Despite early buzz, shows end up in scrap pile

Pilots get scrapped for many reasons, with quality not always to blame.
By RICK PORTER
ZAP2IT.COM
Inevitably, some of the new series for next season that the broadcast networks are so excited about now will be clunkers -- sitcoms that aren't funny, dramas that don't hold your interest, reality shows more sad than anything.
And inevitably, critics and viewers alike will rhetorically tar and feather network executives for putting such dreck on the air. It's easy to forget, though, that things could be worse. America could have been subjected to a Jessica Simpson sitcom in the fall.
Simpson's comedy, which received a good deal of press during pilot season and was at one point supposed to be a good bet to join the ABC schedule in the fall, was one of several high-profile projects not to make the cut at last week's upfronts. The WB's update of "Dark Shadows," NBC's "My 11:30" and the CBS comedy "The Amazing Westermans" fell by the wayside as well despite early buzz and well-known stars.
Pilots get scrapped for any number of reasons, and quality isn't always atop the list. A show might not fit the identity of the network where it was developed, it might be too expensive to produce as a series, or it might not have a strong showrunner on board to guide it.
Additionally, some of the "buzz" that circulates in Hollywood in advance of the upfronts can come from people attached to a pilot -- or their agents -- looking to create a positive impression. And, of course, network heads are human and prone to changing their minds.
Multiple rejects
A few of the 120 pilots produced this year have the dubious distinction of being rejected more than once. Fox's attempted update of "Mr. Ed," the ABC drama "Gramercy Park" -- starring "The O.C.'s" Samaire Armstrong and "Gilmore Girls"' Milo Ventimiglia -- and CBS' Staley/Long comedy starring Ricki Lake all went through the development process in some form last season, with the same, no-pickup results. Also, Robert Schimmel's comedy at The WB didn't make the cut, which is at least the second time the veteran stand-up comic has been on the outside.
Here's a look at some of the higher-profile rejections from this pilot season:
"Jessica" (ABC, comedy): Simpson's media assault was to have continued in this show, where she would have played a bubble-headed pop star-turned-correspondent for an "Access Hollywood"-like show. Proving that ABC just has issues with that family, the network shunned "Hot Mom," in which husband Nick Lachey co-starred with Gina Gershon. ABC opted instead to order a few more variety specials featuring Nick and Jessica pretending to be themselves.
"The Catch" (ABC, drama): Greg Grunberg ("Alias") was to have starred as a bounty hunter in this long-in-development midseason show from J.J. Abrams, with Orlando Jones and Don Rickles co-starring. The fact that "Alias" got pushed back to January may have something to do with it getting bounced.
"Dark Shadows" (WB, drama): Maybe The WB didn't want to put another vampire show on the air right after canceling "Angel." Or maybe it was too expensive. Whatever the reason, it's a bit of a surprise that this show, produced by "ER" maven John Wells and starring Martin Donovan, Marley Shelton and Blair Brown, didn't make the schedule.
"The Robinsons: Lost in Space" (WB, drama): The WB paid big bucks for the rights to this remake and hired John Woo to help the pilot. Either the pilot didn't seem to have the young adult male appeal the network was craving, or else it looked like a potential franchise bomb in the "Birds of Prey" or "Tarzan" mold.
"Beck and Call" (UPN, drama): Set in the fashion world and starring Vanessa L. Williams, "Beck and Call" was for a time rumored to be in line to get paired with "America's Next Top Model" on UPN's schedule. Instead, the network went with "Kevin Hill," leaving this Lisa Kudrow-produced pilot in the cold.
"Sudbury" (CBS, drama): Kim Delaney and Jeri Ryan playing beautiful women who are also witches? It's like "Passions" for prime time. Or it's like "Practical Magic" for the small screen (complete with producers Denise DiNovi and Sandra Bullock). Up until the days before the CBS upfront, it was considered at least a favorite for a midseason slot. Instead, Delaney will get the chance to appear on the final season of "NYPD Blue."