NBC Orders Two More Drama Pilots: ‘What the Dead Know’ From Dick Wolf and a ‘Puzzle Master’ Adaptation

It’s raining pilot orders at NBC.

The network will take a chance on two new drama projects, titled “Puzzled” and “What the Dead Know.” This caps off a week in which NBC announced six pilot orders for the 2026 season.

From “Charmed” and “Sleepy Hollow” writer Joey Falco, “Puzzled” is based on the “Puzzle Master” books by Danielle Trussoni. “After barely escaping a tragic fire, once promising college athlete Mike Brink is transformed by a traumatic brain injury that gives him the unique ability to see the world in an unexpected way and helps him solve crimes with local police,” according to the logline. Jordan Cerf executive produces alongside Falco, and Trussoni is a producer. The studio is Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.

Legendary “Law & Order” creator Dick Wolf serves as an executive producer on the other pilot, “What the Dead Know,” from Beth Rinehart (“FBI: Most Wanted,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”). The series is based on the memoir by former New York City medical examiner Barbara Butcher. Per the logline: “Death Investigator Ava Ledger is really good with dead bodies. It’s the living that give her trouble.” The show follows Ava as she teams up with the NYPD to solve their toughest cases. The executive producers include Tom Thayer, Peter Jankowski and Anastasia Puglisi; Co-EPs are Kevin Plunkett, Rebecca McGill and Butcher. Wolf Entertainment produces, and Universal Television is the studio.

Earlier on Friday, NBC announced a pilot order for a detective comedy from “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” co-creator Dan Goor and executive producer Luke Del Tredici. On Thursday, the network announced a drama pilot from Dean Georgaris and John Fox, inspired by the real-life FBI research of Dr. Ann Burgess. And earlier this week, the network announced a drama pilot order from Josh Safran, Jenna Bush Hager and Ben Spector called “Protection,” about a family of law enforcement agents becoming the target of a mysterious assassin. Plus, NBC gave a pilot order to a “contemporary update” on “The Rockford Files” from Mike Daniels (“Sons of Anarchy”).