Doesn’t everything seem to be happening earlier this upfront season? For the most part (CBS largely excluded), series pickups came in a lot earlier than in previous years as networks and studios tried to give their new shows a leg up in pursuing the hottest writers on the market. And remember how in previous years, some actors on pilots picked up to series were euphoric for a week before being told they were being recast? That changed this year too, with recasting news coming down often within hours or even minutes of the pickup announcements. And, in some cases, even before the official order. That happened on CBS’ new comedy $#! My Dad Says: the network informed lead Ryan Devlin last Friday he won't continue before picking up the series on Monday.
Rarely have I seen so many big lead roles on new series being recast: $#!, NBC's Harry’s Law, where Ben Chaplin is being replaced, and ABC’s The Whole Truth where Joely Richardson pulled out for personal reasons. NBC’s new comedy series Friends With Benefits also is recasting two roles, played in the pilot by Fran Kranz and Ian Reed Kesler. Most recently, the football coach role on the CW’s new cheerleading drama Hellcats also is being recast, and the character may be retooled as well. Ben Browder played the role in the pilot. Additionally, there are rumblings about a potential recastings on CBS' new drama Blue Bloods and ABC’s My Generation.
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I think they should put Hunter Parrish on Hellcats!
haha that would be alittle weird for Aly Michalka since her sis dates him. But it would be awesome
Off topic, but speaking of “Fast & Furious”, Nikki, I was curious if you knew what was going on with Fast Five, in regards to Vin’s hints on his Facebook that he seems to be fighting for rewrites so the film brings back Michelle Rodriguez. They start filming in a month yet still seem to be stuck in script approval hell due to fan and Vin demand of Rodriguez. Got any scoop on that?
Ben Browder?? come on people, can we get this man and his velvety smooth voice on a proper show??
NBC is making a huge mistake re-casting Ian Reed Kesler on Friends with Benefits. This guy is a comedic genius. I loved him on the loop.
Too bad for Fran. I thought he was one of the best things about Dollhouse.
I agree. It’s a shame. He said it was because he was too “big,” which I don’t understand at all.
He’s great.
Recasting Ryan Devlin!? That’s too bad, one of the reasons I was going to watch as I loved him last night on Grey’s (even though small role) and on Cougar Town… same with Ben Chaplin, was excited that he was going to be in a series… ;(
shit my dad says looks so weak, from clips I’ve seen it’s just going to be shatner lazily delivering the same old canned sitcom jokes in response to the same old setup lines…really we’re still stuck in this comedic rut? it was stale 20 years ago
gotta disagree. the CBS video I saw looks hilarious. it’s on youtube.
and i gotta stick up for shatner. he is a consummate actor who doesn’t lazily do anything. the guy is a total pro. (the pros always make it look easy.)
i think good comedy is good comedy, regardless of the format. personally, i like this kind of show. i like a laugh track. i’m kinda sick of so-called “comedies” where there are no laughs. wtf.
this show looks like it’s gonna be great.
(oh, and, by the way, is it possible that you’re the one in the rut?)
does shatner have a fan base and if he does what is their average age? trying to figure out where he gets the clout.
Apparently Fox is either really good at casting or they’re going to wait and crush a lot of hopes/dreams.
C’mon, someone give Ben a series. Can’t say I was too interested in Hellcats, but BB is one of those actors that just deserves to be on TV. Someone needs to come up with an idea that teams him up with Claudia Black again, they have such great chemistry IMO. Yes, I am a Farscape geek. Sue me.
Sometimes, re-casting is the best way to fully leverage a potentially great series in finding the magic and ‘chemistry’ that lacked in the first go. Often however, it is the actor who takes the heat for bigger problems with the show. In a very short time we will see how well these newbies can swim.
I’m sorry but from the clips I’ve seen, Fran Kranz and Ian Reed Kesler were the only reasons to watch Friends with Benefits – Ryan Hansen seemed to be the casting mistake on that one; I cannot take him seriously as a lead.
I saw the video and Fran’s line reading on the “in the neighborhood with grammy award winning Yo-Yo Ma” was suberb while Ian’s delivery of EVERYTHING was laugh worthy. I mean, come on!
Those are gonna be some costly mistakes.
Ben Browder is being recast because he has two movies he’s going to be working on and could not fit the series into his schedule.
Don’t forget Kristin Kruek was recast on Josh Schwartz’s sitcom! Though I’m not sure that was picked up…