High Maintenance‘s Max Jenkins has booked a series regular role in the ABC comedy pilot MOST LIKELY TO. The series centers on Liz Cooney (Lesli Margherita) and Markie McQueen (Yvette Nicole Brown). In high school, Liz had everything and Markie had nothing. Twenty years later, they’re reunited under the same roof as single moms and unlikely housemates. Jenkins will play Dante Almanzar, a stylish, fabulous and fun gay man who works at Markie’s salon as a hairdresser and is the perfect friend when she needs to vent.
Marvel’s Luke Cage star Mike Colter is set for a guest arc on the upcoming second season of CBS All Access’ THE GOOD FIGHT, reprising his role as Lemond Bishop. Lemond Bishop is a powerful Chicago drug lord who was a controversial major client of Lockhart/Gardner. He first appeared toward the end of the first season and quickly grew into a major recurring character, appearing in 21 episodes of the series’ first six seasons. Bishop’s Good Wife story left off with him in prison; it will now be picked up on The Good Fight.
Dhruv Singh has landed the lead in CBS’ multi-camera comedy pilot PANDAS IN NEW YORK. The series is about a family of Indian doctors with a successful group practice in New York City who embarks on a project to arrange their youngest son Rishi’s (Singh) life, unaware he’s made plans of his own. Singh’s Rishi is a physician who just spent a year in Cambodia as a member of Doctors Without Borders. Now, he’s back home in New York and, unbeknownst to his family, has accepted a job with a free clinic. However, his family has other plans for his life. As their only son, he’s supposed to join the Pandas’ orthopedic practice, marry a nice Indian girl with a medical degree and have as many children as possible. And while his family is ecstatic to have him home, they will go to any lengths necessary to get him in line with all the other Pandas.
Ashley Tisdale has been cast as a series regular in PANDAS IN NEW YORK. Tisdale will play Maya, the director of the free clinic where Rishi (Dhruv Singh) works. She has a highly developed sense of fairness and an outsized focus on social justice, particularly when it comes to the dismal state of healthcare for the poor. Underneath her tough exterior is a warm, sensitive person who is attracted to Rishi, which she tries to deny.
The 100‘s Zach McGowan has landed a starring role in the BAD BOYS spinoff. McGowan will play Ray Sherman, a slick-suited hustler who runs a nightclub. He has a violent encounter with Union’s LAPD homicide detective Syd Burnett ( Gabrielle Union, reprising her role from Bad Boys II), who is looking for a criminal he is apparently in business with.
Karan Oberoi (Notorious) has been tapped for a series regular role in the CW pilot ROSWELL, a reboot with an immigration twist of the cult sci-fi series. Oberoi will play Noah Bracken, Isobel’s sexy, charming and devoted husband who senses a secret in his wife that’s starting to tear them apart.
KJ Smith (Dynasty) and Brent Sexton (The Killing) are set as series regulars in the CW drama pilot SKINNY DIP. The series centers on Joey, who, after her husband, Chaz (Ben Aldridge), tries to kill her on what she thought was a romantic cruise to celebrate their second wedding anniversary, teams with a jaded ex-cop, Mick (Matt Barr), to exact her own twisted brand of revenge on her cheating spouse and winds up uncovering a wider conspiracy in the process. Smith will play Karla. A misplaced Detroiter now living in Miami, Karla is a detective investigating the strange disappearance of Joey. Coming off a bad relationship of her own, she interviews Chaz (Aldridge) – and immediately gets the feeling that something’s not quite right. Sexton is Red. Ruthless and tough as nails, he’s known as “Red” to friends and enemies alike. A self-made, albeit corrupt, businessman, he uses his charm and charisma to conceal his violent nature.
The Sandlot’s Patrick Renna is set for a recurring role on the upcoming second season of GLOW. Renna will play Cupcake, a socially awkward Glow superfan who is also an enthusiastic baker.
Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Without A Trace), Brooke Bloom (Gypsy), Ayden Mayeri (New Girl) and Jacob Pitts (The Sinner) have been cast in recurring roles opposite Julia Roberts in HOMECOMING. Jean-Baptiste will play Gloria, Walter Cruz’s (Stephan James) mother, who is anti-military, anti-government, anti-everything and grows suspicious about what may be happening with Walter at the facility. Bloom will portray Pam, Carrasco’s boss at the Department of Defense. She’s ambitious but weary; mostly she just wants the minimum amount of trouble. Mayeri will play Reina, the receptionist at the Homecoming Facility. Pitts will portray AJ, who is exploring several new business ventures.
Eme Ikwuakor (Inhumans) has booked a recurring role on season 2 of Starz’s spy thriller COUNTERPART. Ikwuakor will play Yorke, Management’s enigmatic fixer.
9-1-1 star Connie Britton is set for a leading role in the Bravo drama series DIRTY JOHN. The scripted anthology series is based on the series of articles published by the Los Angeles Times’ last fall about a charismatic con man, John Meehan, and the consequences of an ill-fated romance. Britton will star as Debra Newell, a single mother who fell in love with Meehan.
April Dawn | Editorial Intern
