TV News: J.J. Abrams Wants To Direct NBC Pilot Undercovers, Cartoon Network Adds Live Action Shows, Comedy Central & The Onion Team Up For Pilot, HBO Developing Transgender Series
We have a bevy of TV updates tonight: First up, it appears that J.J. Abrams is intalks to directthe pilot of his newest series on NBC, a spy drama entitledUndercovers. Wepreviously reportedthe fact that he was developing the show, and that it seemed to be strikingly similar toMr. and Mrs. Smith.It’s been a while since we’ve seen Abrams behind the directors chair for one of his own shows. He directed Lost’s fantastic pilot, but hasn’t yet done anything forFringe.
Also, Cartoon Network has given the production green light totwo live action series.Tower Prepconcerns a rebellious teen who finds himself in a mysterious prep school and enlists friends to learn more about it, including how to escape.Unnatural Historyrevolves around a teen who encounters mysteries at the National Museum of History, shortly after moving to Washington, D.C. The network has actually dabbled in live action programming for some time, but this is their first foray into scripted live action series.
We’ve also learned that The Onion and Comedy Central areteaming upfor a half-hour pilot based on theOnion Sports Networksite. The show is apparently aiming to appeal to both casual and hardcore sports fans. A quick look at the site will give you a sense of the sort of humor the show will be going for.
Finally, it seems that HBO isdeveloping a seriesexploring the gender transformation of a woman into a man, entitledT. The show comes from the couple Anya Epstein and Dan Futterman, who’ve recently signed to run the third season ofIn Treatment.This American Life’sIra Glass is also exec-producing, apparently the series was inspired by an episode of his show.
