NBC Picks Up High School Drama From Friday Night Lights' Jason Katims
Break out the tissues: NBC has ordered a new series from Parenthood and Friday Night Lights writer Jason Katims. Variety reports that the network has picked up the creator's Josh Radnor-starring Rise, along with the Anne Heche-starring military drama For God and Country, for the upcoming fall season.
Rise, previously titled Drama High, features former How I Met Your Mother star Radnor as Lou Volpe, a high school English teacher who decides to take over the working-class school's drama department. The cast also includes Moana's Auli'i Cravalho, who will play a lead role as a student named Lilette, and Stranger Things' Shannon Purser, who has a recurring role as a student named Annabelle. Pineapple Express' Rosie Perez will play the high-energy drama teacher Tracey, while The Family's Rarmian Newton will play a mysterious, independent student from a broken home who works as the school's lighting technician. Marley Shelton, Damon J. Gillespie, Amy Forsyth, Ted Sutherland, Casey Johnson, Taylor Richardson, Joe Tippett, and Shirley Rumierk also star.
For God and Country follows an elite team of undercover military operatives who execute dangerous missions around the world. Heche stars alongside Mike Vogel, Sofia Pernas, Tate Ellington, Natacha Karam, Demetrius Grosse, Noah Mills, and Hadi Tabbal. The series comes from The Manchurian Candidate's Dean Georgaris.
The two pick-ups, which join NBC's already ordered Will and Grace revival, represent the beginning of what is sure to be an exciting pilot season. Other shows that are reportedly in contention for next season are Fox's Amy Acker and Stephen Moyer-starring Marvel mutant pilot, the Craig Robinson and Adam Scott comedy Ghosted, Greg Berlanti's Black Lightning, and The CW's Dynasty reboot. ABC has already ordered Marvel's Inhumans to series for next season, while CBS already has The Big Bang Theory spin-off Young Sheldon, and Fox already has Seth McFarlane's Orville. While we wait to see what shows will take over our TV screens this fall, see some of the shows we already know will blow you away this year.