• by Steve Sternberg , Featured Columnist, June 28, 2017

In my 30 years of analyzing network pilots, I’ve seen many good ones flop as series, and many mediocre ones become long-running hits.  

You always need to ask yourself a few basic questions.  Is a comedy funny because of one specific thing that happens in the pilot, or does it have a cast that people will want to see week after week in basically the same situation?  Is this a good one-time movie or will it make an interesting series?  Is it typical of other shows on the network, or is it going after a substantially different audience?  And don’t forget, shows make stars, stars don’t make shows (Tom Selleck notwithstanding).

With that in mind, here’s my list of the best broadcast network new series pilots for the 2017/18 season.

“The Good Doctor” (ABC Mon. 10-11)
Freddie Highmore, fresh off his successful run on A&E’s “Bates Motel,” stars as a young surgical resident with autism and savant syndrome, who joins a prestigious hospital’s surgical unit.

This may be the best medical drama pilot I’ve seen in the past 30 years (and I’ve seen them all).  When I train people how to evaluate pilots, I always tell them it is relatively easy to write one compelling medical or legal drama episode.  While the pilot was great, we’ll need to see the next two or three episodes before we know if the series will be great.

“The Mayor” (ABC 9:30-10)
A struggling young rapper (Brandon Michael Hall) runs for mayor of his small California town as a publicity stunt, and wins.  Lea Michele is a former adversary who becomes his chief of staff.

This was topical and funny, and the cast is excellent. Remains to be seen if it can be maintained on a weekly basis.

“Young Sheldon” (CBS Thu. 8:30-9)
It’s 1989 and we meet nine-year-old Sheldon Cooper (Iian Armitage), who has skipped four grades to start high school alongside his less intellectual older brother.  Jim Parsons, who plays adult Sheldon in “The Big Bang Theory,” provides voiceover.

The pilot was funny, but a lot will depend on how well the supporting cast gels.

“For the People” (ABC mid-season)
The latest Shondaland drama is set in the United States District Court in New York, and centers on brand-new federal lawyers for both the prosecution and defense.  Being from Shonda Rhimes and ABC, the show focuses just as much on their personal interactions as their professional lives.

Excellent cast and pilot.  Seems like something they can keep going on a weekly basis.  Success may depend on where it lands on the schedule.

New series that are a notch below the ones above, but still have decent potential if they are effectively promoted, include:

“Ghosted” (FOX Sun. 8:30-9)
Paranormal comedy with Craig Robinson and Adam Scott could benefit from being sandwiched between “The Simpsons” and “Family Guy.”  The pilot was funny.

“Me, Myself and I” (CBS Mon. 9-9:30)
Innovative concept, covering three distinct periods of a character’s life: 14 years old in 1981 (Jack Dylan Grazer), 40 years old in present day (Bobby Moynihan from “Saturday Night Live”), and 65 years old in 2042 (John Larroquette).  Should fit in with CBS’s Monday comedies.

“The Brave” (NBC Mon. 10-11)
Anne Heche leads a team of analysts with the world’s most advanced surveillance technology in support of an elite squad of special ops undercover operatives.  The pilot was intense.  Following “The Voice” can’t hurt.

“The Orville” (FOX Thu. 9-10)
Seth MacFarlane created and stars in this sci-fi comedy drama set 400 years in the future, on board a mid-level exploration vessel with a mixed human/alien crew.  Not sure if they are going for a humorous “Star Trek” or a “Galaxy Quest”-style parody.  Maybe both.  Seems like an instant hit or miss.  It will be interesting to see how the Comic Con crowd reacts.

“Valor” (CW Mon. 9-10)
Female special forces pilot and her elite team try to rescue members of her crew left behind and captured in a botched mission in Somalia, while at the same time uncovering a government conspiracy.  Not your typical CW series, but if the network cross-promoted it with similar CBS dramas (the show is from CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros.), it could find an audience.