In this week’s installment of pilot watch — where we track several television shows currently in development and ask which is the most intriguing — we have two comedies in development over on HBO, a sitcom from Michael Ian Black, and another sitcom from Greg Daniels. Based only on the information given, which would you be most inclined to watch, should the show be picked up to series?
Tennis Comedy — Parks and Recreation’s showrunner, Greg Daniels, is developing for Fox this untitled single-camera comedy about “Richie, a mediocre professional tennis player who returns to his college town — the scene of his greatness — in order to reboot his life. There, he’s caught between a lifestyle he never got to live — embodied by his carefree, bar owning younger brother Tom — and Kristen, the love of his life whom he’ll have to grow up for in order to get.”
You’re Not Doing It Right — Written and starring Michael Ian Black, the Ben Stiller produced comedy being developed for ABC is “based on Black’s book and set ‘in the wilds of Connecticut.’ The show is described as a comedy about modern marriage and parenting and takes a hard look at what happens when you wake up, look around, and don’t recognize the life you are living as your own.”
How the F am I Normal — Inspired by Adam F. Goldberg’s childhood, How the F am I Normal comes from the creators of Breaking In and is being described as a dysfunctional Wonder Years set in the 1980s. It’s being set up at ABC with a pilot commitment, which will be directed by Seth Gordon (The King of Kong).
Untitled Gay Comedy — Set up at HBO, the project comes from producers David Marshall Grant (Brothers and Sisters) and Sarah Condon (Bored to Death). It “revolves around the thirtysomething trio also grappling with the complexities of life and the modern gay experience.”
Z — Set up at the USA Network, Z is a contemporary re-telling of Zorro. “Set in modern-day Los Angeles, “Z” will chronicle the rise of Diego Moreno from an orphaned teen and raising his sister with little supervision, to an infamous hero fighting to save the city.” It comes from Naren Shankar (CSI) and Louis Leterrier (lots of bad movies).
People in New Jersey — Set up over on HBO, this half hour comedy comes from producer Jason Reitman (Juno, Up in the Air) and Lorne Michaels. The vague summary describes is “as a hilarious, poignant look at life today as seen through the prism of an adult brother and sister living in New Jersey. They each struggle to get through the day, asking themselves the big questions, the little questions, and everything in between.”
Linda Green — The Fox one-hour dramedy is an adaptation of the British show being adapted by Alex Borstein (Family Guy). It’s about a woman and “her thirtysomething friends as they navigate love, marriage and life in Boston. Linda and her pals aren’t good people—but they’re trying to be better.”
![[avatar]](http://p.uproxxcdn.com/photo/4006/thumb)
![[image]](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/05/heres-ed-skrein-daario-naharis-from-game-of-thrones-rapping-150x150.jpg)
![[image]](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/05/maron-ian-black-150x150.jpg)
![[image]](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/05/tumblr_mfcjjiUneJ1r7qi9eo1_400-150x150.gif)
![[image]](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/05/larry-david-looks-super-weird-in-the-trailer-for-his-new-hbo-movie-uproxx-150x150.jpg)
Having watched plenty of USA shows, let me tell you how Z will go: 1) Quirky main character, 2) Lazy will they/won’t they relationship with the female character that will obviously end in they will, 3) You’re never ever worried that Z is in trouble, 4) The only true suspense occurs in the last episode of the season, resulting in an easy solution in the first episode of the next season, 5) Repeat.
Oh, and Characters Welcome.
and it still will probably be the most watchable of the crap listed.
Oh most definitely.
Tricia Helfer and/or Katee Sackhoff will guest star
And WWE superstar The Miz!
I don’t watch USA shows for the reasons you describe but I certainly agree that the Zorro one will rock. Or maybe I’m still hung up on young Catherine Zeta Jones.
Tennis Comedy followed by You’re Not Doing It Right.
Tennis Comedy = Eastbound & Down with tennis racquets
Z = Zorro
All the other shows = white people problems
Tennis Comedy, You’re Not Doing It Right, and MAYBE How the F am I Normal
Tennis Comedy sounds TERRIBLE, as much as we think its going to be Eastbound, i have a feeling its going to be a lot more October road.
I think we can all agree that HBO has dicks in store for us. Gay dicks: the final frontier. The only one I’d watch is How the F am I Normal, because nostalgia goes great with dicks.
I can get behind this logic!
Wait, it’s actually CALLED “Tennis Comedy”?
sounds like a working title.
Ok smarties, lets title it. I’ll start with a few: “Let”, “Duece”, “Richie’s Balls”, “Service Richie”, “Clay Court”…
“Game, Set, Fart Joke”
its going to be called something with a pun on love like 30 going on love or something incredibly lame like that. Its going to be the 3rd worst show on television, and Fox’s first new hit comedy in years.
Michael Ian Black’s book was great because it was really honest and bleak about his doubts about his marriage. I doubt ABC is going to let him call his wife the c-word during prime time.
you mean CRAZY?
I enjoy his stand-up too. He’s always been funny to me.
You’re Not Doing It Right sounds great in theory but there’s no way a Michael Ian Black comedy could ever survive on network TV. He’s too weird and off-putting, and I say this as a fan.
Nothing starring Michael Ian Black, that I can state categorically. I was able to rule that one out just by looking at the picture, and didn’t even need to read the part about it being produced by Ben Stiller.
Adam F. Goldberg must have to say to people all the time, “Look. I’m Adam F. Goldberg–NOT Adam Fucking Goldberg!”
All terrible.
It “revolves around the thirtysomething trio also grappling with the complexities of life and the modern gay experience.” = [i.ytimg.com]
Fuck y’all, Michael Ian Black is hilarious.
Z: because why should archery be the only medieval form of fighting to enjoy a resurgence.
If the MIB family comedy is truly based on his book, it’s going to change everything about family comedy. Somehow Comedy Central will find a way to cancel it.
Yes, Yes, Maybe, No, No, No, Not if it was the only show on all of television from now until the end of time.
Anybody want to bet that “People In New Jersey” uses nothing but tired cliches? Big Hair! Big Families! Obnoxious Accents! Italians!
I find it amazing that (aside from House), no television show can be set in New Jersey without the state itself being used as a gigantic stereotype.
Yup, we’re done with the whole Jersey thing. It’s played. Move on. Just stop.
I just never got the idea that for certain places, the setting is so incredibly important as to be a huge part of the show. Shows like Community, The Office, New Girl, Modern Family, Happy Endings, etc. all seem to actually exist as television shows that happen to be set in a certain place, as opposed to a place that’s filled with people who would happen to live there.
I think Happy Endings is pretty succesful at actually embracing its setting with various references without it being a main part of the show’s humor/identity. It’s the right balance to me. How I Met Your Mother did pretty well with New York too (as did Seinfeld).
Shows who take place in “Middle Town, America” (like Community or Modern Family) or “Random Big Town, East Coast” sounds a bit too “fake” to me.
Agreed on Happy Endings having the right balance. I guess its just the jersey in me that gets annoyed whenever a show goes “Hey, look! New Jersey, remember? Smelly and guidos and that’s pretty much it!”
San Diego Fire just doesn’t have the same ring as Chicago Fire, don’t ask me why.
Would Frasier or Greys Anatomy have been hits if they weren’t “filmed” in Seattle? Of course.
and yet “The Middle” is great with its setting even though its a random place indiana, same with Parks and Rec.
The Chicago Code was heavily invested in its Chicago setting and was excellent in how it dealt with it, same with Homicide/Wire and its baltimore setting
Nothing jumps out at me.
None of these seem really appealing to me… “Tennis Comedy” sounds like a Eastbound ripoff of course, and it couldn’t be as edgy as it’s on network TV. But it still Greg Daniels and Fox is not the worst network for comedies. I’ll at least give it a shot.
Really tired of shows about people “navigating life, love, and everything in between.” It’s the most bland concept for a show, and every show is doing it these days.
I think that’s code for “pretty/handsome cheap actors and we don’t know what the hell it’s going to be about until we see what’s popular right then.”
Didn’t Sex and the City pretty much cover the majority of ground that “Untitled Gay Comedy” will?
Yes, but this show will be about gay people, so it’s totally different!!! (Or totally the same — potato, potahto).
Okay, a theory: Gay TV shows are like women’s basketball. They both spend more effort trying to convince you that they’re worth your time than on actually being worth your time.
Want: Genuine Michael Ian Black sensibility on a three-camera sitcom.
Will Get: ABC-ization of Michael Ian Black in “According to Mike!”
Michael Ian Black hasnt had a successful TV show unless you count when he’s on “I love…” hes not going to start now.
All this shit sucks and is doomed to failure. Here’s your show, HBO: Lester Freeman and Jimmy McNulty work as private detectives for Pearlman & Daniels LLC. Avon Barksdale and Marlo Stanfield have gone legit and run Westside Bail Bonds. They all own a bar together called The Wire Tap (because of the show and because it’s a bar, get it?), and they get sucked into the seedy world of microbrews and craft beers.
GREENLIGHT THIS SHOW IMMEDIATELY!!!
is governor carcetti trying to shut down the microbrewers or raise liquor licenses? because he is a must appear
Carcetti is stuck between Big Aggro’s money, which he needs to run for POTUS, and McNulty finding ways to throw it in his face that genetically modified barley is fucking everything up.
I think we have a potential comment of the year right here
I bet 20$ the Tennis based show will have the word Racket in the title. Like ” What’s all the Racket” thursdays on NBC
Its on at 9:30 by the way……following Whitney
oh im betting $ its a love pun
How does Michael Ian Black keep getting work?
“…single-camera comedy about “Richie, a mediocre professional tennis…”
I immediately thought “The Royal Tenenbaums?” when I saw that part.
I’ll watch Untitled Gay Comedy if it is actually titled that.
Second.
Third
Linda Green sounds repulsive. “We’re not good, but we’re trying to be better. Life is hahd hea in fahkin’ Bawstan. Go Sawks!!!!”. Fuck. You. Don’t try to be better. Be an asshole. TV is much better when the people are decidedly NOT like the average person.
I will watch the fudge out of anything set in the frickin 80s.
Even though we didn’t say “f”….we said things that SOUNDED like the f-word. Because we were more clever back then.
Is ‘None’ and option?