The 15 Coolest Actors to Land Television Pilots So Far This Year

By Dustin Rowles | Lists | March 8, 2012 |

By Dustin Rowles | Lists | March 8, 2012 |

Abby Elliot — Elliot will star in “Ben Fox is My Manny” about an uptight single mother (Elliott) and her laid-back brother who move in together to raise a child.

Justin Kirk — Kirk (“Weeds”) is set for “Animal Kingdom,” an NBC pilot that is basically “House” only with a veterinarian (Kirk). Taylor Labine will also star.

Judy Greer — Set up for ABC, Greer will play a cosmopolitan woman who gets married and becomes a fish out of water in the suburbs where she must juggle step-kids, her mother-in-law and the ex-wife of her husband, who also happens to be the town sheriff. Ken Marino will play the sheriff.

Matthew Perry — Perry will star a single-camera NBC comedy pilot about an irreverent yet charming sportscaster (Perry) who, trying to move on from a loss, finds surprising solace from the members of his mandatory support group.

Scott Foley — Foley (“Felicity”) will star opposite Becki Newton in a high-concept project for CBS about a father who leaves his fortune to his three children — only if they agree to his terms.

Sarah Chalke — Chalke will headline “How to Live with Your Parents for the Rest of Your Life” a recently divorced single mom who moves in with her eccentric parents, Elaine and Max, a couple who’s full of life but knows no boundaries. Elizabeth Perkins will play Chalke’s mother.

Portia de Rossi — de Rossi will star in a comedy along with Malin Akerman and Jean Smart about a “brilliant and successful woman (de Rossi) who has to go to work for her less brainy but more popular sister, Candy (Akerman), a former beauty queen, weather girl and now big city Mayor.”

Kevin Bacon — Bacon will star in a Fox drama from Kevin Williamson (Scream, “Dawson’s Creek”) about a diabolical serial killer who uses technology to create a cult of serial killers, and a retired FBI profiler (Bacon) who finds himself in the middle of it.

Mindy Kaling — Kaling created and will star in a Fox pilot about young Bridget Jones-type Ob/Gyn doctor balancing personal and professional life, surrounded by quirky co-workers in a small office.

Jason Ritter — Ritter will star in Jason Katims’ (“Friday Night Lights,” “Parenthood”) hospital drama along with Michael B. Jordan (“Friday Night Lights,” “Parenthood”). The show will chronicle the lives of young doctors, nurses, and administrators in a frenetic underfunded and morally compromising LA County Hospital

Keri Russell — Russell will star in the FX pilot, “The Americans.” It’s about two spies in the 1980s posing as a suburban married couple. “The arranged marriage of Phillip and Elizabeth Jennings, who have two children who know nothing about their parents’ true identity, grows more passionate and genuine by the day, but is constantly tested by the escalation of the Cold War and the intimate, dangerous, and darkly funny relationships they must maintain with a network of spies and informants under their control. Complicating their relationship further is Phillip’s growing sense of affinity for America’s values and way of life.” (via EW)

Jeff Goldblum — Goldblum will play the ex-husband of Sarah Silverman’s character in “Susan 313,” about a thirtysomething woman adjusting to single life after a decade-long relationship ends.

Connie Britton — Britton will play a veteran country singer in “Nashville,” opposite a Hayden Panettiere. It’s described as as a family soap about love, country music, family, politics and sex, all set against the backdrop of the Nashville music scene.

John Barrowman — “Gilded Lily’s” from Shonda Rhimes. It is described as an “upstairs-downstairs look at the opening of the first true luxury hotel built in New York City circa 1895. Barrowman will play Julius Ashford Lily, the golden boy of the prestigious Lily family opening the hotel. He’s mama’s favorite son, who’s very charming, lucky and loose.” Blythe Danner will also star. Matt Lauria (“Friday Night Lights”) will also star.