CBS has given series orders to three shows that have gained significant buzz ever since they were put into development. The COVID-19 pandemic has made the pilot season for the fall quite interesting since most networks won’t get to test pilots in the traditional sense due to Hollywood being shutdown. Networks have to make their decisions based on scripts and it looks like CBS is confident about what they’ve read in regards to three new series orders.
First up is the Silence of the Lambs sequel series Clarice, starring Rebecca Breeds. The series recently added Kal Penn, Lucca De Oliveira, Devyn A. Tyler, Michael Cudlitz and Nick Sandow to the cast and the show will follow the untold personal story of brilliant and vulnerable FBI Agent Clarice Starling as she returns to the field in 1993, six months after the events of Silence of the Lambs. From acclaimed executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Jenny Lumet, the series is said to focus squarely on Clarice and will not feature Hannibal Lecter.
The reimagining of the classic series, The Equalizer, starring Queen Latifah, earns the second drama series pickup at CBS. The show will follow Latifah as an enigmatic woman with a mysterious background who uses her extensive skills to help those with nowhere else to turn. The series also stars Chris Noth, Lorraine Toussaint, Tory Kittles, Liza Lapira, and Laya DeLeon Hayes. The original run of The Equalizer ran for fours season (1985-1989) and the show also spawned two popular films starring Denzel Washington which grossed $101.5 million and $102.2 million, respectively.
CBS has also handed a series order to the comedy B Positive from Chuck Lorre which holds the distinction as the only completed broadcast pilot this season. The series stars Thomas Middleditch and Annaleigh Ashford and follows a therapist and newly divorced dad who is faced with finding a kidney donor when he runs into a rough-around-the-edges woman from his past who volunteers her own. Together they form an unlikely bond and begin a journey that will change both of their lives. The show also stars Kether Donohue, Sara Rue, and Kamryn Kunody.
CBS is presenting its virtual upfront for advertisers on May 19 and plans to unveil its full lineup on that date. The network has already renewed 18 series for 2020-21 including the majority of its drama lineup and a trio of comedies. The network is bringing back a total of 23 shows, scripted, reality, and newsmagazines.
