NBC's upcoming Media Release, New Shows and Cancelled Shows.

NBC has ordered five new series—three new comedies ("About a Boy", "Sean Saves the World", and "Family Guide") and two new dramas (J.J. Abrams' "Believe" and "Crisis"). They join the previously straight-to-series orders for comedy "The Michael J. Fox Show" and pirate drama "Crossbones".

A young girl and a con! International conspiracies! Man-boy bonds! Man-girl bonds! Man-blind-boy bonds! That's what part of NBC's new fall schedule will feature, as some of the network's secrets have hit the internet in advance of its Upfront presentation in New York, which is scheduled for Monday. So far it's three new comedies and two new dramas for the network, with many more announcements soon to come unless NBC wants to broadcast a lot of dead air. Let's run down the new series:

..... "Believe" has J.J. Abrams' name attached to it, like half of all TV shows on the air right now. He'll executive produce along with Bryan Burk for Bad Robot. The drama sounds like a supernatural thriller and follows a young girl with "a gift" who gets protection from a recently sprung con to keep evil forces at bay. The main actress in this show is an unknown young girl named Johnny Sequoyah, Jake McLaughlin, Kyle MacLachlan, Delroy Lindo, Jaime Chung, and Sienna Guillroy also star.

.... "Crisis" comes from Rand Ravich, the creator of NBC's "Life". This one goes all the way to the top! In the drama, a mystery man brings all of Washington to its knees through an international conspiracy that threatens everyone. Sound like "The Event" Part II! "Crisis" marks the triumphant return to television of Gillian Anderson, "The X-Files" Scully. Also starring are Dermot Mulroney (Enlightened), Max Martini (Revenge), and Rachael Taylor (666 Park Avenue).

..... About a Boy is a single-camera comedy adaption of the Nick Hornby novel and the 2002 Hugh Grant film that spawned from it. David Walton (Bent) plays a bachelor who forms a friendship with his neighbor's young boy. And yes, the neighbor happens to be a hot single mom (Minnie Driver). Jason Katims (Friday Night Lights, Parenthood) is writing and producing, so you can bet it's going to be all weepy and exhilarating and make you feel feelings you never thought you could. "1600 Penn"s Benjamin Stockham will play the boy (assuming NBC doesn't renew 1600 Penn). Leslie Bibb (Judd Apatow movies) and Al Madrigal (The Daily Show) also star. This show is going to be very easy to like. Update: "1600 Penn" has been cancelled.

.... Sean Saves the World continues Sean Hayes' relationship with NBC. Hayes (Will & Grace) produces and stars as a man dealing with his 14-year-old daughter and his temperamental boss. It's a multi-camera joint. Thomas Lennon (Reno 911!), Echo Kellum (Ben & Kate), and Linda Lavin (Alice) also star.

.... Family Guide is a single-camera sitcom about a boy who worships his blind father and becomes closer to his mom after the two divorce. Parker Posey, JK Simmons, and Eli Baker star, with Bent's DJ Nash behind the series.

These five new shows join "Chicago Fire", "Revolution", "Law & Order: SVU", "Grimm", "Parenthood", "The Voice", and "The Michael J. Fox Show" (new series) on NBC's schedule for 2013-2014. There will be more NBC pickups coming soon, as well as decisions on which of the networks comedies will return.
According to reports online, NBC has passed on the following pilots, taking them out of consideration: Brenda Forever; Drop-Off (previously known as The Gates); Holding Patterns; Joe, Joe, & Jane; Bloodline; Hatfields & McCoys; The Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives; and The Sixth Gun.

RENEWALS

..... NBC has also ordered a sixth season of "Parks and Recreation". With "30 Rock" over and "The Office" ending next week, NBC had little choice but to renew Parks and Recreation, lest the network be without any established returning comedies next season.

CANCELLATIONS

That's two seasons and done for Whitney Cummings' "Whitney", a multi-camera comedy that inexplicably stuck around after being panned by critics and the viewers.

Also moving out of NBC's digs is White House family comedy "1600 Penn", a single-camera sitcom that got off to a rough start in January before eventually picking up a bit. It was too late, though, and the series never really gained any additional viewers.

They also canceled "Guys With Kids" and the Christina Applegate, Will Arnett and Maya Rudolph comedy "Up All Night". Hopefully this is good news for "Go On" and "New Normal".

NBC has not yet made a decision on "Community".


Culled from TV.com