Let’s Take a Look at the Network Pilots – Dramas at CBS

Next month the major networks will make their presentations to the New York advertisers, showcasing the returning and new shows that will appear on the primetime schedule starting this fall. There is always a lot of debate about which new pilots will be picked up and which ones will fall by the wayside. Over the course of the next few weeks, I will examine each major network’s offerings, giving my thoughts on each new drama pilot. Only time will tell, however, if any of these shows will make it let alone if I am right in any of my choices; but it sure is fun trying to predict.

Let’s get started with the drama offerings over at CBS:

Rachelle LeFevre in Applebaum

Applebaum – This drama is based on the Ayelet Waldman series books called “Mommy Track Mysteries about a former public defender who becomes a private investigator to keep from being bored to death as a stay-at-home mom.

The cast includes Rachelle LeFevre (the Twilight Saga franchise), Rhys Coiro (A Gifted Man), Jay Mohr (Gary Unmarried), youngster Marlowe Peyton (The Back-Up Plan) and James Hiroyuki Liao (Prison Break).

My Thoughts: Making a TV show adaptation of a book or book series can work but other times it can fail. It’s not that much different for any other type of TV series to be honest; and this new drama could have a winning factor with a certain portion of the CBS audience. But, I am not really sure if LeFevre, who plays the lead in this show, can pull it off or not.

Janet Montgomery in Baby Big Shot

Baby Big Shot – A working class woman uses her street smarts to compete with her more polished colleagues at a tony Manhattan law firm.

The cast includes Janet Montgomery (Human Target), Kyle McLaughlin (Twin Peaks), Pablo Schreiber (A Gifted Man), Erin Cummings (Spartacus: Vengeance) and Stephanie March (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit).

My Thoughts: This show has an interesting premise; but again, it has an unproven star in the lead role (Montgomery) and that could be its greatest strength or greatest weakness. Procedurals nearly always work on CBS; but this just might not be one of them.

Lucy Liu and Jonny Lee Miller in Elementary

Elementary – This drama will be a re-envisioned take on the literary hero by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes, but set in the present day where Sherlock is a former Scotland Yard consultant who solves crimes for the NYPD alongside Joan Watson, his personal recovery assistant.

The cast includes Jonny Lee Miller (Eli Stone), Lucy Liu (Ally McBeal) and Aidan Quinn (Legends of the Fall).

My Thoughts: The reimagined tale of Sherlock Holmes has worked really well for the BBC in the UK as well as its airing on PBS so I am not surprised that CBS has decided to dive into the same waters. The casting is definitely great and different! I hope nothing but great things for this pilot.

Theo James in Golden Boy

Golden Boy (Tentative Title) – This drama tracks one man’s meteoric rise from a uniform cop at age 26 to police commissioner at age 34. The cast includes Theo James (Bedlam), Chi McBride (Pushing Daisies), Bonnie Sommerville (The Ugly Truth), Holt McCallany (Lights Out) and Kevin Alejandro (Southland).

My Thoughts: This is exactly the kind of show that fits best with the typical CBS line-up. And given the pretty spectacular cast that has been chosen for this pilot, there is really no stopping this show. The show could also be the springboard for actor Theo James, who will play the lead character, making him a star here in the States.

John Corbett in The Widow Detective

The Widow Detective – This drama focuses on a decorated detective who has lost three partners in the line of duty and serves as the male figure in the lives of his fallen partners’ families.

The cast includes John Corbett (Northern Exposure), Eriq La Salle (ER), Paula Marshall (Gary Unmarried), Jennifer Beals (The Chicago Code), Michael Irby (The Unit) and Elyes Gabel (Game of Thrones).

My Thoughts: This pilot has quite an impressive cast, which doesn’t necessarily mean it is destined to be a hit; but it also doesn’t hurt. And, the fact it is right up the alley of CBS in terms of its premise than that is another point in this show’s favor.

Mira Sorvino in Trooper

Trooper – This drama is about a common-sense mother who becomes a New York State trooper.

The cast includes film star Mira Sorvino and Jay Hernandez (Hostel).

My Thoughts: Having a big name star as the lead won’t help this show much better than the two pilots on this list that feature lesser known leads. I just don’t think the viewers will take to the show any better than the network heads.

Dennis Quaid and Michael Chiklis in Ralph Lamb Project

Untitled Ralph Lamb Project – This is a period drama set in the 1960s centered on the true story of Ralph Lamb – rodeo cowboy turned longtime Sheriff of Las Vegas.

The cast includes box office star Dennis Quaid, Michael Chiklis (The Shield), box office star Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix franchise), Jason O’Mara (Terra Nova), Michael Reilly Burke (Lincoln Heights) and Taylor Handley (The O.C.).

My Thoughts: Just because period pieces work on cable doesn’t necessarily mean it will work on CBS or any other major network for that matter. But, given the line-up of cast members it just could work as long as it is captivating enough and well-written.

Needless to say, there are quite a number of drama pilots up for grabs at CBS; and if I had to choose the top three they would be: Elementary, Golden Boy and The Widow Detective. Which of the above dramas would you like to see added to the CBS line-up this fall?