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Brits ride high in NBC greenlights Several early pick-ups have been okayed by NBC for 2007/08, as the US network clears four dramas including the new Bionic Woman and renews Peabody-winning drama Friday Night Lights. Among the pilots that the network is taking through to the next season are several starring British actors, perhaps the biggest casting trend that has emerged from the pilot season this time around. As of yesterday afternoon the network has given slots to Rand Ravich and Far Shariat's new drama Life, starring Band of Brothers veteran Damien Lewis. This project comes from NBC Universal Television Studio and Mad Chance Productions. The Bionic Woman remake also stars a Brit, former EastEnders actress Michelle Ryan. NBC Universal Television Studio, David Eick Productions and GEP Productions are behind this series. Bruno Heller, Laeta Kalogridis and David Eick share exec-producing duties. NBC has also greenlit 20th Century Fox Television's drama Journeyman, starring - you guessed it - another British actor. Kevin McKidd plays a former gambling addict who can travel back in time to rectify the mistakes in his life. Kevin Falls and Alex Graves are exec-producing. The fourth pilot that NBC has nodded through ahead of its Upfront next week is Chuck from Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak. This drama follows an average Joe whose life is thrown into disarray when he ends up downloading the entire US intelligence database into his head. It is produced by Warner Bros Television and Wonderland Sound & Vision. While no comedy pilots have yet been given the thumbs up by NBC, there's buzz around The IT Crowd, a remake of the UK series from NBC Universal Television Studio and FremantleMedia Productions, and Lipshitz Saves the World, from Dan Fogelman. Meanwhile, Friday Night Lights has scored a late touchdown, as the critically acclaimed but low-rating show (which has averaged a 2.3 rating/6 share and 6.1 million viewers) joins sitcom 30 Rock on the lucky break list. Ed Waller 11 May 2007 © C21 Media 2007 
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