Familiar women in TV pilot casts

Only at that initial phase within the pilot casting process, it's mainly female stars obtaining the hop on competing for spots within the 2012-13 TV season. Kirstie Alley, Roseanne Barr, Jami Gertz, Judy Greer, Marcia Gay Harden, Anne Heche, Reba McEntire, Rhea Perlman and Sarah Silverman are some of the significant stars with smallscreen pasts who're already mounted on greenlit comedy aircraft pilots. Getting probably the most nostalgia may be the pairing of Alley and Perlman, 19 years following the pair ended their run together on NBC's "Cheers," in ABC's "The Manzanis." Alley and Perlman will co-star with Robert Costanzo and Michael Rispoli within the comedy in regards to a boisterous Italian family, compiled by Dork Flebotte and Marco Pennette. Barr, star of some other classic sitcom from those years, is reteaming with "Roseanne" professional producer Eric Gilliand on "Downwardly Mobile" for NBC, a multicam comedy in regards to a surrogate mother inside a rv park. Barr made an appearance on television in last year's Lifetime unscripted series, "Roseanne's Nuts." McEntire, whose "Reba" went for 125 episodes around the WB and CW, is starring in ABC's "Malibu Country," a multicam series from Kevin Abbott in regards to a divorcee who moves together with her kids and mother from Nashville to Malibu. Greer, who starred in midseason comedy records "Miss/Led" for ABC in 2008 and "Mad Love" for CBS this year, can offer another use "American Judy" for ABC. Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan authored the pilot dedicated to a recently-married stepmother within the and surrounding suburbs, a premise which makes the show a possible companion with ABC newcomer success "Suburgatory." Relocating the alternative direction is Silverman like a recently single lady within the NBC untitled comedy she's co-writing for NBC, that also purchased pilot "Isabel" with Harden (whose dabblings in TV incorporate a 13-episode arc on "Damages" 3 years ago). "Weeds" veteran Kevin Nealon will have Harden's husband inside a comedy, compiled by Howard Busgang and Tom Nursall, about middle-class parents of the daughter with magical forces. Contributing to NBC's early run within the casting department is Heche, a normal on HBO's "Hung" for 3 seasons that has charge in NBC single-cam comedy "Save Me." The John Scott Shepherd-written pilot involves a housewife who involves believe she's a prophet. Two decades after her TV breakthrough within the cast of CBS' "Square Pegs," Gertz has had an online insurance lead role within the untitled ABC comedy from Serta Fogelman ("Crazy, Stupid, Love") in regards to a regular family whose Nj gated community has citizens from another planet. Tim Jo, Toks Olagundoye and Simon Templeman happen to be cast in roles intriguingly named Joe Montana, Jackie Joyner Kersee and Wilt Chamberlain. Meanwhile, Digital rebel Wilson ("Bridesmaids") will star and write in CBS comedy pilot "Super Fun Evening," in regards to a trio of buddies who attempt to make every Friday evening an unforgettable one. As well as cable gets in to the act, with Lizzy Caplan ("Party Lower") joining Michael Sheen within the cast for Showtime drama pilot "Masters of Sex," about sixties scientists William Masters and Virginia Manley. Paul Bettany have been initially cast within the Masters role before tugging out. Casting progress is further behind on network dramas, but hardly non-existent, with Kevin Sausage creating a rare foray in to the series world with an untitled Kevin Williamson work for Fox centered on an steered clear of murderer. Jason Ritter fronts "County," Jason Katims' hospital-centered work for NBC, while Frances Conroy and Toyah Feldshuh have became a member of the ensemble cast for that Peacock's near-future fantasy drama "Beautiful People," compiled by "MadTV" grad Michael McDonald. Contact Jon Weisman at jon.weisman@variety.com