CBS fall development: The Robs (Riggle and Schneider) want to entertain you

Image Credit: Bob Charlotte/PR Photos; Chris Hatcher/PR Photos; Amanda Meredith/PR Photos; Al Messerschmidt/Getty ImagesCBS may not have a project like Wonder Woman that’s eating up all the headlines, nor does it have a much-anticipated reboot in the works that has fans hoping for the best (and even anticipating the worst). But the No. 1 network (in viewers) doesn’t need to make a lot of noise with its fall 2011 development, especially when it continues to succeed with tried-and-true formats featuring law dogs and crime-fighting duos.

That said, the network does have a serious weapon in its arsenal that could end up upstaging Woman and those three angels on ABC. I’m talking to all you Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans: Sarah Michelle Gellar probably had her choice of pilots this season but she chose to star in Ringer, a drama about a troubled young gal who hides out by assuming the life of her wealthy twin sister. Not bad, eh? And speaking of potential scene stealers, J.J. Abrams may have drummed up a lot of interest in his Alcatraz pilot at Fox, but he also found time to sell CBS a pilot called Person of Interest, which features Lostie Michael Emerson as a billionaire who hires a presumed-dead ex-CIA agent to fight violent crime in New York City.

Too bad the net’s other drama pilots don’t seem particularly extraordinary — though Christine Lahti in another medical drama sounds promising if you’re a big fan of her work in Chicago Hope. At this stage, it’s always hard to gauge a show’s appeal based on a simple log line (if only I can recall the one line that described The Good Wife), but I can’t say the descriptions for Hail Mary and Rookies sound particularly exciting. You?

The network’s comedy development may not be breaking new ground, but nothing screams this won’t work. On the contrary, the new Rob Schneider project already seems like a perfect fit for the guy, and Rob Riggle as an ex-pro footballer player could fit nicely alongside Mike & Molly or even Rules of Engagement. (For more about what we think will go and what will stay in primetime come fall, click on our scorecard here).

Here are CBS’s fall drama and comedy pilots:

The Doctor (Rina Mimoun, David Nutter) — A mother reconnects with her adult children when she joins the family medical practice (drama).

Hail Mary (Joel Silver, Ilene Chaiken, Brad Silberling, Jeff Wadlow) — Buddy P.I. show centered on a suburban single mom in Atlanta who teams up with a street-wise hustler to solve crimes (drama).

Ringer (Peter Traugott, Richard Shepard Eric Charmelo, Nicole Snyder) — On the run from the mob, a troubled young woman hides out by inhabiting the life of her wealthy twin sister, until she learns that her twin’s life has a bounty on it as well. Stars Sarah Michelle Gellar and Nestor Carbonell (drama).

Rookies (Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, James Mangold, Ken Sanzel, Richard Price) — Six NYPD rookies balance their personal lives with learning the beat on the streets of Manhattan (drama).

Untitled Redlich and Belluci (Ed Redlich, Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly, John Bellucci) — A female NYPD detective possesses the special ability to remember everything – although a gift in her job, it’s also a curse in her personal life (drama).

Untitled Susannah Grant project (Susannah Grant, Jonathan Demme, Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly) — Ultra-Competitive surgeon’s life is changed forever when his ex-wife dies and begins teaching him what life is all about from the here-after (drama).

Person of Interest (Jonah Nolan, J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk) — Crime drama centered on an ex-CIA agent, presumed dead, who teams up with a mysterious billionaire to prevent violent crimes in New York City (drama). Stars Michael Emerson.

Vince Uncensored (Pheof Sutton, Conan O’Brien, David Kissinger) — After a life-changing experience, a man decides to take a more honest approach to his life, work and family.  Multi-camera comedy (comedy).

Two Broke Girls (Michael Patrick King, Whitney Cummings) — Two broke girls, one expensive city – two broke 22-year-old girls tackle life in New York City (Brooklyn, to be exact) as they try to make their dreams come true (comedy).

Untitled Peter Knight office comedy (Doug Robinson, Peter Knight) — The untitled Peter Knight office comedy is a workplace ensemble centered around the young people who work at a high-powered venture capital firm (comedy).

How to be a Gentleman (David Hornsby, Ted Schachter) — Based on the book of the same name. It’s a male buddy comedy that follows an unlikely friendship between a traditional, uptight columnist and his rough-around-the-edges friend and trainer (comedy).

Home Game (Warren Bell, Chris Nowak, Mark Wahlberg, Steven Levinson) — About a retired NFL player who returns home to his wife and daughters. It stars Rob Riggle and Constance Zimmer (comedy).

Untitled sports radio show (Bill Martin, Mike Schiff, Eric and Kim Tannenbaum) — Inspired by ESPN personality Colin Cowherd’s outspoken sports talk show (comedy).

The Assistants (Tucker Cawley, Eric and; Kim Tannenbaum) — About a young ensemble about four assistant who work for a celebrity couple (comedy).

Rob Schneider project (Lew Morton, Eric and Kim Tannenbaum) — Schneider stars as a confirmed bachelor who has just married into a tight-knit Mexican-American family (comedy).

Home Grown (Jackie and Jeff Filgo, Andy Ackerman) –  A blue-collar man wrestles with how to parent his unmarried grown daughter and her 12-year-old son while sharing a house with them, his wife and his recently widowed mother (comedy).

Read more:
Fall 2011-12 development: Will remakes of ‘Wonder Woman’ or ‘Prime Suspect’ become great hits? Are you ready for a fresh take on Edgar Allan Poe?