Hmmm. Rogue outsider who has controversial methods but gets results…trying to think if any other shows have done something like that. Nope. New ground is being broken here, folks.

The show will be produced by Kelsey Grammer because, hey, Frasier, and the rogue academic will be modeled on a Freakonomics-type academic, which apparently will be such a source of influence that they felt compelled to mention it in a press release and probably paid those Freakonomics authors some likeness rights.

I really think this is going to be the year NBC bounces back, guys.

A rousing success at its world premiere at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, this deeply felt human drama is the feature debut of writer/director Dee Rees. Adepero Oduye portrays Alike (pronounced “ah-lee-kay”), a 17-year-old African-American woman who lives with her parents (Kim Wayans and Charles Parnell) and younger sister (Sahra Mellesse) in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene neighborhood. A gifted student, Alike is quietly but firmly embracing her identity as a lesbian. With the support of her best friend Laura (Pernell Walker), she is especially eager to find a girlfriend. Wondering how much she can confide in her family, Alike strives to get through adolescence with grace, humor, and tenacity.

No release date yet but you can assume it will open around October or November so that it’s fresh in people’s minds when it comes time for Oscar nominations. Though, I didn’t see Colin Firth or Cate Blanchett anywhere in the trailer. So, yeah, good luck getting that Oscar.