NBC is on a roll with pilot orders, as they have recently announced two new drama projects titled “Puzzled” and “What the Dead Know.” This comes after a week of announcements that included a total of six pilot orders for the upcoming 2026 season.
“Puzzled,” written by Joey Falco who has worked on shows like “Charmed” and “Sleepy Hollow,” is based on the “Puzzle Master” book series by Danielle Trussoni. The show follows the story of Mike Brink, a former college athlete who gains a unique ability to see the world differently after surviving a tragic fire and suffering a traumatic brain injury. He teams up with local police to solve crimes, bringing a fresh perspective to the investigations. The executive producers for this project are Jordan Cerf and Joey Falco, with Danielle Trussoni serving as a producer. The show is being produced by Universal Television.
The other pilot order, “What the Dead Know,” has legendary “Law & Order” creator Dick Wolf on board as an executive producer. The show, based on the memoir by former NYC medical examiner Barbara Butcher, follows Death Investigator Ava Ledger as she navigates the world of dead bodies with ease, but struggles with the complexities of the living. Teaming up with the NYPD, Ava solves some of the toughest cases, bringing justice to the victims. The show is being produced by Wolf Entertainment, with executive producers including Tom Thayer, Peter Jankowski, and Anastasia Puglisi.
In addition to these two projects, NBC also announced pilot orders for a detective comedy from “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” co-creator Dan Goor and executive producer Luke Del Tredici, a drama inspired by FBI research from Dean Georgaris and John Fox, a drama pilot called “Protection” from Josh Safran, Jenna Bush Hager, and Ben Spector, and a contemporary update on “The Rockford Files” from Mike Daniels.
With a diverse range of projects in the pipeline, NBC is gearing up for an exciting season of new shows that promise to captivate audiences with thrilling storylines and compelling characters. Stay tuned for more updates on these upcoming pilots as they develop and make their way to your screens.
