E! has passed on its music-themed drama pilot Songbyrd, created/exec produced by Krista Vernoff and exec produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. Songbyrd was one of E!’s first two scripted pilots, along with drama The Royals. When The Royals was picked up to series in early March, Songbyrd was left in contention and…

Rory O'Malley, member of the original Broadway cast of The Book of Mormon, is set to co-star opposite Kelsey Grammer and Martin Lawrence in Braddock & Jackson, FX/Lionsgate's 10-episode comedy series starring Grammer and Lawrence as Chicago lawyers from vastly different backgrounds who develop a partnership after they…

EXCLUSIVE: Actor-director Andrew McCarthy is set to direct E!’s pilot Songbyrd. This marks the pilot directing debut of McCarthy, who replaces the project’s original director Michael Morris who fell out a month ago. The music-themed Songbyrd, created/exec produced by Krista Vernoff and exec produced by Craig Zadan and…

EXCLUSIVE: Michael Morris has fallen out of directing Songbyrd, one of E!‘s first two scripted pilots. Morris, who previously directed seven episodes of NBC’s Smash, was to reunite with Smash executive producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who executive produce the music-themed Songbyrd that centers on songwriter…

EXCLUSIVE: Denzel Washington‘s son John David Washington is following in his father’s footsteps with his first major acting role, signing on as a regular in the HBO pilot Ballers toplined by Dwayne Johnson. Also cast in the half-hour dramedy, which chronicles the lives of several Miami-based athletes, is former Bruins…

In her first series regular role, Rumer Willis is set to co-star opposite  Bethany Joy Lenz in one of E!'s first two scripted pilots, the Krista Vernoff/Diane Warren drama Songbyrd executive produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. It centers on Lauren Byrd (Lenz), a character loosely inspired by hitmaker Warren…

Bethany Joy Lenz (Dexter) has landed the lead in one of E!’s first two scripted pilots, the Krista Vernoff/Diane Warren drama Songbyrd executive produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. It centers on Lauren Byrd (Lenz), a character loosely inspired by hitmaker Warren. Lauren, writer of hit love songs, employs a small…

EXCLUSIVE: I’ve learned that E! is finalizing deals for its first two scripted pilots. The orders, which will be be cast-contingent, are going to dramas Songbyrd, from writer Krista Vernoff (Grey’s Anatomy), top songwriter Diane Warren and producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, and The Royals, from Lionsgate TV and the…

Last April, E! announced its first scripted slate as the reality/entertainment news-driven cable network signaled plans to enter the scripted space under its new NBCUniversal leadership. As E! is gearing up to greenlight its first three scripted pilots by Memorial Day, at its upfront today the network unveiled its new…