First Impressions: TV Fall Pilots 2016- The CW

Fall TV Pilots 2016 (The CW)

Which series will The CW 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.

Frequency

This series is a reimagined version of the 2000 New Line Cinema Film based on the same title starring Dennis Quaid.
There are so many different parts of this concept that I love:
1) "a female detective in 2016 discovers she is able to speak via a ham radio with her estranged father (also a detective) who died in 1996". I love the unspoken bond between fathers and daughters, like in Veronica Mars.
2) "they forge a new relationship while working together on unsolved murder cases." This is a perfect concept for television because solving murder cases is one of the most popular concepts for TV and it gives an unlimited amount of episode plots.
3) "but the unintended consequences of the "butterfly effect" wreak havoc in the present day." I love the whole"butterfly effect" idea because any little change that would be made in the past could be a massive change for the present day.
This series could really fit into the CW network and I'm super excited about it.
Will It Be Picked Up? Yes, this series has been picked up.
Will It Be Successful? Yes, this could be the CW's answer to Freeform's Stitchers series.

No Tomorrow

The concept reads "when a risk-adverse, straight-arrow, female procurement manager at an Amazon-like distribution center falls in love with a free-wheeling man who lives life to the fullest because he believes the apocalypse is imminent, to comedic and poignant results they embark on a quest together to fullfill their individual bucket lists". For me, this series just doesn't sound all that interesting. I would rather watch a series about an Amazon-like distribution center (something like The Office or Superstore). Although this series doesn't sound like it's for me, this would be the right network for it to blossom.
Will It Be Picked Up? Yes, this series has been picked up.
Will It Be Successful? 50/50.

Riverdale

I've always been a huge fan of the Archie comics and it's characters, but how I do feel about seeing them come to life in a live-action series where Archie, Betty, Veronica and friends will "explore the surealism of a small town life- the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale's wholesome facade"? I just don't know. I really WANT to like it but I my heart is filled with Archie nostalgia and I'm kind of worried that this will ruin it. Unfortunately, I think that pleasing the lifelong Archie fans is going to be their biggest challenge. I would like the series to be fantastic but I'm not holding my breath. I know that the CW is banking on this to be their biggest fall hit but it's going to be hit or miss.
Will It Be Picked Up? Yes, this series has been picked up.
Will It Be Successful? Too early to tell. They have quite an uphill battle to please lifelong Archie fans like myself.

Transylvania

I'm slightly torn on this series for a couple reasons:
1) I don't think that the CW is the network to make this series all it could be. In this series "a headstrong young woman" teaming up with a "wrongfully disgraced Scotland Yard Detective" to "witness the births of the most famous monsters and villains in history." The main problem with that is it reminds me of Penny Dreadful (which features many well known famous monsters) and there is no way that the CW could (or would) anti up enough money to compete with their budget. Like most CW series, it will feature way too much CGI and not enough real life sets, scenery or action scenes.
2) When they talk about "the most famous monsters and villains in history" who exactly are they talking about? Frankenstein? Jack the Ripper? Dracula? I can't think of one monster or villain that they could discover that would come anywhere close to being better than others. As much as I think this COULD be a fantastic concept, I don't think it can for CW. 
Will It Be Picked Up? 50/50
Will It Be Successful? Doubtful, but had it been on a different network like HBO or AMC, I think it might have made something of itself.
Was My Guess Correct? 50/50 as this series was not picked up.

Untitled Mars Project

I'm not a fan of TV shows that take place in space and in this series "a team of explorers arrive on Mars to join the first human colony on the planet, only to discover that their predecessors have vanished". This kind of reminds me of The CW's other series The 100, except they we going back to earth from space. I don't think this series is going to be different enough from The 100 for both to be airing on the same network.
Will It Be Picked Up? Doubful
Will It Be Successful? 50/50, it could either be very successful because it's like The 100 or it could falter because it's too similar.
Was My Guess Correct? Yes, this series didn't get picked up.

Untitled Paranormal Project

I know that the title isn't finished but when you use the word paranormal, my brain immediately goes to the film series Paranormal Activity. It doesn't matter how good this series is because it won't come close to the movies and it really depends on what this series is trying to accomplish as to if it will succeed or not. If they are trying for a Ghost Whisperer type series, then I think it will do all right but if they are hoping for a more American Horror Story feel, this it will be an epic failure.
Will It Be Picked Up? Doubful
Will It Be Successful? Doubful
Was My Guess Correct? Yes, as this series didn't get picked up and is currently being redeveloped.

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