Videoage International May/June 2021

May/June 2021 New U.S. TV Season I nMay2019, clearly thepre-pandemicperiod, the U.S. TV broadcast networks ordered 35 pilots into series for the 2019-2020 season. Last year, in themidst of theCOVID-19 crisis, the number of pilots that became series for the 2020-2021 broadcast TV season were reduced to a mere 17. We’re now in May 2021, and while we’re almost out of the pandemic, Hollywood is still hesitant. Nevertheless those in charge have managed to bring the number of scripted pilots picked up for the 2021-2022 TV broadcast season to 26: nearly approaching the number recorded in pre-pandemic times*. What remained the same as last year, however, were Upfronts that were held virtually, with networks hailing the new pilots pick-ups on screen instead of in person. The studios are also organizing virtual presentations after the Upfronts to present those new series that they distribute to potential international TV buyers. At the time of publication, with eight new scripted series for broadcast, ViacomCBS Global Distribution has the most international offerings of all the U.S. studios, followed by NBCUniversal Global Distribution (with six new scripted series), and WarnerMedia International TV Distribution (with three new scripted series). DISNEY MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT DISTRIBUTION COMEDY Abbott Elementary (ABC) (midseason)** A group of dedicated, passionate teachers — and a slightly tone-deaf principal — are brought together in a Philadelphia public school where, despite the odds stacked against them, they are determined to help their students succeed in life. Though these incredible educators may be outnumbered and underfunded, they love what they do — even if they don’t love the school district’s less-than-stellar attitude toward educating children. Production Team: Quinta Brunson, Justin Halpern, Patrick Schumacker Maggie (ABC) (midseason) Based on Tim Curcio’s short film of the same name, the comedy revolves around a young woman who tries to cope with life as a psychic. Maggie regularly sees what’s to come for her friends, parents, clients, and random strangers on the street, but when she suddenly sees a glimpse of her own future, Maggie is forced to start living in her own present. Production Team: Maggie Mull, Justin Adler, Evan Hayes, Jeff Morton The Wonder Years (ABC) Inspired by the beloved award-winning series of the same name, The Wonder Years is a coming- of-age story set in the late 1960s that takes a nostalgic look at a Black middle-class family in Montgomery, Alabama, through the point of view of imaginative 12-year-old Dean. With the wisdom of his adult years, Dean’s hopeful and humorous recollections show how his family found their “wonder years” in a turbulent time. Production Team: Saladin Patterson, Lee Daniels, Marc Velez, Fred Savage, Neal Marlens DRAMA The Big Leap (FOX) Inspired by a U.K. format, the hour-long pilot is described as a funny and contemporary tale about second chances, chasing your dreams, and taking back what’s yours. The show centers on a group of diverse underdogs from all different walks of life who compete to be part of a competition reality series that is putting on a remake of Swan Lake . Production Team: Liz Heldens, JasonWiner, Sue Naegle Our Kind of People (FOX) Single mom Angela Vaughn risks it all and moves her family to Martha’s Vineyard with hopes of taking her natural hair care line to the next level by infiltrating the African-American elite in Oak Bluffs. But she soon discovers a secret about her past that just might change her position and shake up her life and this influential community forever. Inspired by Lawrence Otis Graham’s book Our Kind of People: Inside America’s Black Upper Class. Production Team: Karin Gist, Lee Daniels, Marc Velez, Clarie Brown, Pam Williams, Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens, Rodney Ferrell, Montrel McKay Queens (ABC) Estranged and out-of-touch, four women in their 40s reunite for a chance to recapture their fame and regain the swagger they had as a hit 1990s hip-hop group. Production Team: Zahir McGhee, Sabrina Wind, Tim Story FOX ENTERTAINMENT COMEDY Krapopolis (FOX) Set in mythical ancient Greece, the series centers on a flawed family of humans, gods, andmonsters that tries to run one of the world’s first cities without killing each other. Production Team: Dan Harmon DRAMA Monarch (FOX) (midseason) A Texas-sized, multigenerational musical drama about America’s first family of country music. The Romans are fiercely talented, but while their name is synonymous with honesty, the very foundation of their success is a lie. When their reign as country royalty is put in jeopardy, Nicky Roman, the heir to the crown, already battling an industry stacked against her, will stop at nothing to protect her family’s legacy. Production Team: Melissa London Hilfers, Gail Berman, Hend Baghdady, Jason Owen, Michael Rauch LIONSGATE COMEDY Welcome To Flatch (FOX) (midseason) In this comedy series inspired by the BBC format This Country , a documentary crew goes to a small town to study young adults and their current concerns. There they stumble upon the Midwestern town of Flatch, which is made up of many eccentric personalities. It’s a place you want to visit and maybe even stay. If there was a decent motel. Which there is not. Production Team: Paul Feig, Angie Stephenson, Dan Magnante, Charlie Cooper, Daisy May Cooper NBCUNIVERSAL GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION COMEDY American Auto (NBC) (midseason) Set in Detroit, the corporate executives of Payne Motors are at a crossroads: adapt to the changing times or be sent to the junkyard. Shaking things up is the new CEO, whose leadership, experience and savvy is only slightly offset by her complete lack of knowledge about cars. Luckily, her team has some of the best minds in the business — when they aren’t fighting or trying to outwit each other, that is. From the corporate office to the factory floor, the crew of Payne Motors is driving home the laughs. Production Team: Justin Spitzer, Aaron Kaplan, Dana Honor, Jeff Blitz Grand Crew (NBC) (midseason) A group of young professionals are all trying to navigate the ups and downs of life and love in Los Angeles — and they always find time to gather at their favorite bar to “wine down” and unpack it all. There’s Noah, a hopeless romantic too eager to settle down; Nicky, a go-getter in both real estate and romance; Sherm, a low-key genius who plays the dating odds; Anthony, whose true love is his career; and Wyatt, who’s relieved to be married and out of the dating scene. And just like wine, their friendship gets better with time. Production Team: Phil Augusta Jackson, Dan Goor DRAMA La Brea (NBC) A massive sinkhole opens in the middle of Los Angeles, pulling hundreds of people and buildings into its depths. Those who fell in find themselves in a mysterious and dangerous primeval land, where they have no choice but to band together to survive. Meanwhile, the rest of the world desperately seeks to understand what happened. In the search for answers, one family torn apart by this disaster will have to unlock the secrets of this inexplicable event to find a way back to each other. 2021-22 New Primetime TV Series (Continued on Page 20) A scene from Queens 18