Kaira Garrett To Co-Star In Claudia Lonows ABC Comedy Pilot

Everybody Loves Raymond alum Kaira Garrett is positioned to star opposite Sarah Chalke and Elizabeth Perkins in Claudia Lonows ABC comedy pilot The best way to Accept Your Mother And Father For Your Relaxation From The Existence. The multi-camera/hybrid comedy, from 20th TV and Imagine, concentrates on Polly (Chalke), a recently divorced single mom, who moves together with her eccentric mother Elaine (Perkins) and explosive, forever moving stepfather Max (Garrett). Max has a nightclub which is, as Polly puts it, the earth’s most amplified cancer survivor. This can be Garrett’s second pilot since the finish of Raymond, which acquired him 3 Emmy Honours. The last, ‘Till Dying, visited series, which continued Fox for 4 seasons.

Beeks named prexy of Lionsgate's Motion Picture Group

The combined Lionsgate and Summit is laying off roughly 80 people -- about 12% of its workforce -- on Friday, the same day it named chief operating officer Steve Beeks prexy of the studio's Motion Picture Group and reupped him as COO in new long-term deal. The vast majority of the 80 employees from both companies were being informed today. Pink slips were expected as part of an ongoing integration of Lionsgate, which started the merger with about 500 employees, and Summit, which started with about 150. Much of the overlap was in the motion picture and home entertainment departments. Combined companies should wind up with around 575 employees, which means more exits are anticipated. However, those job losses should come more through attrition than layoffs. A Lionsgate spokesperson declined to comment on the departures. Beeks has been at Lionsgate for 14 years and his move and COO since 2007. In his capacity as co-chief operating Officer, Beeks will continue to report to Lionsgate chief executive Jon Feltheimer; in his new role in Motion Pictures he we will report to Lionsgate group co-chairs Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger. Beeks will be responsible for corporate operations and administrative matters for the combined company and will continue to play a key role in the company's strategic direction. He also has direct oversight of Lionsgate U.K. and the company's home entertainment operations, including packaged media, worldwide television distribution and digital media initiatives. Within the Motion Picture group, Beeks will focus on business, financial and planning decisions for the combined Lionsgate and Summit theatrical slates, including their home entertainment releases. New Motion Picture production prexy Erik Feig will spearhead creative decisions and continue to report directly to Friedman and Wachsberger. "Steve and Erik bring complementary strengths to our motion picture group," said Friedman and Wachsberger in a statement. "Steve's financial acumen and business leadership, coupled with Erik's creative prowess and incredible eye for films with global appeal, position our filmed entertainment operations for continued growth and industry leadership worldwide." Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Hendler attached to Mardones' 'Brethren'

GUADALAJARA, Mexico -- Uruguayan thesp Daniel Hendler, who won a Berlin Silver Bear for "Lost Embrace," is attached to star in Chilean drama "Separated Brethren." "Brethren," which is the directorial debut of producer-turned-helmer Andres Mardones ("El Baile de la Victoria," "Rabia"), is one of four movies now set up at Sergio Gandara's Parox, a top Chilean TV production house. Hendler plays Daniel, a 33-year-old pastor dispatched to an evangelical church in Chile, which he attended as a child. His attempts at modernization, passion for the woman he always loved and consuming guilt all contribute to the impending tragedy. Penned by Francisco Ortega ("Se arrienda"), "Brethren" is skedded to roll winter 2013. Aiming to produce 36 hours of fiction this year -- mostly TV series like "El Reemplazante" -- Gandara is exploiting Chile's growing film-TV synergies. Gandara and former Endeavor agent-turned-producer Sergio Aguero are developing an English-language remake of the Parox-produced cult TV series "Gen Mishima" with vet showrunner Ken Sanzel ("Numbers," "The 2-2"), Gandara said at Mexico's Guadalajara festival. Gandara is also working on a movie spin-off of the dystopian thriller "Gen Maoa," written by "Mishima" scribe Enrique Videla. Gandara said, "Just making films in Chile is highly complex. TV production is larger scale and its budgets practically guaranteed, allowing companies to tackle film projects on a more industrial level." Parox is also putting up equity and services on Spaniard Isabel Aiguavives' "El Arbol magnetico," co-produced by Spain's Dos Treinta y Cinco, and on Italian Vincenzo Marra's fourth fiction feature "La Prima Luce." Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Rankings: Idol Rules Survivor Hits Season High

Phillip Phillips, The American Idol Show The American Idol Show finalist Phillip Phillips received emergency treatment Thursday hrs prior to the Top 13 results show, TMZ reviews. Phillips, 21, reported intense discomfort in the abdomen before he was come to a physician. The reason for that discomfort remains unclear, but people near to the singer think it might be gall stones, based on TMZ. Satisfy the The American Idol Show runners up: Who had been in Hannah Montana? Who collects knives? A resource in the Georgia Pawn Shop where Phillips accustomed to work told the website the contestant was put in the hospital for the same symptom in The month of january. Almost exactly twelve months ago, Idol Season 10 finalist Casey Abrams was put in the hospital for severe stomach pains your day from the Top 13 results show and was instructed to miss the tape. Abrams, who wound up finishing sixth, seemed to be put in the hospital throughout the very best 24 round. A show repetition couldn't be arrived at for discuss Phillips' status.

Lily Tomlin to Co-Star in ABC's Reba McEntire Comedy Pilot

Lily Tomlin gets maternal for ABC.The comedian continues to be drawn on to co-star within the Disney-possessed network's Reba McEntire comedy pilot, an ABC Galleries repetition has confirmed to "The Hollywood Reporter."Within the project from "Reba's" Kevin Abbott, McEntire stars like a lady who divorces her "good old boy" rock star husband after he cheats on her behalf and burns through the majority of their cash who moves her mother and three kids from Nashville towards the only resource they've left -- a little house in Malibu.Tomlin will have McEntire's mother within the project, that will begin to see the central character make an effort to boost her very own singing career and her children from being corrupted through the Malibu lifestyle.The casting marks Tomlin's latest small-screen gig following her stint on Showtime's Lisa Kudrow comedy "Web Therapy" and Forex/DirecTV's "Damages." Repped by WME, Tomlin's credits likewise incorporate stints on ABC's "Desperate Average women," NBC's "Free Airline Wing" and "Will & Sophistication."From ABC Galleries, Abbott will pen the pilot with McEntire, Mindy Schultheis, Michael Hanel, Pam Williams, Dork Stewart andNarvel Blackstock executive creating. John Pasquin will direct the multicamera project. The Hollywood Reporter

Lucy Punch Joins Ned Fox Is My Manny, Dave Annable & Michael Esper Cast In Pilots

Lucy Punch is set to co-star opposite Abby Elliott in Fox’s single-camera comedy pilot Ned Fox Is My Manny (formerly Ben Fox Is My Manny), directed by Jake Kasdan. The project, from writer Dana Fox, 20th TV and Chernin Entertainment, centers on an uptight single mother Kate (Elliott) whose aimless brother moves in to help raise her daughter (Maggie Jones). WME-repped Punch will play BJ, Kate’s co-worker and friend. This marks Punch’s return to series television. She had been focused on features for the past few years since her co-starring role on CBS’ The Class. Brothers & Sisters alum Dave Annable has been tapped for a lead role in ABCs drama pilot 666 Park Avenue. Based on the Alloy book series by Gabriella Pierce, the project centers on a young couple, half of it played by Annable, who accept an offer to manage one of the most historic apartment buildings in NY City. Unwittingly, they begin to experience supernatural occurrences, which complicate and endanger the lives of everyone in the building. Terry OQuinn plays the buildings owner. Annable is with CAA and Sue Leibman. Michael Esper, who originated the role of Will in the Broadway production of American Idiot, has been added to the NBC/Uni TVs Jekyll & Hyde-style medical drama Do No Harm. The project, written by David Schulner, centers on Jeffrey Kohn (Steven Pasquale), a brilliant neurosurgeon who wrestles with his dangerous alter-ego Ian Price who threatens to wreak havoc on his personal and processional life. Esper, repped by Gersh and Lillian LaSalle, will play Dr Alex Jordan. Esper is currently starring in the new Leslye Headland play, Assistance and is in discussions for the upcoming Broadway production of The Lyons, written by Nicky Silver.

Pilot Season: House's Peter Jacobson Checks Into Showtime's Ray Donovan

Last week, Cougar Town returned with an engagement as Grayson (Josh Hopkins) popped the question to Jules (Courteney Cox). So why put the former will-they-or-won't-they couple on the fast track to wedded bliss rather than play up the drama? "I thought it was an interesting choice to have them together as quick as they did just because I'm so used to the Ross and Rachel push-pull, back-and-forth. It took years and years," star and executive producer Cox tells TVGuide.com. "But I love what they've done because I think it's really smart to... Read More > Other Links From TVGuide.com Brian Van HoltSarah ChalkeCourteney CoxJosh HopkinsCougar TownBill Lawrence