Molly Shannon is set to play Kath in NBC’s comedy pilot “Kath and Kim.”
Meanwhile, “The Sopranos” co-star Lorraine Bracco has joined Lifetime’s pilot “Long Island Confidential,” along with Jeffrey Pierce.
“Kath,” from Reveille and Universal Media Studios, has been a high-priority project for NBC’s Ben Silverman and Teri Weinberg.
The two put the adaptation of the hit Australian comedy on the fast track shortly after they joined NBC in June as co-chairman and executive vp, respectively.
They commissioned a new script by Michelle Nader in July, which got a thumbs-up and now will be filmed.
“Kath” centers on a dysfunctional mother-daughter relationship. Shannon will play the mother; the role of the daughter is yet to be cast.
Nader is executive producing “Kath” with original series creators Gina Riley and Jane Turner as well as Rick McKenna.
“Long Island,” from ABC Studios and Bender-Brown Productions, centers on a detective (Alison Elliott) who returns to her Long Island roots and learns that it’s hard to escape one’s past.
Bracco will play the woman’s mother. Pierce will play her partner on the force.
