Five More Directors Book Broadcast Pilots

Scott Ellis is directing three multicamera pilots this season. The CAA-repped Ellis, who already helmed ABC’s off-cycle pilot The Manzanis, has signed on to direct two NBC pilots: the untitled Kari Lizer female buddy comedy and the untitled Jimmy Fallon male buddy comedy.

Veteran multicamera director Gail Mancuso has signed on to direct Roseanne Barr’s NBC pilot Downwardly Mobile, marking a reunion between Roseanne star Barr and Mancuso, who spent seven years on the ABC comedy and got her start as a director there. Also part of the Roseanne reunion is Eric Gilliland, who co-wrote Downwardly Mobile and is executive producing, and Downwardly Mobile’s casting director Risa Bramon Garcia, who with Billly Hopkins cast the pilot for Roseanne. Mancuso is with ICM.

Jeffrey Nachmanoff (Traitor) is set to direct NBC’s firefigher drama pilot Chicago Fire, written by Derek Haas and Michael Brandt and produced by Dick Wolf’s company. The CAA-repped Nachmanoff recently directed the Lifetime pilot Meet Jane.

Feature writer/director Neil Burger (Limitless) will direct Josh Friedman’s spy drama pilot The Asset for Fox in his TV directing debut.