‘Scandal’s’ Dan Bucatinsky Boards NBC’s Casey Wilson Comedy ‘Marry Me’ (Exclusive)

Scandal‘s Dan Bucatinsky has lined up his next gig.

The actor, who won an Emmy for his recurring guest turn on ABC’s D.C.-set thriller, has boarded NBC’s Marry Me, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Single-camera comedy Marry Me centers on longtime couple Annie (Happy Endings‘ Casey Wilson) and Jake (Party Down‘s Ken Marino), who get engaged and quickly realize that it’s harder than it looks.

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Bucatinsky will play Kevin 2, the father to Wilson’s Annie and the husband to Saturday Night Live alum Tim Meadows‘ Kevin 1. Bucatinsky, who also serves as a consulting producer on ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, will guest-star in the pilot and, should the comedy be picked up to series, likely recur.

Bucatinsky earned an Emmy win for his turn as journalist-turned-White House press secretary on ABC’s Scandal. (Spoiler alert if you have not seen Thursday’s Scandal!) His character, James, was shockingly killed off during this week’s episode.

“I’ve been a husband of [Scandal‘s] Jeff Perry for three seasons and now playing Tim Meadows’ husband and the very well-preserved father of Casey Wilson,” Bucatinsky told THR. “It’s hilariously funny and I’m excited to be in a comedy, and hopefully if that gets picked up I’ll have the opportunity to play with those guys. It’s been a really fun distraction from the eulogizing I’ve been doing in my head of James Novack!”

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In addition to Scandal, Bucatinsky’s credits include writing, directing, exec producing and co-starring in Showtime’s Web Therapy, exec producing TLC’s Who Do You Think You Are and The Comeback as well as roles on In Plain Sight, Dirt and countless others.

Happy Endings creator David Caspe penned the script for Sony Pictures Television. FanFare’s Jamie Tarses and Seth Gordon will executive produce alongside Caspe. Gordon will direct the pilot. Sarah Wright, John Gemberling and Tymberlee Hill co-star.

Bucatinsky is repped by CAA, Wishlab and Myman Abel.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@THR.com
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