More behind-the-scenes drama at NBC.Following the departure a few months back of showrunner Tom Fontana on upcoming midseason drama The Philanthropist (which BSG co-creator David Eick was brought in to oversee), yet another behind-the-scenes change is occuring on another new drama series.
Jason Smilovic (Kidnapped, Bionic Woman) will be stepping down as showrunner on the upcoming fall drama series My Own Worst Enemy, starring Christian Slater, Alfre Woodard, Saffron Burrows, Yara Martinez, and Mike O'Malley, though the Peacock is quick to say that he'll still be involved with the series and will, according to The Hollywood Reporter "continue to be the creative force behind the series and will navigate it with" his replacement, John Eisendrath.
Eisendrath (K-Ville, Alias), a co-executive producer on My Own Worst Enemy, is said to be in talks with NBC brass about becoming the series' new executive producer/showrunner.
The move comes as production is about to wrap on My Own Worst Enemy's pilot episode with director David Semel (Heroes). NBC ordered the project to series last May without shooting a pilot and I can't help but wonder if that process created some unexpected creative challenges and led them to rethink their order-off-paper strategy that categorized this year's development cycle at NBC.
Personally, I still think that the pilot process has a lot of merit and allows networks and studios to tweak elements that may not have worked in the pilot (casting, script, etc.) before going to series and battling the clock to get it exactly right in time to air.
My Own Worst Enemy is set to launch on October 13th at 10 pm ET/PT on NBC.
What's On Tonight
8 pm: Greatest American Dog (CBS); America's Got Talent (NBC); America's Next Top Model (CW); Wife Swap (ABC); So You Think You Can Dance (FOX; 8-10 pm)
9 pm: Criminal Minds (CBS); Baby Borrowers: Lessons Learned (NBC); Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious (CW); Supernanny (ABC)
10 pm: CSI: New York (CBS); Law & Order (NBC); Primetime (ABC)
What I'll Be Watching
9 pm: Project Runway on Bravo.
Season Five (the final season on Bravo) of Project Runway continues tonight. On tonight's episode ("Rings of Glory"), designers are challenged with designing sport outfits for the Olympic Games and are judged by Olympic medalist/Dancing with the Stars winner Apolo Anton Ohno.
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