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Dennis Haysbert, star of the CBS military drama The Unit, is reuniting with the network and The Unit producer 20th Century Fox TV with a co-starring role in the CBS/20th TV drama pilot Backstrom. Written by Hart Hanson based on the Swedish book series, the project centers on Everett Backstrom, an overweight, offensive, irascible detective as he tries, and fails, to change his self-destructive behavior. Gersh-repped Haysbert plays John Almond, one of the detectives working with Backstrom.
Here is a tongue twister: Tongayi Chirisa (NBC’s Crusoe) has been cast as Father Nicholas Ngungumbane in CBS’ Jim Gaffigan comedy pilot. Written by Gaffigan and Peter Tolan, the project centers on Jim (Gaffigan) a guy who lives with his wife Jeannie (Mira Sorvino) and five kids in a 2-bedroom New York apartment. Father Ngungumbane is Catholic priest from Zimbabwe, recently relocated to New York and thrilled to be living in the United States, who tries to convince Jim to come to church more often. Chirisa is with Domain and New Wave.
TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.
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Backstorm sounds like another American version of “Cracker.”
And love my African brothers and sisters but whatever happened to changing your name for show biz????
Haha
YES!!! TONGAYI!!!! One of the nicest guys ever!!!! So Well Deserved!!!!
I like Haysbert, and this sounds like a great series for him.
As for Tolan and Gaffigan, that sounds like a pairing that could ONLY produce a hit.
Now and Again is hands down my favorite ever CBS show and I’ve loved Dennis Haysbert and Eric Close ever since. High hopes that this gets picked up because I miss seeing Dennis on my tv screen each week.
Good to have the President back with us.Very classy man.
If only you all knew the real Haysbert who is diametrically opposite to the guy you see in those commercials. Notoriously known as one of the most difficult people to work with in the industry. He has burned through three top agencies in two years before Bob Gersh decided to take a big risk.
Maybe you’re just bitter you lost him as a client. He consistently gets cast, so…
Eeeeeek, Dennis Hayesbert is NOT a great choice. In ever role he feels so pretentious and that voice…If I never see another one of his insurance commercials it will be way too soon.
Far From Heaven. Yeah, he brings enormous gravitas, which in the wrong hands could feel pretentious, but in the right hands….
I bet anything that CBS is trying to lure William Peterson back to TV to play the role of Backstrom!
I’m putting both of those shows on my must watch list(at least for their premieres)for next fall if they make it to series. That comedy just has the right elements for a real gut-busting laughathon. Hopefully, the writers capitalize on it. And Dennis Haysbert is a must watch in any procedural drama.