ABC Comedy Pilot Stars Majandra Delfino & James Roday
Majandra Delfino has been cast as "Psych" actor James Roday's leading lady in ABC's upcoming comedy pilot.
The single-camera series, written and produced by Wendy and Lizzie Molyneux and directed by Jamie Travis, was based on the book "Kip and Mona Lisa Harding," Deadline reported. Brian Grazer and Francie Calfo served as the executive producers of the still untitled show.
The comedy's synopsis reads: "Through a combination of genetics and dynamic home schooling, Kip (Roday) - a former Special Forces Operations Sergeant - and MonaLisa Mitchell (Delfino) - a teacher with PH.D. in literature who believes that everyone on Earth is born with a special gift - find themselves raising seven brilliant kids."
Antonio Banderas' ex-wife Melanie Griffith portrays the character of MonaLisa's mother Celeste, "a former pageant queen who has graciously invited her daughter's family to live with her in Orange County," a separate report from the news outlet detailed. Zoe Colletti, Spencer Tomich and Harrison Holzer will play as three of the seven children.
Deadline added that the ABC pilot will see Delfino returning to 20th TV after co-starring in the studio's CBS comedy series "Friends With Better Lives," which was cancelled in 2014.
The comedy series will serve as Griffith's first regular show in a decade. The Oscar nominated actress previously worked in 20th TV's Fox comedy "Raising Hope" in 2012 and on CBS' "Hawaii Five-O," Deadline noted. She also appeared in a "Saturday Night Live" episode hosted by her daughter, "Fifty Shades of Grey" star Dakota Johnson.
ABC Comedy Pilots In Development
Other comedy pilots that ABC is currently developing are "Family of the Year" starring "Raising Hope" actress Martha Plimpton, Ken Jeong's "Dr Ken," and an untitled NBA project, Digital Spy reported.
"Chev and Bev," "Family Fortune," The Real O'Neals," "The 46 Percenters," "Irreversible," "The King of 7B," "Uncle Buck," and the untitled shows of Johnny Knoxville and Judah Miller are also in development, according to Deadline.
TV personality and funnyman Craig Ferguson will star in "The King of 7B" as Prentiss Porter, an "agoraphobic recluse" who decides to go outside "for the first time in 20 years, only to find his potential soulmate moving into the building across the street," Variety noted. The 30-minute program will be directed by David Frankel with Ben Karlin serving as the showrunner.
"The King of 7B" will see Ferguson back in the primetime block for the first time in eight years since his late night hosting job, the news outlet noted. He will be joined by Carla Jiminez and Kirby Howell-Baptiste.