-- About a Boy (February 22nd, half-hour episodes): Yes, this is the same Nick Hornby story that was turned into a movie with Hugh Grant. Yet NBC believes a retelling of the story over many more hours will be a success. You can be the judge. Here is the basic story via NBC:
After writing a hit song, Will Freeman (David Walton, "Bent," "Perfect Couples") was granted a life of free time, free love and freedom from financial woes. He's single, unemployed and loving it. So imagine his surprise when Fiona (Minnie Driver, "Good Will Hunting," "Barney's Version"), a needy single mom and her oddly charming 11-year-old son, Marcus (Benjamin Stockham, "1600 Penn"), move in next door and disrupt his perfect world.
When Marcus begins dropping by his home unannounced, Will's not so sure about being a kid's new best friend, until, of course, Will discovers that women find single dads irresistible. That changes everything and a deal is struck: Marcus will pretend to be Will's son and in return, Marcus is allowed to chill at Will's house, playing Ping-Pong and gorging on steaks, something his very vegan mom would never allow. Before he realizes it, Will starts to enjoy the visits and even finds himself looking out for the kid. In fact, this newfound friendship may very well teach him a thing or two that he never imagined possible - about himself and caring for others. Also starring is Al Madrigal ("Gary Unmarried").
And here is a less charitable summary from HitFix:
Really, the entire pilot is a watered-down version of the plot of the book and movie, compressed into 23 minutes and with all of the darkness removed. And once Will and Marcus have gone through so much in so short a period of time, and he's broken down Fiona's defenses enough for her to recognize that he's a good, and needed, influence on her son, there's no story left to tell.
It sounds like the pilot episode may be enough.
-- Growing Up Fisher (February 23rd, half-hour episodes): This new series has a family with a different twist - a blind dad. One can argue a similar family situation was recently tried by NBC with a better known actor - Michael J. Fox in the Michael J. Fox Show - but we have plenty of room on the TV dial for variations on a theme. The network's only concern may be that the Michael J. Fox show has already been canceled, so this either indicates the network is on a dangerous path or the way is now clear. Anyway, here is NBC's story summary:
It's not every family that's brought closer together by divorce, but then again, the Fishers are anything but typical. Take Mel Fisher (J.K. Simmons, "The Closer," "Law & Order"), for example. He's chopping down trees, showing his daughter how to drive, and playing football with his son… except that Mel's blind. Then there's Joyce (Jenna Elfman, "Dharma & Greg," "1600 Penn"), who is your typical teenager - really into fashion, busy with school - but the problem is she's Mom. That makes it difficult for her actual teenage daughter, Katie (Ava Deluca-Verley, "Southland"), whose advice (and clothes) Joyce is always seeking. At the center of all this is Henry (Eli Baker), the Fishers' 11-year-old son. Having always been his dad's eyes and wingman, Henry is less than thrilled when his job is outsourced to Mel's new guide dog, Elvis. While the boy is at first reluctant to accept the changes that Elvis brings, adult Henry (voiceover by Jason Bateman, "Arrested Development," "Identity Thief") realizes upon reflection that his parents' split finally allowed the Fishers to become one happy (divorced) family.
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