NBC picks up ‘Smash,’ ‘Prime Suspect,’ ‘Up All Night,’ ‘Whitney’

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

NBC has picked up ‘Smash,’ ‘Prime Suspect,’ ‘Up All Night,’ and ‘Whitney,’ which means Debra Messing, Maria Bello, Christina Applegate, and other leading ladies are tied to series orders from the network for the fall.

Based on a concept by Steven Spielberg, the musical comedy ‘Smash’ focuses on the cast (including Debra Messing and ‘American Idol’ alum Katharine McPhee) of a Broadway musical about Marilyn Monroe. With a pilot written by Spielberg and Theresa Rebeck (‘Law and Order: Criminal Intent’), the series sounds like an all-grown-up version of ‘Glee.’

Adapted from the acclaimed British procedural, ‘Prime Suspect’ finds Maria Bello stepping into the role that Helen Mirren made famous, acting as a female detective who’s investigating a murder in a mostly male precinct. Investigating crime and breaking glass ceilings ensue.

‘Up All Night’ is a single-camera comedy about a dry-witted working mom (Christina Applegate), her stay-at-home husband (Will Arnett), and her meddling parents. The series also features two ‘Saturday Night Live’-ers: Maya Rudolph co-stars and Lorne Michaels is a co-executive producer.

‘Whitney,’ which is inspired by the stand-up of comedian Whitney Cummings, follows a young couple dealing with the highs and lows of monogamy. Cummings wrote the pilot and Andy Ackerman - the man behind ‘Perfect Couples,’ that other show about the highs and lows of monogamy - directed it.

NBC will present its fall schedule during a presentation in New York on Monday.

--Melissa Maerz

Photo: Debra Messing. Credit: Wireimage.com.