First Impressions: Fall TV Pilots 2016- NBC Dramas

Fall TV Pilots 2016 (NBC- Dramas)

Which drama series will NBC pick up? I'll dissect which shows I'm looking forward too and which shows will be successful based on first impressions. 
For the full list of Fall TV Pilots 2016, check out EW's article.

The Blacklist: Redemption

Although there are very few details about this Blacklist spin-off series, it will star Ryan Eggold (Tom) and Famke Janssen (Scottie), who have both appeared in the original series The Blacklist.

Will This Series Be Picked Up? Yes, this series will be picked up based on how popular The Blacklist is.

Will It Be Successful? I don't know and could really ask the same thing now about The Blacklist with three characters (including Liz) no longer being in the original series.
Was My Guess Correct? Yes, this series was picked up.

Chicago Justice

Yet another series based off the Chicago franchise "which will delve into the world of lawyers and prosecutors in Chicago".

Will This Series Be Picked Up? Yes, as there are already three other established Chicago series.

Will It Be Successful? Probably for a few seasons until everyone moves on from the Chicago franchise to the next big thing.
Was My Guess Correct? Yes, this series has been picked up.

Cruel Intentions

This series will "pick up over 15 years after the movie left off and follows the beautiful and cunning Kathryn as she vies for control of Valmont International as well as the soul of Bash, the son of her brother, the late Sebastian." I saw this movie years ago when it came out because I am a huge fan of Sarah Michelle Gellar but I can't say I cared much for it back then. Secondly, this movie was pretty risqué and carried an R rating due to rapid drug use, profanity and the fact that the whole plot revolves around sex. I don't have a problem with this but I just don't see how NBC is going to be able to please the original movie fans by having a toned down PG-13 feel. How about we leave the sex and incest to networks (like HBO) and shows that do it best (like Game of Thrones).

Will It Be Picked Up? Probably

Will It Be Successful? No as I just don't see it living it to the movie due to being toned down.

Midnight, Texas

Based on the best-selling trilogy from Charlaine Harris this "Twin Peaks meets True Blood" drama series takes place "in a remote town in Texas where your neighbour could be a vampire, a witch, a werewolf and even an angel". I have SUCH an issue with this series that although is based off of a different book, it is made to sound exactly like the premise of True Blood which concluded it's 7 year run on HBO less than 2 years ago. There is just NO WAY that NBC is going to be able to come close to producing anything remotely close to the True Blood series and it's going to be a huge disappointment for fans who thought they could.

Will This Series Be Picked Up? Probably

Will It Be Successful? No as True Blood didn't end long ago and this network will never be able to make this series comparable to HBO.
Was My Guess Correct? Yes, much to my disappointment, this series was picked up.

Miranda's Rights

This "legal soap" which focuses "on 28 year-old Miranda, who gets shot at redemption six years after a sex scandal upended her life when she's hired by a group of millennials living and working together in a start-up law firm". Honestly, it sounds kind of boring. I'm really not into lawyer shows (as there are so many of them already on TV) and I just don't know if NBC's viewer demographic will be interested in watched a show centered around millennials.
Will This Series Be Picked Up? I doubt It
Will It Be Successful? I doubt it
Was My Guess Correct? Yes, this series was not picked up.

Taken

This "modern day prequel to the blockbuster film that devles into how a young Bryan Mills developed that special set of skills" could turn out to be a really fantastic series. The movies did quite well and I think Clive Standen (Vikings) is the perfect choice for a young Bryan Mills. If this series is done right, it could be NBC's breakout drama of the year.

Will This Series Be Picked Up? Yes, this series was picked up.

Will It Be Successful? Yes as Taken already has it's movie fans and Clive Standen already has an established fanbase from Vikings. Putting the two of these together and it should make for one fantastic series.

Timeless

"This high-octane drama follows an unlikely trio who travel through time to battle a master criminal intent on altering the fabric of human history with potentially catastrophic results". First of all, if this "high-octane" series is anything like ABC's The Catch, you can count me out as I prefer good storytelling over a series that mixes ADD with speed. Secondly, the concept sounded so boring that I had to read it over several times as I kept zoning out before I could finish it.
Will This Series Be Picked Up? Hopefully not.
Will It Be Successful? No. The Catch has Shonda Rhimes behind it, this doesn't.
Was My Guess Correct? No, this series was picked up and its title has been changed from Time to Timeless.

This Is Us

This series "from the writer and director of Crazy, Stupid, Love, a dramady about a unique ensemble of characters who share the same birthday" could work better on a different network. NBC has very few comedy series (especially ones that have lasted over one season) but they are successful a bit more successful when it comes to dramas. So does this network have what it takes to make one of the only (I believe) dramadies on regular network? All I know is that it will be fantastic to see Mandy Moore again!

Will This Series Be Picked Up? Probably

Will It Be Successful? I don't know. HBO does dramady well (Girls) as does Showtime (Shameless) and Netflix (Orange Is The New Black) but it will be interesting to see NBC's take on the genre.
Was My Guess Correct? Yes, this series was picked up.

Check back for more of my thoughts on the Fall TV Pilots for 2016 and follow me on Twitter @popculturedlife