Yesterday, I posted updated details on the drama pilots that are being considered by ABC for the 2011-2012 TV season. Today’s list will focus on the drama pilots over at CBS:
Christine Lahti
The new drama from executive producer Rina Mimoun (Privileged) called The Doctor, stars Christine Lahti (Jack & Bobby and Chicago Hope) as a mother who reconnects with her adult children when she joins the family medical practice. Among the cast are Scott Foley (Felicity and The Unit), Kyle MacLachlan (Desperate Housewives and Twin Peaks) and Michael Boatman (China Beach and The Good Wife).
VERDICT: I am a big supporter of female show-runners and executive producers; and have been a fan of Rina Mimoun’s work since her days on the WB series Everwood; but I just don’t see this show being the top pick by CBS for the fall season.
Minnie Driver
Hail Mary is about a suburban single mom (Minnie Driver from The Riches) who teams up with a street hustler (Brandon T. Jackson from Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief) to solve crimes. This pilot comes from Joel Silver and Ilene Chaiken (one of the women behind The L Word) and co-stars Enrique Murciano (Without A Trace), Stephen Tobolowsky (Glee) and Noureen DeWulf (HawthoRNe).
VERDICT: Just reading the premise of this pilot should tell you that it will not make it no matter what it’s overall intentions may be.
Person of Interest Cast
The J.J. Abrams pilot called Person of Interest is about a presumed-dead CIA agent (Jim Caviezel) who is recruited by a billionaire (Michael Emerson from Lost) to catch violent criminals in New York City. Taraji P. Henson (The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttom) co-stars.
VERDICT: Not only is this pilot from TV mastermind J.J. Abrams and includes some very interesting cast members, it has a premise that is perfectly suited to this network. This should be the top drama pilot chosen by CBS.
Ringer Cast
Ringer is about a troubled young woman (Sarah Michelle Gellar) on the run from the mob, who hides out by living the life of her wealthy twin sister. There is one big problem with this ruse: Her sibling has a bounty on her head as well. The cast includes Nestor Carbonell (Lost), Kristoffer Polaha (Life Unexpected), Ioan Gruffudd (The Fantastic Four), Tara Summers (Damages) and Mike Colter (Taking Chance).
VERDICT: Will viewers welcome the girl who was Buffy Summers back with open arms if she is playing someone other than the vampire slayer? Hell, yes! The premise is a departure from the norm for CBS, but it includes a great cast and is one of the most buzzed about pilots of the new fall season.
Leelee Sobieski
The Robert De Niro drama called Rookies follows six new NYPD cops trying to balance their personal lives while working the mean streets of Manhattan. The cast includes Leelee Sobieski (Joan of Arc), Stark Sands (Generation Kill), Terry Kinney (Oz) and Adam Goldberg (The Unusuals).
VERDICT: This show sounds exactly like the ABC series from Canada called Rookie Blue that follows five rookies on the police force. Do TV viewers really need another cop show about rookies? For that matter, does CBS really need yet another police drama? They really need to branch out into other genres.
Poppy Montgomery
The Rememberer is about a female NYPD detective (Poppy Montgomery from Without A Trace) who has the special ability to remember everything, which is a gift in her job, but a curse in her personal life. The pilot comes from Ed Redlich (creator of Without A Trace) and actor John Bellucci. The co-stars include Dylan Walsh (Nip/Tuck), Michael Gaston (Terriers and Jericho) and Kevin Rankin (Trauma).
VERDICT: Interesting premise, great cast and an established show runner – should be the makings of a great new show; but I personally just don’t see it working over the long haul.
Patrick Wilson
The as-yet untitled Susannah Grant (the writer of the box office movie Erin Brockovich) medical drama follows ultra-competitive surgeon (Patrick Wilson from Phantom of the Opera) whose life is changed forever when his ex-wife (Jennifer Ehle from Pride & Prejudice) dies and begins teaching him about life from the hereafter. The cast includes Julie Benz (No Ordinary Family).
VERDICT: Is this the network’s attempt to merge Grey’s Anatomy with Ghost Whisperer? It might be a terrific idea, but it is questionable whether this pilot could work with the general viewing audience or not.
Where does all this leave CBS? Well, for one, the network doesn’t really have a lot of programming space to fill where dramas are concerned. But, it would be to their benefit to move forward with Person of Interest and Ringer. They should drop Rookies without a second glance and if they feel the need to pick up a medical drama then they should move forward with the Susannah Grant pilot and just let all the other pilots fade away.
More pilot watch updates will be coming this week with a look at The CW pilots coming next.
Rueben's Ramblings 
What kind of title is “The Rememberer”? It looks like a spelling error.
The Ringer has potential with SMG, but the sister also being hunted seems like an extra unnecessary complication. Maybe it smooths out in the wash.
I’ve a vague interest in Person of Interest, but wonder if the world’s quota of quirky procedurals has been filled by the USA Network.
You gotta wonder about titles of pilots, right? The Rememberer is what they are going with right now. IF (and I use that word lightly) it gets picked up, they NEED to change it!! CBS needs something quirky and different and lighten up on the procedurals for once. I’m hopeful that Ringer will be good regardless.
According to Deadline “The Rememberer” is only a working title.
I would watch Person of Interest for the Caviezel and Emerson factor alone. Can’t say that for any of the other shows. I just hope it isn’t one of those shows that is a critic’s darling but has trouble gaining a wide enough audience to keep it running for a lengthy time. Remember Arrested Development?
Yes, I remember Arrested Development and I was one of the many who didn’t “get” the show while understand why it was a fan and critical darling. I have high hopes for PoI, but just don’t know how a “normal” viewing audience is going to take to it.
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