NBC's New Crime Dramas: Will ‘Puzzled’ and ‘What The Dead Know’ Leave You Speechless? Find Out Why!

Staff

1 day ago · Updated 1 day ago

NBC is reviving its pilot season tradition, ramping up its slate with numerous new projects aimed at American audiences. Over just four days, the network has ordered six new pilots, making headlines with its return to Friday night greenlights—an approach that many in the industry thought had faded into the past.

Among the latest additions are two dramas: Puzzled, created by former Charmed showrunner Joey Falco, and What the Dead Know, produced by Dick Wolf’s Wolf Entertainment in collaboration with writer Beth Rinehart, known for her work on FBI: Most Wanted.

Both shows are crime dramas based on books. Puzzled draws inspiration from Danielle Trussoni’s novel, The Puzzle Master, while What the Dead Know is based on the memoir of former New York City medical examiner Barbara Butcher. Both are being produced by Universal Television, part of the Universal Studio Group.

Puzzled tells the story of Mike Brink, a once-promising college athlete who, after surviving a tragic fire, suffers a traumatic brain injury that alters his perception of reality. This unique perspective allows him to assist local police in solving crimes, making for a compelling narrative that blends personal struggle with procedural drama. Falco is not only writing the pilot but also serving as an executive producer alongside Jordan Cerf, with Trussoni also contributing as a producer.

What the Dead Know focuses on Ava Ledger, a death investigator adept at handling corpses but struggling to connect with the living. The series follows her as she collaborates with the NYPD on their most challenging cases. Rinehart serves as the writer and executive producer, joined by Wolf and other notable figures from Wolf Entertainment, including Tom Thayer, Peter Jankowski, and Anastasia Puglisi. Additional co-executive producers include Kevin Plunkett, Rebecca McGill, and Butcher.

This pilot season, NBC had anticipated greenlighting around four dramas and four comedies. However, it has already surpassed expectations with five drama pilots: the upcoming reboot of The Rockford Files, Protection, the untitled Georgaris/Fox project, along with Puzzled and What the Dead Know. Notably, all of these projects fall within the crime genre, underscoring a clear focus for the network this season, although Puzzled is expected to have a lighter tone compared to its peers.

Goor/Del Tredici project, is set against a backdrop of crime as it revolves around a private detective. With NBC showcasing a strong commitment to drama, it remains uncertain whether the network will adhere to its comedy goal or reduce the number of comedy pickups.

Falco, who has previously created and executive produced the 2023 ABC legal drama pilot Judgement starring Sarah Shahi, brings experience from other notable series such as Sleepy Hollow and Heroes Reborn. Rinehart, besides her work on FBI: Most Wanted, has notable credits that include Law & Order: SVU and Chicago Justice, alongside contributions to NCIS: New Orleans.

This aggressive push by NBC signals a significant trend in the television landscape, where crime procedurals continue to captivate audiences. As viewers increasingly gravitate toward complex narratives centered around law enforcement and investigations, networks are poised to capitalize on this demand. With the evolving dynamics of pilot season, audiences can expect an influx of crime-centered storytelling that reflects contemporary societal themes.