time with his kids and discovers the truth every
parent eventually realizes: his little angels are maniacs.
Cast: Matt LeBlanc, Jessica Chaffin, Matt Cook, Grace
Kaufman, Hala Finley, Matthew McCann.
“The Great Indoors” (CBS Television Studios)
Executive Producers: Mike Gibbons, Chris Harris. EP/Director: Andy Ackerman.
Logline: An adventure reporter (Joel McHale) must adapt to
the times when he becomes the boss to a group of millennials in the digital
department of the magazine.
Cast: Joel McHale, Stephen Fry, Chris Williams, Shaun Brown,
Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Christine Ko, Susannah Fielding.
Also, CBS previously announced “Kevin Can Wait,” starring Kevin James.
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