So Help Me Todd’s Cancellation Still Stings, But Its Creator Has Another New TV Show In The Works

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As a long-time fan of gripping legal dramas and heartwarming family dynamics, I can’t help but feel a twinge of excitement upon hearing about Scott Prendergrast’s new project, “Pennies.” Having grown up watching Marcia Gay Harden grace our screens in her role as Todd’s mother, it’s bittersweet to see her creator moving on to another promising venture.

Many viewers found themselves grieving over the cancellation of several TV shows during the 2024 TV lineup, with the termination of “So Help Me Todd” and its unique legal dramedy being one of the most contentious decisions. To this day, fans are still yearning for the acting duo of Marcia Gay Harden and Skylar Astin in their mother-son roles. Although it’s unlikely that the network will change its mind about ending the show, we can take solace in creator Scott Prendergrast securing a new television opportunity.

This time, Prendergrast’s latest broadcast contender isn’t using a humorous title; instead, it’s called Pennies. It’s another heartwarming, hour-long procedural with a storyline centered around two siblings, not a mother and son. This time, the bond will be between two sisters.

The story, titled “Pennies,” follows a forensic pathologist named Penny residing in San Francisco, who prefers engaging with the deceased individuals that cross her office over socializing with living people. However, Penny’s fascination doesn’t stop at simply examining the corpses; she’s eager to unravel the mysteries surrounding them and share her discoveries.

It’s worth noting that Penny won’t be undertaking her task by herself. Instead, she will receive assistance from a close relative – her polar opposite sister who happens to share the same name, Penny as well. This sister is vibrant and brimming with self-assuredness in her role as an attorney within the D.A.’s office. It’s intriguing to think about how this character will be introduced in the pilot episode if it ever comes to fruition.

Marcia Gay Harden Shares Insider Info I Didn’t Realize Impacted So Help Me Todd’s Cancellation

It seems quite logical that Prendergrast won’t be returning to CBS this time, instead opting for Fox. Fox emerged victorious in a fierce bidding war, securing the show Pennies. Although Fox hasn’t officially ordered a full series, they have given the project a script commitment with a penalty attached. This essentially means that the creator will receive payment regardless of whether or not the network decides to proceed with it, with Fox having to pay out if they decide against moving forward.

It’s uncertain at the moment exactly when “Pennies” will be scheduled to debut, but it seems probable that this series will be included among the 2025 TV premieres since it doesn’t appear to require extensive post-production or special effects. (However, if we discover later that both Penny sisters are actually sentient coins, that would be quite a copper-nion, but I digress.)

It’s not surprising that Fox seized the opportunity to collaborate with Prendergrast, given his impressive acting background from Silicon Valley. Considering that So Help Me Todd was not canceled because of low viewership, and instead got axed alongside NCIS: Hawai’i due to scheduling conflicts after the strikes, if Pennies resonates with audiences similarly, it could potentially become a massive success.

Currently, the most exciting upcoming series from Fox is the much-awaited, yet contentious, revival of the classic show, Baywatch. The network is also working on series adaptations of movies such as End of Watch, Hell or High Water, and Starsky & Hutch, in addition to animated projects for Bloom County and Taskmasters.

If you’re among those yearning for the laid-back narrative of “So Help Me Todd”, both seasons are available for streaming in their entirety by subscribing to Paramount+.

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2024-11-22 18:07