COOL CASTINGS: TV Banking On Big Stars – New Projects On The Horizion For Robin Williams, Blair Underwood And John Leguizamo

If these new projects succeed, we’ll be seeing a lot more of some big names.

TV is the hot place to be!

John Lequizamo is working on a 30 minute comedy pilot for ABC based on his life as a husband, father and fish out of water living in the Upper West Side neighborhood of New York City. (This is kind of like his own life, but in fact he lives in an amazing home in Chelsea – A huge brownstone that he designed by himself with lots of eclectic, salvaged pieces. It’s amazing! I was there!)

Meanwhile, NBC has locked in Blair Underwood for a series remake. Underwood will star in a pilot revamp of the 1960s drama Ironside. The original Ironside  followed tough and smart talking police detective Robert T. Ironside, who is confined to a wheelchair after a shooting. But despite the disability, he is one of the best detectives in the city. The original Ironside detective drama began in the sixties and ran for eight seasons with Raymond Burr as the lead.

CBS is banking on a new project starring Robin Williams! They’ve just ordered a pilot starring Williams an advertising executive whose daughter works at the agency. It will be called “Crazy Ones,” and will be helmed by David E. Kelley, the man behind L.A. Law, Ally McBeal, and Boston Legal).