It’s no surprise really, but NBC prime time president Angela Bromstad revealed that JJ. Abrams new series, “Undercovers“, wont be another “Alias“. Speaking at the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour, she confirmed that Undercovers will be “lighter” in tone and be a more stand-alone closed-ended weekly procedural.
Head past the jump for more.
Bromstad confirmed that the show would approach the James Bond territory of gadgets and supervillains. But she added that it is not a new Alias, referring to his previous spy show on ABC.
“I think it’s very different,” she said. “I think it has a much more sort of grounded tone. It’s based in reality, but it has definitely a lighter tone and a banter between the husband and wife. It’s not a dark CIA operative show. It definitely has a little bit of Hart to Hart in it.”
Undercovers episodes will also stand alone more than the continuing mythology of Alias. “It really is a closed-end procedural each week,” Bromstad said. “They’ll have a specific mission that they go out on.”
[via]
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Taking a look at who JJ has teamed up with for “Undercovers”, it’s not a shocker that “Alias” will go unchallenged by this new show.
Josh Reims’s IMDB page is an uninspiring schlockfest (“Brothers & Sisters”, “Felicity”, “Everwood”, “What About Brian”).
I’m continually reading about how UC will be a cross between Bourne and the Smiths. But when I read stuff like ’standalone’ and ‘husband and wife banter’, I’m reminded less of Bourne and the Smiths than I am of Rob and Laura Petrie.
NBC already has “Chuck”, for the lighthearted spy fan in all of us, and, hey, I’m a faithful watcher (Yvonne Strahovski has my undivided attention), so at a time when TV needs a serioused-up, life or death, serial spy show, why is JJ hellbent on resurrecting “Hart to Hart”? I
I’m just sayin’.
Thanks for the info, Page. I remember watching Brothers & Sisters for about a season until I gave up..
The Undercovers standalone aspect makes my heart sink, and i’m not convinced by the ‘husband and wife’ angle – I guess JJ wants to do something different? That said, I’m willing to follow him with this one, as it has a few elements which might just work – albeit on a different level to the type of shows that I normally gravitate towards.
Let’s just say that my expectations aren’t high..just hopeful.
This cast addition won’t hurt.
JJ has tapped Australia for Anna Torv and John Noble, Canada for Josh Jackson and Evangeline Lilly, Austria for Boris Kodjoe and England for Gugu Mbatha-Raw, which either says something about the current stable of American actors or something about JJ’s desire to birth a new star from the ranks of the complete unknown.
I hope he’ll let this latest spychick use her natural accent, although how many Brits populate the CIA? I’m still reeling from Michelle Ryan having to drop her accent for her NBC debut. Maybe NBC is ready for a spot of the Queen’s English.
Just an observation here:
S.B. = Sydney Bristow
S.B. = Samantha Bloom
When you lay it out like that it is quite amazing how often JJ looks outside of America to find his leading talent. And although JJ might not be directly responsible, it’s incredible how many Brits have been in LOST over the years.
I don’t know too much about Gugu but apparently she received good reviews for her role as Ophelia. Can she pull off an american accent? I hope so – otherwise I agree, they should let her use her natural accent. I mean, why not?
It still saddens me to think what could have been for Michelle Ryan. Looking back, I think her natural accent could’ve worked.
And did BW really debut to 15 million? Wow, how times have changed!
Hehe, nice catch!