CBS Picks Up JJ Abrams “Person of Interest” + More TV Pickups & Passes For Star Trek Vets [UDPATE: Shatner Sitcom Canceled]

Next week the broadcast and cable networks hold their ‘upfronts,’ their annual presentations to advertisers on pickups and renewals for the 2011/2012 seasons. But news on the 2011-12 shows has already been released and we’re here to provide you with a quick run down related to all the shows picked up, canceled or renewed involving Star Trek vets. [Update: CBS has canceled William Shatner’s comedy $#*! My Dad Says + Renewal likely for Hawaii Five-O]

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TV SHOW PICKUPS (& PASSES) FOR STAR TREK VETS

Two J.J. Abrams pilots get picked up: Alcatraz at Fox; Person of Interest at CBS

CBS scooped up the JJ Abrams’s drama "Person of Interest." The series was written by Jonah Nolan and stars Jim Caviezel, Kevin Chapman, Michael Emerson and Taraji P. Henson. As with "Alcatraz", Bryan Burk is also an executive producer on this series. Here’s the description courtesy TV Line:

Person of Interest is a crime drama centered on an ex-CIA agent played by James Caviezel (The Prisoner). Presumed dead, he teams up with a mysterious billionaire (Lost‘s Michael Emerson) to prevent violent crimes in New York City.

And as previously reported, Fox has picked up the J.J. Abrams’-produced "Alcatraz". The drama stars "Lost" alum Jorge Garcia and is centered on "a group of missing Alcatraz prisoners and guards who reappear in the present day and the efforts of a team of FBI agents to track them down and unravel the mystery behind their disappearance 30 years prior." Bryan Burk ("Star Trek") is also an executive producer on the project.

Perception to premiere next year on TNT; LeVar Burton a recurring character

This past March TNT gave a greenlight to "Perception" co-created by executive producer Kenneth Biller ("Star Trek: Voyager", "Legend of the Seeker") and co-executive producer Mike Sussman ("Star Trek: Voyager", "Star Trek: Enterprise"). According to the press release, the series "centers on a neuroscientist who works to solve complex criminal cases." Here’s the complete description:

In PERCEPTION, [Eric] McCormack plays Dr. Geoffrey Pierce, an eccentric neuroscientist who uses his unique outlook and expertise to help the federal government crack difficult cases. Pierce’s intimate knowledge of human behavior and masterful understanding of the mind are matched by his equally odd and imaginative view of the world. [Rachael Leigh] Cook co-stars as FBI agent Kate Rossi, Pierce’s former student and the person responsible for recruiting him to work for the government. [Arjay] Smith plays Max Lewicki, Pierce’s teaching assistant who has spent nine years at college. [Kelly] Rowan is Natalie Vincent, Pierce’s best friend and every bit his intellectual equal.

"Perception" also features LeVar Burton as a recurring character, playing Paul Haley (an homage to Roots’ Alex Haley), the dean of a fictional Chicago university where "Perception" is set. The order was for 10 episodes, with the series expected to premiere in 2012.

ABC picks up The River, starring Bruce Greenwood

Bruce Greenwood ("Star Trek") stars as a famed explorer in this thriller from the creators of Paranormal Activity and Michael Green ("Heroes", "Kings"). Here’s how ABC describes the show:

Famed explorer Dr. Emmet Cole (Bruce Greenwood) went looking for magic deep in the uncharted Amazon and never returned. Now, the shocking truth about his disappearance is out there, somewhere, just waiting to be discovered. To the millions of kids who grew up watching his nature show, Dr. Cole was a hero. To his own son Lincoln (Joe Anderson), he was more of an enigma. Now, six months after he vanished, Lincoln is finally ready to bury the past when Dr. Cole’s emergency beacon suddenly goes off. At the urging of his mother Tess (Leslie Hope), Lincoln reluctantly joins her on a search for his father. To fund the rescue, they agree to let Dr. Cole’s cagey ex-producer Clark (Paul Blackthorne) film the mission documentary-style. The mixed crew of old friends and new acquaintances includes the sexy and resourceful Lena (Eloise Mumford), loyal mechanic Emilio (Daniel Zacapa) and lethal bodyguard Captain Kurt Brynildson (Thomas Kretschmann). Once they find The Magus, the real adventure begins. In the search for Dr. Cole, they will encounter a scary new mystery each week, while struggling with their own personal jealousies, insecurities, secrets and desires. As they venture further into the Amazon, away from the world they know, the crew of The Magus will discover a place where one bad decision can be fatal, and where powerful magic is as real as science.

NBC passes on 17th Precinct, Locke & Key Being Shopped, + Fox retooling Exit Strategy

Three projects from different Trek vets did not get picked up for the fall (although some still may have life in them). First up, NBC took a pass on Star Trek: TNG/DS9 (and Battlestar Galactica) writer/producer Ronald D. Moore’s "17th District". The futuristic police drama was set in an alternate version of San Francisco where magic ruled instead of science. NBC decided to pick up the magic-themed "Grimm" instead.

Fox passed on Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman’s adaptation of the Joe Hill graphic novel "Locke & Key." There was talk about doing a limited series event, but that’s unlikely given cost. 20th Century Fox TV is reportedly shopping the show to other networks. Orci is certainly not giving up, tonight he sent out a tweet on Locke and Key saying: "Props, cheers, & mucho respect to Josh Friedman Who wrote and produced AMAZING pilot for Locke and Key. U have not heard the end of this;)." Meanwhile, another of Orci and Kurtzman’s pilots, the CIA action drama "Exit Strategy" (starring Ethan Hawke) is reportedly being retooled and remains in contention for midseason.

Chuck renewed for fifth and final season

"Chuck" has done it again. Year after year this beloved, but low-rated (down to 5.19M / 1.7 A18-49 rating this season), spy-fi series is on the brink of cancellation and this year was no different. But just as with years past it has escaped cancellation, however, this time that renewal comes at a price. The fifth season will be the show’s last and run at a shortened 13 episodes. Robert Duncan McNeill (Star Trek: Voyager) serves as a producer and director. McNeill has directed a total of 18 episodes over the course of 4 seasons, including two this season. "Chuck" concludes its fourth season this Monday at 8PM.

Body of Proof (starring Jeri Ryan) renewed for second season

The ABC drama "Body of Proof" (which stars Voyager’s Jeri Ryan) has been picked up for a second season. The Tuesday night drama has done well airing out of the "Dancing With the Stars" results show, drawing an average audience of 11.03M viewers and a 2.3 A18-49 rating.

Update: CBS cancels William Shatner’s $#*! My Dad Says + Renewal likely for Hawaii Five-O

There was some hope CBS would renew the comedy "$#*! My Dad Says", which stars William Shatner as the titular Dad, but that hope is now gone. CBS has decided to cancel the series. Ratings were okay, nothing amazing, basically right at the middle in terms of performance. Of the network’s seven comedies, "$#*! My Dad Says" ranked fourth among viewers (10.3M) and fifth among adults 18-49 (3.0 rating). As TrekMovie.com previously reported, CBS was considering a second season with a retooling that would have removed Jonathan Sadowski, who played the son Henry to Shatner’s Ed.

There’s also an update on the “Hawaii Five-O” remake (from creators/producers Roberto Orci / Alex Kurtzman-created/produced ), with Deadline reporting that the series is a “lock” for renewal.

GENRE SHOW SUMMARY

Beyond the shows from Star Trek vets, we’ll have a more comprehensive article up next week detailing all the old and new sci-fi/genre shows that will be airing next season (including Fox’s "Terra Nova" from Brannon Braga), but in the mean time, here’s a basic list of the renewals and cancellations:

RENEWED

  • Chuck [NBC]
  • Fringe [FOX]
  • Supernatural [THE CW]
  • The Vampire Diaries [THE CW]

CANCELED/ENDED

  • The Cape [NBC]
  • The Event [NBC]
  • Medium [CBS]
  • Human Target [FOX]
  • No Ordinary Family [ABC]
  • V [ABC]
  • Smallville [THE CW]

To Be Determined: Nikita [THE CW]

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What’s the deal with Exit Strategy? Why is it being retooled? Any info?

I’m not happy that V and No Ordanary Family was canceled. V was getting so good and the Stupid!!!!! people at AbC has just lost. Liked The Event. Alcatraz and Person of Interest look great.
Sad that Smallville is now over. Was a great series. Though am not happy that we only got to see Clark for a brief moment as Superman. But all in all was a fantastic show. Love Supernatural. Looks like some great shows coming up for next season. Just hope that the Big Shots are a Lot Smarter then the Dumba$$e$ at ABC.

So sad that V has been axed. What a good show. Still got a few shows to watch here in blighty. Wish american studios would look at how shows perform over seas before sealing their fates

V- SAD TO SEE THIS SHOW GO I FEEL THE 3 THIRD SEASON WOULD HAVE ROCKED

NO ORDINORY FAMILY- A PITTY ABOUT THIS AS AS I FELT THE 2ND SEASON WAS HEADING SOMWHERE

FRINGE- SO GLAD THIS HAS BEEN PICK UP THE THIRD SEASON THE BEST SO FAR

CHUCK- THIS ONE I AM THE MOST HAPPEST I LOVE CHUCK AND I AM SO GLAD THEY ARE ABLE TO FINISH IT OFF AND I AM SURE THEY WILL DO IT RIGHT

I am not surprised that No Ordinary Family got cancelled but I am annoyed that it has because as it is gettign to the end I find it is getting really good.

The Event is getting good but I had a feeling it was getting cancelled becuae I heard the ratings dropped.

Hard to find good shows these days. All the ones Istart get canceleld and the ones that are my favourites are no longer on the airwaves.

I am still a few years behind on Supernatural.

I hope Bllep My Dad Says gets a second year. Gettign rid of Henry is no biggie, he actually was my least favourite character.

Absolutely delighted to see Bruce Greenwood in a TV series ( ABC’c The River ).

Sad about V…

#1-DMDUNCAN – According to DEADLINE.COM, Fox brass felt the action for EXIT STRATEGY needed to be infused with more character.

You can read more at the weblink
http://www.deadline.com/tag/exit-strategy/

The only one of thse shows I watched was V, and I loved it. But look at the bright side. Now there’s more room for another insipid, pointless, lowest common demoninator, non reality, reality show. Great job ABC suits. You just lost another set of eyeballs on your network here.

Rebecca Madsen is the name of a character in Alcatraz, not the actor portraying her. She is being portrayed by Sarah Jones. Also, I don’t believe she is a Lost alum. I checked IMDB and Wiki and don’t see any reference to the show on her filmography.

Its sad that chuck is only getting one more year. Its one of the few shows on TV that doesn’t suck. I hate reality TV so that rules out about 60-70% of whats on automatically.

The River sounds awesome!! :)

Re “Exit Strategy” from http://www.deadline.com/tag/exit-strategy/

“I hear that Fox brass felt the action needed to be infused with more character.”

What does that mean???

And looky looky too, now all the recruitment shows for Seal Team 6 begin.

I hate TV.

It sounds like NBC passed on “Wonder Woman”, too. After the travesty that was their “Bionic Woman” remake, and the failure of their relaunch of “The Rockford Files”, the only real surprise is that “Wonder Woman” made it as far as a pilot. Successful remakes of 1970s shows are few and far between. Next up is ABC’s relaunch of “Charlie’s Angels”.

CBS passed on Sarah Michelle Gellar’s “Ringer” but it is being offered to The CW. ABC Studios, which was to produce it, probably won’t because of CW’s low potential ratings.

Anthony, you really have to put up articles regarding the polls. Its suck to vote and then not discuss it unless posting about it in a random article.

Those of you who voted yes or good idea for a Star Trek cartoon are fracking tools!

Not that things happen based on our little polls but If there were to be a new Star Trek series and it was animated you know they would not bring a live action Star Trek out at the same time.

I would much rather have a new live action TV series than a fracking cartoon. Who gives a $hit about animated Star Trek, honestly.

Chadwick
firstly not sure why it is hard to look past the first story, but mostly warning for trolling. This site does not tollerate namecalling, and especially since in this case you are namecalling on 3/4 of Trekkies

Pilotfred
stop with the ALLCAPS, what you have to say is no more important than anyone else

Captain_Neill
Why do i have to again remind you to stop replying to your own posts? Do you really need to make 3 posts in a row to make your point?

17… The article about the poll is there. It is the “Could Orci and Kurtzman Reanimate Star Trek” story.

17. Chadwick – Try “Could Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman Re-Animate Star Trek?” from the list at the upper right.

Glad to see V go, while we watched it faithfully. For us there was always the big decision to keep going or not, it wasnt that good.
The Event….same response really.
Enjoyed The Cape
and this goes back a few seasons but still bummed Flash Forward got canned as we did enjoy it…and kinda liked where Journeyman was going too.

But hey Fringe is still going and thats an awesome show.

What’s wrong with Jonathan Sadowsky?

21…. “Flashforward” had a great pilot and then treaded water for what seemed like half the season before it finally (belatedly) started going somewhere. Similarly, “V” told the story of the enitre four hour 1980s miniseries in about 40 minutes of the pilot episode and then had nowhere to go for the rest of the series. Someone needs to send those guys a dictionary with the word “pacing” highlighted. Or they could ask the guys at “Fringe” what it means.

I agree about “Journeyman”, but I didn’t enjoy “The Cape” at all.

Good grief! Cop dramas, medical shows, reality programs, pyschic characters…….When the hell are these networks going to come up with SOMETHING REMOTELY original and interesting? Everything I see on the F*CKIN’ television is a lame variation of some other piece of SH*T!

F*CK!!

kinda said the same a while back here on trekmovie when ‘The Shat’s’ stuff my dad says series was battling for ratings and uncertain of renewal..or maybe it was another site..

anyways, i like it. it took a while, as any new project, to get the characters in sync. also, this series is produced by the same people who did ‘Will and Grace’, the shooting and comedy styling is kinda the same…it took that one a while to kick in too and it eventually ended up in the top 20 every week.

hope they give it another chance..maybe a better time slot too. Guess TBBT as the lead-in didnt pay off after-all.

@21… Totally agree about V. I watched it regularly hoping for it to grow and mature. I used to watch the original in the ’80s too. Although this incarnation was certainly better, I was watching it mostly to see how they were going to end the story, and now we won’t even have that – just like the old version. What a bummer! I really wish networks could notify shows of impending cancellation before the end of the season so proper endings could be filmed.

I won’t miss it much though. Of late the episodes had far too much gratuitous gore and meaningless deaths. The introduction of the Marc Singer character in the finale indicated yet another baseless major change of direction for the story, probably in an attempt to gather more viewers. Alas, we will not see where it would have gone. Let’s hope no one tries to remake this series again in 10 years.

Just a bit off topic, V was an extremely weak lead-in for Detroit 1-8-7, which IMO was one of the better attempts at a crime drama since NYPD Blue. As a result, 1-8-7’s ratings suffered and is cancelled by ABC too. Shame.

I liked Flash Forward, but it was starting to get too convoluted for my tastes. Would have been nice to see at least one more season though.

I positively loved Journeyman and am still sad that it had to go. One of the few genre series that focussed on how the main character’s “ability” played havoc with his personal life and affected the ones around him.

24

Something origianla on TV in this day and age, in the era of the reboot.

Seriously police dramas are a show popular within the mainstream.

The csi franchise is due a reboot. Only cop shows i can stand is Hawaii five-0 and criminal minds. Last show i remember come out of Hollywood that was original was Fringe. And thats a hybrid but i do love it especially Walter

Damn, was really looking forward to 17th Precinct. :-/ Its just what the tv world needs, San Francisco based, sci-fi mixed with cop drama, and a handful of Battlestar Galactica alum. i really hope they can shop it somewhere else.

Its got to the case now that I am thinking Why bother starting any new shows? Everyone I get into gets canned. At least Warehouse 13 is still on.

I have still to watch Fringe.

20

I wasn’t replying to my own post, just a point I wanted to say about another show that I forgot to put in my first post.

I really do think getting rid of Henry in S@^t My Dad Says will improve the show.

Is the Walking Dead coming back?

According to William Shatner’s Facebook, $#*! My Dad Says has been canceled.

Hey guys! … on new projects … this looks interesting… CHRIS PINE FOR MUD … BUT NOT HARRY… but when??? … if it happens…

here:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2011/05/jeff-nichols-take-shelter-memento-chris-nolan-pine.html

:-) :-)

Sorry to see the Shats show canceled. Pretty much new Hawaii Five O would be brought back. That is a great show.

Not great. Finally we get to see $#*! My Dad Says (first episode – last Wednesday) and now the series gets cancelled. Such a drag. Obviously overseas audiences just don’t get a look in or any kind of say on what they might like or not. Duh.

I’m glad that Hawaii Five-O has been picked up again. The second series starts this Wednesday night. I guess I’ll be watching the “giggle box” between 8.00pm and 9.30pm for the next number of Wednesdays.

It is also good news about Fringe. My younger son and I really like watching it. It is just a shame it is on so late.

Looks like Chris Pine could be going the Indie route again…oh the wait…

Bob – How is that script and soft prep going?

I love what he did for star trek and I love hawaii but I think the retool of hawaii 5-0 is the dumbest thing ok TV!

V AND human Target where good sucks they cancelled them

CBS loves Hawaii Five-O and will certainly renew it. I have no idea why. The show is mediocre at best, awful at worst, and it is now routinely losing its time period to ABC’s “Castle” (something timeslot predecessor CSI Miami never did.) Considering Five-O probably costs at least twice as much to make as Castle and is about as expensive as CSI Miami, it is a mystery why CBS has so much faith in Five-O. Maybe they see it as a slow-builder like NCIS, but there is little evidence of it yet. I think it is a foregoone conclusion that Five-O will be moved to another night next season… I’d say Thursdays at 10 after The Mentalist, with running-on-fumes CSI moving to Fridays.

Sorry Ron. Philosophically, BSG was a truly great and meaningful show. But 17th District sounds ‘orrible.

Sad that the Ville of Small has concluded.
I’m not sure if I actually like the ending or not. Part of me loved it and part of me wanted more of SuperBloke.
Supes looked way too animated and you never really saw the boy Welling fully caped up.
Not a bad finale though and I suppose it was a (10year) tale of the boy Kent and not of the Big Blue Bugger.
I have not seen Hawaii 5-0. Is it worth watching?

I wonder what ol’ Ballzy thought about it?

I’m not surprised that V was cancelled. I mean, yeah, it was pretty nicely done when it comes to design, the acting was ok and the story is interesting… But nothing was happening! At all! It was just dragging on and on. So, even though it is a shame that it’s ending, I think it’s no surprise.

@17 “Successful remakes of 1970s shows are few and far between. Next up is ABC’s relaunch of “Charlie’s Angels”

I watched a lot of TV in the 70’s. Let me tell you, those shows stunk back then, too. This website we post on celebrates the only successful TV show from that era. They all had short runs for a reason.

Calling all former trek stars, please save the network planets

41.

BSS, I watched the Smallville series finale. It could have been so much better. The last HOUR should have had Superman, not the last 10 minutes.

I keep hearing that the producers had contractual restrictions as to how much of Tom in “the suit” they could show. Here’s the thing. If they had admitted to that up front 10 years ago, the series would have died after 3-4 years. the viewers kept hanging on waiting for the pay-off. This means we were deceived all along, waiting for something that the producers knew was NEVER going to happen. Not good.

At least they were able to introduce 99% of the expanded Superman universe of villains and heroes and Kryptonians…. not bad really.
.
The suit though yes… should have been used more. The suit is to Superman as the Enterprise is to Star Trek.

Apparently, the rule was that the Superman suit could not be used during the run of the series. They were saving it for the movies. The studio didn’t want fans getting their Superman for free. That is why we didn’t see Tom Welling in the suit until the last ten minutes of “Smallville”, but even then we didn’t get much of a look. Maybe it was because they reused the suit worn by Brandon Routh and put a new cape on it.

Sh!t dad says was lame on arrival as a laugh tracked network TV show. A less hammy actor and an uncensored HBO-style treatment would have done it justice. Maybe the guy can write a proper feature script of some of that material and do the concept as it should have been in the first place. Such a waste of quality source material. Sorry Bill.

V was so appallingly bad I almost enjoyed it just for the nonsense. They really blew that premise. And that weird subplot about the ‘soul sucking machine’? Oi vey. If they’d renewed it, I’d have been shocked.

Can’t say I’m sorry the Shat’s show was canceled, maybe he can focus on being in a *good* TV show now.

#17

“Who gives a $hit about animated Star Trek, honestly.”

Quite a few people, obviously.

Too bad about “$#*! My Dad Says”. I never even saw it once. Oh well.