NBC Picks Up JJ Abrams’ Spy Series ‘Undercovers’

We have an update on our Pilot Watch from last week. One of the three pending pilots from Star Trek luminaries has been picked up. Today NBC announced they have given a full season order to JJ Abrams new spy series, Undercovers. Details below.

 

JJ’s show picked up, still waiting for Shatner & Orci/Kurtzman shows

Even though the ‘upfronts’ for the broadcast networks are being held in two weeks, JJ Abrams new show Undercovers has got an advance order. The show focuses on the lives of two married spies (more details below). Abrams Fox series Fringe has already been picked up for a third season at Fox, and so with Lost wrapping up its final season later this month, Abrams production company Bad Robot will be able to go into the 2010-2011 still with two series in production.


Promo image of
Boris Kodjoe and Gugu Mbatha-Raw – stars ofNBC’s Undercovers

We will probably have to wait until the official CBS upfront presentation on May 19th to find out if Shatner’s Bleep My Dad Says and the Orci/Kurtzman reboot of Hawaii Five-0 will be on the Fall schedule.

 

NBC press release

NBC Picks Up ‘Undercovers,’ From J.J. Abrams And Josh Reims, As First New Scripted Series For 2010-11 Season

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – May 3, 2010 – NBC has issued its first scripted series pickup for the 2010-11 season with the order of the drama "Undercovers" from acclaimed writer/producer/director J.J. Abrams ("Star Trek," "Fringe," "Lost," "Alias") and executive producer/writer Josh Reims ("Brothers and Sisters"), it was announced today by Angela Bromstad, President, Primetime Entertainment, NBC and Universal Media Studios.

"We have tremendous confidence in this promising series and feel this is a great way to kick off our upcoming Upfront development announcements," said Jeff Gaspin, Chairman, NBC Universal Television Entertainment. "J.J. has delivered another signature series, along with our partners at Warner Bros., and we couldn’t be happier."

"Having J.J. on our creative team is a great reason for celebration," said Bromstad. "In ‘Undercovers,’ J.J. and Josh have found a breakout couple that is rich in character and brimming with romance and action. We feel he’s found the perfect cast."

Abrams serves as co-writer, executive producer – and also directs – his first direction of a TV series pilot since "Lost." "Undercovers" is a sexy, fun, action-packed spy drama that proves once and for all that marriage is still the world’s most dangerous partnership. Outwardly, Steven Bloom (Boris Kodjoe, "Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Family Reunion," "Soul Food," "Resident Evil: Afterlife") and his wife, Samantha (Gugu Mbatha-Raw, "Doctor Who," "Bonekickers"), are a typical married couple who own a small catering company in Los Angeles and are helped by Samantha’s easily frazzled younger sister, Lizzy (Jessica Parker Kennedy, "Smallville").

Secretly, the duo were two of the CIA’s best spies until they fell in love on the job five years ago and retired. When fellow spy and friend Nash (Carter MacIntyre, "American Heiress") goes missing while on the trail of a Russian arms dealer, the Blooms are reinstated by boss Carlton Shaw (Gerald McRaney, "Deadwood") to locate and rescue Nash. The pair is thrust back into the world of espionage as they follow leads that span the globe — and Steven and Samantha realize that this supercharged, undercover lifestyle provides the excitement and romance that their marriage has been missing. Also starring is Ben Schwartz (NBC’s "Parks and Recreation").

"Undercovers" is from Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Bad Robot Productions and Warner Bros. Television. The pilot was written by J.J. Abrams & Josh Reims and directed by Abrams. Abrams, Reims and Bryan Burk ("Fringe," "Lost, "Alias") are the executive producers

12 Comments
oldest
newest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Great. Love JJ’s work. Hopefully it keeps to the same quality of his recent shows.

Don’t bother me with this stuff unless it says “CBS picks up Abrams new Trek series”

Everything else I’ve seen by this man is garbage.

#2
The better option is… don’t read it if you don’t like it.

#2 – Threadcrap much? You have anything “better” to show?

Felicity, Alias, MI:III, Lost, Fringe, and now STAR TREK. Quite an enviable resume.

#2 Seriously. The guy earned his stripes. No one at the networks or film studios just handed him a job because he SEEMS like a good writer/director. He had to prove himself and work his way up to what he has.

Take your bile to aint it cool. They love that stuff over there.

I love LOST. And several seasons of Alias. (though not all)

Looking forward to this. :)

As for # 2, he has the right to his opinion. You don’t need to be an architect to know when a bad building falls down. His opinion is just as valid as anyone, resume or no. IDIC, remember?

Ho ho ho! I’ll be watching this like a shot. Probably wait to gorge on the lot when it shows up on Blu-ray though!

#6 No, #2 has the right to his _informed_ opinion (to quote Harlan Ellison). And just “what else” has he seen from Abrams?

Frankly, I’d give this a shot too. JJ isn’t above criticism, but unlike a good chunk of internet moaners and groaners, the man’s paid his dues. He’s gone into the trenches and sucked up them bullets. And at least he’s going out and getting stuff done instead of sitting on his @$$ and whining online.

Sounds a bit like that “Mr and Mrs Smith” movie, but it should be a lot of fun regardless!

@9 “Sounds a bit like that “Mr and Mrs Smith” movie…”

With erhaps a bit of “True Lies” thrown in?

“perhaps”, even…

And a dash of Scarecrow and Mrs King? Maybe he watched it as a kid?