Casting in the strike-shortened pilot season

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3ib99c45be211b0839aebffcdb8f5cba71?pn=2&imw=Y

By Nellie Andreeva

March 24, 2008

CBS has picked up seven drama and four comedy pilots in the past month. Additionally, it's been actively casting four more, ordered before the strike. Fox has greenlighted six comedy and two drama pilots after casting five earlier pickups.

Because of the time crunch, some CBS and Fox pilots are being picked up with stars already attached, including "Exit 19," starring Geena Davis; "Mike Birbiglia's Secret Public Journal," fronted by Birbiglia; and Fox's "The Inn," starring Niecy Nash.

In contrast, ABC has picked up only three pilots -- all comedies -- since the end of the strike, none of which were developed at the network. The network is expected to only pick up one-hour projects for midseason consideration.

NBC, which was active before and during the strike, has not picked up a pilot since the walkout ended, despite being the only network not to cut a single pilot script during the strike. The network is betting on fewer pilots and more projects going straight to series, which has helped with attracting top talent, network head of casting Marc Hirschfeld said.

"The fact that 'Kath & Kim' is going to series made it more appealing to stars Molly Shannon and Selma Blair," he said.

FULL 2 page story at link.