A look at the TV series that never were

In what the TV networks must think of as the good-old days, viewers used to learn about new series only when the networks started promoting them. Hollywood insiders might follow the development process in the trade papers, but you and I were unlikely to hear about shows until they made it into TV Guide.

Today, everyone’s a Hollywood insider, thanks to Web sites that compile every morsel of pilot-season news and bloggers who breathlessly report each twist and turn in the long pipeline from the pitch (“these two guys go into a bar”) to the pickup (“Cheers,” anyone?).

The problem is that even in these tough economic times, networks order far more scripts than will ever become pilot episodes and many more pilots than will be picked up as series. So we hear a lot about who’s who and what’s what with pilots that will never see the light of prime time.

So maybe you’re wondering, “Whatever happened to that show about ...?” Before we move on to thinking about fall TV, here’s a look at some pilots that got a lot of buzz but didn’t make the cut:

—NBC turned down David E. Kelley’s “Legally Mad,” about a law firm populated by eccentric personalities including Kristin Chenoweth.

—Fox said no to “Ab Fab,” based on the wild and crazy BBC comedy, with Jennifer Saunders (Edwina) as a producer and stars Kathryn Hahn and Kristen Johnston.

—The CW passed up a much-touted “Gossip Girl” spinoff with Brittany Snow as a young Lily van der Woodsen in the 1980s (despite hints that the project might still be alive, insiders don’t hold out much hope).

—ABC denied “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Private Practice” creator Shonda Rhimes a chance to expand her empire with “Inside the Box,” an ABC drama about network news; Kim Raver starred.

—CBS wasn’t happy enough with “Happiness Isn’t Everything,” a comedy from Mitch Hurwitz and Jim Vallely (“Arrested Development”) with Richard Dreyfuss as the patriarch of a too-close family including Jason Biggs.

—NBC lost ground with “Battlestar Galactica” fans when it didn’t pick up Dick Wolf’s “Lost & Found,” with Katee Sackhoff as a Los Angeles cop working John Doe cases. But Sackhoff quickly picked up a gig on the new season of “24.”

—The CW disappointed all who’d previewed it by turning down “Body Politic,” a Capitol Hill drama with Minka Kelly (“Friday Night Lights”) as a young congressional staffer.

Big names, either in front of the cameras or behind the scenes, couldn’t save some pilots:

—ABC passed up Lauren Graham’s TV return in a comedy (never officially titled) about a self-help guru who couldn’t help herself.

—Cedric the Entertainer was both star and executive producer of ABC’s “The Law,” a comedy about reserve officers for the Los Angeles Police Department. ABC.

—Paul Scheuring of “Prison Break” offered the new conspiracy thriller “Masterwork” but found no taker at Fox.

—Jimmy Kimmel was a producer of CBS’ “Ace in the Hole,” with Adam Carolla as a driving instructor.

—Eric McCormack picked himself up after the cancellation of “Trust Me” to star in CBS’ “Best Thing Ever” as a cardiologist and impending first-time father.

—Bradley Whitford (“The West Wing,” “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip”) starred in NBC’s “Off Duty,” a buddy comedy about cops.

—Alyssa Milano headlined ABC’s “Single With Baggage,” playing a divorced mom with two kids.

—Amanda Bynes was one of five friends all “Canned” on the same day in an ABC comedy.

—Producer Ben Stiller lost out with “The Station,” a Fox drama in which CIA operatives were charged with installing a new dictator in South America.

—Donald Sutherland, late of “Dirty Sexy Money,” played the head of a dysfunctional family of doctors in CBS’ “Eastmans.”