Leah Remini & Sara Rue Join ABC Comedies (original) (raw)

****Former The Talk co-host Leah Remini is set as the only female cast member of ABC’s comedy pilot White Van Man. The single-camera comedy is a blue collar ensemble based on the British format and centers on Jack (Kyle Bornheimer), who is forced to put his dreams on hold in order to take over the family handyman business from his father Tony (J.K. Simmons). Remini, repped by UTA and the Collective, will play Tony’s happy massage therapist sister. The casting stems from The King Of Queens alumna’s talent deal with ABC. Bobby Bowman wrote the pilot, produced by ABC Studios. Also co-starring are Jonny Pemberton and Edi Gathegi.

Former Less Than Perfect star Sara Rue is back at ABC with a co-starring role opposite Reba McEntire in the network’s comedy pilot Malibu Country. The project, from writer Kevin Abbott, centers on Reba Gallagher (McEntire) who, after her “good ol boy” rock star husband cheats on her and burns through most of their money, divorces him and moves her family from Nashville to the only asset she has left — a little house in Malibu. Rue, repped by APA and the Alan David Group, will play Kim, Reba’s upbeat new neighbor who is a share-too-much, hug-too-freely, trophy wife.