NBC has given series orders to two comedy pilots — a detective show starring Jake Johnson and a rom-com from Jamie Lee Curtis. An untitled therapist comedy starring Jane Lynch and Katey Segal is not moving forward at the network.
Little is known about “Sunset P.I.” other than it stars Johnson as a private investigator. The quippy logline says the project “continues the proud tradition of Los Angeles private eyes that began with Philip Marlowe and will end with this show.”
Jane Levy, Langston Kerman, Mary Shalaby and Keith David also star in the series, which is written by Dan Goor and Luke Del Tredici. The pilot was directed by the Lonely Island’s Akiva Schaffer.
“Newlyweds” is described as a “later-in-life love story about a free-spirited woman and a buttoned-up professor who marry impetuously after a whirlwind courtship.” It stars Téa Leoni and Tim Daly, with Curtis as a recurring guest star.
Writer Gail Lerner executive produces “Newlyweds” alongside Eric and Kim Tannenbaum for The Tannenbaum Company, Curtis, Scott Schwartz and Lionsgate Television. Pam Fryman directed the pilot.
Both projects are produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.
“Our creative teams, led by Lisa Katz at NBC and Erin Underhill at Universal Television, delivered an exceptional pilot slate, developing eight standout projects that reflect our ambition,” said Pearlena Igbokwe, chairman of NBC Entertainment and Peacock’s scripted and television studios. “While we often hear the phrase embarrassment of riches, it truly applies in this case. This process allowed us to take big swings, and we landed on shows that we think can truly break through.”
The untitled comedy project that did not make it past the pilot stage was written by “The New Adventures of Old Christine” creator Kari Lizer. Per the logline: “Ginger (Sagal) and Jill (Lynch) have always been a team as opposites that work best together. As they sort their past and look toward their future, they’ll discover that in spite of it all, they wouldn’t change a thing.” The project was loosely inspired by real-life friendship between therapists and sociologists Pepper Schwartz and Janet Lever, who study sex and gender and served as consulting producers.
NBC also announced series pickups for two drama pilots — the law enforcement series “Line of Fire” and a reboot of “The Rockford Files” starring David Boreanaz.
