Ken Marino Headshot - P 2011
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesNBC’s The Gates has added two leading men to its ranks.
Party Down‘s Ken Marino has been tapped to star in the comedy pilot, and The Last Airbender‘s Aasif Mandvi also has joined the cast, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
Based on the hit British comedy, Gates revolves around the parents and staff who navigate the twice-daily social landmine that exists at the school drop-off gates of an elementary school.
Marino will play Mark, a lovable sweet and well-meaning puppy dog of a guy married to type-A personality Helen (Episodes‘ Kathleen Rose Perkins). He’s described as a type-A — or B, C or D — personality who has his own construction business and has a more flexible schedule than his wife, meaning he’ll be able to spend more time at the school.
STORY: TV Pilots 2013: The Complete Guide
Mandvi will play Trevor, a Yale-educated lawyer described as a driven “superdad” to two similarly competitive kids who gives Mark and Helen an inferiority complex. Christina Kirk plays his wife, Sarah.
The King of Queens duo Cathy Yuspa and Josh Goldsmith will write and executive produce the 20th Television single-camera comedy.
Marino, whose credits include Childrens Hospital and Wet Hot American Summer, is repped by Paradigm, IFA and Principato Young. Mandvi, whose résumé includes the upcoming Movie 43 and Jericho, is with ICM Partners and Sweet180.
Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit
