LITTLE ESTHER (MTV, New!) - Comedian Esther Povitsky is set to topline a potential reality series at the cable channel set in the L.A. comedy scene and revolving around her relationships with her (mostly male) young standup comedian friends. Production on a pilot is currently underway. Rico Martinez, Stone & Company Entertainment's Scott A. Stone and Oasis Media Group's John Mass are the executive producers of the project, with Lee Kernis and Brian Stern of Brillstein Entertainment Partners serving as consulting producers. (Deadline.com)
WENDELL & VINNIE (Nickelodeon) - Haley Strode has joined the cast of the comedy pilot, about man-child Vinnie (Jerry Trainor) and his precocious 12-year-old nephew, Wendell (Buddy Handleson). She'll play Vinnie's newly divorced and relocated neighbor Taryn, who develops a bond with the uncle-nephew duo. Jay Kogen penned the half-hour and is executive producing alongside Aaron Kaplan. (Variety.com)
VIKINGS (History) - Newcomer George Blagden is the first to be cast in the cable channel's first scripted series, which chronicles "the extraordinary and ferocious world of the mighty Norsemen who raided, traded and explored during medieval times." He'll play Athelstan, "an Anglo-Saxon monk captured by Ragnar on his first raid on England." Production is set to begin this summer in Dublin on the 10-episode drama with Alan Gasmer, John Weber, Michael Hirst, Morgan O'Sullivan and Sherry Marsh among the executive producers. (Deadline.com)
ANIMAL PRACTICE (NBC) - Gail Lerner ("Happy Endings") have been tapped to serve as showrunner of the recently ordered comedy, about George Coleman (Justin Kirk), a veterinarian who loves animals but usually hates their owners. There she'll supervise co-creators Brian Gatewood and Alessandro Tanaka as well as executive produce alongside American Work's Scot Armstrong and Ravi Nandan and co-directors Joe and Anthony Russo for Universal Television. The Peacock plans to recast the female lead on the recently ordered comedy, about George Coleman (Justin Kirk), a veterinarian who loves animals but usually hates their owners. Amy Huberman originated the role - George's ex-girlfriend Dorothy who returns to his life as the new Director of the Rutledge Animal Hospital... with a fianceé in tow - in the pilot. "Thanks so much for all the lovely well wishes about the pilot guys! But I was only contracted for the pilot and I won't be doing the series," the actress wrote on her Twitter feed. Tyler Labine, Bobby Lee and Betsy Sodaro also star in the Universal Television-based half-hour, from co-creators Brian Gatewood and Alessandro Tanaka and co-directors Anthony and Joe Russo. (Deadline.com)
FAME WHORE/UNTITLED JOHN SCOTT SHEPHERD PROJECT (Showtime/USA, New!) - John Scott Shepherd (NBC's "Save Me") has booked a pair of projects on the cable side. First up is the half-hour comedy "Fame Whore" at Showtime, about "our national obsession with being seen, validated, and adored by strangers, illustrated by a backup singer's determined quest." Shepherd is executive producing alongside Kim and Eric Tannenbaum of CBS Television Studios and John Legend and Mike Jackson of Get Lifted Film Co. Then there's an untitled hour at USA, details of which weren't given. Rich Frank and Jeff Kwatinetz of Prospect Park are executive producing alongside Shepherd. (Variety.com)
HEARTSICK (FX, New!) - Chelsea Cain's best-selling book series is being developed as a drama at the cable channel. Feature writer Mikko Alanne ("5 Days of War") has been tapped to pen the hour, about "beautiful therapist-turned-series killer Gretchen Lowell and her relationship with damaged Portland detective Archie Sheridan." Media Talent Group's Geyer Kosinski is also on board to executive produce alongside Alanne. (Deadline.com)
THE KEYS (ABC Family) - Jonny Umansky and Zach Hyatt have booked a potential drama at the network about "a young woman unraveling the secrets of an exclusive and mysterious resort off the coast of Florida." RelativityREAL's Tom Forman and Blondie Girl Productions' Ashley Tisdale and Jessica Rhoades also serve as executive producers. (Deadline.com)
