Chenoweth plucks 'Daisies'

Tony winner returns to TV
By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER, JOSEF ADALIAN


Tony winner Kristin Chenoweth is taking another stab at TV, signing on to star in the ABC pilot "Pushing Daisies."

Comedic drama revolves around a man who falls in love with a deceased woman after he figures out how to bring the dead back to life. Should "Pushing Daisies" be ordered to series, it would be Chenoweth's first regular series role since playing Annabeth Schott on "The West Wing."

"Pushing Daisies" comes from Warner Bros. TV. Bryan Fuller, Dan Jinks, Bruce Cohen and Barry Sonnenfeld (who's also directing) are exec producers. Lee Pace, Anna Friel and Chi McBride are also set to star.

Chenoweth's other tube credits include the self-titled comedy "Kristin."

She will star in the features "Asphalt Beach" and "Rapunzel" as well as in a Dusty Springfield biopic. Chenoweth is currently on Broadway, starring in "The Apple Tree."

Casting News
Casting -- Kathleen Monroe ("Beautiful People") will play Grosz on the legal drama "Suspect," from Sony Pictures TV and 25C Prods.

Casting -- Julien Ovenden ("Charmed") has been tapped to star as Eric in the Sony Pictures TV/Darren Star/Gail Katz drama "Cashmere Mafia," opposite Miranda Otto and Frances O'Connor.

Casting -- Leighton Meester ("Surface") and Blake Lively ("Accepted") have joined the cast of the Josh Schwartz/Stephanie Savage hour "Gossip Girl." They'll play Blair and Serena, respectively.

Casting -- Dorian Brown ("The Game") will play Kate (opposite Molly Stanton) on the untitled Liz Meriwether Female College Grads comedy (also known by the title "Sluts"). Brown's hiring lifts the pilot's cast contingency. 20th Century Fox and Dawn Parouse produce.

Casting -- Bridget Regan will play Holly on legal drama "Supreme Courtships," from 20th Century Fox and Adelstein Prods.

Casting -- Cornell Womack ("Conviction") has been added to the ensemble as Hagen on the cop drama "Fort Pit," from Sony Pictures TV and Apostle.