Competition revs up during pilot season
Early spring is TV pilot season, a crunch time for TV stars and producers. Yet some of them can rest easier this year, thanks to a burst of shows ordered without a single frame of film.
The blame (or credit) goes to more intense competition. But it’s as much Neflix’s fault: The streaming service offers shows such as House of Cards full seasons, sight unseen.
“We’re competing to get creators who can go to Netflix or Amazon and get series orders,” says NBC Entertainment president Jennifer Salke. “We have to show the same level of commitment.”
United Talent Agency’s Jay Sures says top projects always exert leverage. The difference now is “they’ve seen Netflix go into the direct-to-series business and be incredibly successful, so they’re trying to mimic it.”
This year, at least 10 weekly series have been given early green lights. Fox has Backstrom, starring Rainn Wilson ( The Office) as a curmudgeonly detective; Hieroglyph, set in ancient Egypt; sitcoms starring Will Forte and comedian John Mulaney; and several “event” series.
CBS bought Battle Creek, a Michigan detective drama created by Breaking Bad’s Vince Gilligan. NBC has two comedies, one produced by Tina Fey about a newly freed cult member, and another starring Craig Robinson ( The Office). And ABC ordered The Club, a soap set at a country club.
Sures says pilot-free programming is worth a bet for a few shows with tested actors or writers. But “there’s always a greater risk if you’re stuck with 22 episodes of a terrible show.”