The Casting Call 08.21.09

The Casting Call brings together the latest casting news to keep you informed on who is showing up on which show. Find out who is joining your favorite show as a series regular, a recurring character, a guest star or special cameo. The Casting Call could reveal upcoming story-lines, so be aware, there may be spoilers ahead.

Cougar Town (ABC)
Nick Zano has joined ABC’s new comedy Cougar Town in a recurring role. On the freshman comedy, which stars Courteney Cox as a newly single mother who begins dating, Zano will play her first boyfriend.

Law and Order: SVU (NBC)
Rosie Perez and Garret Dillahunt will square off in an episode this fall about pedophiles’ rights. On the fifth episode of the new season, Dillahunt will play the head of a pedophilia organization. It’s called ‘Hardwired because they believe that pedophilia is a genetic predestination. Perez will play the role of a young sexual abuse victim’s mother.

The same episode also marks the return of two fair-haired legal ladies to the series: Defense attorney Patrice Larue (Jeri Ryan) will battle Stephanie March’s Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Cabot, who starts her 10-episode run behind the prosecutor’s bench that week.

The Beautiful Life (The CW)
Gal Gadot has been cast in The Beautiful Life in a recurring role. The Beautiful Life revolves around a group of young models in New York. Gadot will play Olivia, a supermodel at the top of her game.

Ugly Betty (ABC)
Kristen Johnston has been cast to replace Paula Abdul in the now-recurring role of Helen, Mode’s newest office temp. Abdul had been in negotiations to play the part, but last week the deal came undone.

“I’ve always considered myself a poor man’s Paula Abdul,” Johnston says with a laugh. She describes her Betty character as “Amanda in 10 years. She’s still trying to get into the right clubs, wearing tight dresses . . . tragic. I think [Helen] sees herself as Samantha from Sex and the City. Except, of course, she’s a temp.” Johnston will first appear in the second half of Betty’s two-hour premiere on October 9.