tv
Bryan Fuller's 'Mockingbird Lane' goes from presumptively dead to officially dead
Creator tweeted on Thursday that his 'Munsters' reboot isn't going forward
"Mockingbird Lane"
Credit: NBC
It's hard to imagine that many people had invested much hope in the fate of Bryan Fuller's "Mockingbird Lane" pilot, nearly two months after its one-off airing on NBC. But just in case you still were holding your breath in anticipation...
Sorry.
The "Pushing Daisies" creator tweeted on Thursday (December 27) afternoon that the "Munsters" reboot has transitioned from "presumptively dead" to "formally dead."
"I tweet with a heavy heart," Fuller told his Twitter followers. "NBC not moving forward with #MockingbirdLane. From producers and cast, thank you all for enthusiasm and support."
This completes a rather circuitous journey for a pilot that required heavy expenditure of time and finances.
Written by Fuller, "Mockingbird Lane" was developed for the 2010-2011 development season, was resurrected in November of 2011 and was pushed back to a summer pilot shoot, missing NBC's upfronts announcement in May 2012. Directed by Bryan Singer, the pilot featured Eddie Izzard as Grandpa Munster, Jerry O'Connell and Portia de Rossi as Lily and Herman and Mason Cook as Eddie Munster.
After some silence, "Mockingbird Lane" got a minor hype boost from Singer's appearance at Comic-Con, but then the buzz died down until reports broke that NBC wasn't sending the pilot to series. Fuller denied those reports and NBC subsequently scheduled the pilot for a one-off pre-Halloween airing on Friday, October 26, adding to that unusual step by promoting the project and making the hour available to critics.
"Mockingbird Lane" drew over 5.4 million viewers and a 1.5 rating among adults 18-49. Depending on how you look at it, those numbers were either "not bad at all for a dismal Friday time slot" or "not nearly good enough for what was an expensive pilot."
NBC has apparently taken the latter view.
Don't worry about Fuller, though. He has "Hannibal" coming to NBC at some point in the spring, or at least we continue to assume "Hannibal" is coming sometime in the spring, even though NBC has yet to set a premiere date.
A long-time member of the TCA Board and a longer-time blogger of "American Idol," Dan Fienberg writes about TV, except for when he writes about movies or sometimes writes about the Red Sox. But never music. He would sound stupid talking about music.
Around the Web
News From Our Partners
-
Greg Archer: Heather Locklear on Franklin & Bash and Not Taking on 'Dumb' Roles
Kristen Bell Really Loves ...
'Office' Director Explains Finale's Shocking Cameo
-
The Telefile - TV on DVD: Tuesday, June 18, 2013
The Telefile - Veep: The Episode's Best Insults
The Telefile - The Most Heinous Person on Reality TV This Week
-
Hear This: “Deacon Blues,” Scotch, Steely Dan, and other intergenerational appreciations
Watch This: Wes Craven’s The Serpent And The Rainbow returns zombies to their Haitian roots
Tolerability Index: This week we’re barely putting up with Man Of Steel
-
James Gandolfini Dead At 51
'Star Wars VII' Cast List Leaks: Who Are The Seven Characters?
'Fifty Shades Of Grey' Locks In Director
-
What to Watch Tonight: The Season Premieres of Futurama and Franklin & Bash, and Hot in Cleveland's Live Episode
Hey The Voice Has Crowned a Season 4 Winner! Too Bad the Success (Probably) Stops Here
Pretty Little Liars "Turn of the Shoe" Review: Dead Birds Sing No Phone Numbers
-
James Gandolfini Dead: Actor Dies of Heart Attack at 51
Josh Hutcherson on Kissing Jennifer Lawrence for 'Hunger Games: Catching Fire'
Sam Taylor-Johnson Tapped to Direct 'Fifty Shades of Grey'
-
'Hemlock Grove' Season 2: Netflix Renews Under New Executive Producer
James Gandolfini Dead at Age 51
FX Buys Kelsey Grammer-Martin Lawrence Syndication-Friendly Lawyer Sitcom
-
James Gandolfini: 1961-2013
Total Recall: John Goodman's Best Movies
In Pictures: Zombie Nation!
Comments
Option 1
Comment instantly as a guest GuestOption 2
Option 3
Login or create a HitFix account Login SignupAK
December 28, 2012 at 12:34AM EST Reply to CommentWhere can I get my DVD?
dan AK - It's still available on iTunes. I can't imagine there's much financial motivation to putting out a 44 minute DVD...
December 28, 2012 at 12:46AM EST-Daniel
Mikhail
December 28, 2012 at 6:24PM EST Reply to CommentIt so sad = (( Munsters.....
cesar
December 28, 2012 at 10:26PM EST Reply to CommentThis show could've been a great hit. Remember when networks used to take risks. Now it's nothing but reality shows and singing competitions.
Jonathan
March 27, 2013 at 8:49PM EST Reply to CommentI do wish they'd reconsider. I was a Munster purist until I saw this great re-boot, and would like to see it happen.