Per TVLine's Michael Ausiello, Liz Vassey, who is best known for her role as lab rat Wendy Simms on "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation", will be appearing in an upcoming spring episode of ABC's "Castle", playing a real estate broker getting caught between New York pizza wars which turn murderous.
And EW's Lynette Rice is reporting that Josh Holloway ("Lost") is currently in negotiations to appear in some capacity on the two-part finale of "Community" in May. He would play a mysterious character who pops up on campus during the latest game of paintball, which makes this finale sort of a sequel to "Modern Warfare", where the Dean announced a prize for the winner of a paintball game that later turned into a campus-wide battle.
2011/02/28
TVLand Renews HOT IN CLEVELAND For Season 3
TVLand has announced today that it has handed out an order for a third season for its successful sitcom "Hot In Cleveland".
The show starring Betty White will begin production on 22 new episodes this summer.
"The chemistry that this cast has with each other is undeniable so we are excited to bring 'Hot in Cleveland' back for another season," said Larry W. Jones, president of TV Land. "Our viewers will be thrilled with all that is in store for next season - amazing storylines, smart and hilarious writing and even more beloved guest stars!"
The show starring Betty White will begin production on 22 new episodes this summer.
"The chemistry that this cast has with each other is undeniable so we are excited to bring 'Hot in Cleveland' back for another season," said Larry W. Jones, president of TV Land. "Our viewers will be thrilled with all that is in store for next season - amazing storylines, smart and hilarious writing and even more beloved guest stars!"
Showtime Renews SHAMELESS, EPISODES For Second Seasons
Hello Folks
Showtime has just announced that it has officially picked up its freshman drama "Shameless", starring Emmy Rossum and William H. Macy, for a second season of 12 episodes.
In addition, the cable network has issued a second season renewal to freshman comedy "Episodes", starring Matt LeBlanc. However, the number of episodes for the sophomore run has yet to be determined.
“The viewer loyalty and critical acclaim that has met both "Shameless" and "Episodes" since their January debuts makes it clear that these two brash and sophisticated series are burgeoning hits,” said David Nevins, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc. “John Wells is carving out a tone that is truly unique in the television landscape—equal parts drama and comedy. And EPISODES marks the universally embraced and hilarious return to television of an inspired comedy triumvirate: Matt LeBlanc, and creators Jeffrey Klarik and David Crane. We are thrilled with the response to both series and eager to start planning for their second seasons.”
The new seasons of both shows are set to premiere in 2012.
Showtime has just announced that it has officially picked up its freshman drama "Shameless", starring Emmy Rossum and William H. Macy, for a second season of 12 episodes.
In addition, the cable network has issued a second season renewal to freshman comedy "Episodes", starring Matt LeBlanc. However, the number of episodes for the sophomore run has yet to be determined.
“The viewer loyalty and critical acclaim that has met both "Shameless" and "Episodes" since their January debuts makes it clear that these two brash and sophisticated series are burgeoning hits,” said David Nevins, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc. “John Wells is carving out a tone that is truly unique in the television landscape—equal parts drama and comedy. And EPISODES marks the universally embraced and hilarious return to television of an inspired comedy triumvirate: Matt LeBlanc, and creators Jeffrey Klarik and David Crane. We are thrilled with the response to both series and eager to start planning for their second seasons.”
The new seasons of both shows are set to premiere in 2012.
2011/02/25
Susan Sarandon Guest Starring On 30 ROCK
Vulture reports today that on March 17, "30 Rock" is going to welcome another big guest star.
Susan Sarandon will be appearing on the episode airing March 17 in what is her first TV guest gig since "ER" in 2009. Her role is kept a secret, but the episode is titled "Queen of Jordan".
Susan Sarandon will be appearing on the episode airing March 17 in what is her first TV guest gig since "ER" in 2009. Her role is kept a secret, but the episode is titled "Queen of Jordan".
Donal Logue Checks Into HOUSE
Hello Folks
TVLine's Michael Ausiello reports today that Donal Logue ("Terriers") has landed a "juicy" guest spot on "House".
He will play the patient of the week on this season's 20th episode, set to air in early May.
For a bit of a spoilery bonus scoop in the same article, hit the link above.
TVLine's Michael Ausiello reports today that Donal Logue ("Terriers") has landed a "juicy" guest spot on "House".
He will play the patient of the week on this season's 20th episode, set to air in early May.
For a bit of a spoilery bonus scoop in the same article, hit the link above.
CBS, WB TV Shut Down Production On TWO AND A HALF MEN For The Season
Hello Folks
CBS and Warner Bros. TV have officially announced that they have shut down production on its comedy series"Two And A Half Men" for the remainder of this season. And for giving a reason, they didn't hesitate from putting the blame on its star.
"Based on the totality of Charlie Sheen's statements, conduct and condition, CBS and Warner Bros. Television have decided to discontinue production of "Two and a Half Men" for the remainder of the season."
This means that the four episodes that were to begin production on Monday, which were still only half of what the full season would have required, have now officially been scrapped.
Now, what "totality of statements, conduct and condition", you might ask? Well, for the answer to that, I kindly refer you to two detailed articles on the subject. The first from TVLine, and another from E!Online.
Feel free to post your comments after...
CBS and Warner Bros. TV have officially announced that they have shut down production on its comedy series"Two And A Half Men" for the remainder of this season. And for giving a reason, they didn't hesitate from putting the blame on its star.
"Based on the totality of Charlie Sheen's statements, conduct and condition, CBS and Warner Bros. Television have decided to discontinue production of "Two and a Half Men" for the remainder of the season."
This means that the four episodes that were to begin production on Monday, which were still only half of what the full season would have required, have now officially been scrapped.
Now, what "totality of statements, conduct and condition", you might ask? Well, for the answer to that, I kindly refer you to two detailed articles on the subject. The first from TVLine, and another from E!Online.
Feel free to post your comments after...
2011/02/24
Christina Ricci, Jenna Elfman, Adam Goldberg, Many More Grab Pilot Roles
Hello Folks
After a day off, here’s my latest compilation of pilot castings.
- First off, Kiefer Sutherland has now officially signed on for FOX’ supernatural pilot “Touch”, playing a father whose autistic, mute son can predict events before they happen.
- Christina Ricci is in talks to star in ABC’s drama pilot “Pan Am”, which centers on flight attendants (called stewardesses back then) and the pilots of the once successful airline during the jet set age in the 1960s. Australian actress Margot Robbie has already been cast as one of the stewardesses, and Michael Mosley (“Scrubs”) will play one of the pilots. Thomas Schlamme will direct the pilot.
- Adam Goldberg (“The Unusuals”, “Joey”) has grabbed one of the leads in CBS’s drama pilot “Rookies”, about six NYPD rookie cops learning the ropes on the streets of Manhattan while managing their personal lives. Goldberg plays one of the six, with Leelee Sobieski already cast as another rookie.
- Henry Simmons (“Shark”) has come aboard ABC’s comedy pilot “Man Up” which revolves around Will (Mather Zickel), who is happily married and a father of two, and his brother-in-law Kenny and lovelorn Chris (Chris Moynihan). Simmons is set to play Kenny’s ex-wife’s (Amanda Detmer) new beau.
- Jenna Elfman (“Dharma & Greg”) is close to signing on to lead ABC’s single-camera comedy pilot “Bad Mom”. It’s about Julia (Elfman), a single mother who has had her kids raised primarily by her mom. When her mom decides to get a life, Julia has to look after her offspring alone.
- Kevin Hart will star alongside Rob Corddry in “Little in Common”, the FOX comedy pilot from Rob Thomas (“Veronica Mars”, “Party Down”). It centers on the Wellers (Corddry, Paula Marshall) who move from San Jose, CA to Austin, TX, but find trouble in adjusting, because their Latino neighbors, the Pachecos, have a radically different approach to child-upbroning, while their other new neighbors, the African American Burlesons, take sports very seriously. Hart plays Ty Burleson, a former Division 2 athlete and sports writer-turned-house husband who now looks to get a competition fix by coaching youth baseball.
- Ryan Hansen (“Veronica Mars”, “Party Down”) has been tapped for the male lead in NBC’s comedy pillot “Lovelives”. It’s described as an adult, sophisticated single-camera comedy centering on a couple, Tim (Hansen) and Holly and the challenges coming from love and infidelity. Tim is a very attractive and smart literature professor at Fordham University who is not very honest with Holly.
- Silas Weir Mitchell (“Prison Break”) has come aboard “Grimm”, NBC’s dark and fantastical cop drama pilot about a world in which character’s from Grimm’s fairy tales are real. It centers on Nick Burckhardt (David Giuntoli) a handsome detective who starts to see humans as beasts/animals, and finds out he has a legacy - to protect “humans” from these beasts. Mitchel plays Eddie Monroe, a reformed big bad wolf who has tamed his killer instincts through diets and Pilates. He starts to help Nick with his cases.
- Malcolm Barrett (“Better Off Ted”) is joining the cast on “Other People’s Kids” for ABC. The comedy pilot is about Adam , a 32-year old, irresponsible guy who finds himself in an insta-family once he falls for an older woman with two kids, an ex-husband and ex-in-laws. Barrett plays Adam’s business partner and best friend.
- 11-year old Joey King (“Romona and Beezus”, “Battle: Los Angeles”) will play Amanda Peet’s daughter in NBC’s comedy pilot “Bent”, about a single mother fighting off an attraction for her "surf dude" contractor. Craig Zisk will direct.
- Elizabeth Bogush (“The Forgotten”) is the last to be cast in A&E’s pilot “Big Mike”, which stars Greg Grunberg as a plus-size detective. Bogush plays his ex-wife.
- Laura Bell Bundy (“How I Met Your Mother”, “Guiding Light”) rounds out the cast of TBS’ pilot “Hound Dogs”, about a minor league team, the Nashwille Hound Dogs and its general manger (Tom Verica), a recovering gambling addict, who all try to handle life and its ups and downs. Darrell Hammond, Rob Mayes, Chris Butler, Megan Ferguson, Harry Lennix (“Dollhouse”) and Ness Busta also star.
- Leslie Odom, Jr. is cast on ABC’s drama pilot “Poe”, a period crime procedural centering on Edgar Allan Poe, the world’s very first detective. He uses unorthodox ways to investigate dark mysteries in Boston during the 1840s. Odom, Jr. plays Julian “Jupiter” Noble, a free clinic doctor helping Poe.
- Harish Patel has come aboard “My Freakin’ Family”, ABC’s comedy pilot about two young parents Anna and Raj finding their lives changed once they have a baby and the four grandparents from various cultural backgrounds come in to fight for the soul of their grandchild. Patel plays Raj’s dad.
- Joy Osmanski (“True Jackson, VP”) is the latest to join FOX’ comedy pilot “Family Album”, which centers on Dave (Mike O’Malley) a passionate, enthusiastic former jock who, after a breakthrough experience during a family vacation”, vows to “bond the crap out of his family. Osmanski plays Holly, a career woman who is attractive but has sort of a messy social life.
- MTV is reading its next pilot, a single-camera comedy about five twentysomethings in Chicago, from Craig Wright (“Dirty Sexy Money”. Jared Kusnitz, Michelle Ang, Sarah Habel, Inbar Lavi and Diego Boneta have been cast as the leads in the project, which revolves around Lou (Kusnitz), Sofia (Ang), Daphne (Habel), Raviva (Lavi) and Miles (Boneta), talented best friends who think they can conquer the world with their brilliance at college graduation, but a year later find themselves in odd jobs, low-paying gigs and comical situations to make ends meet - in short: Life, love and carrers in today’s post-Generation X world.
Sources: Deadline, Hollywood Reporter
After a day off, here’s my latest compilation of pilot castings.
- First off, Kiefer Sutherland has now officially signed on for FOX’ supernatural pilot “Touch”, playing a father whose autistic, mute son can predict events before they happen.
- Christina Ricci is in talks to star in ABC’s drama pilot “Pan Am”, which centers on flight attendants (called stewardesses back then) and the pilots of the once successful airline during the jet set age in the 1960s. Australian actress Margot Robbie has already been cast as one of the stewardesses, and Michael Mosley (“Scrubs”) will play one of the pilots. Thomas Schlamme will direct the pilot.
- Adam Goldberg (“The Unusuals”, “Joey”) has grabbed one of the leads in CBS’s drama pilot “Rookies”, about six NYPD rookie cops learning the ropes on the streets of Manhattan while managing their personal lives. Goldberg plays one of the six, with Leelee Sobieski already cast as another rookie.
- Henry Simmons (“Shark”) has come aboard ABC’s comedy pilot “Man Up” which revolves around Will (Mather Zickel), who is happily married and a father of two, and his brother-in-law Kenny and lovelorn Chris (Chris Moynihan). Simmons is set to play Kenny’s ex-wife’s (Amanda Detmer) new beau.
- Jenna Elfman (“Dharma & Greg”) is close to signing on to lead ABC’s single-camera comedy pilot “Bad Mom”. It’s about Julia (Elfman), a single mother who has had her kids raised primarily by her mom. When her mom decides to get a life, Julia has to look after her offspring alone.
- Kevin Hart will star alongside Rob Corddry in “Little in Common”, the FOX comedy pilot from Rob Thomas (“Veronica Mars”, “Party Down”). It centers on the Wellers (Corddry, Paula Marshall) who move from San Jose, CA to Austin, TX, but find trouble in adjusting, because their Latino neighbors, the Pachecos, have a radically different approach to child-upbroning, while their other new neighbors, the African American Burlesons, take sports very seriously. Hart plays Ty Burleson, a former Division 2 athlete and sports writer-turned-house husband who now looks to get a competition fix by coaching youth baseball.
- Ryan Hansen (“Veronica Mars”, “Party Down”) has been tapped for the male lead in NBC’s comedy pillot “Lovelives”. It’s described as an adult, sophisticated single-camera comedy centering on a couple, Tim (Hansen) and Holly and the challenges coming from love and infidelity. Tim is a very attractive and smart literature professor at Fordham University who is not very honest with Holly.
- Silas Weir Mitchell (“Prison Break”) has come aboard “Grimm”, NBC’s dark and fantastical cop drama pilot about a world in which character’s from Grimm’s fairy tales are real. It centers on Nick Burckhardt (David Giuntoli) a handsome detective who starts to see humans as beasts/animals, and finds out he has a legacy - to protect “humans” from these beasts. Mitchel plays Eddie Monroe, a reformed big bad wolf who has tamed his killer instincts through diets and Pilates. He starts to help Nick with his cases.
- Malcolm Barrett (“Better Off Ted”) is joining the cast on “Other People’s Kids” for ABC. The comedy pilot is about Adam , a 32-year old, irresponsible guy who finds himself in an insta-family once he falls for an older woman with two kids, an ex-husband and ex-in-laws. Barrett plays Adam’s business partner and best friend.
- 11-year old Joey King (“Romona and Beezus”, “Battle: Los Angeles”) will play Amanda Peet’s daughter in NBC’s comedy pilot “Bent”, about a single mother fighting off an attraction for her "surf dude" contractor. Craig Zisk will direct.
- Elizabeth Bogush (“The Forgotten”) is the last to be cast in A&E’s pilot “Big Mike”, which stars Greg Grunberg as a plus-size detective. Bogush plays his ex-wife.
- Laura Bell Bundy (“How I Met Your Mother”, “Guiding Light”) rounds out the cast of TBS’ pilot “Hound Dogs”, about a minor league team, the Nashwille Hound Dogs and its general manger (Tom Verica), a recovering gambling addict, who all try to handle life and its ups and downs. Darrell Hammond, Rob Mayes, Chris Butler, Megan Ferguson, Harry Lennix (“Dollhouse”) and Ness Busta also star.
- Leslie Odom, Jr. is cast on ABC’s drama pilot “Poe”, a period crime procedural centering on Edgar Allan Poe, the world’s very first detective. He uses unorthodox ways to investigate dark mysteries in Boston during the 1840s. Odom, Jr. plays Julian “Jupiter” Noble, a free clinic doctor helping Poe.
- Harish Patel has come aboard “My Freakin’ Family”, ABC’s comedy pilot about two young parents Anna and Raj finding their lives changed once they have a baby and the four grandparents from various cultural backgrounds come in to fight for the soul of their grandchild. Patel plays Raj’s dad.
- Joy Osmanski (“True Jackson, VP”) is the latest to join FOX’ comedy pilot “Family Album”, which centers on Dave (Mike O’Malley) a passionate, enthusiastic former jock who, after a breakthrough experience during a family vacation”, vows to “bond the crap out of his family. Osmanski plays Holly, a career woman who is attractive but has sort of a messy social life.
- MTV is reading its next pilot, a single-camera comedy about five twentysomethings in Chicago, from Craig Wright (“Dirty Sexy Money”. Jared Kusnitz, Michelle Ang, Sarah Habel, Inbar Lavi and Diego Boneta have been cast as the leads in the project, which revolves around Lou (Kusnitz), Sofia (Ang), Daphne (Habel), Raviva (Lavi) and Miles (Boneta), talented best friends who think they can conquer the world with their brilliance at college graduation, but a year later find themselves in odd jobs, low-paying gigs and comical situations to make ends meet - in short: Life, love and carrers in today’s post-Generation X world.
Sources: Deadline, Hollywood Reporter
2011/02/23
FOX Renews AMERICAN DAD For Season 7
Hello Folks
FOX has officially announced that it has renewed its successful animation program "American Dad" for a seventh season. 22 new episodes will be produced.
“This is fantastic news,” said Roger the Alien. “But you do realize I’m not real, right?”
FOX has officially announced that it has renewed its successful animation program "American Dad" for a seventh season. 22 new episodes will be produced.
“This is fantastic news,” said Roger the Alien. “But you do realize I’m not real, right?”
2011/02/22
NBC Renews BIGGEST LOSER, SING-OFF, WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?
Variety's Stuart Levine has just tweeted that NBC has picked up its reality shows "The Biggest Loser", "Who Do You Think You Are?" and "The Sing-Off" for next season.
ABC Family Picks Up THE LYING GAME; Syfy Announces Return Dates For SANCTUARY, STARGATE: UNIVERSE
ABC Family has now officially announced the pickup of its new series "The Lying Game", which is based on a novel by "Pretty Little Liars" author Sara Shepherd.
The pickup comes on the heels of the acquisition of three other new scripted shows: Hourlong dramas "The Nine Lives of Chloe King" and "Switched at Birth," and half-hour comedy "The Great State Of Georgia."
From the press release:
"The Lying Game" follows Emma, a kind-hearted foster kid who learns she has an identical twin sister, Sutton. Sutton, unlike Emma, was adopted by wealthy parents and is seemingly living an ideal life. After their initial meeting, Sutton talks Emma into stepping into her life for a few days while she pursues a lead on the mysterious identity of their birth mother. After Sutton inexplicably fails to return to the girls' designated meeting place, Emma must decide whether to come clean about her identity and risk her own safety in the hope of uncovering her twin sister's whereabouts, along with the truth about why they were separated in the first place. "The Lying Game" stars Alexandra Chando ("As The World Turns") as Emma/Sutton; Andy Buckley ("The Office") as Ted; Helen Slater ("Supergirl") as Kristin; Blair Redford ("90210") as Garrett; Sharon Pierre-Louis ("Lincoln Heights") as Nisha; Kirsten Prout ("Kyle XY") as Char; Alice Greczyn ("Lincoln Heights") as Mads; and Allie Gonino ("10 Things I Hate About You") as Laurel.
Additionally, Syfy has announced the return dates of "Sanctuary" and "Stargate: Universe". The former show returns on April 15 at 10 PM ET/PT, with the latter launching its final 10 episodes on March 7 at 10 PM ET/PT.
The pickup comes on the heels of the acquisition of three other new scripted shows: Hourlong dramas "The Nine Lives of Chloe King" and "Switched at Birth," and half-hour comedy "The Great State Of Georgia."
From the press release:
"The Lying Game" follows Emma, a kind-hearted foster kid who learns she has an identical twin sister, Sutton. Sutton, unlike Emma, was adopted by wealthy parents and is seemingly living an ideal life. After their initial meeting, Sutton talks Emma into stepping into her life for a few days while she pursues a lead on the mysterious identity of their birth mother. After Sutton inexplicably fails to return to the girls' designated meeting place, Emma must decide whether to come clean about her identity and risk her own safety in the hope of uncovering her twin sister's whereabouts, along with the truth about why they were separated in the first place. "The Lying Game" stars Alexandra Chando ("As The World Turns") as Emma/Sutton; Andy Buckley ("The Office") as Ted; Helen Slater ("Supergirl") as Kristin; Blair Redford ("90210") as Garrett; Sharon Pierre-Louis ("Lincoln Heights") as Nisha; Kirsten Prout ("Kyle XY") as Char; Alice Greczyn ("Lincoln Heights") as Mads; and Allie Gonino ("10 Things I Hate About You") as Laurel.
Additionally, Syfy has announced the return dates of "Sanctuary" and "Stargate: Universe". The former show returns on April 15 at 10 PM ET/PT, with the latter launching its final 10 episodes on March 7 at 10 PM ET/PT.
Pilots: Minnie Driver Cast in HAIL MARY, Alan Tudyk Moving To SUBURGATORY
Hello Folks
It’s a bit of a slow start into the new week pilot-wise, but two castings have emerged.
- Alan Tudyk (“Firefly”, “Dollhouse”) has been added to “Suburgatory”, the ABC comedy pilot about Tessa (Jane Levy), a teenage girl who is moved her father George from Mahattan to what she calls her own personal hell: the suburbs. Tudyk plays an old college friend of George’s, a man who has been living in the suburbs for years.
- Minnie Driver (“The Riches”, “Will & Grace”) has been tapped to star in CBS’ drama pilot “Hail Mary”. It is described as a buddy P.I. show located in Atlanta. It centers on a single mother (Driver), who is teaming up with a streetwise hustler to solve crimes.
Source: Deadline
Greets
Lambsilencer
It’s a bit of a slow start into the new week pilot-wise, but two castings have emerged.
- Alan Tudyk (“Firefly”, “Dollhouse”) has been added to “Suburgatory”, the ABC comedy pilot about Tessa (Jane Levy), a teenage girl who is moved her father George from Mahattan to what she calls her own personal hell: the suburbs. Tudyk plays an old college friend of George’s, a man who has been living in the suburbs for years.
- Minnie Driver (“The Riches”, “Will & Grace”) has been tapped to star in CBS’ drama pilot “Hail Mary”. It is described as a buddy P.I. show located in Atlanta. It centers on a single mother (Driver), who is teaming up with a streetwise hustler to solve crimes.
Source: Deadline
Greets
Lambsilencer
2011/02/21
Ashley Judd Goes MISSING; Jason Isaacs, Patrick Wilson, More Stars Set For Pilots
Hello Folks
First off, one item from the series casting front.
Ashley Judd (“Kiss The Girls”, “Double Jeopardy”) has landed her first regular TV series role, by signing on to topline ABC’s action series “Missing”. The project was slated for summer, but is now looking for a launch in the fall. It revolves around Becca Winstone, a devoted single mother travelling to Europe to track down her 18-year old son who has disappeared in Italy while working on an architecture fellowship. Winstone is a former CIA agent who will stop at nothing to find her son and bring him home alive. Steve Shill has come aboard to direct multiple episodes.
And here now are some pilot news from the weekend.
- Jason Isaacs (“Harry Potter”) has joined NBC’s drama pilot “REM” as the lead and a producer. It’s a thriller in the vein of “Inception”, centering on a cop (Isaacs) waking up after an accident, only to find out he lives in two different realities. Isaacs’ casting lifts the contingency on the pilot, which is run by former “24” showrunner Howard Gordon.
- Patrick Wilson (“Angels In America”, “The A-Team”) has come aboard CBS’s untitled Susannah Grant medical drama pilot as the lead. It’s about a very competitive surgeon (Wilson) whose life changes profoundly when his ex-wife dies and begins to teach him about what life is really about from the hereafter. Jonathan Demme (“The Silence Of The Lambs”) will direct.
- Toby Stephens (“Wired”, “Jane Eyre”) is set to star alongside Maria Bello in “Prime Suspect”, the NBC drama pilot about Jane Timoney (Bello) a female NYPD detective who has to stand her ground in the precinct that is dominated by men. Wilson plays Jane’s live-in boyfriend who fights his ex-wife to allow their son to stay with him and Jane.
- Guillermo Diaz (“Mercy”) has come aboard ABC’s untitled Shonda Rhimes pilot about the life and work of professional fixer Olivia Price (Kerry Washington) and her dysfunctional staff. Diaz plays a paralegal in the crisis management department, who is an expert hacker.
- Adam Campbell is the first to be cast in the comedy pilot “My Life As an Experiment” for NBC. Exec produced by Jack Black, it centers on magazine immersion journalist A.J. Wilder who explores all kinds of unique experiences. Campbell plays the guy’s boss, the editor-in-chief of the magazine he works for.
- Eva Amurri (“Californication”) will star opposite Christine Lahti in CBS’ medical drama pilot “The Doctor”, written by Rina Mimoun (“Privileged”). It revolves around a mother (Lahti) who reconnects with her two adult children - son David and daughter Natasha (Amurri) by joining the family’s medical practice. David Nutter, who has a perfect track record with picked up pilots, will direct.
- Judy Marte, Tom Reed and Stark Sands have all come aboard “Rookies”, CBS’ drama pilot about six NYPD rookie cops battling the streets of Manhattan and their personal lives. Along with Leelee Sobieski, who has been previously cast, they all play four of the rookies.
- Jenna Dewan-Tatum (“Step Up”, “Melrose Place”) and Leah Renee (“Blue Mountain State”) have been added to NBC’s drama pilot “Playboy”, set at the Playboy club in Chicago in 1963. Both actresses will play bunnies in the club.
- Dave Foley (“NewsRadio”) is joining the cast of CBS’ comedy pilot “How To Be a Gentleman”. It’s a buddy comedy written by and starring David Hornsby about Allan (Hornsby) an uptight man learning to live his life with the help of his former high school classmate. Foley plays Allan’s magazine editor.
- Jenn Proske (“Vampires Suck”) has been tapped to co-star in CBS’ comedy pilot “Home Game”, which is loosely based on the experiences of former NFL star Mark Schlereth. Rob Riggle plays Mark, a retired NFL player returning home to his wife (Constance Zimmer) and daughters. Proske plays the oldest daughter.
- BJ Bales and Lindsey Kraft have joined “Tagged”, the FOX workplace comedy pilot set at a coroner’s office. Tommy Dewey and Gary Cole also star.
- Rob Corddry (“The Winner”) has signed on and Paula Marshall (“Gary Unmarried”, “Californication”) is finalizing a deal to star in FOX’ comedy pilot “Little In Common”, about three families that get united through their kids’ little league sports. At the center of it are the Wellers (Corddry, Marshall) who move to Austin, Texas, but have trouble adjusting once they find out their Latino neighbors, the Pachecos, have a different approach to raising their kids. And other neighbors, the African-American Burlesons, are taking sports very seriously.
Source: Deadline
First off, one item from the series casting front.
Ashley Judd (“Kiss The Girls”, “Double Jeopardy”) has landed her first regular TV series role, by signing on to topline ABC’s action series “Missing”. The project was slated for summer, but is now looking for a launch in the fall. It revolves around Becca Winstone, a devoted single mother travelling to Europe to track down her 18-year old son who has disappeared in Italy while working on an architecture fellowship. Winstone is a former CIA agent who will stop at nothing to find her son and bring him home alive. Steve Shill has come aboard to direct multiple episodes.
And here now are some pilot news from the weekend.
- Jason Isaacs (“Harry Potter”) has joined NBC’s drama pilot “REM” as the lead and a producer. It’s a thriller in the vein of “Inception”, centering on a cop (Isaacs) waking up after an accident, only to find out he lives in two different realities. Isaacs’ casting lifts the contingency on the pilot, which is run by former “24” showrunner Howard Gordon.
- Patrick Wilson (“Angels In America”, “The A-Team”) has come aboard CBS’s untitled Susannah Grant medical drama pilot as the lead. It’s about a very competitive surgeon (Wilson) whose life changes profoundly when his ex-wife dies and begins to teach him about what life is really about from the hereafter. Jonathan Demme (“The Silence Of The Lambs”) will direct.
- Toby Stephens (“Wired”, “Jane Eyre”) is set to star alongside Maria Bello in “Prime Suspect”, the NBC drama pilot about Jane Timoney (Bello) a female NYPD detective who has to stand her ground in the precinct that is dominated by men. Wilson plays Jane’s live-in boyfriend who fights his ex-wife to allow their son to stay with him and Jane.
- Guillermo Diaz (“Mercy”) has come aboard ABC’s untitled Shonda Rhimes pilot about the life and work of professional fixer Olivia Price (Kerry Washington) and her dysfunctional staff. Diaz plays a paralegal in the crisis management department, who is an expert hacker.
- Adam Campbell is the first to be cast in the comedy pilot “My Life As an Experiment” for NBC. Exec produced by Jack Black, it centers on magazine immersion journalist A.J. Wilder who explores all kinds of unique experiences. Campbell plays the guy’s boss, the editor-in-chief of the magazine he works for.
- Eva Amurri (“Californication”) will star opposite Christine Lahti in CBS’ medical drama pilot “The Doctor”, written by Rina Mimoun (“Privileged”). It revolves around a mother (Lahti) who reconnects with her two adult children - son David and daughter Natasha (Amurri) by joining the family’s medical practice. David Nutter, who has a perfect track record with picked up pilots, will direct.
- Judy Marte, Tom Reed and Stark Sands have all come aboard “Rookies”, CBS’ drama pilot about six NYPD rookie cops battling the streets of Manhattan and their personal lives. Along with Leelee Sobieski, who has been previously cast, they all play four of the rookies.
- Jenna Dewan-Tatum (“Step Up”, “Melrose Place”) and Leah Renee (“Blue Mountain State”) have been added to NBC’s drama pilot “Playboy”, set at the Playboy club in Chicago in 1963. Both actresses will play bunnies in the club.
- Dave Foley (“NewsRadio”) is joining the cast of CBS’ comedy pilot “How To Be a Gentleman”. It’s a buddy comedy written by and starring David Hornsby about Allan (Hornsby) an uptight man learning to live his life with the help of his former high school classmate. Foley plays Allan’s magazine editor.
- Jenn Proske (“Vampires Suck”) has been tapped to co-star in CBS’ comedy pilot “Home Game”, which is loosely based on the experiences of former NFL star Mark Schlereth. Rob Riggle plays Mark, a retired NFL player returning home to his wife (Constance Zimmer) and daughters. Proske plays the oldest daughter.
- BJ Bales and Lindsey Kraft have joined “Tagged”, the FOX workplace comedy pilot set at a coroner’s office. Tommy Dewey and Gary Cole also star.
- Rob Corddry (“The Winner”) has signed on and Paula Marshall (“Gary Unmarried”, “Californication”) is finalizing a deal to star in FOX’ comedy pilot “Little In Common”, about three families that get united through their kids’ little league sports. At the center of it are the Wellers (Corddry, Marshall) who move to Austin, Texas, but have trouble adjusting once they find out their Latino neighbors, the Pachecos, have a different approach to raising their kids. And other neighbors, the African-American Burlesons, are taking sports very seriously.
Source: Deadline
2011/02/19
Tim Allen, Leelee Sobieski, Jimmy Wolk, Others Grab Pilot Parts
Well, things are heating up. Here's the second pilot post for today.
- Tim Allen has officially signed on to star in ABC's comedy pilot from Jack Burditt, which was once named “Man Up”, then was changed to “The Last Day Of Man”, and now is simply untitled. What is certain is that it is a multi-camera comedy centering on a guy (Allen) who has to fight for his manhood in a world full of women.
- Leelee Sobieski has been tapped to star in the CBS drama pilot “Rookies”, executive produced by Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal through Tribeca. It’s about six NYPD rookies who learn the beat of the streets of Manhattan while managing their personal lives (yes, pretty much like “Rookie Blue”...). Sobieski plays one of them, Gen (White House) Perry, a blonde California girl and former member of the White House Color Guard who is able to handle herself in all kinds of tough situations. James Mangold will direct the pilot.
- Jimmy Wolk (“Lone Star”) has been set to topline ABC’s drama pilot “Georgetown”. It’s described as a sexy soap focusing the young people behind Washinton, D.C’s power brokers. It revolves around Andrew Pierce (Wolk) an effortlessly charming Yale graduate who is also the youngest Presidential speech-writer on record. While he was once idealistic, now he’s only cynical because of the erosion on the administration’s promise.
- Another “Lone Star” alum, Eloise Mumford, has come aboard ABC’s horror pilot “The River”. It’s about a small group heading deep into the Amazon while searching for a missing TV explorer. Mumford plays a fearless helicopter pilot who takes part in the expedition because her father, who is the TV explorer’s cameraman, is also missing. Jaume Collet-Serra (“Orphan”, “Unknown”) has been tapped to direct.
- Lauren Lapkus and Natalie Morales (“The Middleman”, “White Collar”) have both joined the cast of “Are You There Vodka? It’s Me Chelsea”, NBC’s multicamera comedy based on the memoirs of Chelsea Handler. The story focuses on Chelsea in her 20s (Laura Prepon), when she was a fresh-faced cocktail waitress. Angel Laketa Moore has joined the cast earlier to play the assistant manager of the bar where Chelsea waits.
- Diane Farr (“Numb3rs”, “Rescue Me”), Patrick Breen (“Eli Stone”, “Boston Legal” and Ken Howard (“Cane”, “Crossing Jordan”) have all come aboard FOX’ comedy pilot “Council of Dads”. The story centers on Michael who, just before he dies, enlists five of his guy friends from all angles of his life to become a “council of dads” to his two young kids. Farr plays the female lead, Michael’s wife and widow, Catherine who is intent on complying with her dead husband’s wish but finds out that the five guys on the council don’t agree on anything. Breen and Howard play two of those Council members - Howard as Michael’s dad Burt, an ex-military guy with a no-nonsense attitude, and Breen as Jerry, Michael’s ex-therapist who is sort of the “feelings dad” on the council. The pilot will be directed by Anthony and Joe Russo (“Running Wilde”).
- Michael Beach (“Third Watch”) has come aboard “Partners”, ABC’s drama pilot about two fiercely loyal female police detectives, Mattie (Scottie Thompson) and Jess (Annie Wersching), who are secretly half sisters. Beach plays a wise-cracking detective.
- Kat Dennings (“Raising Dad”, “Thor”) will be playing one of the two leads in the multicamera comedy “Two Broke Girls” for CBS, co-written by Michael Patrick King (“Sex And The City”). It centers on two girls from very different backgrounds. Max (Dennings) is poor from birth, and Caroline is born rich but has had some bad luck recently. They both end up as waitresses in a Brooklyn diner and become friends, which could lead to a successful business venture down the road, if they can gather up $250’000 for a start-up.
Source: Deadline
- Tim Allen has officially signed on to star in ABC's comedy pilot from Jack Burditt, which was once named “Man Up”, then was changed to “The Last Day Of Man”, and now is simply untitled. What is certain is that it is a multi-camera comedy centering on a guy (Allen) who has to fight for his manhood in a world full of women.
- Leelee Sobieski has been tapped to star in the CBS drama pilot “Rookies”, executive produced by Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal through Tribeca. It’s about six NYPD rookies who learn the beat of the streets of Manhattan while managing their personal lives (yes, pretty much like “Rookie Blue”...). Sobieski plays one of them, Gen (White House) Perry, a blonde California girl and former member of the White House Color Guard who is able to handle herself in all kinds of tough situations. James Mangold will direct the pilot.
- Jimmy Wolk (“Lone Star”) has been set to topline ABC’s drama pilot “Georgetown”. It’s described as a sexy soap focusing the young people behind Washinton, D.C’s power brokers. It revolves around Andrew Pierce (Wolk) an effortlessly charming Yale graduate who is also the youngest Presidential speech-writer on record. While he was once idealistic, now he’s only cynical because of the erosion on the administration’s promise.
- Another “Lone Star” alum, Eloise Mumford, has come aboard ABC’s horror pilot “The River”. It’s about a small group heading deep into the Amazon while searching for a missing TV explorer. Mumford plays a fearless helicopter pilot who takes part in the expedition because her father, who is the TV explorer’s cameraman, is also missing. Jaume Collet-Serra (“Orphan”, “Unknown”) has been tapped to direct.
- Lauren Lapkus and Natalie Morales (“The Middleman”, “White Collar”) have both joined the cast of “Are You There Vodka? It’s Me Chelsea”, NBC’s multicamera comedy based on the memoirs of Chelsea Handler. The story focuses on Chelsea in her 20s (Laura Prepon), when she was a fresh-faced cocktail waitress. Angel Laketa Moore has joined the cast earlier to play the assistant manager of the bar where Chelsea waits.
- Diane Farr (“Numb3rs”, “Rescue Me”), Patrick Breen (“Eli Stone”, “Boston Legal” and Ken Howard (“Cane”, “Crossing Jordan”) have all come aboard FOX’ comedy pilot “Council of Dads”. The story centers on Michael who, just before he dies, enlists five of his guy friends from all angles of his life to become a “council of dads” to his two young kids. Farr plays the female lead, Michael’s wife and widow, Catherine who is intent on complying with her dead husband’s wish but finds out that the five guys on the council don’t agree on anything. Breen and Howard play two of those Council members - Howard as Michael’s dad Burt, an ex-military guy with a no-nonsense attitude, and Breen as Jerry, Michael’s ex-therapist who is sort of the “feelings dad” on the council. The pilot will be directed by Anthony and Joe Russo (“Running Wilde”).
- Michael Beach (“Third Watch”) has come aboard “Partners”, ABC’s drama pilot about two fiercely loyal female police detectives, Mattie (Scottie Thompson) and Jess (Annie Wersching), who are secretly half sisters. Beach plays a wise-cracking detective.
- Kat Dennings (“Raising Dad”, “Thor”) will be playing one of the two leads in the multicamera comedy “Two Broke Girls” for CBS, co-written by Michael Patrick King (“Sex And The City”). It centers on two girls from very different backgrounds. Max (Dennings) is poor from birth, and Caroline is born rich but has had some bad luck recently. They both end up as waitresses in a Brooklyn diner and become friends, which could lead to a successful business venture down the road, if they can gather up $250’000 for a start-up.
Source: Deadline
2011/02/18
Kiefer Sutherland In Talks To Join TOUCH;
Megan Dodds, Eric Roberts, Others Join Pilots
Hello Folks
A new day, a new pilot post...
- Kiefer Sutherland (“24”) is in talks to topline the supernatural FOX pilot “Touch” from “Heroes” creator Tim Kring. It centers on a father (Sutherland) who finds out that his autistic, mute son has a special ability. He can see events before they happen. Charles McDougall (“Desperate Housewives”, “The Good Wife”) is in talks to direct.
- Orlando Jones has closed his deal to be a part of ABC’s drama pilot “Identity”. Described as an action procedural, the show centers on an elite police unit fighting the explosive rise of identity-related crimes. Jones plays a member of said team.
- Eric Roberts has landed the male lead on ABC’s pilot “Grace”, a dysfunctional family drama amidst the world of professional dance. At the heart of it is Michael Grace (Roberts), a famous choreographer with a tendency to sleep with his dancers. He also has three daughters, from three different mothers. When he is in danger of losing his dance studio, one of his daughters steps in as the new studio manager. Lesli Linka Glatter (“Pretty Little Liars”) will direct the pilot.
- Megan Dodds (“Detroit 1-8-7”) has booked the female lead on “Exit Strategy”, the FOX drama pilot about a team of five experts associated with the CIA, led by Eric Shaw (Ethan Hawke). The team is called into action when an agency operation goes bad, to extract the ones involved before it’s too late. Antoine Fuqua is set to direct the pilot.
- David Giuntoli (“Privileged”, “The Deep End”) has booked the male lead on NBC’s drama pilot “Grimm”, created by David Greenwalt and Jim Kouf. It’s a fantastical, dark cop drama set in a world where the characters from Grimm’s fairy tales are real. It centers on Nick Burckhardt (Giuntoli), a handsome detective with the ability to see humans as beasts or animals, and has the legacy to protect “humans” from these beasts.
- Michael Mosley (“Scrubs”, “Justified”) has come aboard ABC’s “Pan Am”, a sexy soap set against the Jet-Age. It revolves around pilots and flight attendants working for Pan Am during the 1960s. Mosley plays a co-plilot who isa a waggish jockster with an infectious smile and a buzz cut.
- Rachael Harris (“Notes from the Underbelly”, “Reno 911!”) has joined the cast of FOX’ single-camera comedy pilot “Family Album”. It’s about Dave (Mike O’Malley), who, after a breakthrough experience during a family vacation, comes home with renewed conviction to “bond the crap out of his family”. Harris plays the wife and stay-at-home mother.
- Angel Laketa Moore (“ER”) has been added to “Are You There Vodka? It’s Me Chelsea”, NBCs pilot based on Chelsea Handler’s memoires. It centers on the times when Chelsea (played by Laura Prepon) was in her 20s and a fresh-faced single cocktail waitress with a love for drinks and sex. Moore plays the assistant manager of the sports bar where Chelsea works.
- Wilson Bethel (“Generation Kill”) has come aboard the CW pilot “Hart of Dixie”. Billed as a comedic drama, it centers on Zoe (Rachel BIlson), a young New York City doctor who inherits a small medical practice in a small Southern town filled with colorful characters. Bethel plays a gorgeous, but bad-boy Southern fisherman and neighbor of Zoe’s, who also plays in a band and dedicates a song to her.
Source: Deadline
A new day, a new pilot post...
- Kiefer Sutherland (“24”) is in talks to topline the supernatural FOX pilot “Touch” from “Heroes” creator Tim Kring. It centers on a father (Sutherland) who finds out that his autistic, mute son has a special ability. He can see events before they happen. Charles McDougall (“Desperate Housewives”, “The Good Wife”) is in talks to direct.
- Orlando Jones has closed his deal to be a part of ABC’s drama pilot “Identity”. Described as an action procedural, the show centers on an elite police unit fighting the explosive rise of identity-related crimes. Jones plays a member of said team.
- Eric Roberts has landed the male lead on ABC’s pilot “Grace”, a dysfunctional family drama amidst the world of professional dance. At the heart of it is Michael Grace (Roberts), a famous choreographer with a tendency to sleep with his dancers. He also has three daughters, from three different mothers. When he is in danger of losing his dance studio, one of his daughters steps in as the new studio manager. Lesli Linka Glatter (“Pretty Little Liars”) will direct the pilot.
- Megan Dodds (“Detroit 1-8-7”) has booked the female lead on “Exit Strategy”, the FOX drama pilot about a team of five experts associated with the CIA, led by Eric Shaw (Ethan Hawke). The team is called into action when an agency operation goes bad, to extract the ones involved before it’s too late. Antoine Fuqua is set to direct the pilot.
- David Giuntoli (“Privileged”, “The Deep End”) has booked the male lead on NBC’s drama pilot “Grimm”, created by David Greenwalt and Jim Kouf. It’s a fantastical, dark cop drama set in a world where the characters from Grimm’s fairy tales are real. It centers on Nick Burckhardt (Giuntoli), a handsome detective with the ability to see humans as beasts or animals, and has the legacy to protect “humans” from these beasts.
- Michael Mosley (“Scrubs”, “Justified”) has come aboard ABC’s “Pan Am”, a sexy soap set against the Jet-Age. It revolves around pilots and flight attendants working for Pan Am during the 1960s. Mosley plays a co-plilot who isa a waggish jockster with an infectious smile and a buzz cut.
- Rachael Harris (“Notes from the Underbelly”, “Reno 911!”) has joined the cast of FOX’ single-camera comedy pilot “Family Album”. It’s about Dave (Mike O’Malley), who, after a breakthrough experience during a family vacation, comes home with renewed conviction to “bond the crap out of his family”. Harris plays the wife and stay-at-home mother.
- Angel Laketa Moore (“ER”) has been added to “Are You There Vodka? It’s Me Chelsea”, NBCs pilot based on Chelsea Handler’s memoires. It centers on the times when Chelsea (played by Laura Prepon) was in her 20s and a fresh-faced single cocktail waitress with a love for drinks and sex. Moore plays the assistant manager of the sports bar where Chelsea works.
- Wilson Bethel (“Generation Kill”) has come aboard the CW pilot “Hart of Dixie”. Billed as a comedic drama, it centers on Zoe (Rachel BIlson), a young New York City doctor who inherits a small medical practice in a small Southern town filled with colorful characters. Bethel plays a gorgeous, but bad-boy Southern fisherman and neighbor of Zoe’s, who also plays in a band and dedicates a song to her.
Source: Deadline
2011/02/17
Britt Robertson Cast In CW Pilot SECRET CIRCLE
EW's James Hibberd reports today that Britt Robertson ("Life Unexpected") has lined up her next gig.
The actress has booked a starring role in The CW's upcoming supernatural pilot "Secret Circle".
The show, based on a book series by "The Vampire Diaries" author L.J. Smith, centers on a young woman who moves to a new town and discovers that she is a witch and member of a secret coven, but also that she is the key to unlock a centuries-old battle between good and evil.
No word yet if Robertson will play the lead.
The article also mentions that this casting is theoretically in second position to Robertson's role on "Life Unexpected". But you all saw that finale, right? And saw the "complete series" brand on the DVD Box Set? Yeah, you can forget that the show comes back. So don't get your hopes up.
The actress has booked a starring role in The CW's upcoming supernatural pilot "Secret Circle".
The show, based on a book series by "The Vampire Diaries" author L.J. Smith, centers on a young woman who moves to a new town and discovers that she is a witch and member of a secret coven, but also that she is the key to unlock a centuries-old battle between good and evil.
No word yet if Robertson will play the lead.
The article also mentions that this casting is theoretically in second position to Robertson's role on "Life Unexpected". But you all saw that finale, right? And saw the "complete series" brand on the DVD Box Set? Yeah, you can forget that the show comes back. So don't get your hopes up.
Aaron Ashmore Joins WAREHOUSE 13 - SPOILER Alert!
Per EW's James Hibberd, former "Smallville" alum Aaron Ashmore will be joining the cast of Syfy's hit series "Warehouse 13" as a new series regular when the show returns for its third season in the summer.
Ashmore will play the show's Cal Lightman, if you will. He is cast as Steve Jinks, a young ATF agent who has the ability to tell when someone is lying. He is recruited by Mrs. Frederic (CCH Pounder) to fill the void that was created when Myka (Joanne Kelly) left the Warehouse in last year's season finale (the Christmas episode notwithstanding, that was strictly stand-alone).
Whether Joanne Kelly will return to the show, and if so, in what capacity, that is a question that cannot be answered at this point.
Ashmore will play the show's Cal Lightman, if you will. He is cast as Steve Jinks, a young ATF agent who has the ability to tell when someone is lying. He is recruited by Mrs. Frederic (CCH Pounder) to fill the void that was created when Myka (Joanne Kelly) left the Warehouse in last year's season finale (the Christmas episode notwithstanding, that was strictly stand-alone).
Whether Joanne Kelly will return to the show, and if so, in what capacity, that is a question that cannot be answered at this point.
Maria Bello, Michael Emerson, James Van Der Beek, Others Land Pilot Roles
Hello Folks
Here’s what happens on the pilot front.
- Maria Bello has been tapped to topline NBC’s drama pilot “Prime Suspect”, which is based on the British hit series that starred Helen Mirren.
Bello plays an iconoclastic female detective who has find her place in a tough New York precinct dominated by men. The pilot was picked up last season, but then got into trouble while casting the lead.
- Michael Emerson (“Lost”) has joined the cast of the CBS drama pilot “Person of Interest”, which is produced by “Lost” creator J.J Abrams. It centers on an ex-CIA agent who is presumed dead, but resurfaces to team up with a mysterious billionaire (Emerson) to prevent violent crimes in New York City. David Semel will direct.
- James Van Der Beek (“Dawson’s Creek”, “Mercy”) is set to play himself in ABC’s comedy pilot “Don’t Trust the Bitch in Apartment 23.” The story centers on June (Dreama Walker) a girl from the heartland who is optimistic and earnest, who has to move in with Chloe (Krysten Ritter), a very unstable but sexy party girl who has the morals of a pirate. Van Der Beek will play a heightened version of himself, who is also Chloe’s best friend. Michael “Mookie” Blailock (“Secret Girlfriend”) has also joined the cast, play Eli, the preppy perv-next-door. The pilot will be directed by Jason Winer (“Modern Family”).
- Christine Lahti will be starring in CBS’s medical drama pilot “The Doctor”, about a mother (Lahti) who joins the family medical practice and reconnects with her adult children. David Nutter will direct.
- Anna Camp (“True Blood”) is the first to be cast in the NBC single-camera comedy pliot “I Hate That I Love You”. She will play one of the four leads on the project, which centers on a straight couple, Brad and Missy, who introduces Allie and Sarah (Camp), their respective lesbian roommates, to each other. Things start off well, but get complicated when Allie gets pregnant with Brad’s baby.
- Kevin McNally has come aboard “Poe”, which centers on Edgar Allan Poem, the world’s first detective who uses unconventional methods to solve dark mysteries in Boston during the 1840s. McNally plays authoritative and tough commissioner Kyle Kilpatrick.
- Tara Summers has come aboard CBS’ drama pilot “Ringer”, which centers on Bridget Cafferty (Sarah Michelle Gellar), who runs from the mob and hides out by inhabiting the life of her twin sister, Siobhan, but later finds out that Siobhan has a bounty on her as well. Summers is set to play Siobhan’s best friend.
- Nancy Lenehan (“Worst Week”, “The New Adventures of Old Christine”) has been added to “How To Be A Gentleman”. The CBS comedy , written by and starring David Hornsby, revolves around a magazine that has changed ownership. Lenehan plays Hornsby’s overbearing mother.
- Laura Benanti (“Eli Stone”, “Starved”) will star in “Playboy”, the NBC drama oulot that is set at the Playboy Club in Chicago in 1963. She will play 30-year old bombshell Carol-Lynne, who is still starring at the club but knows that her days are numbered.
- Mike O’Malley (“Glee”) has been tapped to play the lead in FOX’ single-camera comedy pilot “Family Album”, which was formerly known as the untitled Joe Port/Joe Wiseman project. It centers on Dave (O’Malley), a former jock who is passionate and very enthusiastic. After a breakthrough experience during a family vacation, he retuns home with a renewed conviction “to bond the crap out of his family”.
Source: Deadline
Here’s what happens on the pilot front.
- Maria Bello has been tapped to topline NBC’s drama pilot “Prime Suspect”, which is based on the British hit series that starred Helen Mirren.
Bello plays an iconoclastic female detective who has find her place in a tough New York precinct dominated by men. The pilot was picked up last season, but then got into trouble while casting the lead.
- Michael Emerson (“Lost”) has joined the cast of the CBS drama pilot “Person of Interest”, which is produced by “Lost” creator J.J Abrams. It centers on an ex-CIA agent who is presumed dead, but resurfaces to team up with a mysterious billionaire (Emerson) to prevent violent crimes in New York City. David Semel will direct.
- James Van Der Beek (“Dawson’s Creek”, “Mercy”) is set to play himself in ABC’s comedy pilot “Don’t Trust the Bitch in Apartment 23.” The story centers on June (Dreama Walker) a girl from the heartland who is optimistic and earnest, who has to move in with Chloe (Krysten Ritter), a very unstable but sexy party girl who has the morals of a pirate. Van Der Beek will play a heightened version of himself, who is also Chloe’s best friend. Michael “Mookie” Blailock (“Secret Girlfriend”) has also joined the cast, play Eli, the preppy perv-next-door. The pilot will be directed by Jason Winer (“Modern Family”).
- Christine Lahti will be starring in CBS’s medical drama pilot “The Doctor”, about a mother (Lahti) who joins the family medical practice and reconnects with her adult children. David Nutter will direct.
- Anna Camp (“True Blood”) is the first to be cast in the NBC single-camera comedy pliot “I Hate That I Love You”. She will play one of the four leads on the project, which centers on a straight couple, Brad and Missy, who introduces Allie and Sarah (Camp), their respective lesbian roommates, to each other. Things start off well, but get complicated when Allie gets pregnant with Brad’s baby.
- Kevin McNally has come aboard “Poe”, which centers on Edgar Allan Poem, the world’s first detective who uses unconventional methods to solve dark mysteries in Boston during the 1840s. McNally plays authoritative and tough commissioner Kyle Kilpatrick.
- Tara Summers has come aboard CBS’ drama pilot “Ringer”, which centers on Bridget Cafferty (Sarah Michelle Gellar), who runs from the mob and hides out by inhabiting the life of her twin sister, Siobhan, but later finds out that Siobhan has a bounty on her as well. Summers is set to play Siobhan’s best friend.
- Nancy Lenehan (“Worst Week”, “The New Adventures of Old Christine”) has been added to “How To Be A Gentleman”. The CBS comedy , written by and starring David Hornsby, revolves around a magazine that has changed ownership. Lenehan plays Hornsby’s overbearing mother.
- Laura Benanti (“Eli Stone”, “Starved”) will star in “Playboy”, the NBC drama oulot that is set at the Playboy Club in Chicago in 1963. She will play 30-year old bombshell Carol-Lynne, who is still starring at the club but knows that her days are numbered.
- Mike O’Malley (“Glee”) has been tapped to play the lead in FOX’ single-camera comedy pilot “Family Album”, which was formerly known as the untitled Joe Port/Joe Wiseman project. It centers on Dave (O’Malley), a former jock who is passionate and very enthusiastic. After a breakthrough experience during a family vacation, he retuns home with a renewed conviction “to bond the crap out of his family”.
Source: Deadline
Adrianne Palicki Cast As New WONDER WOMAN
Hello Folks
Per TVLine's Matt Webb Mitovich and Nellie Andreeva, NBC has found its "Wonder Woman".
Adrianne Palicki ("Friday Night Lights", "Supernatural") has been cast in the network's reboot of the classic TV series, created by David E. Kelley.
In the new show, Palicki will play no less than three roles:
• The titular crimefighter, “reinvented” here as an L.A.-based vigilante
• Alter ego No. 1: Diana Themyscira, a mega-billionaire CEO
• Alter ego No. 2: Diana’s “plain Jane” assistant, Diana Prince.
For more info, hit the link above.
Per TVLine's Matt Webb Mitovich and Nellie Andreeva, NBC has found its "Wonder Woman".
Adrianne Palicki ("Friday Night Lights", "Supernatural") has been cast in the network's reboot of the classic TV series, created by David E. Kelley.
In the new show, Palicki will play no less than three roles:
• The titular crimefighter, “reinvented” here as an L.A.-based vigilante
• Alter ego No. 1: Diana Themyscira, a mega-billionaire CEO
• Alter ego No. 2: Diana’s “plain Jane” assistant, Diana Prince.
For more info, hit the link above.
2011/02/16
Jamie Bamber, Annie Wersching, Laura Prepon, More Land Roles In Pilots
Hello Folks
Here's the latest from the pilot casting front.
- Jamie Bamber ("Battlestar Galactica") has come aboard NBC's drama pilot "17th Precinct" from "Battlestar" creator Ron Moore. The show centers on the fictional town of Excelsior, where magic and supernatural elements rule over science. Bamber plays homicide detective Caolan Homestreet, who projects a seriousness of purpose and deep focus. Stockard Channing has previously joined the project, playing Mira, a fiercely intelligent former homicide detective who îs working in the robbery division of the 17th Precinct. Michael Rymer will direct the pilot.
- Laura Prepon ("That 70s Show") has been tapped to play Chelsea Handler in ABC's comedy pilot "Are You There, Wodka, It's Me Chelsea", based on Handler's memoires of the same title. She will play Handler at 26, when she was a fresh-faced cocktail waitress and very open about her desires - drinking and sex.
- Ed Begley Jr., Nicholas Braun ("10 Things I Hate About You") and Will Greenberg ("Cloverfield") are the first actors to join the NBC comedy pilot "Brave New World". It's a workplace comedy set at Pilgrim Village, a theme park that specializes in recreations of New England in 1637. Begley plays Dick Kenealy, the group's boss who tries to run a tight ship, but he's largely ineffective. Greenberg is set as Matt Koutnick, a 19-year-old who took at job at Pilgrim Village to support his mom and little brother after his father walked out. Braun will play Richard Allerton, an entitled douche who manages to have both his nose in the air and his head up his ass at the same time.
- Annie Wersching ("24") and Larry Gilliard, Jr. have been added to ABC's drama pilot "Partners", about two female police detectives who are fiercely loyal and secretly half-sisters. Wersching plays Jesse-Lynn "Jess" Mancini, the more conservative of the two. Scottie Thompson ("NCIS") has been previously cast as the other half, Mattie Scott. Gilliard plays Ray Henry, a fellow detective. Ed Bernero ("Criminal Minds") is the man behind the project.
- Ioan Gruffudd ("Fantastic Four") and Mike Colter ("The Good Wife") have landed roles on NBC's drama pilot "Ringer", which centers on Bridget Cafferty (Sarah Michelle Gellar), a troubled young woman who, while on the run from the mob, hides out by inhabiting the life of her wealthy twin sister, Siobhan Marx, until she learns that her twin's life has a bounty on it as well. Gruffudd plays Siobhan's impossibly handsome husband Andrew Marx and Colter is set as Malcolm Howard, Bridget's good looking, slightly bookish sponsor at AA. Nestor Carbonell also stars in the project.
- Rob Huebel ("Childrens' Hospital") has booked the first role on FOX' untitled Joe Port/Joe Wiseman project, a comedy which revolves around a headstrong patriarch who, determined to get some quality family time, embarks on a vacation with his extended family. Huebel plays the patriarch's brother Steven, who is a bit strange.
- Max Greenfield ("Modern Men") and Jake M. Johnson have come aboard the untitled Liz Meriwether comedy pilot for FOX. It centers on Jessica (Zooey Deschanel), an optimistic but unlucky in love elementary school teacher who, after her most recent break-up, moves out of her apartment with her ex and moves in with three juvenile guys. They will play two of the trio - beer-loving hunk Schmidt (Greenfield) and bartender Nick (Johnson).
Sources: Deadline, The Futon Critic
Here's the latest from the pilot casting front.
- Jamie Bamber ("Battlestar Galactica") has come aboard NBC's drama pilot "17th Precinct" from "Battlestar" creator Ron Moore. The show centers on the fictional town of Excelsior, where magic and supernatural elements rule over science. Bamber plays homicide detective Caolan Homestreet, who projects a seriousness of purpose and deep focus. Stockard Channing has previously joined the project, playing Mira, a fiercely intelligent former homicide detective who îs working in the robbery division of the 17th Precinct. Michael Rymer will direct the pilot.
- Laura Prepon ("That 70s Show") has been tapped to play Chelsea Handler in ABC's comedy pilot "Are You There, Wodka, It's Me Chelsea", based on Handler's memoires of the same title. She will play Handler at 26, when she was a fresh-faced cocktail waitress and very open about her desires - drinking and sex.
- Ed Begley Jr., Nicholas Braun ("10 Things I Hate About You") and Will Greenberg ("Cloverfield") are the first actors to join the NBC comedy pilot "Brave New World". It's a workplace comedy set at Pilgrim Village, a theme park that specializes in recreations of New England in 1637. Begley plays Dick Kenealy, the group's boss who tries to run a tight ship, but he's largely ineffective. Greenberg is set as Matt Koutnick, a 19-year-old who took at job at Pilgrim Village to support his mom and little brother after his father walked out. Braun will play Richard Allerton, an entitled douche who manages to have both his nose in the air and his head up his ass at the same time.
- Annie Wersching ("24") and Larry Gilliard, Jr. have been added to ABC's drama pilot "Partners", about two female police detectives who are fiercely loyal and secretly half-sisters. Wersching plays Jesse-Lynn "Jess" Mancini, the more conservative of the two. Scottie Thompson ("NCIS") has been previously cast as the other half, Mattie Scott. Gilliard plays Ray Henry, a fellow detective. Ed Bernero ("Criminal Minds") is the man behind the project.
- Ioan Gruffudd ("Fantastic Four") and Mike Colter ("The Good Wife") have landed roles on NBC's drama pilot "Ringer", which centers on Bridget Cafferty (Sarah Michelle Gellar), a troubled young woman who, while on the run from the mob, hides out by inhabiting the life of her wealthy twin sister, Siobhan Marx, until she learns that her twin's life has a bounty on it as well. Gruffudd plays Siobhan's impossibly handsome husband Andrew Marx and Colter is set as Malcolm Howard, Bridget's good looking, slightly bookish sponsor at AA. Nestor Carbonell also stars in the project.
- Rob Huebel ("Childrens' Hospital") has booked the first role on FOX' untitled Joe Port/Joe Wiseman project, a comedy which revolves around a headstrong patriarch who, determined to get some quality family time, embarks on a vacation with his extended family. Huebel plays the patriarch's brother Steven, who is a bit strange.
- Max Greenfield ("Modern Men") and Jake M. Johnson have come aboard the untitled Liz Meriwether comedy pilot for FOX. It centers on Jessica (Zooey Deschanel), an optimistic but unlucky in love elementary school teacher who, after her most recent break-up, moves out of her apartment with her ex and moves in with three juvenile guys. They will play two of the trio - beer-loving hunk Schmidt (Greenfield) and bartender Nick (Johnson).
Sources: Deadline, The Futon Critic
2011/02/15
Jesse L. Martin To Lead March Cherry Pilot HALLELUJAH; More Pilot Castings
Hello Folks
We're smack in the middle of pilot casting season, so here's the latest.
- Jesse L. Martin ("Law & Order") has booked one of the lead roles in ABC's musical drama pilot "Hallelujah" from "Desperate Housewives" creator Marc Cherry. It centers on the town of Hallelujah, Tennessee, where the forces of good and evil are wreaking havoc. But when a stranger comes in, offering justice, peace and to restore faith, things start to change.
Martin plays a charming drifter who crosses paths with the new arrival.
- Australian actor Robert Taylor ("The Matrix") has grabbed the title role in A&E's drama pilot "Longmire". THe story revolves around Walt Longmire (Taylor), the charismatic, dedicated and unflappable sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming. A widower for the past year, he is deeply wounded man in psychic repair but buries his pain behind his dry wit, brave face and unassuming grin.
- Jane Levy ("Shameless") had landed the lead on ABC's half-hour comedy pliot "Suburgatory". It centers on teenage girl Tessa, who gets moved from Manhattan to her own personal hell: the suburbs.
- Tommy Dewey ("Rommates") has landed the lead role on "Tagged", the FOX workplace comedy pilot centering on the staff of a coroner's office. Gary Cole has been previously cast.
Sources: TVLine, Deadline
We're smack in the middle of pilot casting season, so here's the latest.
- Jesse L. Martin ("Law & Order") has booked one of the lead roles in ABC's musical drama pilot "Hallelujah" from "Desperate Housewives" creator Marc Cherry. It centers on the town of Hallelujah, Tennessee, where the forces of good and evil are wreaking havoc. But when a stranger comes in, offering justice, peace and to restore faith, things start to change.
Martin plays a charming drifter who crosses paths with the new arrival.
- Australian actor Robert Taylor ("The Matrix") has grabbed the title role in A&E's drama pilot "Longmire". THe story revolves around Walt Longmire (Taylor), the charismatic, dedicated and unflappable sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming. A widower for the past year, he is deeply wounded man in psychic repair but buries his pain behind his dry wit, brave face and unassuming grin.
- Jane Levy ("Shameless") had landed the lead on ABC's half-hour comedy pliot "Suburgatory". It centers on teenage girl Tessa, who gets moved from Manhattan to her own personal hell: the suburbs.
- Tommy Dewey ("Rommates") has landed the lead role on "Tagged", the FOX workplace comedy pilot centering on the staff of a coroner's office. Gary Cole has been previously cast.
Sources: TVLine, Deadline
2011/02/14
Saffron Burrows To BONES Spinoff, Katharine McPhee In NBC Pilot SMASH
Hello Folks
Per TVLine's Michael Ausiello, Saffron Burrows ("Law & Order: Criminal Intent) has grabbed the female lead in the potential "Bones" spinoff for FOX, which will be introduced with a planted pilot when this season's 19th episode airs.
The story is based on "The Locator" books by Richard Greener and revolves around Walter Sherman aka “the Locator” (Geoff Stults), a former military policeman who can find anything. Michael Clark Duncan plays his partner, Leo, and Burrows becomes Sherman's sidekick and confidente. She is the owner of a bar and can fly a helicopter.
Elsewhere, the Hollywood Reporter reports that pop singer/actress Katharine McPhee has joined the cast of the NBC musical pilot "Smash".
Executive produced by Steven Spielberg, the show centers around an ensemble who wants to create a Broadway musical inspired by Marylin Monroe.
Debra Messing ("Army Wives") and Jack Davenport ("FlashForward", "Swingtown") have previously signed on as the lyricist and the choreographer, respectively.
Per TVLine's Michael Ausiello, Saffron Burrows ("Law & Order: Criminal Intent) has grabbed the female lead in the potential "Bones" spinoff for FOX, which will be introduced with a planted pilot when this season's 19th episode airs.
The story is based on "The Locator" books by Richard Greener and revolves around Walter Sherman aka “the Locator” (Geoff Stults), a former military policeman who can find anything. Michael Clark Duncan plays his partner, Leo, and Burrows becomes Sherman's sidekick and confidente. She is the owner of a bar and can fly a helicopter.
Elsewhere, the Hollywood Reporter reports that pop singer/actress Katharine McPhee has joined the cast of the NBC musical pilot "Smash".
Executive produced by Steven Spielberg, the show centers around an ensemble who wants to create a Broadway musical inspired by Marylin Monroe.
Debra Messing ("Army Wives") and Jack Davenport ("FlashForward", "Swingtown") have previously signed on as the lyricist and the choreographer, respectively.
2011/02/13
FX Renews THE LEAGUE; THE KILLING, TREME Get Premiere Dates
FX has announced it has renewed its comedy series "The League" for a third season, to premiere in the fall.
Additionally, AMC has set the premiere date for its new drama series "The Killing". The show launches on April 3, at 9 PM ET/PT.
Based on the successful Danish television series "Forbrydelsen," "The Killing" weaves together three distinct stories around a single murder, including the detectives assigned to the case and their suspects, the victim's grieving family, and the local politicians connected to the case. As "The Killing" unfolds, it becomes clear that there are no accidents; everyone has a secret, and while the characters think they have moved on, their past still lingers.
Shot on location in Vancouver, "The Killing" is anchored by a breakout cast, including Mireille Enos ("Big Love") as Sarah Linden, the lead homicide detective investigating the death of Rosie Larsen; Billy Campbell ("Once and Again") as Darren Richmond, Seattle's City Council President running for Mayor; Joel Kinnaman (Snabba Cash) as Stephen Holder, an ex-narc cop who joins the homicide division in the investigation to find Rosie's killer; Michelle Forbes ("True Blood") as Rosie's mother, Mitch; and Brent Sexton (W., In the Valley of Elah) as Rosie's father, Stan.
And then, HBO has set Sunday, April 24, 10/9c for the launch of its second season of post-Katrina drama "Treme".
Additionally, AMC has set the premiere date for its new drama series "The Killing". The show launches on April 3, at 9 PM ET/PT.
Based on the successful Danish television series "Forbrydelsen," "The Killing" weaves together three distinct stories around a single murder, including the detectives assigned to the case and their suspects, the victim's grieving family, and the local politicians connected to the case. As "The Killing" unfolds, it becomes clear that there are no accidents; everyone has a secret, and while the characters think they have moved on, their past still lingers.
Shot on location in Vancouver, "The Killing" is anchored by a breakout cast, including Mireille Enos ("Big Love") as Sarah Linden, the lead homicide detective investigating the death of Rosie Larsen; Billy Campbell ("Once and Again") as Darren Richmond, Seattle's City Council President running for Mayor; Joel Kinnaman (Snabba Cash) as Stephen Holder, an ex-narc cop who joins the homicide division in the investigation to find Rosie's killer; Michelle Forbes ("True Blood") as Rosie's mother, Mitch; and Brent Sexton (W., In the Valley of Elah) as Rosie's father, Stan.
And then, HBO has set Sunday, April 24, 10/9c for the launch of its second season of post-Katrina drama "Treme".
BURN NOTICE: THE FALL OF SAM AXE Set For
April 17; Tons Of Casting News
Hello Folks
First off, USA has announced that it will premiere the prequel to its hit series "Burn Notice", "The Fall of Sam Axe", on Sunday, April 17, at 9/8c.
Here's a short description from the press release:
The prequel takes place in Columbia 2005 when Lieutenant Commander Sam Axe (Campbell) is sent to advise a local military platoon. It's there he discovers deep layers of deception and ultimately realizes he may be allied with the wrong side. Shot on location in Bogota, Columbia, the two hour movie is directed by BURN NOTICE star Jeffrey Donovan.
And then, some casting news from the week, gathered from various sources. First off, returns and exits:
- Michael Rosenbaum is set to reprise his role of Lex Luthor one last time on "Smallville", when the show comes to a close in the two-hour series finale airing May 17. "I'm doing it for the fans", he said to TVLine.
- Audra MacDonald will exit ABC's "Private Practice" at the end of this season, and by that time, Lori Laughlin will part ways with her role on "90210".
Off to fresh castings, mostly from the pilot front:
- Elizabeth Mitchell ("V", "Lost") will guest star on "Law & Order: SVU" in the upcoming episode airing March 30 as a piano teacher that is the last to see one of her students alive. Jeremy Irons returns in the episode as Dr. Cap Jackson.
- Jay O. Sanders will join the cast of the final season of USA's "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" in a major role. He will play the new captain of the squad in all eight episodes.
- FOX' "Raising Hope" is welcoming a few more "My Name Is Earl" guest stars when both Ethan Suplee and Jamie Pressly will appear in the season's penultimate episode as a married couple.
- Gabrielle Carteris ("Beverly Hills, 90210") has joined the cast of NBC's "The Event", where she will play an alien named Diane Geller, who appears again on the March 21 episode. She is an old friend of Michael Buchanan who has been living amongst the human population since the crash at Inostranka.
- Jesse Metcalfe ("Desperate Housewives") and Julie Gonzalo ("Eli Stone", "Veronica Mars") have both joined TNT's reboot of "Dallas". The pilot centers on John Ross (Christopher Henderson) and his cousin Christopher Ewing (Metcalfe), who clash over the future of the Ewing empire. Gonzalo plays Christopher's fiancée, Rebecca.
- Rachel Bilson is negotiating to join the cast of "Hart of Dixie", a dram pilot from The CW centering on Zoe Hart, an adorable, spoiled New Yorker who inherits a medical practice in a small Southern town inhabited by an eclectic and eccentric group of characters.
- Zooey Deschanel will star in FOX' comedy pilot "Chicks and Dicks", which centers on an ensemble of men and women and their sexual politics. The title is expected to change if the pilot gets picked up.
- Scottie Thompson ("NCIS") has joined the ABC drama pilot "Partners" from "Criminal Minds" creator Ed Bernero, about two fiercely loyal female police detectives who are keeping it a secret that they are also sisters. Kenneth Mitchell ("Jericho") has also scored a part.
- Amanda Peet ("Studio 60") has landed the lead on NBC's comedy pilot "Bent", about a single mother fighting off an attraction for her "surf dude" contractor. Craig Zisk will direct.
- Gary Cole ("The West Wing", "The Good Wife") is the first one to be cast in "Tagged", a workplace comedy pilot from FOX that is set in a coroner's office.
- Stockard Channing is the first to come aboard the NBC drama pilot "17th Precinct", a police procedural set in a world where magic rules instead of science.
- Debra Messing is set to make a deal to star as the lead in "Smash", a drama pliot from NBC about the mounting of a Broadway musical.
- Wentworth Miller ("Prison Break") and Orlando Jones ("Men in Trees", "The Evidence") are both in talks to join ABC's "Identity" pilot, about the FBI's first cyber-crime unit, the Identity crimes division.
- Constance Zimmer ("Entourage") is the first to join the cast of CBS' half-hour comedy pilot "Home Game", about an NFL player who returns home to his wife (Zimmer) and three daughters.
- "Lost" alum Nestor Carbonell has been added to the cast of "Ringer", the CBS comedy pilot starring Sarah Michelle Gellar as Bridget Cafferty, a woman who, running from the mob, inhabits the life of her twin sister Siobhan, only to find out that her twin has a bounty on her head as well. Carbonell plays a "well manicured and muscular" FBI agent.
- Another "Lost" alum, Ken Leung, has joined the cast of "Big Mike", led by Greg Grunberg. It centers on Mike O'Bannon, a plus-sizes detective in a world where plus-sized is a minus. Leung plays Bernie Li, an old neighborhood friend of Mike's.
- Kyle Howard ("My Boys") has booked the male lead on the ABC comedy pilot "Smothered", about a young couple with a one-year-old daughter who find themselves smothered by their two very different sets of parents - his are pretentious and disengaged while hers are scrappy and exuberant. He'll play Zack, one half of the aforementioned couple.
- Henry Ian Cusick ("Lost") and Katie Lowes ("Easy Money") are coming aboard "In Crisis", the ABC comedy pilot about professional fixer Olivia Price (Kerry Washington) and her dysfunctional staff. Cusick plays Stephen, a litigator who works for the firm, while Lowes is potentially set as Quinn Riley, the firm's latest addition.
- Oh yeah, and Miley Cyrus will host "Saturday Night Live" on March 5.
First off, USA has announced that it will premiere the prequel to its hit series "Burn Notice", "The Fall of Sam Axe", on Sunday, April 17, at 9/8c.
Here's a short description from the press release:
The prequel takes place in Columbia 2005 when Lieutenant Commander Sam Axe (Campbell) is sent to advise a local military platoon. It's there he discovers deep layers of deception and ultimately realizes he may be allied with the wrong side. Shot on location in Bogota, Columbia, the two hour movie is directed by BURN NOTICE star Jeffrey Donovan.
And then, some casting news from the week, gathered from various sources. First off, returns and exits:
- Michael Rosenbaum is set to reprise his role of Lex Luthor one last time on "Smallville", when the show comes to a close in the two-hour series finale airing May 17. "I'm doing it for the fans", he said to TVLine.
- Audra MacDonald will exit ABC's "Private Practice" at the end of this season, and by that time, Lori Laughlin will part ways with her role on "90210".
Off to fresh castings, mostly from the pilot front:
- Elizabeth Mitchell ("V", "Lost") will guest star on "Law & Order: SVU" in the upcoming episode airing March 30 as a piano teacher that is the last to see one of her students alive. Jeremy Irons returns in the episode as Dr. Cap Jackson.
- Jay O. Sanders will join the cast of the final season of USA's "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" in a major role. He will play the new captain of the squad in all eight episodes.
- FOX' "Raising Hope" is welcoming a few more "My Name Is Earl" guest stars when both Ethan Suplee and Jamie Pressly will appear in the season's penultimate episode as a married couple.
- Gabrielle Carteris ("Beverly Hills, 90210") has joined the cast of NBC's "The Event", where she will play an alien named Diane Geller, who appears again on the March 21 episode. She is an old friend of Michael Buchanan who has been living amongst the human population since the crash at Inostranka.
- Jesse Metcalfe ("Desperate Housewives") and Julie Gonzalo ("Eli Stone", "Veronica Mars") have both joined TNT's reboot of "Dallas". The pilot centers on John Ross (Christopher Henderson) and his cousin Christopher Ewing (Metcalfe), who clash over the future of the Ewing empire. Gonzalo plays Christopher's fiancée, Rebecca.
- Rachel Bilson is negotiating to join the cast of "Hart of Dixie", a dram pilot from The CW centering on Zoe Hart, an adorable, spoiled New Yorker who inherits a medical practice in a small Southern town inhabited by an eclectic and eccentric group of characters.
- Zooey Deschanel will star in FOX' comedy pilot "Chicks and Dicks", which centers on an ensemble of men and women and their sexual politics. The title is expected to change if the pilot gets picked up.
- Scottie Thompson ("NCIS") has joined the ABC drama pilot "Partners" from "Criminal Minds" creator Ed Bernero, about two fiercely loyal female police detectives who are keeping it a secret that they are also sisters. Kenneth Mitchell ("Jericho") has also scored a part.
- Amanda Peet ("Studio 60") has landed the lead on NBC's comedy pilot "Bent", about a single mother fighting off an attraction for her "surf dude" contractor. Craig Zisk will direct.
- Gary Cole ("The West Wing", "The Good Wife") is the first one to be cast in "Tagged", a workplace comedy pilot from FOX that is set in a coroner's office.
- Stockard Channing is the first to come aboard the NBC drama pilot "17th Precinct", a police procedural set in a world where magic rules instead of science.
- Debra Messing is set to make a deal to star as the lead in "Smash", a drama pliot from NBC about the mounting of a Broadway musical.
- Wentworth Miller ("Prison Break") and Orlando Jones ("Men in Trees", "The Evidence") are both in talks to join ABC's "Identity" pilot, about the FBI's first cyber-crime unit, the Identity crimes division.
- Constance Zimmer ("Entourage") is the first to join the cast of CBS' half-hour comedy pilot "Home Game", about an NFL player who returns home to his wife (Zimmer) and three daughters.
- "Lost" alum Nestor Carbonell has been added to the cast of "Ringer", the CBS comedy pilot starring Sarah Michelle Gellar as Bridget Cafferty, a woman who, running from the mob, inhabits the life of her twin sister Siobhan, only to find out that her twin has a bounty on her head as well. Carbonell plays a "well manicured and muscular" FBI agent.
- Another "Lost" alum, Ken Leung, has joined the cast of "Big Mike", led by Greg Grunberg. It centers on Mike O'Bannon, a plus-sizes detective in a world where plus-sized is a minus. Leung plays Bernie Li, an old neighborhood friend of Mike's.
- Kyle Howard ("My Boys") has booked the male lead on the ABC comedy pilot "Smothered", about a young couple with a one-year-old daughter who find themselves smothered by their two very different sets of parents - his are pretentious and disengaged while hers are scrappy and exuberant. He'll play Zack, one half of the aforementioned couple.
- Henry Ian Cusick ("Lost") and Katie Lowes ("Easy Money") are coming aboard "In Crisis", the ABC comedy pilot about professional fixer Olivia Price (Kerry Washington) and her dysfunctional staff. Cusick plays Stephen, a litigator who works for the firm, while Lowes is potentially set as Quinn Riley, the firm's latest addition.
- Oh yeah, and Miley Cyrus will host "Saturday Night Live" on March 5.
2011/02/08
Hilarie Burton Upped To Regular
On WHITE COLLAR, Lifetime Picks Up Two Series
Hello Folks
A few news items worth mentioning:
- TVLine's Michael Ausiello reports that Hilarie Burton ("One Tree Hill") has been upped to a series regular on the upcoming third season of USA's "White Collar". On the show, Burton plays insurance investigator Sara Ellis.
- Lifetime has announced that it has picked up two police procedural dramas to series yesterday.
In Against the Wall, loyalty is put to the test when Chicago police detective Abby Kowalski (Rachael Carpani, The Glades, NCIS: Los Angeles) causes a rift within her close knit, blue collar family of cops when she decides to join the department's Internal Affairs division. Treat Williams (127 Hours, Everwood) and Emmy(R) and Golden Globe(R) Award winner Kathy Baker (Picket Fences, Medium) star as Abby's parents. Rounding out the cast in the pilot are Brandon Quinn (Entourage), Marisa Ramirez (Spartacus: Gods of the Arena), Chris J. Johnson (The Vampire Diaries), James Thomas (Covert Affairs), Steve Byers (Smallville), Mayko Nguyen (Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy) and Daniel Kash (The Dresden Files). Nancy Miller (Saving Grace, CSI: Miami) executive produced the pilot from Universal Cable Productions, with writer Annie Brunner (Saving Grace, Huff) serving as supervising producer. Michael Fresco (Providence, JAG) directed the series' pilot. Brunner created Against the Wall.
Exit 19 centers on divorced mother Gloria Sheppard (Ally Walker, Sons of Anarchy, Profiler), who juggles her demanding personal and professional life as an intuitive LAPD homicide detective while raising two boys with the help of her troubled younger brother Davey (Chris Payne Gilbert, Dexter, Bones). The drama co-stars Tisha Campbell-Martin (Rita Rocks, My Wife and Kids) as Gloria's partner Michelle and Miguel Ferrer (Crossing Jordan, Traffic) as their boss, Lieutenant Valdez. Thomas Robinson (Heroes), Sage Ryan (The Closer) and Terrell Tilford (24) also star in the pilot. The drama is from ABC Studios and CBS Television Studios. Writer Jeffrey Bell (V), Nina Wass (Less than Perfect) and Gene Stein (Accidentally on Purpose) executive produced the pilot, which was directed by Peter O'Fallon (The Good Wife, House M.D.).
Both shows will have 13 episodes for the first season, and will air sometime in 2011.
A few news items worth mentioning:
- TVLine's Michael Ausiello reports that Hilarie Burton ("One Tree Hill") has been upped to a series regular on the upcoming third season of USA's "White Collar". On the show, Burton plays insurance investigator Sara Ellis.
- Lifetime has announced that it has picked up two police procedural dramas to series yesterday.
In Against the Wall, loyalty is put to the test when Chicago police detective Abby Kowalski (Rachael Carpani, The Glades, NCIS: Los Angeles) causes a rift within her close knit, blue collar family of cops when she decides to join the department's Internal Affairs division. Treat Williams (127 Hours, Everwood) and Emmy(R) and Golden Globe(R) Award winner Kathy Baker (Picket Fences, Medium) star as Abby's parents. Rounding out the cast in the pilot are Brandon Quinn (Entourage), Marisa Ramirez (Spartacus: Gods of the Arena), Chris J. Johnson (The Vampire Diaries), James Thomas (Covert Affairs), Steve Byers (Smallville), Mayko Nguyen (Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy) and Daniel Kash (The Dresden Files). Nancy Miller (Saving Grace, CSI: Miami) executive produced the pilot from Universal Cable Productions, with writer Annie Brunner (Saving Grace, Huff) serving as supervising producer. Michael Fresco (Providence, JAG) directed the series' pilot. Brunner created Against the Wall.
Exit 19 centers on divorced mother Gloria Sheppard (Ally Walker, Sons of Anarchy, Profiler), who juggles her demanding personal and professional life as an intuitive LAPD homicide detective while raising two boys with the help of her troubled younger brother Davey (Chris Payne Gilbert, Dexter, Bones). The drama co-stars Tisha Campbell-Martin (Rita Rocks, My Wife and Kids) as Gloria's partner Michelle and Miguel Ferrer (Crossing Jordan, Traffic) as their boss, Lieutenant Valdez. Thomas Robinson (Heroes), Sage Ryan (The Closer) and Terrell Tilford (24) also star in the pilot. The drama is from ABC Studios and CBS Television Studios. Writer Jeffrey Bell (V), Nina Wass (Less than Perfect) and Gene Stein (Accidentally on Purpose) executive produced the pilot, which was directed by Peter O'Fallon (The Good Wife, House M.D.).
Both shows will have 13 episodes for the first season, and will air sometime in 2011.
2011/02/03
BURN NOTICE Prequel Called
THE FALL OF SAM AXE, Premiers In April
Hello Folks
TVLine's Matt Webb Mitovich tweeted that the title for the upcoming "Burn Notice" prequel starring Bruce Campbell is "The Fall Of Sam Axe".
USA will air the prequel, which is directed by "Burn Notice" lead Jeffrey Donovan, sometime in April.
TVLine's Matt Webb Mitovich tweeted that the title for the upcoming "Burn Notice" prequel starring Bruce Campbell is "The Fall Of Sam Axe".
USA will air the prequel, which is directed by "Burn Notice" lead Jeffrey Donovan, sometime in April.
USA Sets IN PLAIN SIGHT, LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT Returns For May 1
Hello Folks
USA has announced the premiere dates for both the final eight episodes of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent", and the fourth season of "In Plain Sight".
Both shows will launch on Sunday, May 1, at 9/8c PM and 10/9c PM, respectively.
Kathryn Erbe and Vincent d'Onofrio return for the final season of "Criminal Intent".
USA has announced the premiere dates for both the final eight episodes of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent", and the fourth season of "In Plain Sight".
Both shows will launch on Sunday, May 1, at 9/8c PM and 10/9c PM, respectively.
Kathryn Erbe and Vincent d'Onofrio return for the final season of "Criminal Intent".
CBS Renews NCIS For Next Season After All-Time-High
CBS has just announced that it has officially renewed its veteran crime drama "NCIS" for next season.
This after the show has hit an all-time-high in the ratings Tuesday night. 22.85 million viewers have watched, which gave the show a record rating in the 18-49 demo.
This after the show has hit an all-time-high in the ratings Tuesday night. 22.85 million viewers have watched, which gave the show a record rating in the 18-49 demo.
2011/02/02
Sally Kellerman Books Multiple Episodes On 90210
TVLine's Michael Ausiello reports today that Oscar-nominated actress Sally Kellerman will be joining The CW's "90210" for a multi-episode arc later this season.
She will play Marla, a former moviestar who has now turned into a hoarder about to lose control of her estate. Showing signs of dementia, she hires Annie (Shenae Grimes) to clean up her home.
To find out for which movie Kellerman was nominated for an Academy Award, hit the link above.
She will play Marla, a former moviestar who has now turned into a hoarder about to lose control of her estate. Showing signs of dementia, she hires Annie (Shenae Grimes) to clean up her home.
To find out for which movie Kellerman was nominated for an Academy Award, hit the link above.
SHAMELESS Adds Amy Smart, NBC Sets
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS Return
Two news bits from TVLine:
- Amy Smart will join the cast of Showtime's "Shameless" for the final two episodes of season one. She plays Jasmine, a friend of Fiona's (Emmy Rossum) from the neighborhood who is a bit pushy and definitely sexy.
- NBC has set a premiere date for the final season of "Friday Night Lights". The show returns Friday, April 15 for its last 13 episodes. This is 10 days after the DVD of the farewell season, which is almost over on DirecTV, hits stores. But NBC reportedly isn't concerned about losing viewers over it.
- Amy Smart will join the cast of Showtime's "Shameless" for the final two episodes of season one. She plays Jasmine, a friend of Fiona's (Emmy Rossum) from the neighborhood who is a bit pushy and definitely sexy.
- NBC has set a premiere date for the final season of "Friday Night Lights". The show returns Friday, April 15 for its last 13 episodes. This is 10 days after the DVD of the farewell season, which is almost over on DirecTV, hits stores. But NBC reportedly isn't concerned about losing viewers over it.
NBC Cuts Order For THE CAPE
Hello Folks
Various sources report today that after the less-than-stellar ratings for its freshman comic drama "The Cape", NBC has cut its order.
The show will now only produce 10 episode instead of the initially ordered 13.
I gotta say: They're lucky. After the series low last night, I fully expected the cancellation news this morning. The show is losing viewers every week.
Various sources report today that after the less-than-stellar ratings for its freshman comic drama "The Cape", NBC has cut its order.
The show will now only produce 10 episode instead of the initially ordered 13.
I gotta say: They're lucky. After the series low last night, I fully expected the cancellation news this morning. The show is losing viewers every week.
2011/02/01
Kristen Bell Comes Back To TV For HOUSE OF LIES Pilot
Also from TVLine's Michael Ausiello comes the news that Kristen Bell ("Veronica Mars") is eyeing a return to the Small Screen with a starring role in Showtime's upcoming pilot "House of Lies".
The project centers two competing management consulting firms. Bell plays Jeannie, a Brown grad with razor-sharp skills and a crush for her co-worker Marty (Don Cheadle).
Dawn Oliveri ("Heroes") also stars.
The project centers two competing management consulting firms. Bell plays Jeannie, a Brown grad with razor-sharp skills and a crush for her co-worker Marty (Don Cheadle).
Dawn Oliveri ("Heroes") also stars.
CRIMINAL MINDS Welcomes Back ... SPOILER Alert!
Per TVLine's Michael Ausiello, A.J. Cook will return to her role of J.J. Jareau on CBS' "Criminal Minds" for one episode this spring.
It is not clear what triggers the beloved character's return, but Cook is expected to be back on set this week.
Update:
Cook's episode is the final episode for Paget Brewster (Emily Prentiss). Matthew Gray Gubler directs.
It is not clear what triggers the beloved character's return, but Cook is expected to be back on set this week.
Update:
Cook's episode is the final episode for Paget Brewster (Emily Prentiss). Matthew Gray Gubler directs.
ABC Family Picks Up Three Series
Hello Folks
ABC Family has issued a press release announcing the pickups of three new shows.
“Switched at Birth,” a one-hour scripted drama, tells the story of two teenage girls who discover they were accidentally switched as newborns in the hospital. Bay Kennish grew up in a wealthy family with two parents and a brother, while Daphne Vasquez, who lost her hearing at an early age due to a case of meningitis, grew up with a single mother in a poor neighborhood. Things come to a dramatic head when both families meet and struggle to learn how to live together for the sake of the girls. Lizzy Weiss (“Blue Crush,” “Cashmere Mafia”), Paul Stupin (“Make It or Break It”) and John Ziffren (“Melissa & Joey,” “Make It or Break It”) serve as executive producers. “Switched at Birth” stars newcomer Katie Leclerc as Daphne Vasquez; Vanessa Marano (“Gilmore Girls”) as Bay Kennish; Constance Marie (“George Lopez”) as Regina Vasquez; D.W. Moffett (“Friday Night Lights”) as John Kennish; Lea Thompson (“Back to the Future,” “Caroline in the City”) as Kathryn Kennish; and Lucas Grabeel (“High School Muisical”) as Toby Kennish.
In the one-hour scripted drama “The Nine Lives of Chloe King,” Chloe King is looking forward to celebrating her birthday with her friends and single mother, just like every other year…that is until she starts developing heightened abilities and discovers she’s being pursued by a mysterious figure. Chloe soon learns she’s part of an ancient race which has been hunted by human assassins for millennia — and that she may be their only hope for ultimate survival. “The Nine Lives of Chloe King” will be executive-produced by Dan Berendsen (“Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam,” “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” “Hannah Montana: The Movie”) and John Ziffren (“Melissa & Joey,” “Make It or Break It”) with Alloy Entertainment’s Leslie Morgenstein (“Pretty Little Liars,” “Gossip Girl,” “The Vampire Diaries”) and Gina Girolamo. The drama is based on the book series The Nine Lives of Chloe King by Celia Thomson. The series will star Skyler Samuels (“The Gates”) as Chloe King; Amy Pietz (“The Office,” “Caroline in the City”) as Meredith King; Grey Damon (“True Blood,” “Friday Night Lights”) as Brian; newcomer Grace Phipps as Amy; Benjamin Stone (“10 Things I Hate About You”) as Alek; Alyssa Diaz (“Southland”) as Jasmine; and Ki Hong Lee (“The Secret Life of the American Teenager”) as Paul.
“The Great State of Georgia,” an ABC Studios Production, is a half-hour multi-cam comedy series starring Raven-Symoné as Georgia, an aspiring actress with a larger than life personality, and her science geek best friend, who try to make headway in New York City. “The Great State of Georgia” will be executive-produced by Kirk J. Rudell and Jennifer Weiner, author of the best-selling novels Good in Bed and In Her Shoes (Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette starred in the feature film version by the same name). Majandra Delfino (“Roswell”) also stars, as Jo and Meagen Fay (“According to Jim”) as Aunt Honey.
All three shows will premier sometime in 2011.
ABC Family has issued a press release announcing the pickups of three new shows.
“Switched at Birth,” a one-hour scripted drama, tells the story of two teenage girls who discover they were accidentally switched as newborns in the hospital. Bay Kennish grew up in a wealthy family with two parents and a brother, while Daphne Vasquez, who lost her hearing at an early age due to a case of meningitis, grew up with a single mother in a poor neighborhood. Things come to a dramatic head when both families meet and struggle to learn how to live together for the sake of the girls. Lizzy Weiss (“Blue Crush,” “Cashmere Mafia”), Paul Stupin (“Make It or Break It”) and John Ziffren (“Melissa & Joey,” “Make It or Break It”) serve as executive producers. “Switched at Birth” stars newcomer Katie Leclerc as Daphne Vasquez; Vanessa Marano (“Gilmore Girls”) as Bay Kennish; Constance Marie (“George Lopez”) as Regina Vasquez; D.W. Moffett (“Friday Night Lights”) as John Kennish; Lea Thompson (“Back to the Future,” “Caroline in the City”) as Kathryn Kennish; and Lucas Grabeel (“High School Muisical”) as Toby Kennish.
In the one-hour scripted drama “The Nine Lives of Chloe King,” Chloe King is looking forward to celebrating her birthday with her friends and single mother, just like every other year…that is until she starts developing heightened abilities and discovers she’s being pursued by a mysterious figure. Chloe soon learns she’s part of an ancient race which has been hunted by human assassins for millennia — and that she may be their only hope for ultimate survival. “The Nine Lives of Chloe King” will be executive-produced by Dan Berendsen (“Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam,” “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” “Hannah Montana: The Movie”) and John Ziffren (“Melissa & Joey,” “Make It or Break It”) with Alloy Entertainment’s Leslie Morgenstein (“Pretty Little Liars,” “Gossip Girl,” “The Vampire Diaries”) and Gina Girolamo. The drama is based on the book series The Nine Lives of Chloe King by Celia Thomson. The series will star Skyler Samuels (“The Gates”) as Chloe King; Amy Pietz (“The Office,” “Caroline in the City”) as Meredith King; Grey Damon (“True Blood,” “Friday Night Lights”) as Brian; newcomer Grace Phipps as Amy; Benjamin Stone (“10 Things I Hate About You”) as Alek; Alyssa Diaz (“Southland”) as Jasmine; and Ki Hong Lee (“The Secret Life of the American Teenager”) as Paul.
“The Great State of Georgia,” an ABC Studios Production, is a half-hour multi-cam comedy series starring Raven-Symoné as Georgia, an aspiring actress with a larger than life personality, and her science geek best friend, who try to make headway in New York City. “The Great State of Georgia” will be executive-produced by Kirk J. Rudell and Jennifer Weiner, author of the best-selling novels Good in Bed and In Her Shoes (Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette starred in the feature film version by the same name). Majandra Delfino (“Roswell”) also stars, as Jo and Meagen Fay (“According to Jim”) as Aunt Honey.
All three shows will premier sometime in 2011.
CBS Orders More MIKE & MOLLY, RULES OF ENGAGEMENT To Replace TWO AND A HALF MEN
Hello Folks
Per the Hollywood Reporter, CBS has ordered two additional episodes of its comedies "Mike And Molly" and "Rules Of Engagement" to fill the holes that "Two and a Half Men" will leave because actor Charlie Sheen is currently seeking treatment.
TMZ reports that Sheen will be away for three months, but CBS is not confirming this at the moment, but if true, his show would be eight episodes short of the planned 24-episode season.
CBS says that a possible longer shutdown of "Two and a Half Men" would "not be material" to the network, as "any ratings declines will be more than offset by the reduced programming costs for episodes lost this season."
CBS touted its schedule which is "strong and deep with hit series", and would not suffer much from the absence of one show. Plus, "Men" has a great history in its performance in repeats.
Per the Hollywood Reporter, CBS has ordered two additional episodes of its comedies "Mike And Molly" and "Rules Of Engagement" to fill the holes that "Two and a Half Men" will leave because actor Charlie Sheen is currently seeking treatment.
TMZ reports that Sheen will be away for three months, but CBS is not confirming this at the moment, but if true, his show would be eight episodes short of the planned 24-episode season.
CBS says that a possible longer shutdown of "Two and a Half Men" would "not be material" to the network, as "any ratings declines will be more than offset by the reduced programming costs for episodes lost this season."
CBS touted its schedule which is "strong and deep with hit series", and would not suffer much from the absence of one show. Plus, "Men" has a great history in its performance in repeats.
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