'Prism' comes from Carol Mendelsohn and writer Daniel Barnz; 'Bluff City Law' is from Dean Georgaris.


NBC is adding to its pilot roster with a pair of legal dramas from industry veterans.


The network has given pilot orders to Prism, a Rashomon-inspired courtroom drama from former CSI showrunner (and the co-creator of the franchise's spinoffs) Carol Mendelsohn, and Bluff City Law from The Brave creator Dean Georgaris.


Written by Daniel Barnz (Cake), Prism follows a murder trial in which every episode will be told from the perspective of a different person involved in the case. Each new version of the facts ratchets up the mystery and the suspense, calling into question everything we have seen so far and asking, Is the right person on trial? The show will let the audience ask whether the truth is more important than who can tell the most compelling story.


Mendelsohn executive produces through her eponymous production company along with Daniel Barnz and husband Ben Barnz, via their We're Not Brothers, and Julie Weitz. Universal Television is producing.


Bluff City Law (a working title) centers on a father and daughter who work together at an elite Memphis law firm specializing in controversial, landmark civil-rights cases. They take on the toughest David-and-Goliath cases while navigating their complicated relationship.


Georgaris (The Meg, The Manchurian Candidate) is executive producing the Universal TV project with David Janollari, who recently re-upped with the studio, and Michael Aguilar. Georgaris also has The Baker and the Beauty in development at ABC.