Premise

Another sitcom starring a stand-up comedian.  The King of Queens depicts the lives of Doug and Carrie Heffernan and how they cope with living with her father and sister

[Note: Jerry Stiller has been added to the cast to play Carrie’s father in a role portrayed by a different actor in the pilot]

Familiar Faces

Leah Remini (Fired Up), Jerry Stiller (Seinfeld)

Our Take

King of Queens seems an odd fit between Cosby and Everybody Loves Raymond and may not do as well against an older audience as the established CBS sitcoms.  Younger viewers will probably stick with Melrose Place or NBC

Expect to Hear

“Hey! What do you say we rent a movie, we crack open a box of wine, and make a night out of it”

- Doug Heffernan

Premise

When KYLA hires a “Ken-and-Barbie” team of reporters to replace him, anchorman Brian Benben is demoted to the unwanted task of reporting on unusual human-interest stories

Familiar Faces

Sela Ward (Sisters), Bill Campbell (Moon Over Miami)

Our Take

The pilot was amusing and Benben may bring some Dream On viewers with him.  Additionally, the show will benefit from the strength of Everybody Loves Raymond and will prove less controversial with older viewers than Will and Grace

Expect to Hear

Chad (the new anchor): “I introduced the videos on VH1.  Mostly, I was a personality.”

Brian Benben:  “Personality…Was that hard to give up?”

Premise

RDrs. Roger Anthony, Evan Newman, and Tim Lonner leave a successful practice to start their own in order to focus on the patient and not just the bottom line

Familiar Faces

Ken Olin (Thirtysomething), Sheryl Lee (Twin Peaks)

Our Take

CBS has had success with medical dramas in this time slot before.  Furthermore, the leads are likeable and the pilot included the type of dramatic situations that normally prove effective in these types of programs

Expect to Hear

“…they told me a humorous story about three doctors who left a lucrative, big time practice to open their own shop…They call you the Three Stooges and they throw darts at pictures of you…And, if they’re right, I’m not sure I want to practice medicine”

- Dr. Sarah Church (referring to the former employers of the L.A. Docs)

Premise

Mark Fuerstein is Conrad Bloom, a hotshot creative director at a Madison Avenue advertising agency trying to find time for a social life while also doing his job.  Complicating his life is an overbearing mother, a burned-out partner, an activist sister, and a needy friend

[Note: NBC is reportedly adding new supporting actors to this sitcom]

Familiar Faces

Mark Fuerstein (Fired Up), Linda Lavin (Alice), Steve Landesberg (Barney Miller)

Our Take

Conrad Bloom should benefit from its time slot between Suddenly Susan and Caroline in the City assuming the producers limit the “insider” advertising jokes

Expect to Hear

Conrad: (asking his mother about her “conversations” with his dead father): “How’s he doing?”

Mother: “You know your father, he’s never happy”

Premise

Will Truman is a good-hearted lawyer who cares deeply for his friend Grace Adler, an interior designer.  They would make the perfect couple except for one problem: Will is gay

[Note: NBC is reportedly reshooting the pilot]

Familiar Faces

Debra Messing (Ned & Stacey)

Our Take

Will & Grace has a better time slot then Benben in terms of reaching younger viewers.  The only issue is whether or not viewers comfortable with this show’s premise can be drawn away from Ally McBeal as more conservative viewers will most likely avoid this program

Expect to Hear

“Grace, tell Will to redirect his anger at his mother…where it belongs”

- Karen