UPDATED: Fox has assembled the cast of its recently picked up John Mulaney ensemble comedy series, and it is very close to the project’s original cast when it was a pilot at NBC last season. Back in June, producer Universal TV extended the options of creator/star Mulaney and co-star Martin Short who were the only ones attached when the multi-camera project moved to Fox and was subsequently picked up straight to series with a six-episode order. But the producers had made it known that they intended to bring back several other cast members. New deals have now been completed with Elliott Gould, Saturday Night Live‘s Nasim Pedrad and Seaton Smith, who co-starred in the pilot. Gould and Pedrad will reprise their roles, while Smith’s character Motif will now be one of John’s roommates, replacing Seymour, played in the pilot by Griffin Newman. Zack Pearlman has been cast for a newly conceived character that wasn’t in the pilot. Set in New York, and based on the life and stand-up comedy of Mulaney, the series follows aspiring comedian John (Mulaney) coming of age under the influence of his over-the-top boss (Short), who was a major stand-up comedian in the 1980’s and 90’s and now hosts a game show, his roommates and his neighbors. APA-repped Gould plays Oscar, Mulaney’s colorful and boisterous neighbor. Pedrad plays one of John’s roommates, Jane, a personal trainer fixated on fairness and justice in her life — particularly, her romantic life. Smith plays John’s other roommate Motif, an experienced comedian and ladies’ man whom Mulaney often tries to emulate, but never quite will. Pearlman plays Andre, a stubborn but energetic 29-year-old trust fund baby. Universal TV, 3 Arts and Lorne Michaels‘ Broadway Video produce, with Michaels, Mulaney, Andrew Singer, Ackerman and 3 Arts’ Dave Becky and David Miner executive producing. Andy Ackerman is directing the pilot. Pedrad will film the original order while continuing on SNL. Of course, if the series takes off, she will leave the venerable late-night sketch series shepherded by Michaels.

Primetime-Panic Your Complete Guide to Pilots and Straight-to-Series orders See All