Damon Wayans Jr. , the actor known for his comedy work in shows like New Girl and Happy Endings, is moving into dramatic territory. He will star in the NBC drama pilot Puzzled, which comes from writer Joey Falco and is based on the Puzzle Master books by Danielle Trussoni. The project gives the actor a chance to play a character with a rare medical condition that helps him solve crimes.
The pilot order came in January 2026 as part of NBC’s push to develop new shows for the 2026-2027 television season . Universal Television is the studio behind the project .
What Is ‘Puzzled’ About? The Story and Character Details
Puzzled centers on Mike Brink, a former college athlete whose life changes after a tragic fire. He barely escapes the fire but suffers a traumatic brain injury that leads to a rare condition called Acquired Savant Syndrome . This condition gives him special abilities that most people do not have.
The official logline for the pilot says, “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” .
Mike Brink now makes his living by betting on sports. His brain injury gave him exceptional skills in three main areas:
- Puzzle-solving abilities
- Higher math functions
- Pattern recognition
These skills make him valuable to local police who need help solving difficult cases . The character description explains that he is “uniquely equipped” for sports betting because of his acquired savant syndrome, which lets him see patterns and numbers in ways other people cannot .
The Creative Team Behind the Pilot
Joey Falco wrote the pilot and will serve as executive producer . Falco has worked on shows like the Charmed reboot and Sleepy Hollow . He also created and executive produced the ABC legal drama pilot Judgement starring Sarah Shahi .
Jordan Cerf of Linden Entertainment is also an executive producer on the project . The author of the Puzzle Master books, Danielle Trussoni , serves as a producer . Her books provide the source material for the series.
The project comes from Universal Television , which is a division of Universal Studio Group .
Damon Wayans Jr.’s Career Move from Comedy to Drama
Damon Wayans Jr. comes from a famous comedy family. His father is Damon Wayans Sr. , and his uncles include Keenen Ivory Wayans , Shawn Wayans , and Marlon Wayans. He has built his own career mostly in comedy television and films.
Viewers know him best for his role as Brad Williams on the ABC sitcom Happy Endings , which ran for three seasons and became a cult favorite . He also played Coach on the Fox comedy New Girl , appearing in multiple seasons .
More recently, Wayans starred with his father in the CBS comedy Poppa’s House. The show lasted one season before getting canceled . He also hosts and executive produces the CBS game show Raid the Cage . On the streaming side, he has a recurring role on the Apple TV+ series Shrinking with Harrison Ford and Jason Segel .
His recent movie work includes several Netflix films. He starred in Players with Tom Ellis and Gina Rodriguez , and Kinda Pregnant with Amy Schumer . He also appeared in the Netflix Western The Harder They Fall with Idris Elba and Jonathan Majors .
Puzzled marks a major shift for the actor. He will play a serious character dealing with the aftermath of a traumatic injury. The role requires him to show the emotional weight of his condition while also displaying his character’s special mental abilities.
NBC’s 2026-2027 Pilot Season Plans
NBC has ordered multiple pilots for the 2026-2027 season. The network ordered five drama pilots and three comedy pilots as of February 2026 . This marks a return to traditional pilot season after previous years with fewer orders.
Puzzled is one of several crime drama pilots in consideration. The other drama pilots include:
| Pilot Name | Lead Cast | Source Material |
|---|---|---|
| The Rockford Files reboot | David Boreanaz | Reboot of classic series |
| What the Dead Know | Casting not announced | Memoir by Barbara Butcher |
| Protection | Casting not announced | Original script |
| Untitled Georgaris/Fox project | Casting not announced | Inspired by FBI research |
| Puzzled | Damon Wayans Jr. | Puzzle Master books |
The network also has comedy pilots in development. Téa Leoni will star in Newlyweds from creator Gail Lerner. Katey Sagal and Jamie Lee Curtis will lead an untitled buddy comedy from creator Kari Lizer. A private investigator workplace comedy from Brooklyn Nine-Nine co-creator Dan Goor is also in the works .
The Source Material: ‘Puzzle Master’ Books
Puzzled is based on the Puzzle Master books by Danielle Trussoni. The first book in the series introduces a character with similar abilities to Mike Brink. The novels mix thriller elements with puzzle-solving and mystery.
Trussoni is an established author who has written several books. Her work often blends literary fiction with genre elements. Having her serve as a producer on the pilot means the adaptation will likely stay true to her original vision .
Deadline reported that both Puzzled and What the Dead Know are based on books, showing NBC’s interest in adapting existing material with built-in audiences . The network ordered both pilots on the same day in January .
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Production Details and What Comes Next
The pilot does not have a production start date yet. The project is in early development, with casting just beginning. Damon Wayans Jr. is the first actor announced for the show .
Universal Television will produce the pilot. If NBC likes the finished product, they could order it to series for the 2026-2027 television season. That would mean the show could premiere sometime in late 2026 or early 2027 .
The show fits with NBC’s focus on crime procedurals. Variety noted that all five drama pilots ordered by the network fall into the crime genre, with most being procedurals . This suggests NBC wants to build a lineup of shows that follow case-of-the-week formats.
For audiences outside the United States, broadcast network schedules work differently than streaming. If Puzzled goes to series, it would likely air weekly on NBC. International viewers would be able to watch through local broadcasters or streaming platforms that carry NBC content. The show would eventually become available on streaming services like Peacock in the US and other platforms globally after its network run.
Damon Wayans Jr. takes on this dramatic role with the support of his production company Two Shakes Entertainment. The company has a first-look deal at CBS Studios , but this project is with Universal Television , showing he can work across different studios . His representation includes UTA and Ziffren Brittenham.
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