Back in its heyday, USA Network was truly king when it came to its original scripted programming. The series that aired in its “Blue Sky Era” — from the turn of the millennium to the mid-teens — were quirkier and not quite as edgy as pay cable dramas. This period brought stress-free TV-watching experiences and had USA Network rated number one among cable channels for over a dozen years.
Return to Form
Now, it looks like USA Network is making a move back to those glory days. The network recently announced a series order for The Rainmaker, a new drama series based on John Grisham’s novel of the same name. This story had been previously adapted into a 1997 film and was scheduled for a Hulu series as part of a “Grisham Universe” back in 2018, which never materialized.
The Rainmaker Details
The series will be produced by Lionsgate Television and Blumhouse Television. Michael Seitzman, known for his work on Code Black, will co-write and executive produce alongside Jason Richman, John Grisham, David Gernert, and Jason Blum. According to the official logline: Fresh out of law school, Rudy Baylor goes head-to-head with courtroom lion Leo Drummond as well as his law school girlfriend. Rudy, along with his boss and her disheveled paralegal, uncover two connected conspiracies surrounding the mysterious death of their client’s son.
Rekindling the Magic
In 2023, following the WGA strike, NBC Universal began exploring a revival of the “Blue Sky Era” programming style. This change aimed to bring back lighter procedurals contrasting with darker dramas like Mr. Robot (2015-2019) and The Sinner (2017-2021). The former era featured successful shows like Pacific Blue (1996), Monk (2002-2009), Psych (2006-2014), Burn Notice (2007-2013), Suits(2011-2019), among others.
Nostalgia and New Beginnings
The beloved detective show Monk, starring Tony Shalhoub, is among those set for a revival. Shalhoub reprises his Emmy-winning role as brilliant but obsessive-compulsive detective Adrian Monk to solve one last personal case involving his beloved stepdaughter Molly’s wedding preparation.
Suits Spinoff to Spark Interest
A spinoff related to ‘Suits,’ spearheaded by original creator Aaron Korsh and Michael Seitzman, will add a new narrative within the same universe. Gabriel Macht played charismatic lawyer Harvey Specter in this highly successful series that ran from 2011 to 2019 – possibly reigniting similar excitement with these moves.
A Tightrope Walk
This initiative could signify USA Network’s attempt to balance acknowledging beloved older content while producing fresh offerings. Given Tony Shalhoub’s return as Monk and discussions surrounding older hit show revivals like ‘Suits,’ only time will tell if this will indeed usher in a modern iteration of its Blue Sky Era or take us somewhere entirely different.
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