Tag Archives: Bad Robot

Michael Emerson joins Abrams’ ‘Person of Interest’

February 17, 2011News, TelevisionBad Robot, CBS, J.J. Abrams, Michael Emerson, Odd Jobs, Person of Interest, TV notesScott Meisner

In mid-September it was reported that CBS picked up a new series from J.J. Abrams titled Person of Interest. As a standard Abrams affair, the program was shrouded in secrecy in terms of casting and plotline. Today that has all changed. Abrams and series collaborator Jonah Nolan (brother of renowned film director Christopher Nolan) have chosen Michael Emerson to be show’s lead. Emerson, who reunites with Lost creator Abrams, is best known for his phenomenal portrayal as the villainous Benjamin Linus. The CBS project, backed by Warner Bros. and Abrams’ Bad Robot, is being described as a crime drama centered on an ex-CIA agent, presumed dead, who teams up with a mysterious billionaire (Emerson) to prevent violent crimes in New York City. David Semel (Heroes) will direct the pilot which is slated to air in the fall.

By now you might be thinking to yourself what about the other Abrams project known as Odd Jobs starring Emerson with Lost pal Terry O’Quinn. It’s true that NBC picked up the show with Abrams, Bryan Burk, Josh Appelbaum, and Andre Nemec (all producers) attached, but now it’s apparently being saved for the 2012 pilot season. Whether or not Emerson will be able to juggle two TV shows at once is a question no one has to answer to just yet. They are both backed by the same studios (Warner and Robot), so the potential is there. We shall wait and see. But for now you should rejoice knowing that Emerson will serve as a lead in another Abrams project that’s sure to dazzle and mystify TV viewers this fall.

[Via Deadline]

J.J. Abrams is pitching another show, this one’s called ‘Pulp’

January 6, 2011News, TelevisionBad Robot, J.J. Abrams, network shopping, pitch, Pulp, series pitchScott Meisner

The man who built Bad Robots Productions has another drama up his sleeve. J.J. Abrams is prepared to pitch Pulp, described by TV Line’s Michael Ausiello as “an hour-long crime drama set in a slightly heightened reality,” to the networks as early as next week. In pure Abrams fashion, he’s working with longtime collaborators including Monica Breen and Alison Schapker (Alias, Lost, Fringe) who wrote the script and will serve as executive producers if the show gets picked up. Ear is to the ground with this one.

If you need a quick refresher, Abrams has three other series in the works: FOX’s Alcatraz, NBC’s Odd Jobs, and a CBS crime thriller called Persons Unknown. Next fall can’t come soon enough.

[Via TVLine]

J.J. Abrams imagines two new dramas

September 17, 2010News, TelevisionAlcatraz, Bad Robot, Bryan Burk, CBS, Elizabeth Sarnoff, FOX, J.J. Abrams, Jonah Nolan, Person of Interest, TV notesScott Meisner

J.J. Abrams, creator of Felicity, Alias, Lost, Fringe, and the upcoming NBC spy show Undercovers, is readying two new dramas for network TV. Variety reports that FOX has picked up Alcatraz, a series based on the famous island prison that was shut down in 1963. The spec script was written by Elizabeth Sarnoff (Lost, Deadwood). Sarnoff will serve as executive producer along with Abrams and Bryan Burk (Alias, Lost) on the Warner Bros. TV/Bad Robot project.

Next up is Person of Interest, another Abrams-backed project that was just picked up by CBS, according to NYMag. The source describes it as an hour-long crime thriller. Jonah Nolan, brother of film director Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight), is penning the pilot script and serves as co-creator with Abrams. Can someone say dream team?! This marks the first time Nolan contributing to a TV series. He is best known for his collaboration work with his brother on The Dark Knight & The Prestige; he also wrote the short story that inspired Memento. The fact that CBS of all networks reportedly picked up this particular series is somewhat startling. CBS is known for playing it safe by strictly airing procedural shows that people can tune into at any time without worrying about missing key plot developments (think the CSI franchise, The Mentalist, etc.). The Abrams/Nolan series might just break the CBS mold by premiering a more serialized show that demands weekly viewing. And that makes me very, very giddy.

As you might guess, very little to no information regarding plot and casting has leaked about these new Abrams projects. But you can be sure I’ll report back when things start to ramp up. If all goes according to plan, I’m hoping the new dramas will be ready to premiere next fall.

[Via Variety; NYMag; IGN, here & here]