Upfronts is always a bittersweet time of year for me, since the broadcast networks always order only some of my favorite pilots to series, never all. (When will the world accept my taste as universal truth, anyway?) So here are my reflections on the shows that made the cut justly and unjustly, and the shows that were cut justly. And I won’t dwell on the bad pilots that were passed over—why kick ’em when they’re down? Best of the winners Revolution I’m all about dystopian visions of the future, particularly when they spring from the mind of serial-drama-ninja J.J. Abrams. So this saga about an energyless civilization looks simply electric, and it’s the series I’m most excited to see. Vegas Shows that tried to capitalize on Mad Men’s appeal this season—like Pan Am and The Playboy Club—didn’t fare so well; but I think...