Tomei has Eye on 'Inner Life'

Woodside joins 'Laughlin'
By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER, JOSEF ADALIAN


CBS
Casting -- Marisa Tomei ("Wild Hogs") has signed on to topline the CBS comedy pilot "The Rich Inner Life of Penelope Cloud."

Tomei dipped her toe in the TV water with a recurring role on FX's "Rescue Me" during the 2005-06 season. "Penelope," however, would rep her first regular role in a network show since she appeared in NBC's "A Different World" two decades ago, prior to winning an Oscar.

Thesp will play the title role in "Penelope Cloud," starring as a supersmart, opinionated author who's having trouble delivering the follow-up to her celebrated first novel. After having an epiphany, she tries to recapture her youthful optimism.

Jeff Greenstein ("Desperate Housewives," "Will & Grace") wrote the pilot and will exec produce for ABC TV Studio and CBS Par Network TV.

Tomei recently wrapped production on "Brandhauser" (with John Cusack and Ben Kingsley) and Sidney Lumet's "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" (opposite Ethan Hawke and Philip Seymour Hoffman).

CBS
Casting -- D.B. Woodside, best known for playing President Wayne Palmer on "24," could be singing a new tune next season. He's joined "Viva Laughlin," the Sony/CBS Par musical drama. Woodside will play the role of Marcus.

Fox
Pickup -- Fox is getting into the half-hour soap opera business, pacting with "American Idol" producer 19 Entertainment to adapt the popular U.K. genre for auds across the Pond.
Net has ordered a pilot from 19 Entertainment that revolves around a blue-collar family. Sudser comes from 19 Entertainment's Simon Fuller, as well as the shingle's head of drama, Mal Young ("EastEnders"). Fuller and Young will serve as co-creators and exec producers of the Fox pilot, which is currently untitled. Should it be picked up to series, the serial could potentially air several times a week.

Casting -- Camille Guaty ("The Nine") has joined the soapish D.C.-set comedy drama "Supreme Courtships" as Amber.

Casting -- Fresh off her character's demise on "Heroes," Tawny Cypress has a new gig: She's been cast as Love Tap on the New Orleans-set 20th Century Fox TV drama "K-Ville." Also joining the cast is John Carroll Lynch ("Close to Home") as Dixon.

ABC
Casting -- Holly Robinson Peete ("21 Jump Street"), who in real life became a football wife when she married former NFL player Rodney Peete, will now play one on TV. She's been cast in the sudser "Football Wives," from ABC TV Studio. Robinson Peete's more recent series include "Love Inc.," "Like Family" and "For Your Love."

Casting -- Kurt Fuller ("Big Day," "Desperate Housewives") will play Harold on the ABC TV Studio/Brillstein-Grey comedy "See Jayne Run." Also added to the cast: Jarrad Paul ("Monk"), who will play Neil.

Casting -- Flex Alexander ("Homeboys in Outer Space") will play Eric, while Matthew Morrison ("I Think I Love My Wife") is set as Brody, Caroline Chikezie ("Eragon") will play Rachel and Kathryn Hahn ("Crossing Jordan") is onboard as Price in the laffer "Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office." Corporate comedy comes from 20th Century Fox TV and Imagine TV.

Casting -- Rob Benedict ("Threshold") has been added to the cast of the 20th Century Fox TV-produced femme-centric murder mystery pilot "Women's Murder Club."

CW
Casting -- Nikki Reed ("Justice") will play Andi in the comedic thriller "Reaper," from ABC TV Studio and Mark Gordon Co.