3RD UP
DATE: Descriptions and credits for each newly picked up series at the bottom of the post.
2ND UPDATE: Now we’re off to Warner Bros. TV, which is getting series pickups for supernatural procedural Forever, from Matt Miller and My Fair Lady-esque comedy Selfie, from Suburgatory creator Emily Kapnek. For those keeping track of which ABC pilots are dead, I hear the list now also includes dramas Warriors, Sea Of Fire and one of better-received comedy pilots, Saint Francis.
Related: ABC PILOTS: What Is Still Alive?
UPDATE: ABC continues with its orders from ABC Studios. Next off are fairytale musical comedy Galavant from Dan Fogelman (His sophomore ABC comedy The Neighbors is dead), the alien drama The Whispers (formerly The Visitors) and the under-the-radar Jeff Lowell romantic comedy, now titled Manhattan Love Story. The Whispers marks the seventh series for Amblin TV and third for Dawn Olmstead who left the producing ranks to head development for Universal Cable Prods.
Related: ABC Renews ‘Modern Family’, No Returning Comedies From ABC Studios?
PREVIOUS: ABC has kicked off its new series pickups with a nod to its hottest pilot, legal thriller How To Get Away With Murder starring Viola Davis and executive produced by Shonda Rhimes. Also picked up today are two other pilots from ABC Studios, John Ridley’s dark, racially charged drama American Crime starring Timothy Hutton and Felicity Huffman, and comedy Black-ish, starring Anthony Anderson, with Laurence Fishburne executive producing and set to recur as Anderson’s dad. I hear Richard LaGravenese’s Dangerous Liaisons is not going forward.
Related: ABC Picks Up ‘Marvel’s ‘Agent Carter’, Renews ‘Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.’
List of ABC’s new series:
Related: Related: ABC Renews ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, ‘Scandal’, ‘Revenge’, ‘Castle, ‘Resurrection’ & ‘Once Upon A Time’
“HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER”
The brilliant, charismatic and seductive Professor Annalise Keating (Viola Davis) gets entangled with four law students from her class “How to Get Away with Murder.” Little do they know that they will have to apply what they learned to real life, in this masterful, sexy, suspense-driven legal thriller from Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers, executive producers of “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Scandal.”
“How to Get Away with Murder” stars Viola Davis as Professor Annalise Keating, Billy Brown as Nate, Alfred Enoch as Wes, Jack Falahee as Conner, Katie Findlay as Rebecca, Aja Naomi King as Michaela, Matt McGorry as Asher, Karla Souza as Laurel, Charlie Weber as Frank and Liza Weil as Bonnie.
Written by executive producer Peter Nowalk, “How to Get Away with Murder” is executive-produced by Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers, directed by Michael Offer and produced by ABC Studios.
Related: 2014 ABC Pilots
“AMERICAN CRIME”
All over the news are reports about a young couple in Modesto, California, who were attacked in their home. Matt Skokie, a war vet, was killed, and his wife, Lily, is unconscious, barely hanging on. Both sets of parents are at her bedside hoping for a miracle while four suspects are about to be arrested. The case sends shock waves into the community stirring up tensions across racial lines in this gritty drama.
“American Crime” stars Felicity Huffman as Barb, Timothy Hutton as Russ, W. Earl Brown as Tom, Richard Cabral as Hector Tonz, Caitlin Gerard as Aubry, Benito Martinez as Alonzo Gutierrez, Penelope Ann Miller as Eve, Elvis Nolasco as Carter and Johnny Ortiz as Tony Gutierrez.
“American Crime” was written, directed and produced by John Ridley (“12 Years A Slave”). Executive producers are John Ridley and Michael J. McDonald. “American Crime” is produced by ABC Studios.
Related: ABC Renews ‘The Goldbergs’
“BLACK-ISH”
Andre ‘Dre’ Johnson (Anthony Anderson) has a great job, a beautiful wife, Rainbow (Tracee Ellis Ross), four kids, and a colonial home in the ‘burbs. But has success brought too much assimilation for this black family? With a little help from his dad (Laurence Fishburne), Dre sets out to establish a sense of cultural identity for his family that honors their past while embracing the future.
“Black-ish” stars Anthony Anderson as Dre, Tracee Ellis Ross as Rainbow, Yara Shahidi as Zoey, Marcus Scribner as Andre Jr., Miles Brown as Jack, Marsai Martin as Diane and Laurence Fishburne as Pops.
“Black-ish” is written and executive produced by Kenya Barris. Executive Producers are Larry Wilmore, Anthony Anderson and Laurence Fishburne, Cinema Gypsy and Principato-Young, as well as James Griffiths who directed the pilot. “Black-ish” is produced by ABC Studios.
“THE WHISPERS”
Aliens have invaded Earth by using our most unlikely resource to achieve world domination—our children. As the kids unwittingly help these unseen enemies, the clock counts down in this suspenseful race to save humanity.
“The Whispers” stars Lily Rabe as Claire Bennigan, Barry Sloane as Wes Lawrence, Milo Ventimiglia as John Doe/Drew Bennigan, Derek Webster as Jessup Rollins, Brianna Brown as Lena Lawrence, Catalina Denis as Dr. Maria Martinez, Kylie Rogers as Minx Lawrence and Kyle Harrison Breitkopf as Henry.
“The Whispers” was written and co-executive-produced by Soo Hugh. Executive Producers are Amblin TV, Steven Spielberg, Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank and Dawn Olmstead. “The Whispers” was directed by Mark Romanek and produced by ABC Studios.
“GALAVANT”
Screenwriter/executive producer Dan Fogelman (“Crazy, Stupid, Love,” “Tangled,” “Cars”) teams up with Broadway and Hollywood award-winning musical team—composer Alan Menken (“The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “Beauty and the Beast”) and lyricist Glenn Slater (“The Little Mermaid,” “Tangled”)—for a musical comedy fairytale of epic proportions. Once upon a time, the dashing hero, Galavant (Joshua Sasse) lost the love of his life, Madalena (Mallory Jansen), to the evil King Richard (Timothy Omundson). Now, our fallen hero is ready to take revenge and restore his “happily ever after.” But it won’t be without a few twists and turns along the way.
“Galavant” stars Joshua Sasse as Galavant, Timothy Omundson as King Richard, Vinnie Jones as Gareth, Mallory Jansen as Madalena, Karen David as Isabella and Luke Youngblood as Sid.
“Galavant” is written and executive produced by Dan Fogelman. Executive producers are Alan Menken, Glenn Slater and Chris Koch. “Galavant” was directed by Chris Koch. Abbey C Studios Ltd. produces “Galavant” for ABC Studios.
“FOREVER”
Doctor Henry Morgan (Ioan Gruffudd), New York City’s star medical examiner, has a secret. He doesn’t just study the dead to solve criminal cases, he does it to solve the mystery that has eluded him for 200 years—the answer to his own inexplicable immortality. This long life has given Henry remarkable observation skills which impresses his new partner Detective Jo Martinez (Alana De La Garza). Each week, a new case and their budding friendship will reveal layers of Henry’s long and colorful past. Only his best friend and confidant, Abe (Judd Hirsch) knows Henry’s secret.
“Forever” stars Ioan Gruffudd as Henry, Alana De La Garza as Det. Jo Martinez, Barbara Eve Harris as Lt. Marcia Roark, Donnie Keshawarz as Detective Hanson, Joel David Moore as Lucas, and Judd Hirsch as Abe.
“Forever” was written and executive-produced by Matt Miller (“Chuck,” “Las Vegas”). Dan Lin (“Sherlock Holmes,” “Gangster Squad”) and Jennifer Gwartz (“Veronica Mars,” “Cupid,” “Party Down”) are executive producers. “Forever” was directed by Brad Anderson and is produced by Warner Bros. Television.
“SELFIE”
“Instafamous” Eliza Dooley (Karen Gillan) has 263,000 followers who hang on to her every post, tweet and selfie. But one lonely day she has a revelation: being friended is not the same as having actual friends. She asks marketing guru Henry (John Cho) to ‘rebrand’ her self-obsessed reputation and teach her how to connect with people in the real world. Loosely based on “My Fair Lady”, “Selfie” explores the modern struggles of Eliza and Henry, as he tries to teach her how to live life offline—whether she ‘likes’ it or not.
“Selfie” stars Karen Gillan as Eliza, John Cho as Henry, Tim Peper as Ethan, Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Charmonique, Allyn Rachel as Bryn and David Harewood as Sam.
“Selfie” is written and executive produced by Emily Kapnek (“Suburgatory”), and directed and executive produced by Julie Anne Robinson. “Selfie” is produced by Piece of Pie Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television.
“MANHATTAN LOVE STORY”
Have you ever wondered what your date was thinking? This romantic comedy exposes the differences between men and women through the unfiltered thoughts, and often contradictory actions, of a new couple who have just begun dating.
“Manhattan Love Story” stars Analeigh Tipton as Dana, Jake McDorman as Peter, Nicolas Wright as David, Jade Catta-Preta as Amy, Chloe Wepper as Chloe and Kurt Fuller as William.
“Manhattan Love Story” was written by Jeff Lowell (“Drew Carey Show,” “Spin City”). Peter Traugott, Jeff Lowell, Robin Schwartz, Rachel Kaplan and Jon Liebman are executive producers. Michael Fresco directed the pilot. “Manhattan Love Story” is produced by ABC Studios.