Talk show host Ricki Lake is returning to scripted programming.
The “Hairspray” star will be in an untitled CBS comedy pilot from Paramount Network TV. She’ll play a mother raising her two children after the death of her police officer husband. The character also runs a bar frequented by cops.
The show was previously greenlit for last year’s development season under the title “The Lunchbox Chronicles” and briefly featured Monica Potter in the lead and Andy Richter in the supporting cast.
In other casting news, Christina Vidal, one of the co-stars of ABC’s “10-8,” will take a main role in UPN’s “Beck and Call.” The drama, from Warner Bros. TV, focuses on twentysomethings dealing with their first jobs. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Vidal will play a young woman working as a nanny but dreaming of become a child psychologist.
Over at ABC, Ellen Pompeo, who has appeared on “Friends” and in the features “Old School” and “Moonlight Mile,” will topline an untitled ABC medical drama from Shonda Rhimes (“Crossroads”). Also at ABC, Jonathan McLain (“Happy Family”) will join the untitled Jessica Simpson comedy.
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Edited by Cara DiPasquale ([email protected]) and Kris Karnopp ([email protected])
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