TV Land Lines Up Star Talent for Upcoming Pilots

NEW YORK: Three new pilots are in the works for TV Land, with casting that includes Fran Drescher, Rita Moreno, Sherri Shepherd and Donald Faison.

Based on Drescher’s (The Nanny) real life, Happily Divorced centers on how Drescher deals with dating after finding out that her husband is gay. Rita Moreno (West Side Story) and Robert Walden (All the President’s Men) are on board to play the main character’s parents and Tichina Arnold (Everybody Hates Chris) will play the main character’s best friend. John Michael Higgins (Best in Show), D.W. Moffett (Friday Night Lights) and Valente Rodriguez (George Lopez) have also signed on for the pilot.

Donald Faison (Scrubs), David Alan Basche (The Starter Wife), Wayne Knight (Seinfeld) and Kristen Johnston (3rd Rock From the Sun) are set to star in the as-yet-untitled Mark Reisman project. Created and executive produced by Reisman (Frasier), the multi-camera sitcom features three divorced men who live in an apartment building together, run by a sexy and smart female landlord who is a divorce attorney.

Terri Minsky’s project (working title Rip City) stars Christine Taylor (Zoolander), Barry Watson (Samantha Who?) and Sherri Shepherd (The View). The multi-camera office comedy takes place at a regional beverage manufacturer and distributor. When an ivy league-educated female takes over as boss, the entire office is shaken up. Anne Meara (The King of Queens) is also slated to guest star in the pilot.

"TV Land is very dedicated to finding the next great sitcom for viewers in their 40s," said Larry W. Jones, the president of TV Land. "With the successes of Hot in Cleveland and Retired at 35, we feel that we are really honing in on what our audience craves—sitcoms with a classic feel with funny, relatable and contemporary story lines."