2013 Upfronts: ‘About a Boy’ among five new series orders from NBC
On Thursday NBC announced it was giving series orders to five pilots, including new shows from industry heavyweights J.J. Abrams, Jason Katims and James Burrows.
In “The Family Guide,” J.K. Simmons stars as a blind dad going through a divorce from his eccentric wife, Parker Posey. A la “The Wonder Years,” Jason Bateman provides voice-over as the grown version of their son, and he’s also attached as an executive producer.
In “Sean Saves the World,” Sean Hayes will play a perfectionist and divorced gay father whose 14-year-old daughter moves in with him full time, throwing his life into upheaval. “Friends” veteran James Burrows will executive produce along with Hayes and Todd Milliner of “Hot in Cleveland.”
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From show runner Jason Katims, of “Friday Night Lights” and “Parenthood” fame, “About a Boy” is based on the Nick Hornby bestseller that later inspired the Hugh Grant-Nicholas Hoult film. It centers on a carefree bachelor whose happily attachment-free lifestyle is disrupted when a single mom and her 11-year-old son move in next door, and stars “New Girl’s” David Walton (in the Hugh Grant role) and Benjamin Stockman (in the Nicholas Hoult role).
In the action series “Crisis,” a field trip for the students at an elite Washington, D.C., high school catering to the children of the city’s most powerful leaders goes horribly awry when their bus is ambushed on a secluded road. It stars Dermot Mulroney, Gillian Anderson and Lance Gross.
“Believe,” from executive producers J.J. Abrams and Alfonso Cuaron, follows a 10-year-old orphan girl with supernatural powers. When her life comes under threat, she goes on the run with a wrongfully imprisoned death row inmate whose job it is to protect her. It’s Abrams’ second new series so far this season following Fox’s pickup of his futuristic cop series, “Almost Human.”
NBC will hold its upfront presentation on Monday in New York City.
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