Rueben's Ramblings

Here is the list of pilots under consideration at FOX for the 2014-2015 TV season:

Empire: This pilot centers on Lucious Lyon, a charismatic, savvy music superstar who is about to take his company, Empire Entertainment, public. Raised on the streets, he has never backed away from a fight and will resort to any measures, fair or foul, to defend his beloved Empire.

THOSE BEHIND THE SHOW: Danny Strong (The Butler), Lee Daniels (The Butler), Francie Calfo (Scoundrels) and Brian Grazer

CAST: Terrance Howard (Iron Man), Taraji P. Hanson (Person of Interest), Malik Yoba (Single Ladies), Kaitlin Doubleday (Catch Me If You Can) and Bryshere Y. Gray (aka rapper Yazz The Greatest)

Gotham: This pilot explores the origin stories of Commissioner James Gordon from the Batman comics and films — who is still a detective and has yet to meet Batman — and the villains who made Gotham City famous.

THOSE BEHIND THE SHOW: Bruno Heller (The Mentalist), Danny Cannon (The Tomorrow People, Nikita) and DC Comics writer Geoff Johns

CAST: Ben McKenzie (Southland and The O.C.), Donal Logue (Vikings and Terriers), Jada Pinkett Smith (The Matrix franchise), David Mazouz (Touch), Sean Pertwee (Elementary), Robin Lord Taylor (Another Earth), Erin Richards (Breaking In), Zabryna Guevara (Burn Notice) and newcomer Camren Bicondova

Home: This is a family thriller/soap that delves into the secrets lingering behind the facade of a suburban family.

THOSE BEHIND THE SHOW: Aron Eli Coleite (Heroes), Jonathan Littman (CSI) and Jerry Bruckheimer

CAST: None so far

Red Band Society: Based on the acclaimed Spanish series Polseres Vermelles, the dark comedy focuses on the daily lives of a group of teenagers living in a hospital who become unlikely friends. The depth of the unexpected friendships allows them to survive the challenges of growing up under such intense circumstances.

THOSE BEHIND THE SHOW: Margaret Nagle (Boardwalk Empire), Justin Falvey (Under the Dome), Darryl Frank (Las Vegas), Sergio Aguero (Y Tu Mama Tambien) and Steven Spielberg

CAST: Octavia Spencer (The Help), Dave Annable (Brothers & Sisters), Zoe Levin (The Way, Way Back), Charlie Rowe (Neverland and Pirate Radio), youngster Griffin Gluck (Private Practice), Ciara Bravo (Big Time Rush), Nolan Sotillo (Prom) and newcomer Rebecca Rittenhouse

MOST LIKELY TO BE PICKED-UP: Gotham

COULD MAYBE GET AN ORDER: Empire

FOX has also already given an order for the following direct-to-series dramas:

Backstrom – This 13-episode straight-to-series drama is about offensive, irascible Detective Everett Backstrom who tries, and fails, to change his self-destructive behavior while leading his team, the Serious Crimes Unit, as they navigate Portland’s most sensitive cases.

THOSE BEHIND THE SHOW: Hart Hanson (Bones) and Mark Mylod (Shameless)

CAST: Rainn Wilson (The Office), Kristoffer Polaha (Ringer), Dennis Haysbert (24), Page Kennedy, Beatrice Rosen (Blue Mountain State), Thomas Dekker (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) and Genevieve Angelson (House of Lies)

NOTE: Backstrom was actually a CBS pilot that was passed over by the network and picked up by FOX.

Hieroglyph – This 13-episode straight to series drama about a notorious thief is plucked from prison to serve the Pharoah, navigating palace intrigue, seductive concubines, criminal underbellies and even a few divine sorcerers.

THOSE BEHIND THE SHOW: Travis Beacham (Pacific Rim), Peter Chernin (Rise of the Planet of the Apes), Katherine Pope (New Girl), Miguel Sapochnik (House) and Anna Fricke (Everwood and Being Human)

CAST: Reece Ritchie (The Lovely Bones and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time), Max Brown (Beauty And the Beast), John Rhys-Davies (Lord of the Rings franchise), Kelsey Chow (One Tree Hill and Pair of Kings), Condola Rashad (Smash and Steel Magnolias), Antony Bunsee (Hollyoaks) and relative newcomer Caroline Ford