Pilots for “The Hurt Unit,” “Public Defenders,” “Judgement,” and “Keeping It Together” (formerly titled “Drop-Off”) are no longer moving forward at ABC.
The news comes amid the ongoing writers’ strike gripping Hollywood. The Writers Guild of America decided to strike on May 2 after failing to reach an agreement on issues such as wages and protections against AI.
The medical procedural drama was ordered in December and starred Ben McKenzie. According to the official logline, the show is “a cutting-edge medical drama about a highly skilled team of trauma surgeons and nurses rushing into the field to treat the patients who won’t make it to the hospital in time. If the sick and injured cannot go to the emergency room, the Hurt Unit (Hospital Urgent Response Team) will bring the emergency room to them.”
Matt Lopez and John Glenn co-wrote the pilot for “The Hurt Unit,” with both serving as executive producers. Marc Webb will direct the pilot and executive produce through Black Lamb. ABC Signature is the studio.
ABC ordered Eddie Quintana’s “Public Defenders” pilot in January. The pilot followed four inexperienced public defenders as they worked to keep their clients out of jail and learned how to navigate their first defendants, the justice system and their common office problems. Quintana was the writer and executive producer behind the pilot, which was his second pilot ordered by ABC in the past two seasons. Mary Viola and Corey Marsh of Wonderland Sound and Vision also served as executive producers.
“Judgement”, written by Joey Falco, was also ordered in December. According to the official logline, the show is “a high-stakes legal soap opera that redefines the genre by playing out over two timelines. Fifteen years from now, a woman being vetted for a Supreme Court seat recounts her experience at a top D.C. law firm in 2023, where the only thing more controversial than the business was her messy love life caught between two feuding brothers. With a Supreme Court seat on the line, all of her darkest secrets threaten to come out, jeopardizing her nomination, her reputation and her marriage.”
Falco was the writer and executive producer of the pilot. Melvin Mar and Jake Kasdan executive produced through The Detective Agency. Mosaic’s Jordan Cerf also serves as an executive producer.
“Drop-Off” was a later addition to ABC’s slate, not receiving a pilot order until March. Ellie Kemper both starred and executive produced the pilot, which served as the American adaptation of the British comedy “Motherland.”
Sharon Horgan, Clelia Mountford, Stacy Greenberg, Kira Carstensen executive produced for Merman Television. Paul Feig and Dan Magnante served as executive producers through Feigco Entertainment. Holly Walsh and Helen Serafinowicz are also executive producers. Michael Showalter was also attached as an executive producer and director. Julieanne Smolinski wrote the script and executive produced. Lionsgate and ABC Signature are the studios behind the production.
Sources share that “The Hurt Unit”, “Public Defenders” and “Judgment” will be shopped. “The Hurt Unit” came from ABC Signature. The final shows were produced by 20th Television.
Renewal decisions for ‘The Good Lawyer’, ‘Home Economics’ and ‘The Rookie: Feds’ will be announced at a later date.