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Posted: Tue., Mar. 27, 2001
 
Thesps take flight
 
Hatcher, Estes, Meyer set for 20th pilots
 
By JOSEF ADALIAN MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

 
Former "Lois & Clark" star Teri Hatcher has signed on for a new adventure, inking to star opposite Ken Olin in the Jeff Richman/Steve Levitan laffer pilot "Say Uncle."

In other casting news, ex-"Melrose Place" resident Rob Estes is moving to NBC's "Tikiville," while feature thesp Breckin Meyer ("Josie and the Pussycats," "Road Trip") is set for the Peacock comedy pilot "Inside Schwartz." All three skeins come from 20th Century Fox Television.

Also, Kimberly Williams ("Father of the Bride") has been set for ABC's untitled Jim Belushi pilot from Touchstone; and Jim Gaffigan ("Welcome to New York") will join Ellen DeGeneres in her CBS pilot "Ellen Again."

Hatcher will play Olin's outwardly sweet co-anchor on a high-rated entertainment newsmag. Despite her kindly appearance, character is actually a manipulative schemer. "Uncle" is a co-prod with CBS Prods.

In addition to her four-year run on "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman," Hatcher sports feature credits including this week's Dimension Films release "Spy Kids" and Bond pic "Tomorrow Never Dies." Thesp made her stage debut last year in the touring company of "Cabaret."

Set for feature 'Story'

Hatcher also has been cast as the lead in indie pic "The Chester Story," which she'll shoot after finishing the "Say Uncle" pilot.

As for Estes' role in "Tikiville," from 20th and 3 Sisters, he'll play a surfer dude who suddenly returns to the lives of his ex-wife and son after abandoning the two 14 years earlier. Pilot comes from exec producers Dottie Dartland Zicklin, James Burrows and Jamie Tarses; Burrows will direct.

Estes most recently has had a recurring role on NBC's "Providence."

Meyer goes 'Inside'

Meanwhile, Meyer will star in "Inside Schwartz" as Adam Schwartz, a sports fanatic who dreams of becoming the next Bob Costas.

Other cast members in the Stephen Engel-penned series include Miriam Shor ("Then Came You"), Brian Callen and Jennifer Irwin. Pilot is a co-prod with NBC Studios.

Over at Jim Belushi's untitled pilot, Williams will play Dana, the sister of Courtney Thorne-Smith's character. The family comedy comes from exec producers Belushi, Tracy Newman, Jonathan Stark and Suzanne Bukinik.

Williams' other credits include the ABC romantic drama "Relativity."

And Gaffigan, who played "Jim Gaffigan" in CBS' short-lived "Welcome to New York" this season, will star as DeGeneres' longtime friend in her comedy pilot (which comes from Mitch Hurwitz and Carol Leifer).

One more piece of casting: Chris Potter ("Queer as Folk") has signed as the father in the Touchstone family drama "The Big House" (aka "Being Brewster") for ABC. Potter, who will play opposite Jennifer Beals, also has appeared in "Silk Stalkings."


 
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