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EXCLUSIVE: Jami Gertz and Simon Templeman are set to star in ABC’s single-camera comedy pilot from feature writer Dan Fogelman (Crazy, Stupid, Love). The project, produced by ABC Studios, centers on a family that moves into a highly desirable gated community in New Jersey only to discover that the entire neighborhood is made up of aliens disguised as humans. Gertz will play Debbie Weaver, the matriarch of the human family. Video game voice actor Templeman will play Wilt Chamberlain, the leader of the aliens. Also cast in the pilot are Toks Olagundoye as Jackie Joyner Kersee, the matriarch of the lead alien family and Tim Jo (TBS’ Glory Daze) as Joe Montana, son of the alien family. Chris Koch (Modern Family) will direct the pilot, which is executive produced by Fogelman, Koch and Aaron Kaplan of Kapital Entertainment. Still Standing alumna Gertz most recently recurred on HBO’s Entourage and guest starred on Modern Family. Jo is with Innovative and David Dean Management.
Manny Montana (The Chicago Code) has been cast in USA Network’s untitled drama pilot from White Collar creator Jeff Eastin. The project, from Fox TV Studios, follows four agents from various federal and local agencies (DEA, FBI, LAPD) who live at a former ganglord’s mansion-turned-safe house for undercover agents in Southern California. Montana, repped by SDB Partners and Trademark Talent, will play one of them, an undercover FBI agent.
In other pilot casting news, Azie Tesfai and Jonathan Del Arco have landed recurring roles in Lifetime’s drama pilot American Housewife starring Melanie Griffith as a seemingly perfect housewife. Tesfai, repped by SDB and Schachter Entertainment, will play her Somali adopted daughter; Del Arco, repped by SDB and Kyle Fritz Management, will play her gay neighbor.TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.
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Fogelman’s pilot sounds a little like the plot of Stiller’s “Neighborhood Watch.” It’ll be interesting to see if Stiller can get it out before the fall season.
I was right there until I read “aliens disguised as humans”
sounds a lot like 3rd rock from the sun
Wow the breakdown described a far more fresh style. But the cast doesn’t fit that at all. Tim Jo ?? who??? it said young goodlooking Asian male. Wait, hello? goodlooking? this show is going to suck!
Tim Jo is funny! Deal with it.
Seriously, he’s hilarious! And are you blind?? He is very handsome!
Obviously, you haven’t yet met Tim Jo. He is funny, smart, talented, and handsome!!!
Templeman is worthy of this title. But must agree with the above comment. Tim Jo isn’t my idea of funny. This is a show that could have truly used a hearthrob young male. Doesn’t anyone watch the Walking Dead? The Korean character in that show is the weakest character. No depth, not attractive. And here we have the same thing.
Toks? Don’t know who that is. Who is the dreadful casting directors that were hired for this show?
Recast this properly for the actual series. What a dreadful outcome for a show that could have had potential.
So, what you’re saying DiedreRich, is that Korean people are unattractive and untalented? What does the guy from Walking Dead have to do with Tim Jo at all? Have you actually seen this guy act or just did you just see that he was Asian, not hot enough for you, and wrote him off?
And if you don’t know who Toks is, how can you say that the casting is dreadful? Bitter beans much, you failed actor (or whatever it is you completely suck at)?
DiedreRich, listen to yourself. You’re seriously just hating on Asians and being racist, OR you’re probably another failed actor who went out for both those roles and never got them.
go cry in the corner by yourself and quit hatin others cuz ur jealous.
Can Jami Gertz act? The last role where she showed some range was in “The Lost Boys” and that was decades ago.
Jami Gertz is a great actress, a wonderful comedienne and a wonderful person. So happy for her, she’s a terrific choice.
Do you also hope that she realizes her true potential and tries to win an Oscar?
This sounds awful!! What’s with the wierd casting?? and ‘gimicky” character names??
Obviously you haven’t read the script then.
Sounds like someone hasn’t read the script. If you had, then you would understand the character names.
Happy for Jonathan. Had the pleasure of working with him when he was a struggling actor. Always a gentleman and professional. I will tune in, just to see him.
Whoa! what happened to Jami’s face??? Why can’t hollywood actresses just age gracefully? If they cast Jami in this movie, the audience will be in shock for the first 30 minutes of her time on screen, no matter how good her acting is.
Marci Phillips cast the Dan Fogelman pilot. I hope they re-cast Joe Montana as well.
Can’t he just digitally remaster old episodes of “Third Rock from the Sun”?
WOW Tim Jo, yeah that is all the Asian community needs. Another Korean unattractive male. When are American studios going to cast an Asian that is going to end up on posters tacked to walls of every young womans bedroom? Definitely not watching! Facebook fan page to ban this show coming!
You obviously went out for the role, didn’t get it, and you’re jealous. If you’re Asian, you should be proud to have another Asian representing the community because there’s not enough of us. “Facebook fan page to ban this show coming”? Seriously, how old are you, 12?
You should be proud to have another Asian to represent the Asian community…there’s not enough in the industry! Tim Jo is talented. And seriously “a facebook page to ban this show coming?” How old are you, 12?
Brendenvk2020, don’t be sour grapes for your own shortcomings. Obviously, you “know” Tim Jo who is a new kid on the block, meaning you tried out for the role and lost out… Just watch him and learn.
Go Manny!!! One of the most professional, hard working and deserving actors I’ve ever met. Hope the show is a hit!
I’m on the re-casting bandwagon for Joe Montana.
Ok, out of all of the talented and experienced sitcom (single and multi) actresses of color (Val Pettiford, AnnMarie Johnson, Kim Coles, Kym Whitley etc…) ABC decides on a comedic unknown for the alien “matriarch”? I read the script. Character description was a African American woman in her mid to late 40′s. Had to have some very strong comedic chops in order to go back and forth from alien to “uber” human. That’s the joke. Looking at this cast list, where’s the funny? Who really cares about this cast? WOW, the “voice actor Simon Templeman”. The story-line is a re-tread of “Third Rock..” I tend to like Fogelmans’ scripts, but come on! It’s one fish out of water joke all the way. Don’t know how they’re going to sustain it through several episodes. Bad choice to make Jami Gertz the only “Name” in the project. And Susan Vash was the casting director.
You lost me at “a African” it should be “an” African.
To Union advocate: FYI, Ed O’Neill the only ‘name’ in Modern Family. That show did just fine with one ‘name’. Jamie Gertz is a wonderful comedic actress. She was a scene stealer on Modern Family and Entourage. Simon Templeman was a leading actor from the Royal Shakespeare Company (someone needs to do their research) who has done everything from Broadway to Just Shoot Me and Northern Exposure. Dan Fogelman is a well respected, talented screenwriter. Clearly you have not read his script. Your bitterness is coming through.
people. stop. being. racist. and so critical.
if you don’t think the castings good, oh well. maybe they’ll surprise you.
and for the record, LAY OFF ON TIM. i’ve known him forever (cousins) and he’s really nice and a great actor. he doesn’t need all this hate. seriously. what has he ever done to you? do you even know him?? i have the right to say this stuff because, yes, i do! lay off.
Jami Gertz will be fantastic! It has been too long since we have seen her. The plot sounds questionable, but compelling and probably appealing to the average ABC fan. It might just be me, but I think Tim Jo is attractive, and probably underrated if he landed a role of this magnitude. Will I be a devoted fan? I don’t know. But I will watch the Pilot (Chris Koch will not let anybody down) and THEN judge what I see.
TIM JO! I saw his guest role in Castle and thought he was great. I’m so happy that he’s finally getting the big role he deserves – it’s about time!
I dunno what all the hate is about bc Tim Jo is gonna rock this show
angry bird, you need to do some research. Ty Burrell and Julie Bowan may disagree with you. Both had significant series experience prior to Modern Family. But when a extremely respectable entertainment site refers to a newly cast series regular as a “voice actor”, you know you’re in trouble.
And I most certainly read the script. It’s a fine script. But it is a re-tread of “Third Rock…” as others have correctly stated. The key will be who they cast as “Marty”, the human male lead. Not only is it a re-tooling of “Third Rock..” it’s a twist on “Modern Family”. The roles are extremely similar. All that’s missing is the mock-umentary take on events.
Try not to be such an angry bird. The bird stinkie droppings in your cage are coming through.
To anonymous:
it might benefit withhold your judgment until you’ve actually seen the show. you’re judging before it even has a title and before it’s even been picked up. some of the best sitcoms of all time didn’t look good “on paper”. i’m sure guys as professional as Koch and Fogelman wouldn’t have cast templeman and gertz if they didn’t think they could get the job done. i think if you’d actually seen any of templeman’s other work you would agree. and while you’re at it, please get off your high horse
I just had to contribute my opinion which is an opinion that is backed and supported by an entire community. Your choice in selecting Tim Jo bewilders me. The cliche eccentric appearing “Asian” kid is mind boggling. The Walking Dead’s weakest character is their cliche, tech wizard Korean nerdish kid. You just casted his twin brother but even a far less attractive version. For a television series that is supposed to be compared to the par of a Modern Family, why are you only casting people that we’ve seen before, have proven to fail before and not take a chance with someone fresh and more so someone that doesn’t fit the stereotypical Asian male? Name one show, name one actor, name one celebrity that is a young handsome male heart throb type actor? It will take some time to even try to squeeze out an answer. I simply don’t get it. The Asian community consists close to 2 billion worldwide and do you really think we need to see another cliche Korean? I am Korean and we make up the smallest fraction of the Asian community. Why can’t our community have a role model that our children, our girls will look up to? Someone that will appeal to the billion youngsters as not only Asian, handsome but someone with integrity and solid morals? How much background information do you look into when you are casting people. The community followed this closely because the role called for a handsome young Asian male. So now you casted a cliche short Korean male. I am trying my best not to knock Mr. Jo who may be a wonderful man but he clearly does not fit what you casted for. Find someone that is tall, that is handsome, that has an Asian look that is not easily identifiable as to what Asian lineage he belongs to so that he can all Asian nations can finally have an Asian American male role model for the young boys and someone respectful for our daughters to have teen crushes on that even non Asians will adore? Does anyone have any idea of the impact a handsome leading Asian male would have on viewers globally? This pilot is recycling all its cast members that we’ve seen, tried and tested. That is fine for one or two of the cast, but look at Modern Family, the majority were new. The show is successful because it took chances and introduced us to new faces and invented a pool of admirable celebrities. I don’t know what you are capable of doing here but I hope that this pilot gets re-casted or the actual series will consider what I am writing. Ask around, this has been a common problem in the Asian community, as our children only have Brad Pitts and Justin Biebers to look up to or dream about. Please gain a billion fans immediately and discover an Asian heart throb that isn’t the embarrassingly cliche figure. Sincerely, The Asian and Asian American Community.
AAOConline,
An interesting essay you wrote here. How did you come to develop such hatred towards a “fellow” Korean (assuming that you are who you claim to be)? How did you come to devote so much energy into composing an essay that is centered on a single star on a sitcom whose pilot is not even revealed yet? I can only deduce that you tried out for the role and didn’t get it. People like you are a disgrace to the Asian Community! Tim Jo will make the Asian Community so PROUD and be an excellent role model for young boys and girls (Asian and otherwise) as have John Cho, Steven Yeun, Aaron Yoo, etc.. Hope you can find solutions to your problems and start living a productive life!
You need to get over the fact that you lost the role to someone else. Because there aren’t many Koreans in the industry, you should be supporting fellow Koreans…as for the Korean character in Walking Dead, he is one of the best characters on the show…especially compared to how caraciature’ish Andrew Lincoln is making his character (Rick). You should be ashamed of yourself for being such a hater
Marci Phillips did not cast this pilot you dumbass