Josh Hopkins has joined the cast of "Lady Friends," Kari Lizer 's new NBC comedy pilot, reports TV Guide. But before you break out your Big Carl to mourn the thought of Grayson leaving Jules on "Cougar Town," just because Hopkins has joined an NBC pilot doesn't mean that he's leaving the ratings-challenged ABC comedy.
Just think of it as job security. "Cougar Town" creator Bill Lawrence tweeted the news earlier Tuesday. "Letting my cast do pilots in 2nd position," he tweeted. "Hoping they get parts, then have to be replaced (like Damon Wayans Jr. Happy Endings/New Girl)... I'm still betting we will survive, and that pilot will be screwed. But I'm an optimistic guy."
In the comedy, two female friends, Nicole (Andrea Anders), who seemingly has the perfect life, and Jen, who can't seem to get it together, can't live without each other. Hopkins will play Nicole's husband. As previously reported, Rachel Dratch and Danny Comden will also star in the comedy.
In other casting news...
"Descendants" scribe Nat Faxon, who won an Academy Award for his adapted screenplay on Sunday, has been tapped to star in the Fox comedy pilot "Ned Fox is My Manny." The project revolves around Abby Elliott's Kate, a single mother who gets an assist from her brother who moves in with her to help her raise her baby. [THR]
"Glee's" Max Adler has landed Shawn Ryan's submarine-themed ABC drama pilot "Last Resort." Adler will appear as a guest star in the pilot and may or may not stay on if it gets picked up to series. [TV Line]
Sean Patrick Thomas, who co-starred opposite Julia Stiles in "Save the Last Dance," has been cast in the CW's "Hunger Games"-like pilot "The Selection." Thomas will play Sylvan Santos, a close adviser to the current queen and an expert in royal etiquette who advises the participants in the competition to become the next queen of the war-torn nation. As previously reported, Aimee Teegarden has been cast as the female lead. [THR]