Sci-Fi Storm

NBC released a few details on pilots and pick-ups late Friday, and of the five pilots they mentioned, four of them have a science fiction/fantasy elements (some may have been announced earlier but are re-affirmed):

The Munsters: A re-invention of the classic TV series, from executive producers Brian Fuller (Heroes), Bryan Singer (House M.D., X-Men: First Class), and John Wirth (Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles). We first caught wind of this in November. Universal Television is producing.

Isabel: Based Le Monde du Charlotte, a French Canadian series, is a comedy about a pretty typical middle-class family, with middle-class issues – except their young girl turns out to be magical as well. Marcia Gay Harden (Damages) has recently joined the cast, likely as the mother, while Isabel will be played by relatively-new Sophia Schloss (Grimm). Howard Busgang and Tom Nursall (Single White Spenny) are the writers and exec producers, with Todd Holland (Malcolm in the Middle) directing/exec producing, and Karey Burke (Free Agents), Aaron Kaplan (Terra Nova) and original series producer Jocelyn Deschenes all joining as executive producers. Universal Television, Kapital Entertainment and Sphere Media are producing.

Beautiful People: An ensemble “what if” drama set “10 minutes in the future” (shades of Max Headroom?) “where families of mechanical human beings exist to service the human population — until some of the mechanicals begin to “awaken.”” Sounds a little like a Cylon backstory? Anyways, they describe it as “low tech, high drama” which might keep the special effects budget down. James Murray (Primeval, Chaos) will play an attorney fighting for android rights, while Patrick Heusinger (Black Swan) plays an android who suddenly finds emotions. Michael McDonald (Cougar Town) is the writer/executive producer; Robert M. Sertner (Revenge) will exec produce and Stephen Hopkins (Californication) will direct. Universal Television and ABC Studios is producing.

Save Me: A religious-tinged single-camera comedy about a woman who believes she has begun channeling God after suffering an accident, comes from Sony Television and Original Films. John Scot Shepherd (Life or Something Like It) is writing/exec producing, with Scott Winant (Breaking Bad) directing/exec producing, plus executive producers Neal Moritz and Vivian Cannon (The Big C).