Faith-Adjacent Network-TV Pilots So Far: CBS’ ‘Evil’ and Fox’s ‘Filthy Rich’

Faith-Adjacent Network-TV Pilots So Far: CBS’ ‘Evil’ and Fox’s ‘Filthy Rich’ January 20, 2019

Photo: Pixabay

Info on this year’s network TV-pilot crop is trickling out, and there are a couple that might be of interest (or annoy) the faith audience — Fox’s Filthy Rich and CBS’ Evil.

Remember, these are just pilot pickups, probably from scripts ordered last fall. Many haven’t been cast yet, and they haven’t been shot. It won’t be until May that we know for sure if any of the TV pilots are going to actually be on a network schedule.

On the other hand, it’s early enough in the process that, if anyone has real concerns, they can start keeping an eye on them now — and things might actually be able to be changed.

First, Filthy Rich from Fox, via a complete TV pilot list at the Hollywood Reporter:

Filthy Rich
Logline: A Southern Gothic dramedy revolving around two strong, sharp women who will go to any length to protect their loved ones and get their due. When the wealthy CEO of the world’s largest Christian network dies in a plane crash, his wife and adult children are stunned to discover he has grown, illegitimate kids who are also in his will. When the steel azalea matriarch of the family tries to pay them to go away, these newly legitimized heirs have very different ideas and insist on not only staying in town, but becoming part of the family empire.
Cast:
Team: W/D/EP Tate Taylor; EP Brian Grazer, Francie Calfo, John Norris
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television, Imagine Television

FWIW, I’m told that Grazer is known to attend Mass at St. Monica Catholic Church in Santa Monica, California. Here’s an interview he did with the pastor there, Monsignor Lloyd Torgerson.

And next is Evil, from Robert and Michelle King (The Good Wife, The Good Fight):

From Variety:

Titled “Evil,” it is described as a series about the battle between science and religion. The show focuses on a skeptical female clinical psychologist who joins a priest-in-training and a blue-collar contractor as they investigate supposed miracles, demonic possessions, and other extraordinary occurrences to see if there’s a scientific explanation or if something truly supernatural is at work.

The Kings will serve as writers and executive producer on the pilot, with Liz Glotzer of King Size Productions also executive producing. CBS Television Studios, where the Kings are set up under an overall deal, will produce.

I wonder if the “blue-collar contractor” is inspired by the plumbers in Syfy’s Ghost Hunters. They were always good at finding rattly pipes and unshielded electrical boxes that were mistaken for paranormal influences.

Regarding the Kings’ faith background, from WriterMag.com:

Robert: I think even more important than gender is probably religion and politics. Michelle is Jewish and I’m Catholic, and I think that energy comes through in some of the religious elements in the show and the culturally Jewish elements in the show. And then the other is politics. We’re always turned off by how knee-jerk liberal TV tends to be. Yes, maybe that’s most close to our politics, but it just makes TV boring.

More as I have it …

Image: Pixabay

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About Kate O'Hare
Based in Los Angeles, Kate O'Hare is a recovering entertainment journalist, social-media manager for Catholic production company Family Theater Productions and a screenwriter. You can read more about the author here.

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