USA Orders Pilots for 'A Legal Mind' and 'Necessary Roughness'
by Rich Keller, posted May 18th 2010 1:10PM
Though news is focused on the major networks and their upfronts this week, development deals are taking place elsewhere on the television landscape. As an example, The Hollywood Reporter reports that USA has greenlit two new pilots that will begin shooting this summer.The first is 'A Legal Mind.' Executive produced by Doug Liman ('The O.C.,' 'Knight Rider,' 'The Bourne Ultimatum'), the story involves a young man who gets a job at a huge corporate law firm. The catch: he doesn't have a college degree. The second pilot is 'Necessary Roughness,' about a tough, divorced, female sports therapist.
At first glance, 'A Legal Mind' sounds like the more interesting of the two, as well as a show that could fit on the same night as 'Psych,' which features a young detective who never graduated from the police academy. However, 'Necessary Roughness' may have more potential because it deals with sports therapy, meaning more variety of cases. Plus, it would add some estrogen to an original series slate where the only lead female characters are Mary Shannon (Mary McCormack) of 'In Plain Sight' and Annie Walker (Piper Perabo) of the upcoming series 'Covert Affairs.'
Now that USA is spreading out their shows to cover multiple nights, the question is where the new shows would fit should they be picked up. Would they be added to the spring lineup of heavier shows like 'In Plain Sight,' and 'Law & Order; CI?' Or would they be headed to the summer/winter lineup of testosterone-laden programs like 'Burn Notice,' 'Royal Pains,' 'Psych,' and 'White Collar?'
What do you think? Are 'A Legal Mind' and 'Necessary Roughness' shows you would watch? And, while you're pondering that, make sure you tune into the premieres of the USA summer shows at the following times:
'Burn Notice' -- June 3 at 9PM
'Royal Pains' -- June 3 at 10PM
'White Collar' -- July 13 at 9PM
'Covert Affairs' -- July 13 at 10PM
'Psych' -- July 21 at 10PM

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