One of ABC’s potential comedies has a shot at breaking out during the next broadcast TV season, thanks to its weird premise. The network has had a few establishedrecent hits withHigh PotentialandWill Trenton the drama side, not to mention established franchises likeGrey’s Anatomyand9-1-1, but its comedy ranks are considerably smaller.
There isAbbott Elementary, the audience and critical darling returning for season 5. There’s alsoShiftingGearsseason 2, fronted by Tim Allen and Kat Dennings, after the first installment debuted strong. But outside of those two offerings, ABC follows the trend of its main broadcast competitors that lean heavily on procedurals. A buzzy pilot, with a unique perspective, could help restore the balance.
Mittens Is A Comedy Told From The POV Of A Neighborhood Cat
It Has A Talented Creative Team
Deadlinerecently reported on the state of pilots at ABC. The report included updates on high-profile prospects like theScrubsrevival andThe Rookiespinoff, both of which are likely to get picked up. But one project, which is considerably more under the radar, may have a better shot of being broadcast’s best new show.
It is, however, still early in the process forMittens, which may not get picked up…
Mittensis among the pilots that ABC is considering. It’s a contemporary family comedy, unfolding from the perspective of Mittens, a neighborhood cat. Unbeknownst to the community, Mittens lives at all three houses on a cul-de-sac. The project would be written and executive produced by Victor Quinaz, whose previous credits include the raunchy animated comedyBig Mouthand the wrestling dramaGLOW.
Mittensis also executive produced by The Littlefield Co.’s Warren Littlefield, Lisa Harrison, and Ann Johnson.
Courtney Lilly, previously a showrunner onblack-ish,will oversee the project. It may be similar to the Apple TV+ miniseriesLessons in Chemistry, starring Brie Larson, which would sometimes unfold from the POV of a dog voiced byThe Officealum B.J. Novak. It is, however, still early in the process forMittens, which may not get picked up.
Its Unique Premise Could Make It A Sleeper Hit This Fall
Network TV Needs To Take Chances Again
Depending on casting and the actors brought in to fill in the ranks of the three families, ABC could have a genuine hit on its hands withMittens. It’s familiar enough, thanks to its neighborhood conceit, while still having the unique hook of having a cat’s POV. It’ll be a delicate balance of writing and performance, even more so than usual, considering the tricky tonal issues. But the potential is there.
Comedies across television, whether streaming or on broadcast, have been in something of a retreat. Streamers like Netflix struggle to launch a successful sitcom, relying instead on licensed titles. Traditional channels aren’t significantly better. ABC, CBS, and NBC each have two comedies before heading intotheir fall 2025 network schedule, which sees some positive changes.
All three networks are taking steps to change that by refocusing on comedy pilots. The coming months will confirm whetherMittensgets the green light. But its rejuvenated take on a familiar setup, not to mention the producers involved, sounds promising.
