'Cougar Town's' Josh Hopkins Joins NBC's Kari Lizer Comedy Pilot

6:15 PM PST 2/28/2012 by Lesley Goldberg , Lacey Rose

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"Lady Friends" is in second position to the ABC Bill Lawrence comedy.

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Josh Hopkins

Cougar Town's Josh Hopkins is setting an insurance plan.

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The actor also known as the cul-de-sac crew's Grayson Ellis has been cast in Lady Friends, NBC's Kari Lizer comedy pilot, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

The project, which revolves around friends Nicole (Andrea Anders) and Jen who lead vastly different lives. Nicole has a perfect family and trouble-free pregnancy; while Jen has a strained relationship with her family, trouble with men and gained weight while on a diet.

Hopkins will play Rob, Nicole's adoring husband. He joins a cast that also includes Rachel Dratch as Nicole and Jen's friend and Danny Comden as Nicole's ex-husband.

The project is in second position to ABC's Cougar Town, whose third season notched a series low in its Feb. 14 return after being left off the network's midseason schedule. Should ABC renewe Cougar Town for a fourth season, Hopkins would return to the comedy and the NBC pilot, were it to be ordered to series, would be forced to recast.

Cougar Town co-creator Bill Lawrence welcomed word Tuesday that Hopkins had landed a pilot.

"Letting my cast do pilots in 2nd position. Hoping they get parts, then have to be replaced (like Damon Wayans Jr. Happy Endings/New Girl)," he tweeted. "Heard Josh Hop got a pilot. Congrats @MrJoshHopkins : I look forward to them having to replace you. (Either way you win - psyched!)" he added.

"I want them to go out, make $$, then have to be recast because our show comes back," he added when addressing the uncertain fate of the Courteney Cox comedy. I still believe - Promise..."

Kari Lizer will pen the multicamera project for Warner Bros. Television and Kari's Logo Here. Hopkins joins Pan Am's Mike Vogel (Living Loaded) as actors with pilots in second position this season.

Hopkins is repped by Gersh, Brillstein Entertainment and Kraditor & Haber.

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