'Animal Practice': 'Bride Wars' Scribe to Keep Justin Kirk on his Toes (Exclusive)

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June Diane Raphael

NBC's Animal Practice has made a new hire.

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Upright Citizens Brigade alum and Bride Wars screenwriter June Diane Raphael has booked a recurring role on the freshman comedy, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively.

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Animal Practice stars Justin Kirk (Weeds) as a surly vet George Coleman, who loves animals but hates their owners. JoAnna Garcia Swisher (Better With You) plays his boss, with whom Garcia's character shares a romantic history.

Raphael, whose credits also include Adult Swim's NTSF:SD:SUV, will play Dr. Leiter, the first official hire Swisher's Dorothy makes at Crane Animal Hospital. The new, accomplished doc in town is described as beautiful, tough and sure to keep Kirk's prickly George on his toes.

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Raphael, whose credits include episodes of New Girl and Whitney, begins shooting this week. In addition to her acting credits, she also penned the screenplay for the 2009 Kate Hudson-Anne Hathaway feature Bride Wars. She's repped by UTA, the Collective and Peikoff Law. 

Animal Practice, which was sampled in the middle of the Olympics Closing Ceremonies to 12.8 million viewers and a 4.1rating in adults 18-49, officially premieres Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 8 p.m. on NBC.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit