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Casting Couch: Walker Flies to "Caprica," Sackhoff Sews Up "Nip/Tuck" Role, Estes Heads to "90210"

Lots of casting news today, on the first Monday after the network upfront presentations.

First up, Sci Fi managed to close the deal on Polly Walker for their two-hour backdoor pilot Caprica, a prequel to their own series Battlestar Galactica. Astute readers of this site will know that I first reported that an offer was out to Walker (Rome) a few weeks ago. Walker will play Sister Clarice Willow, the secretive high priestess/headmistress of the exclusive Athena Academy, a private polytheistic school that Zoe Greystone (Alessandra Toreson) and her friends attend.

I think the casting of Walker is absolutely brilliant for this role and she'll definitely bring something unexpected to the table. Plus, I'm happy she's sticking around in the States after the cancelation of Cane. Walker joins Eric Stolz, Esai Morales, and Paula Malcomson in this spellbinding two-hour backdoor pilot project from executive producers Ronald D. Moore, David Eick, and Remi Aubuchon and director Jeffrey Reiner.

Speaking of the Twelve Colonies, Battlestar Galactica's Katee Sackhoff has been cast in a recurring role on FX's Nip/Tuck, where she will play a doctor who challenges the authority of Sean (Dylan Walsh) in a four-episode arc this season. Good to see that Sackhoff won't be taking time off after the final season of BSG finishes shooting at the end of June.

Over at the CW, 90210 finally has its father figure in Rob Estes (Melrose Place), who has joined the cast as Harry Mills, the pater familias and new principal at West Beverly High School. His character will be married to Lori Loughlin's Celia, a former Olympic medalist, and is the prodigal son to Jessica Walter's aging actress Tabitha Mills.

With the deal closed on Estes, casting on the Beverly Hills 90210 spin-off series--set to launch this fall on the CW--is finally completed.

Stay tuned.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: Big Bang Theory/How I Met Your Mother (CBS); American Gladiators (NBC; 8-9:30 pm); Gossip Girl (CW); Dancing With the Stars (ABC); Bones (FOX)

9 pm: Two and a Half Men/Rules of Engagement (CBS); Dateline (NBC; 9:30-11 pm); One Tree Hill (CW); The Bachelorette (ABC; 9-11 pm); House (FOX)

10 pm: CSI Miami (CBS)

What I'll Be Watching

8 pm: Gossip Girl.

The freshman season of the naughty teen soap concludes tonight! On tonight's season finale ("Much 'I Do' About Nothing"), Blair comes to Serena's defense and faces off with Georgina Sparks (Michelle Trachtenberg); Lily prepares for her wedding but can't stop thinking about Rufus; and Serena finally tells Dan what's really going on with her.
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Comments

Danielle C.F. Maris said…
YAY Polly Walker! Great news!

And Katee Sackhoff on Nip/Tuck? Crazy! I wish I still liked that show. Might have to tune in just to see her in such a different role.
5/19/2008
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