Five Broadcast Pilots Add To Casts

COMMENTS (14)

• Proske is comedy gold.

  I take back much of what I ever said about CBS.

  Comment by P fan — Friday February 18, 2011 @ 6:26pm PST  Reply to this post

  • LOVE, LOVE, LOVE her.

    Comment by SL — Saturday February 19, 2011 @ 7:51am PST  Reply to this post

• I’m liking Playboy more and more. NewsinFilm gives the pilot script a great writeup.

  “So put on your smoking jackets, here’s a look at the pilot script:

  The crucial opening sequence simultaneously acknowledges and glides past the seedy, crime-filled streets of 1963 Chicago into the glitz and glamor of the original Playboy Club on Walton St. Outside, a curvy Bunny, uniformed in a one piece, fluffy ears and a tail, greets and verifies the club’s elite keyholders, a select group of Windy City gentlemen worthy enough to enter the exclusive establishment.

  At the center of the swank and circumstance is Nick Dalton, the Don Draper of the series, a former “cleaner” for an organized crime family now a smooth, successful attorney who always appears calm on the surface. Well-connected and well-liked, Dalton takes (and gets) what he wants, and that means main attraction and original Bunny, Carol-Lynn (Laura Benanti), who is introduced crooning a sultry rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “Chicago.”

  But that’s about to change with the arrival of Maureen (Amber Heard), a new cigarette Bunny from Fort Wayne who is as flirtatious as she is naive with the clientele. She catches Dalton’s eye while dancing and stealing the spotlight from Carol-Lynn, which sparks an instant rivalry, and it isn’t long before Maureen desperately requires his “cleaning” skills.

  Neatly written by Chad Hodge, the first of five acts alone deftly establishes the setting, classy mood, and central love triangle between the suave regular, the queen bee of the Bunnies, and the sexy newcomer. But the subsequent chapters flesh out the story and strong supporting characters that include casual mentions of Playboy patriarch Hugh Hefner; Billy, the push-over club owner being intimidated by the Bianchi family; Alice, the married, motherly Bunny; Janie, a ditsy type likened to Amanda Seyfried in Mean Girls; and Naturi NaughtonBrenda (Naturi Naughton, right), the sassy, black Bunny with dreams of becoming the first African-American centerfold.

  Each character has their own distinct voice and, in most cases, they are harboring a secret, which hints at multiple threads intriguing enough to keep viewers returning for more than just teases of T&A. Aside from the promise of scantily clad ladies, there are allusions to the corrupting influence of the mob, opportunities to follow the revolving door of various keyholders, and the inevitable backroom cattiness and gossip amongst the girls at the club and the Bunny dormitory.”

  Comment by Peter — Friday February 18, 2011 @ 6:57pm PST  Reply to this post

• Playboy sounds to be a hot mess.

  Comment by Oof — Friday February 18, 2011 @ 6:58pm PST  Reply to this post

• yay for Jenn. Was in class with her just last year, glad to see talent be recognized and fresh new faces given a chance.

  Comment by anonymous — Friday February 18, 2011 @ 7:16pm PST  Reply to this post

• Leah Renee is gorgeous! Perfect casting!

  Comment by Anonymous — Friday February 18, 2011 @ 7:28pm PST  Reply to this post

  • Wow, a medical drama, a cop drama, another show about the 60′s because those always do so well – no wonder no one under 40 watches network TV anymore.

    Comment by bill — Friday February 18, 2011 @ 9:50pm PST  Reply to this post

    • People under 40 have no fucking taste. “Jersey Shore,” NUFF SAID

      Comment by Shut up Bill — Sunday February 20, 2011 @ 9:48pm PST  Reply to this post

• Wesley French series regular role in Peter Tolan’s Brave New World.
  Reggie Watts grows bigger beard and bigger hair to make up for lack of talent.
  Independent film returning big over the next three years.

  Don’t be a schmuck. Tip big. It could be you.

  Comment by Agent 99 — Friday February 18, 2011 @ 9:49pm PST  Reply to this post

• Based on Peter’s quote, the premise for Playboy sounds interesting and very risky for network tv. Bob Greenblatt seems to be doing a fantastic job at NBC so far.

  Comment by James — Saturday February 19, 2011 @ 12:30am PST  Reply to this post

• Leah Renee, wow, that girl can sing and is drop dead gorgeous. I will be watching for sure.

  Comment by Anonymous — Saturday February 19, 2011 @ 8:13am PST  Reply to this post

• has anyone seen Dave Foley recently? Probably not. But the dude looks awful. He has not aged well. I don’t see how he carries the lead in a sit com.

  Comment by lenny Payne — Saturday February 19, 2011 @ 9:23am PST  Reply to this post

  • Forgetting CBS is the network that had Mark Addy starring for 88 episodes on a sitcom, it’s pretty clear that Dave Foley won’t be “the lead” or “carrying” the show and that David Hornsby will. Foley will play Hornsby’s boss/editor, which seems reasonable.

    Comment by CaseyL — Monday February 21, 2011 @ 3:20pm PST  Reply to this post

• Are you kidding me! This is what their going to offer up in the fall!
  OMG are these network execs out of touch. All will FAIL!

  Comment by Arthur Bach — Saturday February 19, 2011 @ 11:00am PST  Reply to this post