Spade, left, and Ferlito Getty Images
CBS continues to firm up their comedy and drama pilots.
CBS has cast a pair of supporting roles in two of its most buzzed about pilots.
Graceland and CSI: NY's Vanessa Ferlito has been tapped to co-star in drama pilot Nancy Drew, while Rules of Engagement alum David Spade has closed for a supporting role in comedy pilot The Kicker, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
Drew, based on the beloved book series, finds Nancy (currently uncast) now in her 30s and serving as a detective for the NYPD, where she investigates and solves crimes using her uncanny observational skills, all while navigating the complexities of life in a modern world. Ferlito will return to the network and play Nancy's best friend George, an NYPD homicide detective and Nancy’s former partner on the force who has an innate ability to put other people at ease. The role marks Ferlito's first since USA Network canceled drama cop drama Graceland. Ferlito is repped by Innovative and Alchemy.
Drew is being written and executive produced by husband-and-wife duo Joan Rater and Tony Phelan (Grey's Anatomy). Dan Jinks also exec produces the CBS Television Studios drama. James Strong will exec produce and direct the pilot, which also stars Anthony Edwards as Nancy's adoptive father and Felix Solis as an NYPD lieutenant.
Meanwhile, Spade is set to co-star in CBS' The Kicker, the multicamera comedy from 30 Rock's Jack Burditt, Tina Fey and Robert Carlock. The comedy centers on Daryl, an oddball athlete (Enlisted's Geoff Stults) who drives family, friends and strangers insane after he unexpectedly finds himself retired. Spade will play Russ Thorkelson, Daryl's brother and sports agent who spends most of his time doing damage control while Daryl says something else controversial. Although he's eternally stressed, Russ loves his brother more than anything for giving him a career opportunity in the sports world.
Burditt will pen the script and exec produce alongside Fey, Carlock and David Miner. The drama hails from Universal Television, Little Stranger and 3 Arts.
Keep up with all the latest pickups, castings and eventual series orders with THR's handy guide to pilot season.
Pilot Season
