The landscape of television comedy is set to expand with CBS’s latest venture, a unique comedy series titled ‘Hilda! (In Lights!)’. This upcoming show tells the story of Hilda a spirited 70-year-old woman from Nebraska who embarks on a journey to New York City to chase her lifelong dream of becoming a Broadway star.
The series, developed by writer and executive producer Abbey Caldwell offers a fresh twist on the classic fish-out-of-water narrative. Unlike typical protagonists, Hilda’s advanced age and lack of experience add a layer of humor and heart to her pursuit of stardom.
The Creative Minds Behind ‘Hilda! (In Lights!)’
The project is a collaboration between several notable figures in the industry. Alongside Caldwell, the non-writing executive producers include Will GrahamMax Linsky and Tonia Davis from Invitation Media. The series is produced by CBS Studios known for its diverse range of television content.
The logline for the series reads: “One of those classic shows about a plucky small-town optimist who moves to the big city to pursue her lifelong 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.”
CBS’s 2026-2027 Lineup: A Mix of New and Familiar
The announcement of ‘Hilda! (In Lights!)’ comes as part of CBS’s broader strategy to introduce new, original projects to its lineup. The network has been actively investing in a variety of genres and themes to cater to a diverse audience.
Among the other new series set to premiere in the 2026-2027 season is ‘NCIS: New York’, a spinoff of the popular ‘NCIS’ franchise. The show will feature LL Cool J reprising his role as Sam Hanna and is scheduled to debut on Oct. 6.
Additionally, ‘Einstein’, a dramedy starring Matthew Gray Gubler as the great-grandson of the famous physicist, is set to premiere in the second half of the season. This series promises a blend of humor and drama, much like ‘Hilda! (In Lights!)’.
Other Notable Projects
CBS has also ordered a pilot for ‘Eternally Yours’, a vampire comedy from the creators of ‘Ghosts’, Joe Port and Joe Wiseman. This series is set to premiere on Oct. 8 alongside ‘Cupertino’, a legal drama set in Silicon Valley from Robert King and Michelle King.
However, not all projects have made it to the production stage. The comedy pilot ‘The Tillbrooks’, originally known as ‘Regency’, was ordered to pilot but will not be moving forward. This historical spin on the classic multi-camera family sitcom was developed by Tara Hernandez.
With a mix of new and returning series, CBS aims to provide a varied and engaging lineup for the 2026-2027 season. ‘Hilda! (In Lights!)’ stands out as a unique addition, offering a fresh perspective on the classic comedy genre.
