Pilot season is back, and NBC is betting big on something television hasn’t leaned into quite this confidently in years: familiar faces, trusted formats, and the comforting thrill of appointment TV.
Welcome back to TV Corner Notes, where this week feels like a fascinating blend of television’s past and future colliding. NBC is reviving the classic pilot-season model for the 2026–27 lineup, and the early casting announcements read like a reunion tour of some of TV’s most beloved stars. From procedural veterans stepping into iconic roles to comedy legends teaming up for new laughs, the network appears to be embracing nostalgia while trying to shape its next era of primetime.
Elsewhere, The Pitt hits its chaotic midpoint with one of its most emotionally grounded episodes yet, Silent Witness celebrates an astonishing milestone that few dramas ever reach, and the post-Olympics TV calendar suddenly explodes with premieres, finales, and long-awaited returns.
Let’s get into this week in television.
NBC Brings Back Pilot Season, And Loads Up on TV Veterans
NBC is excited to bring back the classic pilot season for its 2026–27 lineup, with eight new pilots. The early casting news feels like a wonderful reunion of some favorite TV stars. The network’s drama lineup has a strong focus on crime and procedural stories, and many familiar actors are stepping back into the spotlight, adding a touch of excitement and nostalgia.
With names like:
David Boreanaz (Bones, SEAL Team) will lead the reboot of The Rockford Files, stepping into the iconic role of Jim Rockford.
Emily Deschanel (Bones) headlines an untitled criminal profiler drama inspired by real-life FBI pioneer Dr. Ann Burgess, alongside An-Li Bogan as an investigator with a photographic memory.
Taylor Schilling (Orange Is the New Black) stars in What the Dead Know, a Dick Wolf procedural based on medical examiner Barbara Butcher’s memoir.
Peter Krause (9-1-1) leads Protection, playing an intelligence director whose law-enforcement family becomes the target of an assassin.
Damon Wayans Jr. (New Girl) headlines Puzzled, about a man with acquired savant syndrome who assists police using extraordinary puzzle-solving abilities.
On the comedy side, NBC is pairing major sitcom talent: Katey Sagal and Jane Lynch will star as best friends and therapists in an untitled buddy comedy from creator Kari Lizer. And Tèa Leoni leads the multi-camera comedy Newlyweds, produced by Jamie Lee Curtis.
Let's keep in mind, this is just a pilot order, not a full series. With such a talented lineup of stars, it's hard to imagine these shows not getting picked up! NBC has a busy schedule with live sports filling much of their Sunday, Tuesday, and Saturday evenings. (Though, it's worth noting, not many networks air original shows on Saturday—CBS is one of the few, with 48 Hours.)
With familiar stars, comforting procedural shows, and beloved pilot-season favorites making a comeback, NBC seems to be confidently betting on trusted formulas and well-known faces to guide its exciting new era of primetime programming.
The Pitt Turns Up the Chaos — “1:00 P.M.”
The Pitt reaches its true midpoint with Episode 7, “1:00 P.M.,” as the Fourth of July shift unexpectedly descends into chaos. A ransomware cyberattack forces PTMC to switch to all analog systems—no digital charts, no patient boards—immediately turning the busy ER into a scene of controlled panic. This simple yet clever twist adds to the tension throughout the hour.
The emotional highlight goes to Dana Evans, whose storyline with the SANE exam is handled with tenderness and subtlety, offering one of the series’ most sincere and powerful moments so far. Meanwhile, Robby and Langdon work through their trust issues, and a quiet reveal about Santos hints at even more challenging times ahead.
Check out my full recap and review.
Silent Witness at 30
Thirty years in, Silent Witness remains proof that longevity in television isn’t about staying the same — it’s about adapting while holding onto what matters most: compelling characters, thoughtful storytelling, and the belief that every story deserves to be heard… even after death.
What makes its achievement even more remarkable is just how rare this kind of staying power is. With more than three decades on air, Silent Witness has now run even longer than Law & Order, making it one of the longest-running crime dramas in television history. While many procedural series rely on formula, Silent Witness has evolved alongside advances in forensic science and shifts in storytelling, allowing each era of the show to feel distinct while still honoring its roots.
Are you a fan of Silent Witness? Leave a comment.
You can catch Series 29 currently on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Every episode (over 250) is available on BBC iPlayer in the UK, as well as on BritBox and Tubi in the United States, offering a fascinating time capsule of how both forensics and television storytelling have evolved since 1996.
What to Watch This Week
Now that the Winter Olympics have wrapped up, there's so much excitement to look forward to, with our favorite shows returning, new premieres, and thrilling season finales happening in this last week of February.
Monday, February 23
The CEO Club (Prime Video, eight-episode binge): The reality show follows Serena Williams, Thalia, Dee Hilfiger, Loren Ridinger, Winne Harlow, Hannah Bronfman, and Isbela Grutman, and highlights their individual journeys, collective camaraderie, and the power of women supporting women.
The Family Next Door (Acorn TV): An enigmatic woman (played by Teresa Palmer) moves into a small seaside cul-de-sac where her obsessive drive to solve a mystery casts suspicion on four neighboring families.
Hidden Assets Season 3 finale (Acorn TV)
My Life is Murder Season 5 finale (Acorn TV)
Paradise Season 2 (Hulu, three-episode premiere)
8/7c The Neighborhood returns (CBS)
8:30/7:30c DMV returns (CBS)
8:30/7:30c The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins Episode 2/timeslot premiere (NBC)
9/8c FBI returns (CBS)
9/8c The Voice Season 29 (NBC)
10/9c CIA Series Premiere (CBS): An FBI universe expansion, the crime drama follows a rule-breaking CIA case officer (Tom Ellis) and a by-the-book FBI agent (Nick Gehlfuss) who are forced to work together out of the CIA's New York station to investigate threats on U.S. soil.
Tuesday, February 24
8/7c Fixer to Fabulous Season 7 finale (HGTV)
8/7c Good Sports Season 1 finale (Prime Video)
9/8c Black and Jewish America: An Interwoven History docuseries finale (PBS)
9/8c State of the Union Address (NBC, CBS, ABC, and FOX)
Wednesday, February 25
Beast Games Season 2 finale (Prime Video)
8/7c Scrubs revival (ABC, two-episode premiere)
8/7c Survivor Season 50 (CBS)
The Bluff (Prime Video movie): When her tranquil life on a remote island is shattered by the return of her vengeful former captain (Karl Urban), a skilled ex-pirate (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) must confront her bloody past and unleash her deadly talents to save her family from a ruthless siege.
Thursday, February 26
Bridgerton Season 4, Part 2 (Netflix, four-episode binge)
The Gray House (Prime Video, eight-episode binge): The limited series reveals the true story of four women who helped turn the tide of the American Civil War in favor of the Union, transforming an Underground Railroad operation into a daring espionage network at the heart of Confederate power; Mary-Louise Parker and Ben Vereen star.
8/7c 9-1-1 returns (ABC)
8/7c Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage returns (CBS)
8/7c Law & Order returns (NBC)
8:30/7:30c Ghosts returns (CBS)
9/8c 9-1-1: Nashville returns (ABC)
9/8c House of Villains Season 3 (Peacock, three-episode premiere)
9.8c Law & Order: SVU returns (NBC)
9/8c Matlock returns (CBS)
9/8c Mysteries Unearthed with Danny Trejo returns (History)
9/8c The Traitors Season 4 finale (Peacock, two episodes)
9/8c The Valley: Persian Style Season 1 finale (Bravo)
10/9c Elisbeth returns (CBS)
10/9c The Hunting Party returns (NBC)
10/9c Grey's Anatomy returns (ABC)
Friday, February 27
Formula 1: Drive to Survive Season 8 (Netflix, 10-episode binge)
Manarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2 (Apple TV)
Tehran Season 3 finale (Apple TV)
8/7c Celebrity Jeopardy! Season 4 (ABC)
8/7c Happy's Place returns (NBC)
8/7c Sheriff Country returns (CBS)
9/8c Fire Country returns (CBS)
10/9c Boston Blue returns (CBS)
Kiss of the Spider Woman (Hulu)
In the Blink of an Eye (Hulu)
Paul McCartney: Man on the Run (Prime Video documentary): The film offers an intimate portrait of McCarthy's journey after The Beatles, as he and his wife Linda form Wings.
Saturday, February 28
Danger Decoded (Hulu, 10-episode binge): The docuseries journeys into some of the most deadly, notorious, and extreme corners of the world, revealing how danger manifests in both spectacular and insidious ways.
7/6c WWE Elimination Chamber (ESPN app)
8/7c 57th NAACP Image Awards (BET & CBS, hosted by Deon Cole)
8/7c Planet Earth: Kingdom docuseries finale (BBC America)
That’s all for this week’s TV Corner Notes, a reminder that television is constantly evolving, even as it circles back to the stories, stars, and formats that first made us fall in love with it.
What are you most excited to watch this week? Are you intrigued by NBC’s pilot-season revival, or are you diving into one of the many premieres and finales closing out February? Let me know — the conversation is always part of the fun.
Until next time, happy watching!
Adam
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