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Law & Order veteran S. Epatha Merkerson has joined CBS’ untitled Susannah Grant supernatural medical drama pilot. Jonathan Demme is directing the pilot, from CBS TV Studios and Timberman/Beverly, which centers on Michael (Patrick Wilson), an ultra-competitive surgeon whose life is changed forever when his ex-wife (Jennifer Ehle), a doctor running a free clinic, dies and begins teaching him what life is all about from the hereafter. Merkerson will play Michael’s assistant Rita. Without her help, he probably wouldn’t make it through the day as she is really the person running the office. Sassy and strong willed, Rita is not someone you should cross. Merkerson joins another late addition to the cast of the medical drama pilot, Julie Benz. Merkerson was approached for several projects in her first pilot season following her 16-year stint on Law & Order. The Emmy-winning actress, repped by ICM and Bob McGowan plays the lead in the upcoming Lionsgate/Tyler Perry movie We the Peoples, now in post-production.
TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.
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GENIUS casting. Merkerson is so incredibly great in everything she does. I love this pilot even more than a minute ago and it’s one of my favorite drama scripts. Can’t wait to see this show on CBS…much more unique and deep and interesting and real than the cheesy Ringer that CBS is clearly hanging its drama hopes on.
I don’t know what you’re talking about but Ringer is a great script and has a very promising cast. Can’t wait to see that one.
This sounds so promising – great cast, interesting premise. We need this instead of more CSI’s and CRIMINAL MINDS!
Love. Love. Love her!! She has won and number of awards ! Not to mention nominations ! She is a team player , great move for CBS , and the producers.
Unbelievable ! What a great catch for Jonathan Demme and Susannah grant , this women can act .
Great actor, does a lot of charity work, makes everyone around her look good !!! Cast , crew , producers, network and audience will love her !
Best female actor on tv. !!! She can do it all drama comedy, you name it , she can do it, great move on CBS ‘part. This is a great script ! Great casting !
This just keeps getting better and better! I can hardly wait to see this hit the airwaves. I haven’t been this excited about a TV show in many years. I know Patrick Wilson is one of the most convincing actors I’ve ever seen, so this should be spectacular. Thank you!
“Sassy?” Well that’s a relief.
What great casting ! She will blend right in. Jonathan Demme has a great eye . Not to mention CBS , no pun intended! This is a great character for her and a great find foe everyone involved in this project .
Patrick Wilson and Epatha Merkerson !!! Wow !!! Great script , great writer, great director , great shot of getting on the air. Can’t wait.
sassy black assistant — haven’t seen that before!
Exactly. So safe and cliched–and boring. And talk about an overrated performer. As for Demme, this reminds me of when Friedkin started taking TV work…the long, slow slide.
Good old Reba the Mail Lady is still working hard.
S. Epatha Merkerson: Yay! Sassy black assistant: Boo! But I love Lt. Van Buren and good to see her back to work. They ended L&O too abruptly and didn’t give her a worthy send-off.
Oh yeah you made my night Epatha Merkerson is a national treasure.
I still hate the premise of this show more so as I have an outline where a man’s first wife comes back to helps out the new wife to be. Its like they read my mind.
Sassy and strong willed african american female assistant. I guess Hollywood is gradually making progress from the sassy and strong willed african american male wearing a fat suit.
Epatha Merkerson deserves to be the lead in a series, not a “sassy assistant”. She will probably take the ‘cliche’ out of it, though. This is an actress of huge talent and we’re lucky to have her back on TV in anything.