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ABC picks up new series for midseason

By fred | August 25, 2008

There’s a reason you don’t hear about a lot of new series coming this fall on ABC : there are not. (Well, sure there are some, like Life On Mars, but they mostly only renewed series.)

It’s not that they didn’t want to try out new shows, it’s that with the strike and all, ABC delayed its development so that most of the new scripted series would go midseason. Some pilots were shot in July, and today ABC finally started making some decisions.

As previously reported, Castle has been picked up. Along with it, a few other shows have been picked up as well.

No official press release yet, but here’s how it should go :

* Castle, - starring Nathan Fillion, see earlier post.

* Better Off Ted - an ensemble comedy from Victor Fresco (Mad About You, My Name Is Earl) about a man, Ted (Jay Harrington), who heads up the research and development department at large, faceless mega-corporation. He loves his job, which consists of blending science with imagination as the R&D department has to come up with things like a suicidal turkey, a metal that’s as hard as steel, but bounces and is edible, or exploding pumpkins. And obviously, ethics aren’t part of the company policy. Of course Ted is in love with his boss, Veronica (Portia de Rossi), and he’s the single-father of a precocious 8 years old daughter, Rose.

The show stars also Andrea Anders, Malcolm Barrett and Jonathan Slavin. And I have no idea is this will be funny, or horrible, or both.

* Cupid - Yes, the short-lived CBS dramedy from Veronica Mars‘ Rob Thomas. The show stars Bobby Cannavale as Trevor Hale, a man whose goal in life is to help people fall in love, and he needs to create 100 happily-ever-afters in order to return to his home — Mount Olympus. Because he’s Cupid, the ancient Roman god of love, or so he claims. Also stars Sarah Paulson (aka the reason for Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip’s failure) as Dr. Claire Allen, a psychologist assigned to monitor Trevor as he is released from psychiatric care, and who just happens to be writing a book that could use Hale as a case study, and Camille Guaty (Prison Break, The Nine).

* Single With Parents - another comedy, from writer-producer Kristin Newman (That 70’s Show, How I Met Your Mother) starring Alyssa Milano as Lou, a young woman who got what she wished for, and soon regrets it. She had wished for a perfect wife for her father, who used to rely on her as surrogate parent. Meet Nancy, a sweet and generous aquarium tour guide who’s soon to become Lou’s new stepmom. But if her father is crazy about Nancy, his two younger kids (Lou’s half-siblings) can’t stand her.

She also wanted to meet the perfect guy, and she did. Too bad he’s Nancy’s son, aka Lou’s soon-to-be step-brother ! Finally she asked for the perfect best friend for her mom, so she won’t have to fill in as her mom’s best friend, confidante and shrink. And then Lou’s well-meaning mom announces she’s finally found the companion she’s been looking for all her life – Lou herself!

* The Unusuals - which sounds like another cop-drama that could be extremely boring. I mean, when you read how it’s about a cop, who just happens to come from a very rich family but became a cop “because she saw first hand how money can buy justice“, and so she was soon “brought to the homicide division because she’s one of the few honest cops in the district. And with her help, Lt. Little plans to start cleaning house“, all the while she “quickly realizes that not only does everyone in her new department have a distinct sense of humor but everyone also has their own dirty little secret“.

I don’t know about you, but I almost feel asleep reading that. Anyways, the show wants to be NYPD Blue meets The Office, not sure how that will turn out. The show stars Amber Tamblyn (Joan Of Arcadia), Harold Perrineau (Lost), and Adam Goldberg (Entourage). Written by Noah Hawley (producer on Bones) and executive produced by Peter Tolan (Rescue Me), the pilot episode was directed by Stephen Hopkins (24, Californication).

Posted in News
Shows: Better Off Ted, Castle, Cupid, Single With Parents, The Unusuals