The usual excellent trade roundup from our usual favorite source.
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- Mia Maestro is
in negotiations to play the lead in "Cutthroat," marking a
last-minute recasting for the ABC dramedy pilot. "Cutthroat," from
20th TV, centers on Nina Cabrera (Maestro), an upscale Beverly Hills widow and
soccer mom who runs an international drug cartel. Maestro replaces
"Without a Trace" alumna Roselyn Sanchez, originally cast in the
role. The pilot, directed by Bronwen Hughes, begins production this week. The
Argentinean-born Maestro is best known for her role on ABC's "Alias."
- Additionally, Treat Williams is set to co-star opposite Katee Sackhoff in
ABC's drama pilot "Boston's Finest." "Boston," formerly the
untitled Richard Hatem project, centers on a detective (Sackhoff) who teams
with a disgraced ex-cop to solve crimes and untangle the conspiracy that sent
him underground. Williams will play the ex-cop's former partner, an old-school
policeman. He is repped by APA and the Schiff Co.
- Donnie Wahlberg and Len Cariou have been tapped as leads in CBS' untitled
Burgess/Green drama pilot. Cariou ("Damages") will play a retired
NYPD police chief, a blunt, honest man. Wahlberg ("The Zookeeper")
will play his grandson, a smart, determined, rumpled detective with a quick
fuse and a family man who served in Iraq. The Burgess/Green project is a
multigenerational show revolving around a family of New York cops.
- Melissa Sagemiller has joined NBC's "Rockford Files."
"Rockford" stars Dermot Mulroney as roguish private detective Jim
Rockford. Sagemiller, coming off playing an assistant district attorney on
TNT's "Raising the Bar," will play his competent, on-the-spot
attorney and on-again, off-again girlfriend.
- Anthony Ruivivar has been added to ABC's drama pilot "The Whole Truth."
The Jerry Bruckheimer-produced "Truth" is a legal drama that shows
the defense and prosecution sides equally. It revolves around New York
prosecutor Kathryn Pearle (Joely Richardson) and defense attorney Jimmy Nolan
(Rob Morrow). Ruivivar ("Traveler") will play Nolan's longtime
associate.
- "Avatar" baddie Stephen Lang has signed on as a cast member of
ABC's drama pilot "Matadors." Lang is set to play high-powered
defense attorney Victor Galloway, nicknamed "The King of Aquittal."
Drama, about two families of lawyers -- defense attorneys vs. prosecutors -- also
stars Zach Gilford, Michelle Borth and David Strathairn. [Lang,] who appeared
as Col. Quaritch in "Avatar," recently shot the independent film
"White Irish Drinkers," and has also been added to the cast of
Lionsgate's "Conan." Lang's other credits include "Public Enemies"
and "The Men Who Stare at Goats." Sony Pictures TV is behind "Matadors."
- "My Name Is Earl" alum Ethan Suplee has joined the cast of Fox's "Nevermind
Nirvana." Suplee, who recently appeared in the feature "Brothers,"
spent four seasons as the dimwitted Randy on "Earl." 20th Century
Fox is behind "Nirvana."
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