Not enough dudes on TV, that’s what I always say. And why not? Dudes rule! Seems that CBS feels the same way, because they’ve ordered six new series that are all about dudes. In fact, one of them is even built on a movie all about dudes.
That one is Training Day, which is being produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and the film’s director, Antoine Fuqua. It’ll take place 15 years after the events of the original, and stars Bill Paxton as a “morally ambiguous” detective. Then there’s the Silicon Valley-meets-hospitals Pure Genius, starring Dermot Mulroney, and Bull, which is inspired by the real-life, early career of Dr. Phil, who, we’ll assume, is the titular bull. Oh, there’s also a MacGyver series in the works.
The comedy side of things is a little more promising, but not by a whole lot. Man with a Plan stars Matt LeBlanc and Jessica Chaffin. LeBlanc is a contractor whose wife goes back to work and so he must bond with his children, only he realizes his children are nuts! Crazy! The last one sounds maybe OK, even if only because Joel McHale and Stephen Fry are involved: called The Great Indoors, it follows a seasoned editor who must adapt to the changing times when he starts managing a group of millennials. Whoops, maybe those aren’t so promising!
Look below for a full and technical breakdown of these new shows. Look, chances are a few of these things might be great. But they’d be even better if they were about anything other than who they’re about, minus LeBlanc and McHale.
Training Day EPs: Jerry Bruckheimer, Antoine Fuqua, Jonathan Littman , Will Beall, Barry Schindel EP/Director: Danny Cannon Studio: Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Fuqua Films in association with Warner Bros. Television Based on the feature film from Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures Logline: A crime thriller that begins 15 years after the events of the feature film left, about an idealistic young police officer (Justin Cornwell) who is appointed to an elite squad of the LAPD where he is partnered with a seasoned, morally ambiguous detective (Bill Paxton). Cast: Bill Paxton, Justin Cornwell, Drew Van Acker, Katrina Law, Lex Scott Davis, Julie Benz
Bull EPs: Paul Attanasio, Dr. Phillip C. McGraw (Stage 29 Productions), Steven Spielberg (Amblin Television), Justin Falvey & Darryl Frank (Amblin Television), Jay McGraw (Stage 29 Productions) EP/Director: Rodrigo Garcia Studio: CBS Television Studios Logline: A drama inspired by the early career of Dr. Phil McGraw as the founder of one of the most prolific trial consulting firms of all time. Brilliant, brash and charming, Dr. Bull (Michael Weatherly) is the ultimate puppet master as he combines psychology, human intuition and high tech data to learn what makes jurors, attorneys, witnesses and the accused tick. Cast: Michael Weatherly as ‘Dr. Jason Bull’, Freddy Rodriguez, Geneva Carr, Chris Jackson, Jaime Lee Kirchner, Annabelle Attanasio
Pure Genius (Working Title) (formerly Bunker Hill) EP: Jason Katims, Michelle Lee EP/Director: David Semel Studio: Universal Television in association with CBS Television Studios Logline: BUNKER HILL follows a young Silicon Valley tech titan (Augustus Prew) who enlists a veteran surgeon with a controversial past in starting a hospital with a cutting edge, “new school” approach to medicine. Cast: Augustus Prew, Dermot Mulroney, Brenda Song, Reshma Shetty, Ward Horton, Aaron Jennings, Odette Annable
MacGyver EPs: Peter Lenkov, Henry Winkler, Lee Zlotoff, James Wan, Michael Clear EP/Director: David Von Ancken Studio: CBS Television Studios in association with Lionsgate Logline: A reimagining of the television series of the same name, following a 20-something MacGyver as he creates a clandestine organization where he uses his knack for solving problems in unconventional ways to help prevent disasters from happening. Cast: Lucas Till as ‘MacGyver’, George Eads
Comedies
Man with a Plan (Formerly Untitled Filgos Project/I’m Not Your Friend) Multi-camera EPs: Jeff & Jackie Filgo, Matt LeBlanc, Michael Rotenberg,Troy Zien Director: James Burrows Studio: CBS Television Studios Logline: A contractor (Matt LeBlanc) whose wife goes back to work starts spending more time with his kids and discovers the truth every parent eventually realizes: his little angels are maniacs. Cast: Matt LeBlanc, Jessica Chaffin, Matt Cook, Grace Kaufman, Hala Finley, Matthew McCann
The Great Indoors Multi-camera Mike Gibbons Eps: Mike Gibbons, Chris Harris EP/Director: Andy Ackerman Studio: CBS Television Studios Logline: An adventure reporter (Joel McHale) must adapt to the times when he becomes the boss to a group of millennials in the digital department of the magazine. Cast: Joel McHale, Stephen Fry, Chris Williams, Shaun Brown, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Christine Ko, Susannah Fielding