In keeping with its long-term development strategy, CBS is the first broadcast network to order a pilot for 2027-28 consideration. The network has greenlighted the single-camera comedy Hilda! (In Lights!), from CBS Studios, which had been in advanced development.
Written by Abbey Caldwell (Laid), Hilda! (In Lights!) is described as one of those classic shows about a plucky small-town optimist who moves to the big city to pursue her life-long dream of starring on Broadway. There’s just one teeny, tiny, totally inconsequential difference… our hero Hilda is a 70-year-old woman from Nebraska with absolutely no experience.
Caldwell executive produces with Will Graham, Max Linsky and Tonia Davis for Invitation Media.
As announced during the network’s fall 2026 schedule reveal in April, Hilda! (In Lights!) was among the first three projects in development at CBS that were identified as 2027-28 contenders with a move to the next stage after a pilot script.
Two of them, Hilda! (In Lights!) and forensic drama I Know Who You Are, received an order for two addition scripts each, while CBS commissioned a development room for the third, cop drama Flint, starring and executive produced by Matt LeBlanc.
Additionally, CBS confirmed at the time that a medical spinoff in the world of Fire Country and Sheriff Country was in early development.
The Edgewater medical drama, I Know Who You Are and Flint — all from CBS Studios — remain active and in contention for the 2027-28 season, with a Sheriff Country planted spinoff episode for the first one considered likely.
With Hilda! (In Lights!), CBS is further pulling away from multi-camera comedy, a hallmark of the network for decades. In what is believe to be a first, CBS has more single-camera than multi-camera sitcoms on the schedule in the upcoming 2026-27 season with Ghosts and Eternally Yours vs. Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage.
If the pilot goes to series, it would give CBS a comedy and a drama with a female lead in her 70s as Hilda! (In Lights!) would be looking top join hit Matlock staring Kathy Bates.
