We’re nearing the end of upfronts (tune in tomorrow for next year’s Oxygen and WealthTV slates!), which means it’s time to start dipping into basic cable with a look at new shows from TBS and TNT. The Turner-owned networks put on a presentation that featured appearances from Conan O’Brien—who announced that he will debut his new TBS talk show on November 8—and Ice Cube, whose new sitcom Are We There Yet? debuts at some future date that we refuse to look up because, frankly, you don’t care and we’re not going pretend like we do either. Also included in the announcement was news that TNT will pick up the Steven Spielberg-Noah Wyle sci-fi series Fallen Skies for debut next year, and that the critically hailed Men Of A Certain Age will return for another season. Here are some of the other new shows that will see debut in 2010:
TNT
Untitled Don Cheadle Medical Show: The title says it all. Or actually, it doesn’t, but The Don Cheadle Medical Show would still be a fine name for this Cheadle-produced drama set in 1971 Los Angeles, where “a group of idealistic doctors open an urgent-care clinic in hopes of upholding the values that inspired them to become doctors in the first place.” But then, it doesn’t sound like Cheadle is starring in this one, so you’re free to use The Don Cheadle Medical Show for your sketch-comedy troupe or whatever.
Graysmith: Ridley and Tony Scott produce this series based on the life of cartoonist, author, and amateur detective Robert Graysmith, whose book Zodiac formed the basis for the film of the same name, in which he was portrayed by Jake Gyllenhaal. No word yet on who’s playing Graysmith this time, but it does promise to follow him as he “uses an unconventional approach and unusual skills to solve crimes.”
Green Detective: Steven Bochco is behind this series about a “quirky environmentalist” who works as an insurance adjuster and amateur detective.
Brain Trust: Yet another detective show, this one about an “old-fashioned” crime-solver who teams up with “four brilliant but socially awkward, sheltered academics.”
Miss Philly: A Jamie Foxx-produced drama about the first African-American police commissioner tasked with cleaning up the streets of Philadelphia. The streets of Philadeeeeelphia.
Dear God: Producers of Touched By An Angel and Army Wives get together with Survivor’s Mark Burnett for this drama set in the “dead letter office” of the U.S. Postal Service, where “a team of humanitarians try to help those on the verge of losing their faith by answering their letters to God.” The description doesn’t include the word “feel-good,” but that’s probably implied.
Franklin And Bash: A “buddy lawyer series” starring Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Breckin Meyer. They’re buddies. They’re lawyers. They’re buddy lawyers.
TBS
The Wedding Band: South Park’s Darin Moiselle and writing partner Josh Lobis penned this sitcom about four dudes who play in a wedding band. Some of these dudes are married themselves, which could make for some amusing commentary on the humorous differences between single and married people.
The Rabbit Factory: An adaptation of the Marshall Karp book series about the detective team of Mike Lomax and Terry Biggs: Lomax is recently widowed, Biggs is recently married, and they will “navigate the daily challenges of their jobs while tackling their personal lives,” as humans are wont to do.
The Catch: Another show about a widower from the wife-hating TBS, this time from a comedic angle: A guy forced to re-enter the world of dating discovers that he is “quite the catch.”
Neighbors From Hell: An animated series about a family of demons who move to the suburbs from “an underworld where Satan tortures his wards with reruns of bad TV.” According to creator Pam Brady, “They look around and realize the real neighbors from hell are humans in the suburbs.” Ain’t it the truth?
Good And Evel: One of the greatest pitches we’ve heard in years features Stanley Tucci and Steve Buscemi voicing animated twin brothers—one a “moral, upstanding family man,” the other a “rebel and drunk who’s been in and out of prison.” Wonder which one is which?
The Black Family: A creative team that includes producers of Everybody Hates Chris, Dance Flick, and at least three Wayans brothers will get together on this animated series about “a blended interracial family, the Blacks,” which could make for some amusing commentary on the humorous differences between black and white people.