Alicia Silverstone has signed up to star in US comedy pilot Bad Mother's Handbook. The actress will play 32-year-old mother Karen, who struggles to fit her life around a 16-year-old daughter and 48-year-old mother. Alia Shawkat (Arrested Development) has been cast as the daughter. A pilot of the series is in production for ABC.Meanwhile, Philip Winchester (Thunderbirds) has agreed to play the title character in drama series Crusoe, based on the Daniel Defoe novel. The series is due to air on NBC in the autumn. Anna Walton (Hell Boy II) has also been cast in the series. Justin Bodle, executive producer and founder of UK producer Power, which is making the show, said: "With such a stellar cast and director now on board, we are well on course to delivering a landmark piece of event television."
Former Angel actress Amy Acker will reunite with Joss Whedon on his upcoming project Dollhouse. Whedon announced Acker's involvement on his website Whedonesque: "I'm shocked that any part of our casting process hasn't been leaked somehow. And though I'm a fan of secrets... Dr. Claire Saunders will be played by... Amy Acker." The drama is about a group of men and women, known as dolls, who are charged with carrying out a series of "assignments". They can be imprinted with different memories, skills, languages and abilities appropriate to each task.
Acker joins fellow Angel luminary Eliza Dushku in the cast, in addition to Olivia Williams, Harry Lennix, Miracle Laurie and Tahmoh Penikett. Buffy creator Whedon also hailed the calibre of the show's cast: "All in all, pound for pound, soup to nuts, man vs beast, it's a pretty amazing ensemble. I'm not sure how I landed this troupe, but rest assured I'm gonna write bestest good word for talkacting to them yes! They're in good hands." Fox is planning a seven-episode season of the show for September.
Britney Spears is to return to US sitcom How I Met Your Mother following the success of her cameo last month, reports claim. According to People, the singer has signed a one-episode deal to make a second appearance on the CBS series. A source said: "The show is ecstatic and so is Britney. She had so much fun the first time around she really wanted to come back. It was a mutual decision to work together more.''
Spears's guest spot as a doctor's receptionist was praised by critics and earned ratings of 10.6 million, an increase of almost 2 million on the show's season average. Executive producer Carter Bays previously said she was welcome to return, although star Neil Patrick Harris denied rumours that she would become a regular castmate.
