Nellie Andreeva

Rules Of Engagement star David Spade and Rachael Harris (The Hangover) are set as co-leads opposite Sharon Horgan in Horgan’s ABC single-camera comedy pilot Bad Management. Written by Horgan and Holly Walsh and executive produced by Aaron Kaplan, Bad Management centers on a slightly self-centered female boss (Horgan) at a high-end luxury goods department store who finds her ways challenged when the boss’ son, Tobias Jr. (Spade), comes to town and makes youth and sex the new company focus. Harris plays Linda, a store employee who finally gives up on her long-time spray tan habit. ABC Studios is producing, with Kat Likkel & John Hoberg also exec producing.

CBS’ Rules, now in its seventh season, is unlikely to return, in part because producer Sony TV will have to make new deals with the original cast whose contracts are up this season. That made the core actors available for new series, with Spade and Patrick Warburton booking pilots. (Fellow Rules regular Adhir Kalyan also landed a pilot gig in second position). If both Spade and Warburton’s pilots don’t go and they remain available, there is a chance that Rules might be brought back but they are considered very slim as everyone seems to be moving on.

Earlier this season, Harris, along with The Office‘s Angela Kinsey, were attached to star to another comedy project, Dirty Blondes, which had a put pilot commitment at Fox. Coincidentally, the two closed for pilot starring roles within an hour of each other — Kinsey will play the female lead in the Fox comedy The Gabriels. Harris, repped by UTA, Principato-Young and Rick Genow, has recurred on Fox’s New Girl.

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