The Complete Pilot Report: ABC's Got Mandy Moore, Reba McEntire and Natalie Portman!
The fall TV season is taking shape. Networks have ordered dozens of new pilots starring familiar faces including Zachary Levi, Mindy Kaling, Mandy Moore and Sarah Silverman, and from proven producers like Josh Schwartz, J.J. Abrams, Greg Berlanti and Kevin Williamson. Also making a comeback this year: Iconic characters including Green Arrow, Carrie Bradshaw, Sherlock Holmes and Beauty and the Beast.
To keep track of who's doing what, read our complete list of all the series projects in contention and check back for updates on their status. Here are the ABC pilots: (Click here for CBS, CW, Fox and NBC.)
DRAMA
666 Park Avenue
An innocent Midwestern couple get hired as resident managers of an Upper East Side apartment building in New York, with the owner played by Lost's Terry O'Quinn. Unbeknownst to them, the residents have all made deals with the Devil to have their desires fulfilled. David Wilcox will adapt Gabrielle Pierce's book series and executive-produce, alongside Leslie Morgenstein and Gina Girolamo.
Americana
This soap is set around a legendary fashion designer and his family and business. Michael Seitzman wrote the pilot and will executive-produce with Grey's Anatomy's Mark Gordon.
Beauty and the Beast
A fantasy re-imagining of the classic Beauty and the Beast tale, wherein an embattled princess discovers an unlikely connection with a mysterious beast. Jericho's Jonathan E. Steinberg will write and executive-produce the pilot alongside Life Unexpected's Gary Fleder and Mary Beth Basile.
Devious Maids
An adaptation of a Mexican soap about four maids — one of them played by Dania Ramirez — with ambitions and dreams of their own who work for the rich and famous in Beverly Hills. Desperate Housewives' Marc Cherry and Sabrina Wind executive-produce.
Gilded Lilys
An upstairs-downstairs look at the opening of the first true luxury hotel built in New York City circa 1895. Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers (Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice) executive-produce. Blythe Danner, Madeline Zima and Sarah Bolger will star. KJ Steinberg (Gossip Girl, The Nine) wrote the pilot.
Gotham
A female cop who, after pursuing a seemingly unsolvable case, discovers a magical world that exists within New York City. Michael Green (Heroes) will write and executive-produce with Kings' Erwin Stoff.
The Last Resort
A renegade crew of a nuclear submarine, lead by Men of a Certain Age's Andre Braugher, go on the run after defying an order to fire nuclear missiles. They find sanctuary at a NATO base where they declare themselves the world's smallest nuclear nation. The Shield's Shawn Ryan will executive-produce the pilot, which he wrote with Karl Gajdusek (Dead Like Me). Autumn Reeser, Daisy Betts, and Dan Lissing will also star.
Nashville
A family soap set against the backdrop of the Nashville music scene that follows two musicians, one who's already a star and the other who's on the rise. Callie Khouri (Thelma & Louise) and RJ Cutler will write and executive-produce. Sam Palladio will star.
Penoza
The widow of an assassinated criminal is forced to adopt her husband's role in a crime syndicate in order to protect her family. Dexter's Melissa Rosenberg will write, based on the Dutch format, and executive-produce alongside The Office's Howard Klein.
Scruples
A socialite in the '70s tries to open a fashion-forward boutique in Beverly Hills after her husband dies. Natalie Portman, in her first foray into TV, executive-produces the drama based on the Judith Krantz novel. Bob Brush and Mel Harris adapted the pilot.
Untitled Roland Emmerich/Harold Kloser project
An astrophysics grad student (Max Thieriot) in NYC learns that he is the chosen one to destroy the forces of evil in this project from Independence Day's Roland Emmerich and 2012's Harold Kloser. Mark Gordon (Criminal Minds) and Nicholas Pepper will also executive-produce. Gabriella Wilde and Yaya DaCosta will also star.
Zero Hour
A skeptics magazine editor gets pulled into one of the most compelling conspiracies in human history. Prison Break's Paul Scheuring wrote the pilot and executive-produces with Lorenzo DiBonaventura and Dan McDermott.
COMEDY
American Judy
A newlywed city girl (Judy Greer)moves to the suburbs and must juggle stepchildren, her mother-in-law (Mimi Kennedy) and her husband's ex-wife, who is also the town sheriff. Leap Year's Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont wrote the pilot and will executive-produce with Greer.
Counter Culture
Three aging sisters run their family diner together in West Texas and find that sibling dynamics are always getting in the way of getting the job done. MADtv's Stephnie Weir will write and executive-produce alongside Claudia Lonow (Accidentally on Purpose).
How to Live With Your Parents for the Rest of Your Life
Scrubs' Sarah Chalke stars as a newly divorced woman who ends up moving in with her over-the-top parents Elaine and Max. Accidentally on Purpose creator Claudia Lonow wrote the pilot based loosely on her own life. She executive-produces with Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Francie Calfo.
Malibu Country
Reba McEntire stars as a broke divorcee who moves her family to Malibu where she attempts to revive her music career while keeping her children from being corrupted by the city. Reba's Kevin Abbott will write and executive-produce the pilot.
Only Fools and Horses
Two streetwise brothers and their aging grandfather concoct outrageous and morally questionable get-rich-quick schemes in their quest to become millionaires. Happy Endings and Scrubs scribes Steven Cragg and Brian Bradley will write and executive-produce.
Prairie Dogs
Neil (Kal Penn), an uncool cubicle worker (or "prairie dog"), becomes the victim of identity theft. When he discovers the thief has created a much more fulfilling, kick-ass life with his identity, he decides to make the charismatic conman his life coach. That '70s Show's Jackie and Jeff Filgo executive-produce. Saturday Night Live's Michaela Watson will star.
The Smart One
Arrested Development's Portia de Rossi stars as a brilliant and successful woman who begrudgingly ends up working for her ditzy beauty queen sister (Malin Akerman), who is now a big-city mayor. Jean Smart portrays their mother. Don Todd will write and executive-produce alongside Ellen DeGeneres.
Untitled Dan Fogelman project
A family (Lenny Venito, Jami Gertz, Isabella Cramp, Clara Mamet and Tyler Christopher Backer) moves into a beautiful, surprisingly affordable gated community in New Jersey only to discover that all the neighbors are literally from another planet. Dan Fogelman (Crazy, Stupid, Love) will write and executive-produce. Simon Templeman, Toks Olagundoye, Tim Jo and Ian Patrick will also star.
Untitled Kari Lizer project
A high-powered executive who dominated corporate America for years faces the biggest challenge of her life when she finds herself unemployed and forced to act as a full-time mom to her two teenagers. The New Adventures of Old Christine's Kari Lizer will write and executive-produce.
Untitled Mandy Moore project
Newlyweds Annie (Mandy Moore) and Ben get the opportunity of a lifetime to run a hip, new restaurant in Annie's hometown. Unfortunately, it also brings her closer to her needy and high maintenance family. Wedding Crashers co-writer Bob Fisher and Notes from the Underbelly's Stacy Traub wrote the pilot and will executive-produce with Last Man Standing duo Marty Adelstein and Becky Clements.
Untitled Adam Sztykiel project
A raw, hilarious peek behind the curtain of modern twentysomething relationships. Adam Sztykiel (Due Date) wrote the pilot and co-executive-produces. Nick Kocher will co-star.
White Van Man
A man (Worst Week's Kyle Bornheimer) puts his dreams on hold in order to take over the family handyman business from his father (The Closer's J.K. Simmons). Bobby Bowman (My Name is Earl) will write and executive-produce.
Which pilots sound interesting to you?
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