About a Boy Episoidc Adrianne Palicki Inset - H 2014
Jordin Althaus/NBC; Chris Pizzello/Invision/APIt didn’t take long for About a Boy boss Jason Katims to recruit one of his Friday Night Lights colleagues to NBC’s new freshman comedy.
Former Friday Night Lights co-star Adrianne Palicki has booked a guest arc on the comedy starring David Walton and Minnie Driver, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
The series, based on Nick Hornby‘s novel and subsequent 2002 Hugh Grant feature film, follows the relationship between bachelor man-child Will (Bent‘s Walton) and a young boy, Marcus (1600 Penn‘s Benjamin Stockham), who moves in next door with his crazy single mother, Fiona (Driver).
Palicki will play Dr. Samantha Lake, a love interest for Will, and appear in a seven-episode arc of the comedy exec produced and written by her former FNL boss Katims.
The actress played Tyra Collette in more than 50 episodes of the NBC/DirecTV drama’s five-season run. The casting also marks a reunion for the actress with NBC, following FNL as well as the network’s heavily scrutinized Wonder Woman pilot from David E. Kelley.
Repped by WME and Anonymous Content, Palicki’s credits include G.I. Joe: Retaliation and G.I. Joe 3 as well as Legion and Robot Chicken.
For Katims, Palicki’s role in About a Boy comes as the showrunner continues to populate his shows with familiar faces. Following Walton’s guest appearance on last week’s Parenthood, Dax Shepard will return the favor and head to About a Boy.
Meanwhile, Katims’ Parenthood has featured a number of former Friday Night Lights stars, including Matt Lauria (Luke), who has recurred for the past two seasons; Minka Kelly (Lyla), Jurnee Smollett (Jess), Michael B. Jordan (Vince), Derek Phillips (Billy Riggins), Angela Rawna (Regina) and Jeff Rosick (Buddy Jr.).
About a Boy premieres in February on NBC.
Email: Lesley.Goldberg@THR.com
Twitter: @Snoodit
