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NBC Revives Pilot Season for 2026 Broadcasts
9 Apr
Summary
- NBC orders eight pilots, most since the pandemic, in traditional window.
- Strong early buzz surrounds 'The Rockford Files' reboot and Jake Johnson comedy.
- Network faces tough pickup choices with potentially strong pilot slate.
NBC is bringing back pilot season in 2026, ordering eight pilots—five dramas and three comedies—a significant number for a broadcast network since the pandemic. Production and testing are following the traditional January-May timeline, with final screenings scheduled for the last week of April.
Early reactions to dailies and early cuts indicate a strong pilot slate. Two projects generating significant buzz are a "Rockford Files" drama reboot starring David Boreanaz and a single-camera comedy featuring Jake Johnson. Both have strong PIs at their center.
Further generating excitement are crime-solving dramas "Puzzled" with Damon Wayans Jr. and an Untitled Dean Georgaris/John Fox project starring Emily Deschanel. A multi-camera comedy pilot, "Newlyweds," starring Tèa Leoni and Tim Daly, has also received encouraging feedback.
The solid pilot lineup increases pressure on NBC's current bubble series, including dramas "Beautiful Minds" and "The Hunting Party," and comedies like "Stumble." The freshman comedy "The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins" may benefit from its pedigree, with Tina Fey, Robert Carlock, and Tracy Morgan attached.
