J.J. Abrams is definitely a big name both in television and film. From ABC hits Alias and Lost, to FOX’s cult smash Fringe, Abrams has stamped his name everywhere. With Abrams hard at work on the sequel to Star Trek, he’s still dabbling in television with the new mid-season series Alcatraz. But, don’t except to be completely rid of Abrams in the new year, as The CW has greenlit an all-new series that will retain Abrams’ name if it eventually advances to a full out series.
Abrams will be the EP in the upcoming pilot for The CW calledShelter. If Shelter makes it to air, Abrams will have officially been on each major network, with at least four series under his name currently running (Shelter, Alcatraz, Fringe, and Person of Interest). Abrams began his television career on The CW’s predecessor The WB with Felicity back many years ago, and took his name to NBC last year in the lackluster spy romantic drama Undercovers.
Here are the full details about Shelter, as well as the other two pilots picked up by The CW (via TV Line):
Shelter - Logline: Drama set at an historic New England summer resort where the new and returning staff attend to the practical, emotional and often comical needs of the guests while navigating friendships, rivalries and romances of their own.
Executive Producer/Writer: Mark Schwahn
Executive Producers: J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk
The Selection - Logline: Based on the forthcoming series of books by Kiera Cass, The Selection is an epic romance set 300 years in the future which centers on a poor young woman who is chosen by lottery to participate in a competition to become the next queen of a war-torn nation at a crossroads.
Executive Producers/Writers: Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain
Joey Dakota - Logline: Based on the Israeli format Danny Hollywood. In this romantic-time-travel-musical, a documentary filmmaker travels back in time to the 1990’s where she meets and falls in love with the rock star subject of her film. When she unexpectedly returns to present day, she must find her way back to the past to reunite with her love and prevent his untimely death.
Executive Producers: Mark Harmon, Kim Tannenbaum, Eric Tannenbaum, Martha Haight
Writer: Bert Royal
Before pilot season began, we covered the possibility of Joey Dakota coming to The CW, as it was in development by the end of last year. The musical drama seemed like it was headed to air, and the Kurt Cobain-like rockstar definitely seems like it would be an interesting plug for genre fans. The plot element of the main character returning to the present time is definitely a very different concept than the one introduced in the series it’s derived from, and it certainly seems like that could be the make-it-or-break-it plot line.
We’ll keep you updated on the series The CW decides to pick up, and whether or not Joey Dakota and Shelter make the cut.











