Pilots: Ms. Malick Goes to Washington

Zap2It.com | March 2, 2007

Wendie Malick, 'Big Day'

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ABC projects also add Brolin, Kebbel

Wendie Malick is hoping the third time will be the charm for her and ABC.

Malick, who's starred on the network's "Jake in Progress" and "Big Day" in recent seasons, has joined an untitled comedy set in Washington, D.C. She heads a slew of actors, including James Brolin, Arielle Kebbel, Shawnee Smith and Rhea Seehorn, who have signed onto ABC pilots, the showbiz trade papers say.

A two-time Emmy nominee for "Just Shoot Me," Malick will return to multi-camera comedy with this latest project, which comes from "Friends" writer-producer Shana Goldberg-Meehan. It centers on two young congressional staffers who fall in love despite working for rival lawmakers. Malick will play one of them, a Democratic senator.

Another D.C.-set comedy, "The Thick of It," has signed its first cast member in Seehorn. She'll play a speech writer for a low-level congressman in the remake of the British cult hit.

Seehorn also stars in NBC's yet-to-be-seen "The Singles Table" and was a regular on "I'm With Her" a few seasons ago.

Also on the comedy front, Smith ("Becker," the "Saw" movies) will star in "Traveling in Packs," about a trio of 30-something women who share a house, and Kym Whitley ("The Parkers," "That's So Raven") has joined Ashley Williams and Ayda Field in a comedy set at a law firm. She'll play a paralegal.

Brolin, meanwhile, will star with Alyssa Milano and Mary Steenburgen in a drama pilot from Rina Mimoun ("Everwood"). He'll play a charismatic attorney in Savannah, Ga., and the father of Milano's character. His recent credits include A&E's "Wedding Wars," "The Reagans" and a recurring part on "The West Wing."

Ian Kahn ("Dawson's Creek") and Anna Camp have also joined the show.

Finally, Kebbel ("John Tucker Must Die," "Gilmore Girls") has signed onto "Football Wives," where she'll play the younger sister of Kiele Sanchez's character.