Isaacson, Tom Wolfe and Salman Rushdie.

LOCAL LIGHTS: More good news for the local filmmaking and TV community: NBC is moving ahead with its planned “Chicago Fire” spinoff, for which Kelly Blatz (“Glory Daze”) and

Melissa Sagemiller (“Law & Order: SVU”) have been tapped to join Tania Raymonde and Scott Eastwood. The new drama about the Chicago Police Department is planned to be launched with the season finale of “Chicago Fire.”

Among the three pilots IFC announced Wednesday was one from Chicago-based writer-producer-director

Steve Conrad (“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” “The Pursuit of Happyness,” “The Weather Man”). “Timms Industrial Piping” (working title) is a scripted comedy set in the ficitional town of Timms Valley, Wis. As is often the case in small towns, the lives of many residents are dominated by the community’s largest employer: Timms Industrial Piping. When the firm’s founder and CEO disappears in a plane crash, the entire town is thrown into a tizzy.

The program will be shot in stop-motion animation with baby dolls used to represent the cast of adult characters — with the overall theme inspired by the “Dynasty”-type primetime evening soaps from the 1980s.

Among the voice talent

featured for the pilot are Maria Bamford, Elizabeth Banks, Lance Barber, Giancarlo Esposito, Ed Flynn, Kathryn Hahn, John Lithgow and Seann William Scott.

LAUGH TRACK: We know Rick Bayless is a great Mexican cuisine guru and often reveals his great sense of humor in his many TV appearances, but the megachef and restaurant kingpin’s comedic chops will be tested Saturday night at iO Theatre when he guests on “The Late Live Show” at midnight. Speaking of iO, John Lutz from “30 Rock” sat in with the team Carl and the Passions on Wednesday night.