Nellie Andreeva

Revolution Pilot JJ AbramsBroadcast networks and studios continue to make tweaks to their newly picked-up series, changing and recasting some of the roles. NBC’s highest-profile new drama, J.J. Abrams-Eric Kripke’s Revolution, is reconceiving one character and phasing out another. The action drama follows a group of people struggling to survive in a world where all forms of energy have ceased to exist. The character of Rachel, mother of two of the leads, is being reworked, leading to the departure of Andrea Roth. Rescue Me alumna Roth, who was sought after this past season, played the role in the pilot after getting a straight offer. Meanwhile, the character played in the pilot by Anna Lise Phillips, a doctor, will no longer be regular. Phillips is expected to do several episodes to wrap the character’s storyline.

NBC PilotsIt’s been a busy recasting season at NBC, which made the first two major casting changes heading into the upfronts, opting to replace Julian Lawson on new drama Infamous and Amy Huberman on comedy Animal Kingdom. Additionally, the option on Khary Payton from the pilot for new comedy Go On is not being picked up. The role will not be recast. The role played by Lamman Rucker in the pilot for NBC’s comedy Save Me will be recast. There is no decision yet how the network will proceed with the regular role in another NBC comedy pilot, Guys With Kids, played as a guest star by Sara Rue, who is departing as her pilot in first position, ABC’s Malibu Country, was picked up to series. I hear NBC is weighing the options to write off the character or recast the role.

Elsewhere, Jeananne Goossen, who landed the role of FBI agent Jennifer Mason on Fox’s new drama The Following after an extensive search, will be departing. I hear the character is being aged up and reworked. CBS’ new legal drama Made In Jersey is also making casting changes. Pablo Schreiber is being recast, while Stephanie March will no longer be a regular but may return as a recurring. Additionally, the role of Lucinda in the Fox midseason comedy Goodwin Games, played in the pilot by Felisha Terrell, is being recast too.

On the returning series front, the biggest casting turnaround is on NBC’s Smash, which is going through a revamp with new showrunner Josh Safran. The regular options of Jaime Cepero, Raza Jaffrey and Brian D’Arcy James were not picked up, while the recurring character played by Will Chase is being phased out. (I hear James may recur.) Meanwhile, the musical drama is adding three new regulars for Season 3. Adding one new regular each are CBS’ Criminal Minds, following the departure of Paget Brewster, and ABC’s Body Of Proof. CBS’ Vegas is adding a love interest for Jason O’Mara, but the role may be recurring. Losing his series regular status for the final 13-episode season of Fringe is Seth Gabel.

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