Pilot Casting: Mena Suvari and Kyle Howard Co-Star in NBC Sitcom; Michael Raymond-James to Star in MIDNIGHT SUN; Jonathan Jackson Joins NASHVILLE
by Brendan Bettinger[1] Posted:February 22nd, 2012 at 9:29 pm
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NBC has brought Mena Suvari and Kyle Howard in to co-star in the untitled single-camera sitcom created by Hilary Winston (Community). The story centers on “a shy, focused woman who, after being dumped by her fiance, leans on her co-workers to help her come out of her shell and plot her revenge.” Suvari and Howard play two of the woman’s co-workers. Suvari is described as a “hard partyer and unabashedly promiscuous.” Howard is a former football player.
Hit the jump for more pilot casting news.
NBC cast Michael Raymond-James as one of the leads lead in the thriller Midnight Sun. Based on an Israeli series, Midnight Sun centers on “the mysterious disappearance of Midnight Sun, a group living on a cult-like commune in Dugan, Alaska, and a female FBI cult specialist leading the investigation that uncovers a larger conspiracy.” Raymond-James will play an Alaskan lawyer who serves as the second-in-command of the Dugan Police. I first noticed Raymond-James from across the room in True Blood. I fell in love after Terriers. Really happy to see him land the lead in a network pilot, no matter where it leads.
Finally, Deadline[2] reports that Jonathan Jackson has joined the cast of Nashville. The ABC pilot revolves around “the rising and fading stars” in the Nashville music scene. Jackson will play one of the rising, a “bad boy musician” and aspiring writer. Callie Khouri (Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood) wrote the script. RJ Cutler (The September Issue) will direct.
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References
- ^ Posts by Brendan Bettinger (collider.com)
- ^ Deadline (www.deadline.com)
Categories: Entertainment Tags: News, star
TV Casting Call: Brandon Routh to Play Vegan Nurse in CBS Comedy PARTNERS; Justin Bartha Set as Lead in Ryan Murphy’s Comedy Pilot THE NEW NORMAL
We’ve got a couple of TV casting stories to share with you this evening. First up, Superman Returns star Brandon Routh, Elizabeth Regen (The Professional), and Lucy Davis (Shaun of the Dead) have joined the CBS half-hour comedy pilot Partners. The multi-camera show comes from Will & Grace creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan and centers on two lifelong friends and business partners Charlie, who’s straight and Louis, who’s gay. Michael Urie plays Louis and Deadline[1] reports that Routh will play Louis’ partner, “a former alcoholic, club hopping model, now a sober, vegan nurse.” Sadly, the nurse is devoid of any vegan-infused superpowers.
Regen will play Ro-Ro, Charlie and Louis’ colorful assistant while Davis (who starred on the original British version of The Office) will play a bookkeeper for Charlie’s fiancé, played by Sophia Bush. Routh is no stranger to the small screen as he had a memorable recurring character on NBC’s Chuck, and I think his infectious charm suits him well for this role. Hit the jump for casting news concerning The Hangover star Justin Bartha joining Ryan Murphy’s high-profile comedy pilot.
Additionally, Glee/American Horror Story creator Ryan Murphy has found his two other leads for the half-hour comedy pilot The New Normal[2]. The series is described as “a heartwarming comedy about a blended family of a gay couple, Bryan and David, a gynecologist, and a woman, cash-strapped waitress and mother of one Goldie, who becomes a surrogate to help them have a child. Book of Mormon star Andrew Rannells is already set as Bryan, and Deadline[3] reports that Justin Bartha will play David while Scottish actress Georgia King is poised to play Goldie.
Murphy co-wrote the pilot with Ali Adler, and Ellen Barkin is set to appear as Goldie’s mother. There’s no guarantee that the single-camera comedy will go to series, but I’d say it’s a pretty safe bet given Murphy’s “God of Television” status as of late. Murphy’s great at coming up with novel ideas for series, but his long-term execution generally becomes spotty. Nip/Tuck crashed and burned after a few seasons, and Glee has been suffering creatively for quite a while now. Hopefully Adler will have a solid hand in the show should it go to series in order to keep it from going full-on soap too quickly.
References
Categories: Entertainment Tags: actress, News, star
‘Conan’ renewed by TBS for 2 more years
Conan O’Brien’s got his desk job for at least two more years.
NEW YORK — Conan O’Brien’s got his desk job for at least two more years.
TBS said Wednesday that its late-night host, who premiered with “Conan” in November 2010, has won an extension through April 2014.
O’Brien says, “I’ll be taping episodes of ‘Conan’ well into the Ron Paul presidency.”
He originally signed with TBS after a brief, tumultuous promotion to be host of NBC’s “Tonight” show.
TBS says “Conan” has recently charted a third consecutive month of audience growth. During 2012, it is averaging 1.1 million viewers.
The Los Angeles-based “Conan” airs Monday through Thursday at 11 p.m. Eastern time.
Categories: Celebrity Tags: Entertainment, News
Whitney death pic published
A chilling photo of Whitney Houston Whitney Houston lying in her coffin[1] has been published by a U.S. tabloid.
National Enquirer editors obtained grainy images of the late superstar taken at the Whigham Funeral Home in Newark, New Jersey, where a private wake for close friends and family was held on Friday.
The pictures show Houston wearing a purple dress with colour co-ordinated eye shadow and lip gloss, and jewellery worth a reported $ 500,000.
A source tells the publication, “Whitney looked lovely… like a queen.”
The platinum coffin also had the singer’s nickname, “Nippy”, embroidered in the silk lining between two treble clef symbols in recognition of her longrunning music career.
Houston was found dead in the bathtub of her Los Angeles hotel suite on February 11. She was remembered by celebrity pals including Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, media mogul Oprah Winfrey, filmmaker Tyler Perry and her The Bodyguard co-star Kevin Costner during an emotional four-hour memorial service on Saturday and was laid to rest beside her father’s grave at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield on Sunday.
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References
- ^ Whitney Houston lying in her coffin (entertainment.blogs.foxnews.com)
Judge to Lindsay Lohan: Keep up good work
Lindsay Lohan drew praise Wednesday from a judge who said the actress was one court hearing away from putting a long-running drunken driving case behind her.
Evan Agostini AP Photo
FILE – In this Feb. 8, 2012 photo, Actress Lindsay Lohan attends amfAR’s New York gala benefit at Cipriani Wall Street in New York. A progress report hearing is scheduled for actress Lindsay Lohan, on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012 in Los Angeles.
LOS ANGELES — Lindsay Lohan drew praise Wednesday from a judge who said the actress was one court hearing away from putting a long-running drunken driving case behind her.
“Ms. Lohan, you’re in the home stretch,” Superior Court Judge Stephanie Sautner told the actress. “The probation officer is pleased with your progress.”
The former Disney star has progressed under strict probation guidelines imposed by Sautner last year, including weekly stints working at the morgue and therapy sessions.
Lohan, 25, now has to work 14 days at the morgue and attend five therapy sessions before the judge ends her probation on a 2007 drunken driving case that has dogged Lohan for years.
She is due back in court on March 29 for what could be her final court appearance if she stays out of trouble.
Lohan would remain on informal probation for a case filed after she took a necklace without permission in January 2011 but would no longer have to report to a probation officer or appear in court for frequent updates.
The model-actress is attempting a career comeback and is scheduled to host “Saturday Night Live” on March 3.
“You seem to be getting your life back on track,” Sautner told her.
Categories: Celebrity Tags: actress, Entertainment, News, star