or


[02/01/11 - 11:58 PM]
NBC's "Wonder Woman" Pilot: 10 Questions Answered
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

Please note: As a courtesy, please do not reproduce these comments to newsgroups, forums or other online places. Links only please.

LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- Pilot season is officially underway and once again it's the franchise updates, spin-offs and genre projects which have drawn the most attention. Case in point: David E. Kelley's "Wonder Woman" pilot for NBC. We've managed to read Kelley's 72-page script and thought we'd offer up a quick FAQ, including some new exclusive details.

As always, there's a lot that could change from this draft of the script and what ultimately airs should it make it to series. DO NOT READ AHEAD if you don't want to know. Also, this isn't meant as a plot synopsis, just a rundown of various elements at work here.

[UPDATE #1: Warner Bros. Television, feeling said notes were too spoilery, has requested this piece be removed. We have done so in good faith.]

[UPDATE #2: Warner Bros. Television, due to the abundance of similar reports before and after this was run, has subsequently agreed to let the post remain.]

1. What's the main thrust of the show? Meet Diana Themyscira. By night, Diana fights crime as Wonder Woman, a Los Angeles-based superhero. By day, Diana runs Themyscira Industries, which among other things, sells Wonder Woman-related merchandise to fund her crime-fighting efforts. And since the public knows Diana Themyscira is Wonder Woman, she's recently invented a secret identity, Diana Prince (complete with a Clark Kent-esque disguise involving contact lenses, glasses, pulling her hair back and a housecat named Desi), to allow her a more normal perspective on the world.

2. What does the costume look like? The script only details it as "a colorful spandex suit." It won't be the original, iconic costume though (don't worry, she still keeps it hung in her closet). Despite that look being the company's top seller, Diana insists her current outfit is a tad more appropriate.

3. What about her gadgets? The golden lasso of truth is there, as are her bullet reflecting bracelets. In lieu of an invisible plane (or being able to fly), Diana uses various sedan-sized aircrafts, made by BMW no less ("The Ultimate Air Machine").

4. Who's along for the ride? Henry Demeter, the CEO of Themyscira Industries who harbors a crush on her; Myndi Mayer, Diana's press secretary/best friend; Etta Candy, her cheerful secretary; and Captain Ed Indelicato, Diana's contact at the LAPD; are among the prominent roles, as are "The Animals" (Ryan Miller, Austy Lyne, Jennie Weeks), a trio of techs Diana uses for her evidence analysis. And of course there's Steve Trevor, the government agent who crash landed on Themyscira, home of the mythical Amazons; fell in love with one of them, Diana; and brought her back with him to New York. They've since broken up as Diana now operates out of L.A. and Steve is a lawyer for the Justice Department. That's not to say she's over him (or vice-versa).

5. Who's the main villain? Veronica Cale, head of Cale-Anderson Pharmaceuticals, who despite beauty and success that would rival Diana herself, can't stand our heroine and aims to take her down. Her plan: well, let's just say it involves pharmaceuticals.

6. Any other mythology teases? Themyscira is much like the island from "Lost": it's almost impossible to find. And leaving it comes with a price for Amazons: Diana's no longer immortal.

7. Any references to other DC Comics characters? Diana keeps a picture of her mother and sister on her nightstand.

8. Seriously, it features Katy Perry? Yes, Kelley throws in a running gag involving Perry stealing Diana's look in the video for her new single "Super-duper Me." Also, Diana has her own entrance theme for press conferences: "Wonder of You," as performed by Jeffrey McDonald.

9. Are there flashbacks? Yes, how Diana and Steve came to meet and fall in love is frequently glimpsed throughout the pilot. Myndi amusingly notes Diana literally fell for the first man she ever met.

10. What's the good/the bad/the ugly? The good: Wonder Woman gets to kick a lot of ass. The bad: Diana seems to sing along every time music is played. The ugly: Diana uses the phrase "we got bidness" at one point; and flip flops between being well-versed in our culture (Halliburton, Brett Favre) and having references go over her head (the aforementioned Katy Perry).





  [february 2011]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· WONDER WOMAN (NBC)





[08/26/26 - 10:45 AM]
"Survivor" Reveals the 21 New Castaways Competing on the 51st Edition - The First in the Series' New "Open Era" - With a Two-Hour Season Premiere on Wednesday, Sept. 23
The groundbreaking reality series, which shifts to 90-minute weekly episodes beginning Wednesday, September 30 at 8:00 PM, returns with an all-new expanded class of dynamic and determined competitors.

[08/26/26 - 10:18 AM]
BET Brings Chris "CP" Powell's Acclaimed Comedy Special "Sunday After Six" to Screens September 1
Host of the revived "ComicView: Rooftop Series," Chris "CP" Powell brings his 90-minute stand-up special to the screen, centered on relatable life experiences and everyday scenarios as a Black man.

[08/26/26 - 10:05 AM]
TNT Sports Unveils Blockbuster 72-Game NHL on TNT Schedule for 2026-27 NHL Regular Season, Starting Wednesday, Sept. 30
The season will culminate with TNT Sports' presentation of the 2027 Stanley Cup Playoffs, including the 2027 Stanley Cup Final exclusively on TNT Sports platforms.

[08/26/26 - 10:03 AM]
ESPN Announces 100 Exclusive National Hockey League Games for 2026-27 Season
Of the 100 exclusive games, 53 matchups will be available on ESPN and ABC, while the remaining 47 matchups can be streamed on ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu.

[08/26/26 - 10:01 AM]
What's New on HBO Max This September
Highlights include Sharon Horgan's comedy "Youth" on September 20 and "4 Blocks" prequel series "4 Blocks Zero" on September 25.

[08/26/26 - 09:48 AM]
"Dolly: An NBC News Special" to Air Tonight at 9 P.M. ET
Anchored by Lester Holt, "Dolly: An NBC News Special" will look back at Parton's remarkable journey to stardom, her groundbreaking career and her lasting impact far beyond music.

[08/26/26 - 09:14 AM]
The 41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, Hosted by Kirk Franklin, Airs Sunday, August 30, on BET
Taped in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the Spectrum Center under this year's theme, "Feels Like Home," the ceremony brings together gospel's most celebrated artists, trailblazers, and rising stars for a night of worship, inspiration, and world-class performances.

[08/26/26 - 09:05 AM]
ESPN Premieres "Shooting Stars" and "13.4 Seconds to Nowhere" Aug. 27
The films were developed through a collaboration between ESPN, ESPN Deportes and Tribeca Studios to bring to life compelling stories at the intersection of sports and the Latino community.

[08/26/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Date, Key Art & Trailer Debut - Hulu's "The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives" Season Five
Season five premieres with all five episodes on Thursday, September 10 on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally.

[08/26/26 - 09:01 AM]
"Jay-Z in 8," An HBO Original Documentary Series, Debuts September 18
In Rick Rubin's directorial documentary debut, the series unfolds over many hours of candid conversation between two creative superstars.

[08/26/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: BritBox Debuts Official Trailer and Key Art for "Agatha Christie's Tommy & Tuppence," Premiering September 15th
In the first contemporary English language television adaptation of Agatha Christie's stories, Tommy and Tuppence are a detective duo for the ages.

[08/26/26 - 08:46 AM]
Disney+ Greenlights New Romantic Comedy from Element Pictures and Sinestra
"Mad Love" (w/t) follows Maddy Caruso, a British wedding planner, for an eclectic list of clients in the stunning Italian countryside.

[08/26/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Wonka's The Golden Ticket" - Official Trailer - Netflix
In this one-of-a-kind reality competition, lucky players step inside Wonka's chocolate factory to face unpredictable games, tests and temptations.

[08/26/26 - 08:01 AM]
Unsuspecting Homeowners Get the Ultimate Renovation Surprise in New HGTV Series "House Shock" Premiering Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 9 pm ET/PT
Arielle Vandenberg will team up with expert contractor Steve Lewis to help pull off surprise overhauls of spaces the recipients have dreamed of updating, whether neglected, abandoned or just plain despised.

[08/26/26 - 08:00 AM]
Fever-Sky on "Sunday Night Basketball" on NBC and Peacock Is the Most-Watched WNBA Regular-Season Game Since Opening Weekend of League's Inaugural 1997 Season
The game peaked at 3.82 million viewers.