NBC’s Pilot ‘My Life As An Experiment’ Finds Lead And Casts Paget Brewster
Comedian Jon Dore has landed the lead in NBC’s comedy pilot My Life As an Experiment. And, in big (and not so good) news for fans of CBS’ Criminal Minds, series co-star Paget Brewster has been cast as the female lead in the pilot, from Sony, Reveille and Jack Black’s Electric Dynamite.
Written by Cathy Yuspa and Josh Goldsmith based on the book by A.J. Jacobs, My Life As an Experiment centers on magazine immersion journalist A.J. Wilder (Dore), who explores all sorts of unique experiences. Brewster will play A.J.’s feisty and adorable lawyer wife. Brewster has no deal for Criminal Minds beyond this season, so if My Life As an Experiment goes to series, she won’t return to the CBS drama (at least not as a regular). UTA-repped Brewster was given the option to do a pilot this year when CBS modified her series regular deal for Criminal Minds in the summer, reducing the number of her guaranteed episodes. She took advantage of the opportunity and tested for a couple of half-hour pilots, landing My Life As an Experiment. (Neither the network nor studio behind Experiment is associated with Criminal Minds as CBS, series producer ABC Studios as well as CBS TV Studios and ABC refrained from casting the actress in their projects to avoid conflict with her possible return to the veteran drama.) Because of her situation, Brewster’s storyline on Criminal Minds this season ends with a cliffhanger that will allow the producers to bring her back or write her off if needed. But CBS and the show’s team are hoping she will come back, and the network’s entertainment president Nina Tassler stressed that at TCA in January.
As for Dore, this represents a major break for the comedian, who starred in The Jon Dore Show on IFC. He’s with Gersh and Diamondfield Entertainment.
CBS totally screwed with her and AJ, then a little too late, they tried to come back and offer Paget a series regular contract. They never valued the work that she and AJ did on the show, as well as the work of writers that they fired at the end of season 4.
Now, they have the stupidest character ever there to fill the void of Prentiss.. Seaver, WTF! CBS you are a bunch of damn morons!!!! TG and SM should take you guys to the cleaners come time to finalize their contracts. I heard the talks weren’t going well, for CBS’ sake, they better go well. I’ll say this, after Paget’s last episode next week, I am done with CM. I don’t care for the crap they are leaving behind in the form of the Seaver character and the writing has been more off than on this season.
What a way to destroy a show CBS! And though I don’t care for Charlie Sheen at all, I hope he takes CBS to the cleaners!
I wish Paget nothing but success!
Why are they making all of these changes in a seemingly successful show like CM?
and why did they make another one?
They made a new one because the original CM is so successful. Unfortunately, the new one does not measure up to the original! I thought it would be good with Forest Whittaker as the lead, but he bores me to tears even in the most intense scenes.
And for anyone wondering, AJ Cook just signed a new 2-year contract to return to CM! So as long as the show gets renewed, JJ will be back!
And I agree with everyone else who said Seaver was not a good addition to the show, so it will be awesome to have JJ there again.
Congrats Jon! Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.
Jon Dore is hilarious. I for one was extremely disappointed when I found out his show “The Jon Dore Television Show” was canceled a few years back. Excited to see that he has finally nabbed the lead in an American Broadcast pilot, nonetheless. I hope this gets picked up!
I hope Paget stays on “Criminal Minds”. It wasn’t fair what CBS did to her, and now it’s highly likely all the “Ciminal Minds” fans lose agent Prentiss. Whatever she does, I’ll watch it because she’s an amazing actress.
I truly don’t understand CBS. You have the top rated show on t.v. with “Criminal Minds” and instead of riding the wave of success, you blow apart the chemistry by writing off the two main female leads of the show? Does this make no sense to anyone else, because I sure don’t get it? The show lost much of it’s luster when they decided to part ways with A.J. Cook’s character, J.J. Now, parting ways with Brewster’s character, Prentiss, leave’s a huge void. I know they brought in a new female character, but she’s so uninteresting, that I haven’t even bothered to learn her name or her character’s name either. In fact, once Paget leaves, I see no purpose to keep on watching the show. It’s too male driven, and this opinion is coming from a guy. You can’t just cut and paste every character in the show.
Yeah, they really destroyed the balance on CM with these moves. The show is tough enough to watch even with strong female leads–without them, it comes off as unbearably misogynistic. Talk about cutting off your budget to spite your face…
I see Criminal Minds taking a true “face plant” on this one. The ladies of CM were the best of the shows dynamics.
All the chemistry between the team members will NEVER be the same.
I was raised the old fashion way & totally believe “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Way to screw up a good thing CBS.
Paget … I will follow you anywhere
Best of luck to you and A.J. However … I do hope to see the team of CM reunite.
Chris, his standup is much better but I agree the Jon Dore Show or whatever it was called was mostly terrible but he has a good personality and if can find a way to transfer what he does well on the stage to the screen he could wind up with a hit a show
I like new and improved shows and programs even though I don’t watch TV at all. I like reading comments from the viewers because that gives me insight and impetus on versions and recitations. ‘Life as an Experiment’ sounds interesting for many reasons.
I remember when I was little, maybe 5 or so, and the depictions of my present are EXACTLY as I saw back then. Bumpy roads galore, speed bumps that could trip an elephant, potholes that would swallow a car……..and yet here I am today right where I saw myself. Program sounds cool.
I have watched the show very little since AJ left. Now with Paget leaving, I am DONE for good with this show!
I am -SO- Happy for Dore..
I like a few others who have written for this comments section was a Big fan of his “The Jon Dore Show” and really hope this takes off well for him.
he’s one of my favorite comics,
a herald back to the comics of the 80′s in a way but with a modern touch to him.
lol, I just wonder how long it will take him to get naked.
it seems to be a signature for him in every show i’ve seen him in.
In the “The Jon Dore Show” he was repeatedly naked
(and would often use self deprecating humor about it)
When he guest stared on “How I met your mother” for one episode
his character in that show was buck naked too.. lol.
I give it like.. 5 episodes and he’ll be down to a sock again.
Good for you Jon,
Your Making Canada Proud !
you’re not.
So true!!!!