ABC announced Monday it will not be moving forward on a pilot for a sequel to its groundbreaking 1987-91 drama “thirtysomething.”
ABC Entertainment President Karey Burke announced in January the pilot order of “thirtysomething(else),” with a script written by the original series’ creators and showruners, Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick.
The pilot was to mix original cast members Ken Olin, Mel Harris, Timothy Busfield and Patty Wettig and “an ensemble of new faces” portraying their grown-up, now 30-something children.
ABC had made a commitment to Herskovitz and Zwick “to start a writers’ room,” Burke said.
“Over the years, as you can imagine, Ed and Marshall were approached many, many times about bringing the show back, but they always declined,” Burke said then. “What’s changed for them is that three decades since the original, those little kids that we watched running around in the background have now become thirtysomething themselves.”
ABC announced Monday it will be picking up actor options with intent to shoot the following five pilots once production can safely begin: “Rebel,” “Harlem’s Kitchen,” “Bossy,” “Home Economics” and “Work Wife.”
Three pilots are rolling into a second cycle, “Adopted,” “National Parks Service” and “Triage.” Decisions will be made later for “Prospect,” “Wreckage” and a untitled project from producers Emily Kapnek and Dean Holland.
ABC is also not moving forward on the proposed “Brides” and “Valley Trash” pilots.