Yvette Nicole Brown to Star in ABC Comedy From Diablo Cody, Greg Berlanti (Exclusive)

Yvette Nicole Brown is staying at ABC.

The Mayor and Community actress has been tapped to star in Most Likely To.

Written by Diablo Cody (Juno, United States of Tara), the project revolves around Liz Cooney (currently uncast), who, in high school, had everything, and Markie McQueen, who had nothing. Twenty years later, they’re reunited under the same roof as single moms and unlikely housemates.

In the Greg Berlanti-produced comedy, Brown will take on the role of Markie, who is described as radiant and warm, quietly confident, with a successful salon and brilliant daughter — but her insecurities are reignited when her high school bully arrives in town.

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With the casting, Brown will stay at ABC weeks after learning that the Disney-owned network effectively canceled the freshman comedy The Mayor after its initial 13-episode order. Sources said at the time that producers ABC Studios believed in the show and planned to shop it but did not find a home for the low-rated yet well-reviewed series that was a high priority at ABC this fall. (Star Brandon Micheal Hall recently booked a CBS drama pilot in first position as well.)

For Brown, Most Likely To marks a return to the multicamera format after the actress spent three seasons co-starring on CBS’ The Odd Couple reboot. Her credits also include geek-friendly fare like hosting a Syfy cosplay competition series as well as regular appearances on AMC’s Talking Dead, where the Walking Dead superfan is a frequent guest. She is repped by Innovative Artists.

Cody, Berlanti and his Warner Bros. Television-based Berlanti Productions topper Sarah Schechter will executive produce Most Likely To. Prolific multicamera comedy helmer Pam Fryman (How I Met Your Mother) will direct the pilot and also exec produce.