CASSANDRA FRENCH'S FINISHING SCHOOL FOR BOYS (MTV) - Michael Lehmann ("Heathers") has been tapped to direct the pilot, about a 22-year-old overachiever who gets her dream job as a lawyer for a Hollywood studio but can't find a guy ready for a real, mature relationship that decides to lock one up in her basement in order to train him to become the perfect gentleman. He'll work from a script by Eric Garcia, who likewise penned the novel upon which the project is based. Krysten Ritter also serves as an executive producer. (Deadline.com)
CULT (The CW) - Andrew Leeds ("Bones") has been cast in the drama pilot, about Skye Yarrow (Jessica Lucas), a production assistant on a wildly popular television show named "Cult," who teams with Jeff Sefton (Matt Davis), a journalist blogger, to investigate the rabid fans of the series who might be re-creating crimes seen on the program in real life. He'll guest star as Kyle Segal, the current executive assigned to the show. Alona Tal and Robert Knepper also star in the Warner Bros. Television-based project, from director Jason Ensler and writer Rockne S. O'Bannon. (Deadline.com)
DOWNWARDLY MOBILE (NBC) - Jason Antoon, Kendra Jain and Hector Duran will round out the cast of the comedy pilot, about Rose Davis (Roseanne Barr), the proprietor of a mobile home park and surrogate mother to all of the unique people who live there in a challenging economy. They'll play various tenants: Antoon as the stay-at-home dad of his and Sheila's (Romy Rosemont) wild child daughter, Skar (Jain); and Duran as Ricky, a shy and timid but sweet 13-year-old boy whom Rose takes under her wing. Greg Cromer, John Goodman, Mary Birdsong and Salli Richardson-Whitfield also star in the project, from 20th Century Fox Television and co-creators Barr, Eric Gilliland and John Argent. Gail Mancuso is directing. (Deadline.com)
DRUNK HISTORY ACROSS AMERICA (Comedy Central, New!) - The cable channel has ordered a pilot presentation for a potential comedy based on the award-winning Funny or Die series of shorts, featuring historical reenactments presented by a besotted narrator. Writer Derek Waters and director Jeremy Konner are behind the project, which Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and Chris Henchy will executive produce via their Gary Sanchez Productions banner alongside the duo and Owen Burke. Ferrell, Jim Carrey, Ryan Gosling, Jack Black, Don Cheadle, Michael Cera, Zooey Deschanel, John C. Reilly, Crispin Glover, Jason Ritter and Danny McBride were among the actors featured in the series. (Deadline.com)
OH F---, IT'S YOU (CBS) - David Walton ("Bent") has booked the male lead on the comedy pilot, about a notorious womanizer who, after surviving a health scare, realizes that "the one" is his ex-turned-gal pal/business partner (JoAnna Garcia Swisher), who's already engaged to a nice guy (Ryan Gaul). He'll play said fellow Nick Miller ("good looking in an easy-going kind of way"), taking over for the previously cast Bryan Greenberg. Said role is formally in second position to Walton's duties on the NBC comedy, which is not expected to return. Director James Burrows and co-creators Greg Berlanti and Greg Malins are behind the Warner Bros. Television-based half-hour, which also stars Greg Grunberg and Matt Cook. (Deadline.com)
STARS EARN STRIPES (NBC, New!) - Dick Wolf and Mark Burnett are set to team for a new competition series at the Peacock in which celebrities attempt the rigors of military training - from a staged hostage rescue to correctly placing a laser target atop a mountain. The project will likewise pay a tribute to our troops and first responders by bringing said tasks a spotlight. As for specifics, each of the nine planned participants will be paired with a trainer whose job it is to prepare them for the rigors of the weekly challenge at a top-notch, secret military training facility. Wolf and Burnett executive produce the project with David Hurwitz. (Deadline.com)
1600 PENN (NBC) - Martha MacIsaac ("Greek") has joined the cast of the pilot, a single-camera comedy about a dysfunctional First Family where Skip (Josh Gad), the out-of-control oldest son, returns home and becomes not only it's biggest liability but also the glue holding everyone together. She'll play eldest daughter Becca ("overachiever and perfectionist who puts a ton of pressure on herself; helped raise her siblings"), taking over for Brittany Snow. Said change was made following yesterday's table read as the producers "opted to make a creative change with a younger and darker-looking Becca." Jon Lovett, Josh Gad and Jason Winer co-created the 20th Century Fox Television-based half-hour, which Winer will direct from a teleplay by Lovett. Amara Miller, Andre Holland, Benjamin Stockham, Bill Pullman and Jenna Elfman also star. (Deadline.com)
BEING MARY JANE (A.K.A. SINGLE BLACK FEMALE) (BET) - Lisa Vidal ("The Event") has joined the cast of the Gabrielle Union-led drama pilot, about "successful talk show host Mary Jane Paul (Union) looking to one day become the No. 1 nightly news anchor while searching for Mr. Right." She'll play her friend Kara, the lead producer of the show. Aaron D. Spears and Richard Roundtree also star in the project, from writer Mara Brock Akil and director Salim Akil. (Deadline.com)
COUNTER CULTURE (ABC) - Briga Heelan ("Cougar Town") has booked a role on the comedy pilot, about three aging sisters - Nonie (Delta Burke), Billie (Kerri Kenney) and Joyce (Margo Martindale) - running their family diner together in West Texas. She's guest star as Jill ("cute, sweet as pie, love crafts and sewing; is simple, but in no way dumb"), Joyce's daughter-in-law. Writer Stephnie Weir and director Ted Wass are behind the ABC Studios-based half-hour, which also stars Doris Roberts, Ken Howard and Luis Guzman. (TVLine.com)
HEMLOCK GROVE (Netflix) - Australian actress Penelope Mitchell is the latest addition to the upcoming drama, "a gripping tale of murder, mystery and monsters set in a ravaged Pennsylvania steel town." She's set as Letha Godfrey, Roman's (Bill Skarsgard) cousin, in the project, which also stars Famke Janssen and Landon Liboiron. Brian McGreevy, Deran Sarafian, Eli Roth, Eric Newman, Lee Shipman, Mark Verheiden and Michael Connolly are among the executive producers. (Deadline.com)
OH F---, IT'S YOU (CBS) - Bryan Greenberg has departed the comedy pilot, about Nick, a notorious womanizer who, after surviving a health scare, realizes that "the one" is his ex-turned-gal pal/business partner Wendy (JoAnna Garcia Swisher), who's already engaged to a nice guy, Warren (Ryan Gaul). Casting is underway to find a new Nick on the Warner Bros. Television-based project, a decision that was made following today's table read. Greg Grunberg and Matt Cook also star in the half-hour, from director James Burrows and co-creators Greg Berlanti and Greg Malins. (Deadline.com)
MALIBU COUNTY (ABC) - Jeffrey Nordling ("Body of Proof") has landed a role on the comedy pilot, about a woman (Reba McEntire) who divorces her broke, cheating rock star husband and moves her family from Nashville to the only asset she has left - a little house in Malibu. He'll guest as said husband, Russell Howard, in the project, which John Pasquin is directing from a script by Kevin Abbott. Jai Rodriquez, Juliette Angelo, Justin Prentice, Lily Tomlin and Sara Rue also star. (Deadline.com)
THRILLSVILLE (HBO, New!) - Rob Thomas, Ira Glass and Owen Wilson are set to team for a potential drama at the pay channel about "a man who deals with a midlife crisis by rescuing two kidnapped kids in Mexico." The project, to be penned by Thomas, is based on a "This American Life" segment from March 2010 about James Spring, "a San Diego meth smuggler-turned-advertising copywriter [who] detailed the story of how the approach of his 40th birthday inspired him to do something significant to help others." Said effort ultimately led him to a new career investigating missing persons cases. Thomas, Glass and Wilson then will executive produce alongside Dan Etheridge, Danielle Stokdyk, Regina Lee and Alissa Shipp. (Variety.com)
UNTITLED LOUIS CK/SPIKE FERESTEN PROJECT (CBS) - Ryan Hansen ("Friends with Benefits") has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about a group of young people working to achieve their creative dreams amid tough financial times. He'll guest star as Mitch, the stoner musician roommate of Dan Byrd's Fred. Said role, originally a regular, is in second position to his duties on the FOX comedy pilot "El Jefe," in which he plays the lead. Ashley Tisdale and Patti Murin also star in the project, from CBS Television Studios and Universal Television. Andy Ackerman is directing. (Deadline.com)
FRIEND ME (CBS) - Nicholas Braun ("10 Things I Hate About You") and Dan Ahdoot ("Kickin' It") have both been cast in the comedy pilot, about best pals Rob and Evan who have just moved to L.A. from Indiana to start new jobs at Groupon. Braun will play Rob, the more enthusiastic of said duo, who's open to what the world has to offer whereas Evan (yet to be cast) is cynical and way, way less open to change. Ahdoot then is set as Reggie, one of their friends from back home - a filmmaker heavily involved in the indie film scene in Bloomington - whom Evan regularly stays in touch with via iChat. Parvesh Cheena and Tim Robinson also star in the CBS Television Studios-based half-hour, from director Pamela Fryman and co-creators Ajay Sahgal and Alan Kirschenbaum. (Deadline.com)
OVER AND OUT (CBS) - Colleen Smith ("The Showbiz Show with David Spade") is the latest addition to the comedy pilot, about Ray Barker (Martin Lawrence), a widowed father of two teenagers who, after losing his job in construction, decides to go to the police academy and become a cop at the age of 46. She's set as Peg Horst ("cocky, chip on her shoulder"), a fellow cop who attempts to raze him. Fred Savage is directing the CBS Television Studios-based half-hour, which was penned by Mike Lisbe and Nate Reger. P.J. Byrne and Regina Hall also star. (Deadline.com)
THE UNPROFESSIONAL (ABC) - Horatio Sanz ("Saturday Night Live") has booked a role on the comedy pilot, about Hilary Pfeiffer-Dunne (Mary McCormack), a high-powered executive who now faces the biggest challenge of her life when she finds herself unemployed and acting as a full-time mom to her two teenagers (Aiden Potter, Sabrina Carpenter). He'll play Jonathan, her put-upon, wry-humored neighbor who's the stay-at-home dad of 20-month old twin girls. Greg Germann and Mo Gaffney co-star in the project, from Warner Bros. Television, director Craig Zisk and writer Kari Lizer. (Deadline.com)
Y.M.O.C. (BET, New!) - Jacob Latimore and Eric D. Hill, Jr. are set to star in a potential spin-off of "Reed Between the Lines" about "15-year-old college prodigy Jacob Matthews (Latimore) who is the youngest man on campus, sharing a dorm at Mt. Pleasant University with his basketball star cousin Marco (Hill)." Said characters were featured in the "Let's Talk About College Boys" episode of the series, which aired in December. Terri Vaughn, Dondre Whitfield and Vanessa S. Simmons are also on board the comedy pilot, as Trishelle, Jacob's widow mom (originally played by Dawnn Lewis); Derek Watson, the professor who discovered Jacob; and Aliyah, a hot girl whom both Jacob and Marco have crush on. Jacque Edmonds Cofer is behind the project, which is being eyed for a 10-episode order. (Deadline.com)
