Pilots a Danger for HBO

By Marcus Ferrell

HBO is facing a potential dangerous leak for its various midseason series’ plots with the announcement of pilot casting by the assorted networks. Earlier this week, Drea de Matteo of THE SOPRANOS was cast in NBC’s JOEY, which has led many to believe that her character is not long for the Mafia world. Now, ABC has cast Keith Carradine, who plays Wild Bill Hickok in DEADWOOD, in the sitcom SAVAGES, from Mel Gibson.

The sitcom is loosely based on Gibson’s life as a father that is raising five boys. Carradine would play the father, who is a fireman.

The show will be written and executive produced by Julie Thacker and Mike Scully. Gibson is also executive producing with Bruce Davey.

ABC has also cast Holly Robinson-Peete as Heaven in a new Tollin-Robbins/Touchstone TV pilot starring comedian Earthquake. In the project, Earthquake will play an unlucky father who, with his wife, struggles to get by financially. The pilot will be written by Les Firestein (THE DREW CAREY SHOW), who is also executive producing with David Himelfarb, Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola and David Goldman.

Shelley Long (CHEERS) has joined the cast of the untitled NBC pilot from Marsh McCall. Mitch Rouse and Tom Conti are starring in the project about the relationship between an adult son and his newly-divorced father. Long will play the mother, replacing Beverly D’Angelo.

NBC has cast Steve Hytner in D.O.T.S., a pilot that revolves around the world of meter maids. Hytner will play a lieutenant presiding over a team of meter maids. Rob Cohen and Gavin Polone are executive producing.

Kirstie Alley (CHEERS) is in final negotiations to join the cast of the untitled CBS sitcom starring Ricki Lake. Lake will play a young widow of of a policeman that raises her two boys with her mother and also runs a bar that is a hangout for police. Alley will play Margo.

Fox has cast Sam Page (AMERICAN DREAMS) as the male lead in POINT PLEASANT. The show, from Marti Noxon, will focus on a beachside community that is turned upside down when a mysterious girl (Elizabeth Hamois) washes ashore. John McLaughlin wrote the pilot script and he is also executive producing with Noxon, Neal Moritz, Marty Adelstein and Dawn Parouse.

Pat Finn has been added to the untitled UPN sitcom pilot from Sony TV that will star comedian Dane Cook as a comedian who tries to get back on top after having lost everything that had been handed to him in life. Cook, Ken Mok and Michael Curtis (FRIENDS) are executive producing. Curtis is also writing the pilot.