Jane Lynch Joins ABC Comedy Pilot ‘Bucktown’; Betsy Thomas To Direct

EXCLUSIVE: Andres Velez (Coyote Lake) has been cast as a lead alongside Christina Ochoa and Mariel Molino in ABC’s drama pilot Promised Land.

Mónica Marie Zorrilla Annie Gonzalez (“Gentefied”) and newcomer Sofia Capanna have been cast in the ABC multi-cam sitcom pilot “Bucktown,” joining previously announced cast members Jane Lynch (“Glee”), Shannon Woodward (“Westworld”) and Nicole Richie (“The Simple Life”).Per the show’s logline, the comedy follows Amy (Woodward) who, after being dumped by her boyfriend and kicked out of her apartment on the eve of a big promotion, finds refuge at her mom Helen’s (Lynch) house in the blue-collar

Gentefied‘s Annie Gonzalez and newcomer Sofia Capanna are set as series regulars opposite Shannon Woodward, Jane Lynch and Nicole Richie in ABC comedy pilot Bucktown, from The Conners‘ Emily Wilson, Tom Werner and Sara Gilbert and ABC Signature.

The Harry Potter universe is chock-full of owls and actress Evanna Lynch is standing by their sides.

EXCLUSIVE: Ravi Patel, Amaury Nolasco and John Pirruccello have boarded Lionsgate’ English-language remake of the French hit movie The Valet directed by Richard Wong.

EXCLUSIVE: Nia Long is joining Storm Reid in the next installment of the box office hit film Searching, for Sony’s Stage 6 Films. Joaquim de Almeida, Ken Leung, Amy Landecker, Daniel Henney, Megan Suri and Tim Griffin are rounding out the cast.

EXCLUSIVE: Workaholics and I’m Dying Up Here alum Erik Griffin is set as a lead opposite Shannon Woodward, Jane Lynch and Nicole Richie in ABC comedy pilot Bucktown, from The Conners‘ Emily Wilson, Tom Werner and Sara Gilbert and ABC Signature.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterNatalia Anderson will direct the ABC single-camera comedy pilot “Maggie,” Variety has learned exclusively.Anderson started out as a director and producer on the CBS comedy series “Life in Pieces,” directing multiple episodes. Other TV directing credits for Anderson include “Black-ish,” “Single Parents,” “Brews Brothers,” “Grown-ish,” “American Housewife,” and “Perfect Harmony.” She previously worked at Brownstone Productions under Elizabeth Banks.

EXCLUSIVE: Angelique Cabral (Life in Pieces), Chloe Bridges (The Carrie Diaries) and Kerri Kenney (Reno 911) are set as series regulars opposite Rebecca Rittenhouse in ABC comedy pilot Maggie, based on Tim Curcio’s short film. The project hails from Family Guy and Life in Pieces writer Maggie Mull, daughter of Clue actor Martin Mull, and Life in Pieces creator Justin Adler. 20th Television produces. Additionally, Natalia Anderson (Life in Pieces) has been tapped to direct the pilot.

EXCLUSIVE: David Del Rio (The Baker and the Beauty), Chris Elliott (Schitt’s Creek), Ray Ford (Don’t Trust the B— in Apt. 23) and Leonardo Nam (Westworld) are set as series regulars opposite Rebecca Rittenhouse in ABC comedy pilot Maggie, based on Tim Curcio’s short film. The project hails from Family Guy and Life in Pieces writer Maggie Mull, daughter of Clue actor Martin Mull, and Life in Pieces creator Justin Adler. 20th Television produces.

EXCLUSIVE: Mariel Molino has been cast as a lead alongside Christina Ochoa in ABC’s drama pilot Promised Land.

Variety reported. The legendarily transgressive filmmaker, best known for writing and directing 1972’s “Pink Flamingos,” 1988’s “Hairspray” and 1990’s “Cry-Baby,” will have a “guest starring role” in the award-winning series’ upcoming episodes.

ABC is rounding out cast for multi-camera comedy pilot Black Don’t Crack (fka Untitled Regina Hicks). Essence Atkins (Marlon) and Tisha Campbell (My Wife and Kids) are set as the two remaining leads opposite Sherri Shepard, and Tahj Mowry (Baby Daddy), Beth Grant (Words on Bathroom Walls) and Isaiah Mustafa (It: Chapter Two) join as series regulars in the pilot from writer/executive producer Regina Hicks and exec producers Viola Davis & Julius Tennon and Larry Wilmore.

HBO Max has added Diana-Maria Riva, Juan Javier Cardenas and more to the cast of its upcoming family comedy pilot The Gordita Chronicles, from  Josh Berman’s Osprey Productions, Zoe Saldana’s Cinestar Pictures and Sony Pictures TV. Also joining the cast are Savannah Nicole Ruiz, Noah Rico and Cosette Hauer.

Danielle Turchiano Senior Features Editor, TVRebecca Rittenhouse has been cast as the titular lead in the ABC pilot “Maggie.”Hailing from 20th Television for the alphabet network, “Maggie” is a single-camera comedy based on Tim Curcio’s short film of the same name.

Rebecca Rittenhouse (Hulu’s Four Weddings and a Funeral) has landed the title role in ABC comedy pilot Maggie, based on Tim Curcio’s short film, from Family Guy and Life in Pieces writer Maggie Mull, daughter of Clue actor Martin Mull, and Life in Pieces creator Justin Adler. 20th Television produces.

EXCLUSIVE: The Wonders Year pilot is adding to its cast.

Sherri Shepherd is set to star in ABC’s multi-camera comedy pilot Black Don’t Crack. Kelly Park has been tapped to direct the pilot, from writer/executive producer Regina Hicks and exec producers Viola Davis & Julius Tennon and Larry Wilmore. Shepherd will produce.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterJane Lynch has been cast in a lead role in the ABC multi-cam comedy pilot “Bucktown,” Variety has learned.Lynch joins previously announced cast members Shannon Woodward and Nicole Richie.In the multi-cam sitcom, after being dumped by her boyfriend and kicked out of her apartment on the eve of a big promotion, Amy (Woodward) finds refuge at her mom’s (Lynch) house in the blue-collar neighborhood where she grew up.