Pilot Castings: Gary Cole Finds Scruples at ABC, Jay Mohr Joins CBS' Applebaum and More
Gary Cole has fashioned himself a plum role in the ABC drama pilot Scruples.
Also among the latest pilot castings: A Suburgatory star relocates from the ‘burbs, a Walking Dead alum is reborn on L.A. Noir, an Outsourced survivor heads to Awesometown and more.
Scruples — based on Judith Krantz’ novel and executive produced by Natalie Portman — follows Billy Winthrop (played by Claire Forlani), a rich and powerful clothing designer working in a business dominated by sex, revenge and scandal. Cole will play the the manipulative, longtime lawyer of Billy’s late husband.
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Cole, a TV mainstay whose resume includes gigs on Chuck, True Blood, Entourage, and Desperate Housewives, will next be seen on The CW’s Hart of Dixie as Zoe Hart’s father. He also returns to The Good Wife this Sunday as ballistics expert Kurt McVeigh.
The Vow director Michael Sucsy will helm the pilot, which also features Chad Michael Murray (One Tree Hill), Boris Kodjoe (Undercovers) and Karine Vanasse (Pan Am).
In other pilot casting news from our sister site Deadline:
• CBS’ drama Applebaum has added Jay Mohr (Suburgatory) as the partner of Rachelle Lefevre’s stay-at-home-mom-turned-private investigator.
• It’s official: The Walking Dead‘s Jon Bernthal has closed a deal to star in the TNT drama L.A. Noir, reuniting him with Dead‘s ex-showrunner Frank Darabont.
• Ben Rappaport (Outsourced) has nabbed the lead in the ABC comedy Awesometown, which centers around a twentysomething guy (Rappaport) who has been with his wife since eighth grade. After he catches her cheating, he moves in with his co-worker (played by Nick Kocher) and his roommate Oliver (James Earl III).
• Max Brown (The Tudors) has joined The CW’s update of the 1980s series Beauty and the Beast as a medical examiner who works with Catherine (played by Kristin Kreuk).
• Necar Zadegan (The Event, 24) will play a rock star heart surgeon in the CW medical drama First Cut.
Which pilot castings have your interest piqued?
I think Claire Forlani may be a liitle too weak to play the lead in Scruples. It needs a stronger female lead.
I agree with seer, I hope that if Scruples gets picked up they put Karine Vanasse’s character into the forefront a lot because she’s a seriously good actress. Plus, she’s really really pleasant to look at.
I’m more worried about Chad Michael Murray as the male lead. He’s an okay enough actor I guess, but I can’t help but relate him to OTH.
Here’s a fun idea: instead of letting generic white dude from Outsourced lead another generic ABC comedy and using Nick Kocher as a supporting cast member, why not just let Kocher (and Brian McElhaney, of course) write, direct, and star in their own show? How has no one realized how great that would be yet?
Sooooooo glad Karine Vanasse is in Scruples!
She was the heart and soul of Pan Am much more so that all the other girls!
Ben Rappaport was great on Outsourced so I’ll be watcing awesometown for sure . I hope it gets picked up