UPDATED: Fall Pilot Review: NBC Drama

CONSTANTINE: One of DC Comics most popular characters, master of the occult John Constantine, is brought to life. Constantine is struggling with his faith as he is haunted by the sins of his past but is suddenly thrust into the role of defending humanity from the gathering forces of darkness. Cast: Matt Ryan (Constantine), Lucy Griffiths (Liv); Charles Halford (Chas); Harold Perrineau (Manny).

Bring on one of the many superhero shows for 2014.

BABYLON FIELDS: The dead are reappearing in Babylon, N.Y. and lives are regained and families reunited — whether they like it or not. These newly regenerated bodies are healing faster and growing stronger than anyone else leading to the suspicion that they might be the next step in human evolution. Cast: Meagan Good (Janine Beltran); Skeet Ulrich (Father Harries and Graham); Kyle Schmid (Thomas Wunch); Virginia Madsen (Rhonda Wunch).

Soooo, like Resurrection?

ODYSSEY: Told in three disparate stories, this is the thrilling tale of families torn apart when a female Special Ops soldier in North Africa, a corporate lawyer, and a Wall Street activist each uncover the same conspiracy between a U.S. corporation, the government, and terrorism. Cast: Anna Friel (Odelle Ballard); Jake Robinson (Harrison Wolcott); Nate Mooney (Bob Offer); Daniella Pineda (Molly Simms); Elena Kampouris (Maya Drucker); Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Frank Majors); Treat Williams (Colonel Stephen Glen); Peter Facinelli (Peter Decker).

Yeah, okay. I'll try this.

TIN MEN: A psychological crime thriller set in the near future that focuses on a fugitive robot accused of first-degree murder who may hold the key to the future of human evolution, and the young female public defender forced to fight for his cause. Cast: Patrick Heusinger (Adam Sentry); Shaun Toub (David Dashiell); Ryun Yu (Ryuji Kitamura); Kristen Connolly (Katie Collier); Vondie Curtis-Hall (Jack Garrison).

Ugh. Enough with the robots. Almost Human and Intelligence both failed this year. Besides, this just sounds like another I, Robot rip-off.

ALLEGIANCE: This high-octane thriller revolves around the O’Connor family and their son, Alex, a decorated American war hero and CIA analyst who is a true patriot and loves his country and family. Unbeknownst to him, both of his parents and his sister are part of a dormant Russian sleeper cell that has just been reactivated. Once the parents get reluctantly pulled back in, the stakes rise they are coerced into spying on their own son and turning him against his country. Cast: Gavin Stenhouse (Alex O’Connor); Margarita Levieva (Natalie O’Connor); Hope Davis (Katya O’Connor); Alex Peters (Sarah O’Connor).

It's The Americans meets Homeland.

STATE OF AFFAIRS: A key CIA attaché (Katherine Heigl) counsels the president on high-stakes incidents around the world. She balances her intense political responsibilities with a complicated personal life. Cast: Katherine Heigl (Charleston Whitney Tucker); Cliff Chamberlain (Kurt Tannen), Leslie Odom, Jr (Mitchell); President Roberta Payton (Alfre Woodard).

You lost me at Katherine Heigl.

MYSTERIES OF LAURA: Based on a Spanish format, this procedural drama with a sharp sense of humor follows a quirky female homicide detective who juggles high-stakes crime as well as her ex-husband and a devilish set of twin boys. Cast: Debra Messing (Laura); Laz Alonso (Billy); Janina Gavankar (Detective Meredith Martinez); Josh Lucas (Jake).

At first I thought this was saying that Laura was Spanish and I was like, "Uh, Debra Messing is the best casting could do?" Then I realized I couldn't read. But hey, Josh Lucas.

THE SLAP: A complex family drama that explodes from one small incident where a man slaps another couple’s misbehaving child. This seemingly minor domestic dispute pulls the family apart, begins to expose long-held secrets, and ignites a lawsuit that challenges the core American values of all who are pulled into it.

That escalated quickly.

EMERALD CITY (miniseries): Based on the 14-book series that first created the wonderful, and treacherous, Land of Oz, Emerald City is a dramatic and modern reimagining of the tales that include lethal warriors, competing kingdoms, and the infamous wizard as we’ve never seen him before. A head-strong 20-year-old Dorothy Gale is unwittingly sent on an eye-opening journey that thrusts her into the center of an epic and bloody battle for the control of Oz. Cancelled. 

Can I just say – kudos to NBC just just picthing this as a mini-series! As other shows like Terra Nova, Revolution, Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, Under the Dome could have / should have.

See more at http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/04/21/complete-fall-2014-pilot-list/3/

UPDATED: Fall Pilot Review: NBC Comedy

UNTITLED TINA FEY/ROBERT CARLOCK: Kimmy is rescued along with four other women from 15 years of living in a cult. After a Today show interview, she decides to return to start a new, wide-eyed life in New York City. Cast: Ellie Kemper; Tituss Burgess (Titus); Sara Chase (Cyndee); Lauren Adams (Gretchen).

Ellie Kemper definitely has the "wide-eyed" thing down, but I've got to admit – this was not the premise I was expecting for her / from Tina. UPDATE Moved to Netflix for March 2015

BAD JUDGE: A hard-living, sexually unapologetic woman (Kate Walsh) partakes in an edgy life that often clashes with the fact that she happens to be a judge in the San Bernardino Criminal Court system. Cast: Tone Bell (Edward), Theodore Barnes (Robby Shoemaker), Arden Myrin (Jenny), Mather Zickel (Gary), John Ducey (Tom)

Pretty sure people are just going to watch this for the "sexually unapologetic" Kate Walsh. Also, basically Rake with a judge instead of a lawyer. See also: Backstrom on Fox.

MARRY ME: A couple gets engaged, which they quickly realize it is harder than it looks. Cast: Casey Wilson (Annie); John Gemberling (Gil); Ken Marino (Jake); Tim Meadows (Kevin #1); Tymberlee Hill (Kay); Dan Bucatinsky (Kevin #2)

CASEY WILSON! PENNY HART! But seriously – most intriging thing about this is Kevin #1 and Kevin #2.

MISSION CONTROL: A workplace comedy set at Mission Control in 1965 as a strong woman butts heads with a macho astronaut and a too-cool-for-school former test pilot in the race to land on the moon. Cast: Malcolm Barrett (Arthur); Jonathan Slavin (Kriegel); Krysten Ritter (Dr. Mary Kendrick).

This, this is so random. I love it. AND CANCELLED.

LOVE IS RELATIVE: When her newly-divorced brother moves in, a wife and her husband start to see their marriage in a whole new way. Cast: Leslie Bibb (Rose); Utkarsh Ambudkar (Deepak); Barry Rothbart (Josh); Jason Jones (Nate).

Leslie Bibb is having a moment – with appearances on The Following and About A Boy – and I totally welcome it.

OLD SOUL: A young woman (Natasha Lyonne) is trying to find herself, but in the meantime she’s working as the aide to a group of opinionated elderly people. Cast: Natasha Lyonne (Nadia); Rita Moreno (Rita); Greta Lee (Alix); Nick Thune (Charlie); Ellen Burstyn (Eileen); Fred Willard (Hector).

Uh, I'm sorry. I stopped listening because Natasha Lyonne cannot be on this and OITNB at the same time. Not possible. Cancel it.

THE PRO: Set in and around a tennis and golf club, a former doubles champion (Rob Lowe) is reunited with his ex-partner after a public feud that left them both floundering in life. Cast: Rob Lowe (Ben); Rob Riggle (Bobby Welch); Colton Dunn (Lewis Mosely); Rosa Salazar (Jamie). NBC Passed. 

Double Rob.

ONE BIG HAPPY: When gay and straight best friends decide to have a baby together, things get complicated when one of them finds the love of their life. Cast: Nick Zano (Luke); Elisha Cuthbert (Lizzy); Brandon Smith (Marcus);Rebecca Corry (Leisha).

Oh, Nick Zano.

TWO TO GO: Laura and Kurt struggle through life as the last two single people in their group of friends. Cast: Christine Woods (Laura); Echo Kellum (Nick); Dana Delorenzo (Darcy).

Doubt this will work, but I'm rooting for the Looking/Go On and Ben and Kate alums.

MR. ROBINSON: A journeyman musician gets a job as a music teacher at a middle school. While teaching the kids everything from rock to the blues, he simultaneously learns how to put the school’s rules to the test. Cast: Craig Robinson; Ben Koldyke (Jimmy)

Love Craig... but worry this will be too School of Rock.

See more at http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/04/21/complete-fall-2014-pilot-list/3/

A to Z was left out my original review because it looked predicatble and because I think it's too early for people to watch The Mother fall in love again... with not Ted (and for the record, I don't even really watch HIMYM). But it actually looks kind of cute.