TV Bits: Tricia Helfer Goes To Work For ‘The Firm’, Bryan Cranston To Make ‘Simpsons’ Guest Appearance, Ryan Reynolds Sells Comedy Script, Showtime Greenlights Three Pilots
By Angie Han/Aug. 23, 2011 5:00 am EST
The story revolves around an attorney named Mitch McDeere (Josh Lucas) and his wife Abby (Molly Parker), who are trying to make a new life for themselves in D.C. When Mitch gets brought in as a partner at Kinross & Clark, he slowly comes to realize that the firm isn’t exactly what it seems. Juliette Lewis co-stars as Mitch’s receptionist, and Rennie as Mitch’s older brother.
Helfer’s demonstrated some impressive acting chops during her time at BSG, and the role of a tough, morally iffy lawyer seems like a perfect fit for a woman made famous by her role as a tough, morally iffy Cylon. I look forward to many shots of Lucas looking simultaneously entranced and terrified. [TV Line]
After the jump, Bryan Cranston gets cast in something. Plus: Ryan Reynolds teams up with Tyler Labine, and Showtime greenlights a trio of pilots.
The 23rd season of The Simpsons kicks off September 25 on Fox. Among the other names signed up for guest stars this season are Jane Lynch, Michael Cera, Jeremy Irons, Joan Rivers, and Kiefer Sutherland. [Entertainment Weekly]
Showtime’s chief of entertainment David Nevins has given the green light to a trio of very different pilots. First, there’s intriguingly titled Masters of Sex, an hourlong drama based on Thomas Maier’s book of the same title. The plot centers around the relationship between historical sexual research pioneers William Masters and Virginia Johnson. The two originally met when Masters hired Johnson as his research assistant, and had a professional and romantic relationship that lasted decades — so there should be plenty of fodder for an ongoing TV drama. Michelle Ashford (John Adams) is writing the script, and is set to executive produce with Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly (Justified).
Next, there’s a “first-person, half-hour docu-comedy” by Andrew Gurland (The Virginity Hit), titled Gurland on Gurland. Gurland will be writing, directing, executive producing, and starring in the semi-autobiographical project, which will follow his attempts to move into the next stage of his career. Glenn Gordon Caron (Medium) is also set to exec produce.
And finally, there’s Ray Donovan, by Southland creator Ann Biderman. The dark but comedic hourlong drama will take place in Los Angeles and focus on a fixer who can’t fix his own life. Mark Gordon (Grey’s Anatomy) is attached to executive produce. My guess is that if this show gets picked up, we can look forward to lots of episodes about the protagonist taking on jobs that turn out to bear a symbolic connection to his own personal problems, Grey’s Anatomy-style. [The Hollywood Reporter]
