Springfield’s Most Wanted

Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein are the new showrunners on Sit Down, Shut Up. They are the guys who wrote some of the greatest Simpsons episodes, like Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy, $pringfield, and Who Shot Mr. Burns Part One and Two.

“Mitch (Hurwitz) wants to be in more of a supervisory role, like Ron Howard on ‘Arrested,’ ” Oakley said in Variety.

Sit Down is “extremely character based, like ‘Arrested Development,’ and has different rhythms than other animated shows like ‘The Simpsons’ or ‘King of the Hill,’” Oakley said.

Mo Willems, who created Cartoon Network’s “Sheep in the Big City,” is handling animation on the show.

Don’t Call Me Pacey

Fringe’s Joshua Jackson joins the throngs of previewers by namechecking a former Fox sci-fi hit on Hollywood.com:

“In The X-Files the explanation is always that it could be real or it could be some other thing when they’re dealing with like the vampire episode or the werewolf episode… but ours comes at it from the perspective that there’s a scientific explanation, but there’s so much more happening in our own physical world than what we’re seeing.”

Then he explains why a hot guy can also be intelligent on the Sci Fi Wire:

“Usually, if you’re smart, you are inert,” he said. “And if you are capable, you are a moron. Well, this character is a smart, capable person. He puts the two together, which is unfortunately not often the case. You hire the lunkhead guy to go do the stuff, and the guy with the glasses to go figure the stuff out.”

Previously, on Fringe

In this Variety article from when the pilot script was picked up, J.J. Abrams talks Fringe:

“So much of the story is relatable people in extraordinary situations,” Abrams said. “The show is definitely a nod to ‘Altered States’ and ‘Scanners’ and that whole Michael Crichton/Robin Cook world of medicine and science.

“It’s definitely meant to scare the hell out of you, but it’s also meant to make you laugh… It pushes all the buttons of things we loved from our childhood.”

Fringe - THE BASICS

From J.J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. It’s the first thing Abrams has written for TV in more than three years, since Lost. It’s also the return to television of feature darlings Kurtzman and Orci (Transformers, Star Trek).

The two-hour pilot was shot in Toronto by Alex Graves. Jeff Pinkner has been brought on the series as showrunner. He was an executive producer on Lost and a writer on two seasons of Alias.

Summary
The story centers on a tough, young female FBI agent who is forced to confront the spread of powerful and unexplained phenomena. She must work with an institutionalized research scientist whose life’s work may be at the center of the coming storm as well as the man’s estranged son.

Fringe is the name for a special division of Homeland Security that handles these terrorist/paranormal events.

No surprise that, with the involvement of Abrams, there will be a predominant mythology running through the series. Episodes will also explore self-contained mysteries as well as the relationships between the three leads. From the looks of the pilot script, there will also be a lot of humor.

Actors and Characters
Joshua Jackson is “Peter Bishop,” the son of Dr. Bishop. Peter is a high-school dropout and gambling addict with an IQ of 190.

Anna Torv is “Olivia Dunham,” an FBI Special Agent. She struggles to work with Dr. Bishop and Peter, who doesn’t get along with his father.

John Noble is “Dr. Walter Bishop,” the scientist institutionalized for the last 20 years. The brilliant scientist is a mix of Albert Einstein and Dr. Frankenstein.

Mark Valley is “John Scott,” an FBI Special Agent.

Lance Reddick is “Philip Broyles,” the SAC (Special Agent in Charge) of the Fringe division of Homeland Security.

Kirk Acevedo is “Charlie Francis.”

Fanboys’ Exultation for Return of Summer’s Body

Executive Producer Josh Friedman subjected himself to a conference call with bloggers. Here’s what they uncovered about the second season of Terminator:

Superhero Flix
Josh: “As everyone’s wondering, we are getting rid of Summer Glau… No, I’m kidding. If anyone was worrying that we blew her up in the end and she’s not coming back, I’ll reassure you that she is coming back, eventually, in full force.”

THE DEADBOLT: Will there be technical changes done to Cameron when she returns from the car bombing?JOSH FRIEDMAN: [laughs] She’ll still be pretty.THE DEADBOLT: So does that mean she’ll still be the same, physically?
JOSH FRIEDMAN: Eventually.

The Sarah Connor Society
When I asked Josh about the mystery surrounding the high school student’s suicide, he said that at least in the short-term, the story will not be re-addressed. And that while he was a fan of the story himself, most of it ended up on the cutting room floor due to episodic time constraints.

Movieweb
Josh: “I’m hoping to revisit the future-war. I love the future-war. I had plans, last year, to do a number of future-war episodes. They’re the most expensive episodes we do, and they’re the most time-consuming and the hard part is the CGI. I’m hoping for more. I love the future.”

Ripping Off the Plastic Wrapper

Joss started directing Dollhouse this morning. While the cool-ass sets are housed on the Fox lot, today they are shooting in downtown Los Angeles.

BAG: I’ll Be Back

We already picked up “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” for next season. They will make 13 more episodes and we hope there will be more.

Last season ended with Cameron getting blown up. We still don’t know what’s going on with this guy Derek, but since Brian Austin Green is coming on as a series regular in Season 2 we will probably learn a lot more.

24 Pic Leaked

A shot of the latest iteration of the 24 cast has found its way to the web. If you’re avoiding spoilers, then do not click here.

Another Arrested is Inn

Abraham Higginbotham wrote the script for the multi-camera comedy pilot “The Inn,” which is set at a hip New York hotel.

Niecy Nash plays the outrageous and motherly head of human resources who looks out for the staff. She battles with Jerry O’Connell, the hotel’s image-conscious general manager.

The cast also includes Jesse Tyler Ferguson as the head of housekeeping, Molly Stanton as the front desk clerk, Jolene Purdy as the reservations girl and Brando Eaton as the bellman.

So what, you may ask, is the Arrested Development angle on this one? None other than Jason Bateman is directing the pilot. Higginbotham used to write for the show.

More Cast on Dollhouse

Harry Lennix is an ex-cop who is Echo’s “handler” and bodyguard.

Amy Acker is “Dr. Claire Saunders,” a doctor at the Dollhouse.

Miracle Laurie is “November,” a character who will be recurring but does not appear in the pilot.

From the Mouth of Whedon

In an interview with E!’s Watch With Kristin, Joss provides his own description of Dollhouse:

The idea is those with the money or connections can access this secret highly illegal facility where they can basically fulfill their greatest fantasies. Most people assume that means sex - and on an occasion it does, because that is a lot of people’s fantasies - but it’s basically scenarios. They can basically reenact scenarios of romance, adventure or anything perfectly, because they become the person that you want them to be — they become that person. They don’t act like that person, they are not a robot pretending, they become that person, and then they forget all about it. The problem is the character of Echo, Eliza Dushku’s character, stops forgetting. She doesn’t completely remember, but she does realize she is a person, and that she might have been a person before she did this, and she doesn’t know what that is.

Attn: Young Comedy Loyalists

Fox Entertainment President Kevin Reilly talks to the Reporter about pilot season. Here’s a glimpse of what he’s looking to develop:

“Fox still has nosier, bolder and forward-thinking shows and that’s certainly what I’d like to do in both comedy and drama. Looking for that next ‘That ’70s Show,’ the next ‘Malcolm (in the Middle])’ and bring young comedy loyalists back to the network.”

Mitch Hurwitz = God

It’s a normal day at FOX when someone quotes a line from Arrested Development. So it wasn’t surprising to learn we were developing another show with its mastermind, Mitch Hurwitz. What was surprising is that his latest concept would be animated.

“Sit Down, Shut Up” is based on the live-action Australian series that centers on staff members at a high school who are preoccupied only with themselves. This means that the students come second.

Hurwitz is now blessing all AD fans by casting some well known voices to the new show — Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Henry Winkler.

They join the voice cast of Cheri Oteri, Will Forte, Regina King, Nick Kroll, Tom Kenny and Maria Bamford. (Look up all their credits cause you know them…)

We couldn’t find any clips of the original Australian show on youtube. But if for some reason you can’t remember what Michael Bluth, GOB Bluth and Barry Zuckerkorn sound like, do yourself a favor and watch full episodes or clips of Arrested.

Kids Overrule

Larry Levin is adapting the British series “Outnumbered.” The comedy centers on hapless parents (Ken Marino and Brooke Bloom) who struggle to raise three rather rambunctious children. That’s like saying it’s a show about nothing, so here are some clips from the original.

Bill English will play the dad’s younger brother.

The BSG Guys (and Gal)

Ronald D. Moore has a two-hour pilot for us called “Virtuality” that he wrote with Michael Taylor.

It’s set aboard the Phaeton, Earth’s first starship, on a 10-year journey to explore a distant solar system. To help the 12 crew members endure the long trip and keep their minds occupied, NASA equipped the ship with advanced virtual reality modules, allowing them to assume adventurous identities and go to any place they want. The plan works until a mysterious “bug” is found in the system.

Also, BSG star Tricia Helfer has inked a one-year talent holding deal with us, which means she could star in a FOX series soon.

Annyong, Hermanos!

Joe and Anthony Russo won an Emmy for directing the pilot episode of “Arrested Development.” The prodigal brothers have returned to direct the drama pilot “Courtroom K.”

House’s Paul Attanasio wrote it, so it is aptly described as a “darkly comedic courtroom drama” that is set in a Milwaukee Superior Court.

Dollhouse - THE BASICS

Just a quick rundown of the show. It’s from Joss Whedon – the mastermind behind Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

This show already received an order of seven episodes, so it’s likely to air.

Summary
A group of young men and women called “Dolls” are imprinted with different personalities and talents for assignments. This state is considered “active.” They are housed in a complex called the Dollhouse where their minds are wiped clean, which is when they are considered “inactive.” The Dolls have no independent consciousness of their own and no memories of their previous lives. A Doll named Echo begins to try to find out who she really was.

Actors and Characters
Eliza Dushku is “Echo,” the Doll who begins to have memories of her previous life.

Olivia Williams is “Adelle DeWitt,” the ruthless and protective woman who runs the Dollhouse.

Tahmoh Penikett is “Paul Smith,” an FBI field agent obsessed with the urban myth of Dollhouse and a twisted romantic foil for Echo.

Fran Kranz is “Topher Brink,” a twenty-something genius programmer responsible for imprinting the Dolls.

Dichen Lachman is “Sierra,” a Doll like Echo and her friend, who has every personality in the world but her own.

Enver Gjokaj is “Victor,” also a Doll and a friend of Echo’s. He is childlike when he’s inactive, and everything from Errol Flynn to young DeNiro when he’s active.

Fan sites already up and running!
The Dollhouse
Dollrific!
Dollhouse TV Forum

Welcome to What’s Not on the Air… Yet

Yes, this is FOX. And yes, we’re blogging about series that haven’t even been picked up yet.

As you might imagine, not everyone at FOX thought this was a good idea. But guess what? Those naysayers don’t know how to use the web.

We’re excited about some pilots that are currently being produced and we figured that you might be too. While some of these shows will make it to our broadcast, some may not. This blog will cover both kinds. We’ll try to keep you updated with info that has already been announced as well as offer up some tidbits that you won’t find anywhere else.

Feel free to comment away, and maybe offer up scoop that even we don’t have. (If you’ve ever worked at a monolithic corporation, you know that information doesn’t flow easily…)

So, as they say on the television set or online streaming — stay tuned!