Expanding on its slate of strong signature original dramas, USA Network announced today that it has greenlit three cast-contingent pilots: COMPLICATIONS from producer Matt Nix (BURN NOTICE) and Fox Television Studios and THE NOVICE from creators Joe and Tony Gayton (“Hell on Wheels”) and RUSH written and produced by Jonathan Levine (“Warm Bodies”) both from FOX21.
“These pilots illustrate our continued commitment to creating the next evolution of powerful original dramas for which USA is well known,” said Chris McCumber, president of USA Network, “This particular mix of dramas comes from some of the top writers and producers in the industry, each of whom bring a distinct point of view and unique talent for developing high stakes storylines and compelling characters.”
The announcement comes on the heels of the recently announced pilot pick-up for Universal Cable Production’s untitled Sean Jablonski project, written and executive produced by Jablonski (SUITS, “Nip Tuck”) and executive produced by Russ Krasnoff (“Community”). USA also just completed a successful first season of the Fox Television Studios drama GRACELAND, one of the summer’s top new scripted series from executive producer Jeff Eastin (WHITE COLLAR), and is currently in production on the period alien drama HORIZON from executive producer Gale Ann Hurd (“Walking Dead”) and writer and co-executive producer Bridget Tyler (BURN NOTICE).
Following are details on the pilots:
COMPLICATIONS (working title)
After wrapping seven seasons of the popular series BURN NOTICE, Nix brings his next offering to the network with this gritty medical drama. The project centers around John Ellis, a disillusioned suburban ER doctor, who finds his existence transformed when he intervenes in a drive-by shooting, saving a young boy’s life and killing one of his attackers. When he learns the boy is still marked for death he finds himself compelled to save him at any cost and discovers that his life and his outlook on medicine may never be the same. COMPLICATIONS is written and executive produced by Nix and is from Fox Television Studios.
NOVICE (working title)
It’s no secret that today’s college graduates face the most difficult job market ever. The drama NOVICE takes the audience on the journey of a young man who finds that his true calling may be a life of crime. After repeatedly trying to break into corporate America, Kyle Jones returns home to his economically struggling family and his high school restaurant job, but minimum wage isn’t going to help with his family’s debt. So, while it is out of necessity that he seizes an unexpected opportunity to make money with a Korean crime family, it appears that this new life may have its perks as well. NOVICE is written by Joe and Tony Gayton, the creators of “Hell on Wheels,” and executive produced by the 21 Laps/Adelstein team of Marty Adelstein, Shawn Levy, and Becky Clements and New Wave Entertainment’s Matt Ochacher. The project is from FOX 21.
RUSH (working title)
Writer/director Levine (“Warm Bodies,” “The Wackness”) along with Fox 21 and Little Engine’s Gina Matthews and Grant Scharbo (“The Gates,” “Popular”) is the team behind the fast paced Hollywood drama, RUSH. Dr. William Rush is not your average on-call doctor — he’s not attached to any hospital, he’s highly discreet no matter what the ailment as long as the client can pay his cash-only premium and the doctor can party with the best of them. He has no desire to change his life or how he lives it, until an old flame and his conscience begin to stir things up.
Source: USA Networks
“These pilots illustrate our continued commitment to creating the next evolution of powerful original dramas for which USA is well known,” said Chris McCumber, president of USA Network, “This particular mix of dramas comes from some of the top writers and producers in the industry, each of whom bring a distinct point of view and unique talent for developing high stakes storylines and compelling characters.”
The announcement comes on the heels of the recently announced pilot pick-up for Universal Cable Production’s untitled Sean Jablonski project, written and executive produced by Jablonski (SUITS, “Nip Tuck”) and executive produced by Russ Krasnoff (“Community”). USA also just completed a successful first season of the Fox Television Studios drama GRACELAND, one of the summer’s top new scripted series from executive producer Jeff Eastin (WHITE COLLAR), and is currently in production on the period alien drama HORIZON from executive producer Gale Ann Hurd (“Walking Dead”) and writer and co-executive producer Bridget Tyler (BURN NOTICE).
Following are details on the pilots:
COMPLICATIONS (working title)
After wrapping seven seasons of the popular series BURN NOTICE, Nix brings his next offering to the network with this gritty medical drama. The project centers around John Ellis, a disillusioned suburban ER doctor, who finds his existence transformed when he intervenes in a drive-by shooting, saving a young boy’s life and killing one of his attackers. When he learns the boy is still marked for death he finds himself compelled to save him at any cost and discovers that his life and his outlook on medicine may never be the same. COMPLICATIONS is written and executive produced by Nix and is from Fox Television Studios.
NOVICE (working title)
It’s no secret that today’s college graduates face the most difficult job market ever. The drama NOVICE takes the audience on the journey of a young man who finds that his true calling may be a life of crime. After repeatedly trying to break into corporate America, Kyle Jones returns home to his economically struggling family and his high school restaurant job, but minimum wage isn’t going to help with his family’s debt. So, while it is out of necessity that he seizes an unexpected opportunity to make money with a Korean crime family, it appears that this new life may have its perks as well. NOVICE is written by Joe and Tony Gayton, the creators of “Hell on Wheels,” and executive produced by the 21 Laps/Adelstein team of Marty Adelstein, Shawn Levy, and Becky Clements and New Wave Entertainment’s Matt Ochacher. The project is from FOX 21.
RUSH (working title)
Writer/director Levine (“Warm Bodies,” “The Wackness”) along with Fox 21 and Little Engine’s Gina Matthews and Grant Scharbo (“The Gates,” “Popular”) is the team behind the fast paced Hollywood drama, RUSH. Dr. William Rush is not your average on-call doctor — he’s not attached to any hospital, he’s highly discreet no matter what the ailment as long as the client can pay his cash-only premium and the doctor can party with the best of them. He has no desire to change his life or how he lives it, until an old flame and his conscience begin to stir things up.
Source: USA Networks
None of these really sound interesting to me. Mostly because I'm sick of medical dramas, too.
ReplyDeleteNone of these sound particularly interesting...
ReplyDeleteAgree with the posters above. Nothing particularly compelling here.
ReplyDeleteHouse was rare and frankly the only medical drama that didn't suck so not looking forward to these
ReplyDeleteSomething new from Matt Nix? Loved Burn Notice, so I will check out Complications.
ReplyDeleteI'll probably check out Complications... Burn Notice was my favorite show, and I loved The Good Guys (shame it didn't get the recognition it deserved), so I have faith that Matt Nix will produce something I'll like
ReplyDeleteForever bitter about The Good Guys' cancellation. I loved it so much!
ReplyDeleteNothing thrilled to see any of these.
ReplyDeleteRUSH sounds dangerously close in baseline premise to Royal Pains, if Hank wasn't a stick in the mud.
ReplyDeleteI feel like there has to be a lot more to the Complications story and I'm pretty eh on life of crime, that's gonna depend on tone, casting, and writing.
COMPLICATIONS, how long can that medical show with main character now different plot can go? unless there is a drastic change that prolongs the show.
ReplyDeleteNOVICE, I like the sound of it, but hope there isn't too much drama about mom need money for medical bills or dad is jobless, and stuff like that, but besides that, the Korean Family of crime thing sounds good, hope there is a Korean female lead to add with that.
RUSH, had me until the " until an old flame and his conscience begin to stir things up." and its like another royal pains, but the Dr is in it for the money and broader since he goes to various hospitals.
if they are going to pick one I would go with Novice. too much medical stuff. keep it new idea, like how Burn Notice was before, when i thought that he literately got burned now he is out for revenge after surviving.