Fresh off of his stint on "Breaking Bad," Jonathan Banks is heading to "Parks & Recreation," HitFix reports.
In Season 5 of the Pawnee-set NBC comedy, Banks, who played Mike Ehrmantraut on "Breaking Bad," will play Ben Wyatt's (Adam Scott) dad Steve.
"We were working the character description of Ben's dad," "Parks & Rec" co-creator Mike Schur told HitFix. "I said aloud, 'He should act like Mike Ehrmantraut.' So somebody said, 'Well, why can't we just get Jonathan Banks?
"To me, at this exactly moment in time, he's everyone I know's favorite actor," Schur said. "He's the actor about which we've spent the most time talking in the room over the last year ... Everyone's geeking out."
Banks will likely appear in Episode 6 of Season 5 of "Parks & Rec" with Glenne Headly playing his ex-wife and Ben's mom, Julia, according to TV Guide. Julia is "a warm and charming woman who appreciates art and literature, but who also has a bit of a dark side when provoked," the website reports.
When the Wyatts come to town, Leslie (Amy Poehler) makes a good impression on Julia, but she's not happy when Steve shows up with his much younger new girlfriend, according to TV Guide.
"Parks & Rec" Season 5 premieres on Thurs., Sept. 20 at 9:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
In other casting news ...
Dylan Baker is heading to "Zero Hour." The "Good Wife" and "Political Animals" actor will play FBI Section Chief Terrence Fisk, the supervisor of Carmen Ejogo's character, Becca Sunjata. Terrence has a connection to the compelling conspiracy case at the center of the ABC midseason drama, in which Hank's (Anthony Edward) wife is kidnapped. [TV Guide]
An "Army Wives" alum will have a dark side on "Bones." Brian McNamara will guest star in Season 8 as Eric Neibling, a Steve Irwin-esque pet expo proprietor. After one of his employees is murdered, Eric becomes a prime suspect when his secret side business -- importing endangered species for money -- is exposed. [TVLine]
The "Bride Wars" writer is moving in front of the camera. Screenwriter June Diane Raphael, an Upright Citizens Brigade alum, will recur on "Animal Practice" as Dr. Leiter, the first official hire Dorothy (Joanna Garcia Swisher) makes at Crane Animal Hospital. She's "beautiful [and] tough" and will keep George (Justin Kirk) on his toes. [The Hollywood Reporter]
Ne-Yo is stopping by "90210." The R&B singer will sing "Let Me Love You" in a November episode of The CW series at the Hollywood Bowl where Adrianna (Jessica Lowndes) is also performing. [TV Guide]
"Walking Dead" alum lives again on "Dallas." Emma Bell is being resurrected in Season 2 of the TNT drama as Emma, who's rumored to be Ann Ewing's (Brenda Strong) estranged daughter. Bell's character is described a beautiful privileged woman who "was raised by her grandmother to be poised, graceful, and slightly aloof, while her father has ingrained in her a distrust of the larger world." [TVLine]
