Nellie Andreeva

Mamie Gummer, star of the freshman CW drama series Emily Owens MD, is staying in the CBS family with a co-starring role opposite Rainn Wilson in drama pilot Backstrom for sister network CBS. Written by Bones creator Hart Hanson, Backstrom centers on Everett Backstrom (Wilson), an overweight, offensive, irascible detective, as he tries, and fails, to change his self-destructive behavior. Gummer will play the female lead Nicole Graveley, a watchful, competent police detective who is a lesbian saddened over her breakup with her longtime partner. 20th TV is producing.

Ashley Williams has joined another 20th TV pilot, ABC comedy Keep Calm & Karey On, from Andrea Abbate. The project centers on Karey (Kelly Preston), the clean-nosed black sheep in a family of petty thieves, drug addicts, and narcissists. When her brother is sent to prison, she decides to raise his kids along with her adopted black son and give them the normal lives they deserve. Williams, repped by Gersh and Luber/Rocklin, will play Karey’s sister Penny. She replaces Majandra Delfino, who was originally cast in the part. (She is now on 20th’s comedy pilot for CBS Friends With Better Lives). Additionally, Haley Lu Richardson has been cast as Karey’s teenage niece, whom she adopts.

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