Casting for New ABC Family Sitcom Pilot; Fox Orders 4th Cycle of Bob's Burgers

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Casting for New ABC Family Sitcom Pilot; Fox Orders 4th Cycle of Bob's Burgers

Ryan Sypek (Wildfire) and Kate Lang Johnson (Persons Unknown) have been cast in the lead roles of the ABC Family sitcom pilot Phys Ed. The pilot is a half-hour multi-camera comedy about a high school's star jock, Ed (Sypek), who returns to teach at his former alma mater only to find that, even though he's changed, nothing else really has. Johnson will play Janie, a teacher at the school who was ignored by Ed in high school and is now the object of his affections.

The pilot is written and-executive produced by David H. Steinberg (American Pie 2). It is produced by Prodco, Inc. Ryan Sypek is an ABC Family alum, having starred in the network's first original scripted series Wildfire. Now should Phys Ed get picked-up to series, we will let you know...but for now this is just a pilot. This piece of casting follows the casting of a drama pilot, as ABC Family has cast Denise Richards (Two and a Half Men) to star in drama series pilot Socio, as Karen Ryder. Also cast is Kimberly Quinn as Tess. They join the previously announced Avan Jogia as Danny, Maddie Hasson as Jo and Kylie Bunbury as Lacey in the project. The pilot is currently in preproduction. The pilot follows Danny Ryder (Jogia), who has returned to town after serving five years in custody for murdering his aunt when he was 11. Admitting his guilt, but stubbornly refusing to discuss his motive, Danny returns to a hostile reception and a media firestorm. Ostracized by his peers, Danny reconnects with his former best friends Jo (Hasson) and Lacey (Bunbury), who are still struggling to put the past behind them. But when another student is murdered, suspicion falls on Danny and the question remains: Is Danny a serial slayer, a "socio," or is he a victim with a shocking secret?
Richards will portray Karen Ryder, Danny's perfectly coiffed mother who once ruled the town's social scene but who now struggles to put on a brave face with her son returning home under a cloud of scandal and shame. Quinn portrays Jo's mother, Tess, who tries to give Danny the benefit of the doubt and clashes with her husband over his harsh attitude towards the teen.

Bob's Burgers

Fox has ordered a fourth season of 22 all-new episodes of the Emmy-nominated animated comedy Bob's Burgers. The series is currently in its third season, but there are episodes from the second season still airing this season, as only 9 aired last season. So this fourth season cycle order will probably not get to air for another year or two. Bob's Burgers recently was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program as well as for a 2012 Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Animated Series.

This season, Bob's Burgers also serves up holiday cheer with the series' first-ever Thanksgiving and Christmas episodes. In the upcoming Thanksgiving episode, Bob's eccentric landlord, Mr. Fischoeder (guest voice Kevin Kline), invites the Belchers for an unusual Thanksgiving dinner to impress a former flame. In the Christmas episode, Zach Galifianakis guest-voices as a man who is infatuated with a mannequin, and believes he used to be a mannequin himself. Other guest voices this season include Jon Hamm, Jeffrey Tambor, Aziz Ansari, Bill Hader and Sarah and Laura Silverman. Bob's Burgers follows a third-generation restaurateur as he runs his own burger joint with the help of his wife and their three kids. Bob has big ideas about burgers, condiments and sides, but only a few thoughts on customer service and business management. Despite his greasy counters, lousy location and occasionally spotty service, Bob is convinced his burgers speak for themselves. The animated series features the voice talents of H. Jon Benjamin, John Roberts, Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman and Kristen Schaal.

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Tuesday, April 1

St. Denis Medical - "Anything to Push Zaluva" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Ron's teasing makes Joyce question whether her friendship with a pharmaceutical rep is genuine; Alex has trouble letting Serena take on a new task; Matt finds a mentor in Bruce.

Night Court - "Hot to Trot" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Abby's friendship with her ex-boyfriend's mother leads to romantic complications; when Julianne's wealthy aunt passes away, the gang vies for a piece of her inheritance.

Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "Love At First Swipe" (BET, 9:00PM ET/PT)
C.J. and Janine receive marital advice from an unlikely source; Peanut seeks help with his newfound online lover.

Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "Failure 2 Launch" (BET, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Assisted Living is the new situation comedy by Tyler Perry about three generations who must make a new start in the rural backwoods of Georgia.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 31)

Tuesday, April 1

Adam Scott (Ghosted/Veep/Parks and Recreation/Party Down) - Catch Adam on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Kevin Bacon (I Love Dick) - Kevin is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Amanda Peet (Brockmire/Togetherness/Bent) - Amanda appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Paul Rudd (The Shrink Next Door/Living with Yourself/Wild Oats) - Paul stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Ike Barinholtz (The Studio/The Afterparty/Bless the Harts/The Mindy Project/Eastbound & Down) - Ike appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. He will also be on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9:30pm on Bravo.
Vinny Thomas (Platonic), Paul F. Tompkins (The Great North/BoJack Horseman/DAG) and Aparna Nancherla (The Great North/Lopez vs Lopez/Corporate) - Vinny, Paul and Aparna are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Chase Sui Wonders (The Studio/Bupkis) and Kathryn Hahn (The Studio/Tiny Beautiful Things/Central Park/Happyish/Transparent/Free Agents) - Chase and Kathryn are guests on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9:30pm on Bravo.
Will Ferrell (The Office) and Jennifer Coolidge (2 Broke Girls/Joey) - E! News has interviews with Will and Jennifer at 11pm on E!.
Román Zaragoza (Ghosts) - Román talks about Ghosts on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
Jenny Slate (The Great North/Big Mouth/Married/Bob's Burgers) - Jenny talks about Dying for Sex on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
Michael Angarano (Laid/I'm Dying Up Here/Will & Grace) and Michael Cera (Life & Beth/Arrested Development/I Was a Sixth Grade Alien) - Michael and Michael talk about Sacramento with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Olivia Munn (Perfect Couples) - Olivia guest co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Hannah Einbinder (Hacks) - Hannah talks about Hacks on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
Tasha Smith (Survival of the Thickest/Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse/The Tom Show/Boston Common) and Tone Bell (Survival of the Thickest/Fam/Disjointed/Truth Be Told/Bad Judge/Whitney) - Tasha and Tone talk about the new season of Netflix’s Survival of the Thickest on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Kathryn Hahn (The Studio/Tiny Beautiful Things/Central Park/Happyish/Transparent/Free Agents) - Kathryn is dishing on her new comedy series The Studio on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Wilmer Valderrama (That '70s Show) - Wilmer and Freddy Rodriguez chat about their podcast Dos Amigos on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Brenda Song (Running Point/Dollface/Dads/The Suite Life on Deck/The Suite Life of Zack & Cody) - Brenda talks about Netflix's Running Point on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Paul Walter Hauser (The Afterparty) - Paul is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:40am.