Pilots: CBS Woos Eldard, Cooke, Potter

Zap2It.com | February 9, 2007

Ron Eldard

Discuss this story now

Parrilla and Lloyd also book leads

In a rush of trade paper-announced casting, CBS has found leads for a quintet of pilots, including the supernatural drama "Demons" and the Hugh Jackman-produced musical "Viva Laughlin."

Toplining "Demons," as an exorcism-performing priest-turned-psychologist, is Ron Eldard, of "Blind Justice" and "Men Behaving Badly" fame. The pilot also features "Lost" veteran Harold Perrineau as the lead's best friend, another priest.

Lloyd Owen, a British television veteran, will take the lead role in "Viva Laughlin," playing a family man hoping to open a new casino in the titular Nevada gambling community. Jackman is expected to guest star in the pilot and possibly make future appearances.

In addition to a role in "Miss Potter," Lloyd's credits include "Wire in the Blood" and "Coupling," as well as "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles."

Josh Cooke, rapidly becoming a master of short-lived comedy offerings, will take a dramatic turn as a public defender in the untitled Barry Schindel project opposite Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Janeane Garofalo. In first position for Cooke, though, is his ABC comedy "Big Day," still officially a possibility (however low) for next season. Cooke has also starred in "Four Kings" and "Committed" in recent years.

Also on the pilot front, Monica Potter will play the estranged wife of a cop in "Protect and Serve," about street officers in suburban LA. Eric Balfour ("24") was previously cast.

Most recently seen on "Boston Legal," Potter's feature credits include "Saw," "Along Came a Spider" and "Head Over Heels."

Finally, Lana Parrilla ("24," "Windfall," "Boomtown") will play the swinging wife of the swinging pilot played by Grant Show ("Melrose Place") in "Swingtown," a drama about the swinging '70s.