NBC has announced the ordering of two additional crime drama pilots as part of its ambitious plans for the 2026-2027 television season, bringing the total to six pilots this week—five focused on crime and one centered around a comedy involving police work.
Among the new pilots is “What the Dead Know,” created by renowned producer Dick Wolf. This series follows Ava Ledger, a death investigator, as she collaborates with the NYPD to tackle challenging cases. The series draws inspiration from the memoir of former New York City medical examiner Barbara Butcher. Alongside Wolf, the pilot will feature Beth Rinehart as the writer and executive producer, with Tom Thayer, Peter Jankowski, and Anastasia Puglisi also serving as executive producers.
Joining this line-up is Joey Falco’s pilot “Puzzled,” which tells the story of Mike Brink, a former college athlete who, after suffering a traumatic brain injury, develops a unique perspective that aids him in crime-solving alongside local police. The pilot is based on the “Puzzle Master” book series by Danielle Trussoni, who will contribute as a producer. Jordan Cerf from Linden Entertainment is set to act as a non-writing executive producer.
These latest projects follow a series of pilot announcements by NBC this week, including reboots and dramas such as a new episode of “The Rockford Files,” a law enforcement thriller titled “Protection” from Joshua Safran, and another crime-based series from Dean Georgaris, a producer known for “Quantum Leap.” Additionally, NBC revealed a comedy pilot featuring a private investigator, crafted by the creative minds behind “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” Dan Goor and Luke Del Tredici.
The network’s surge in pilot orders signals a revival of pilot season, which had receded in favor of the increasingly popular straight-to-series model seen in streaming services. While pilots may not generate as much excitement as full series orders, they provide networks with valuable insights into the dynamics of production teams and audience preferences. NBC has indicated its intention to solidify pilot season by potentially green-lighting three to four drama pilots and two to three comedy pilots for the upcoming season, suggesting an optimistic outlook for traditional television programming amidst the prevailing streaming trends.