CBS has handed series orders to four dramas and two comedies, following the “Supergirl” pickup this week.
“Criminal Minds” is officially getting another installment with “Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders,” which focuses on a division of the FBI that helps Americans who find themselves in danger abroad. The series starring Gary Sinise (“CSI: NY”), Daniel Henney and Tyler James debuted as a planted spinoff during the flagship show on April 8. Mark Gordon, Nick Pepper and writer Erica Messer are exec producers on the ABC Studios and CBS TV Studios production, with Glenn Kershaw directing.
The network has also greenlit two movie-to-television adaptations with “Limitless,” based on the 2011 Bradley Cooper film, and “Rush Hour,” inspired by the ’90s Chris Tucker-Jackie Chan franchise from New Line Cinema.
“Limitless” stars “Greek” alum Jake McDorman as Brian Finch who discovers the power of the mysterious drug MZT, and is coerced into using his new drug-enhanced abilities to solve weekly cases for the FBI. “Dexter’s” Jennifer Carpenter is the female lead and co-stars with Hill Harper and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. Cooper serves as an exec producer, along with Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Heather Kadin, Todd Phillips, Ryan Kavanaugh, Tucker Tooley, Tom Forman, Craig Sweeny (who will write), and Marc Webb (who will direct). The drama hails from CBS Television Studios, K/O Paper Products and Relativity Media.
“Rush Hour,” from “Cougar Town’s” Bill Lawrence and Blake McCormick, tells the story of a stoic, by-the-book Hong Kong police officer (Jon Foo) who is assigned to a case in Los Angeles where he’s forced to work with a cocky African-American LAPD officer (Justin Hires) who has no interest in a partner. Aimee Garcia and Wendie Malick are series regulars in the Warner Bros. TV production. Exec producers are Arthur Sarkissian, Brett Ratner, Jeff Ingold and director Jon Turteltaub.
CBS also finally got its medical drama — a clear trend in this year’s pilot cycle, among broadcast networks — that network chair Nina Tassler has passionately expressed interest in with the order of “Code Black.” Based on the 2014 documentary of the same name, the series takes place in the busiest and most notorious ER in the nation. The ensemble cast lead by Marcia Gay Harden is rounded out by Bonnie Somerville, Raza Jaffrey, Luis Guzman, Melanie Kannokada, Harry M. Ford, Ben Hollingsworth and William Allen Young.
On the comedy front, scribe Justin Adler and exec producer Aaron Kaplan, who was behind a huge slew of pilots this season, brings ensemble single-cam family sitcom “Life in Pieces.” The cast includes Dianne Wiest, James Brolin, Zoe Lister Jones, Colin Hanks, Angelique Cabral, Thomas Sadoski, Dan Bakkedahl, Niall Cunningham, Holly J. Barrett, Giselle Eisenberg and “Breaking Bad” alum Betsy Brandt. Adler and Kaplan serve as exec producers with director Jason Winer on the laffer from Kapital Entertainment and 20th Century Fox TV.
Fresh off “Glee’s” series finale, Jane Lynch is returning to TV with “Angel From Hell,” starring opposite “Psych’s” Maggie Lawson. When Amy (Lynch) enters the life of Allison (Lawson) and claims to be her guardian angel, they form an unlikely friendship, and Allison can’t be sure if Amy is an angel or just nuts. Tad Quill is writer and exec producer with Don Scardino, who will direct. Kyle Bornheimer and Kevin Pollak so-star in the CBS TV Studios series.
