Stars moonlighting

'Stones' duo grab pilots before skein preems

By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

Lloyd

Cohen

CBS laffer "The Stones" doesn't premiere until next Wednesday, but series stars Lindsay Sloane and Jay Baruchel -- who play the show's adult children -- have already landed pilot gigs elsewhere.

Sloane has joined the cast of ABC's untitled David E. Kelley/Jason Katims drama, frequently referred to as "The DeMarco Affairs." 20th Century Fox TV romantic comedy revolves around three sisters who run a family wedding planning business.

Also joining the pilot is "Sports Night" alum Sabrina Lloyd. Sloane, who will play youngest sibling Sammy DeMarco, and Lloyd, who has been added as older sister Jessica DeMarco, will star opposite previously announced cast member Selma Blair.

Meanwhile, Baruchel -- who earned raves as the star of Fox's critically acclaimed but short-lived "Undeclared" -- has joined the cast of the net's laffer "The Robinson Brothers."

He'll play one of the show's brothers, who live like college kids in a Los Angeles apartment building. The 20th Century Fox/Original laffer also stars David Annable ("Third Watch").

"The Stones" wrapped its nine episodes earlier this year, but both thesps are obviously still committed to the show; that puts the actors in "second position" on their respective pilots.

In other casting news, NBC has found the rest of its "Men's Room," while ABC has rounded out casting on its J.J. Abrams drama "Lost." Also, critical roles have also been filled in the Alphabet's untitled Stein/McCall comedy, drama "Empire," untitled Shonda Rhimes medical drama and untitled Jessica Simpson comedy.

And CBS has cast two key roles in its drama pilot "Numbers."

Scott Cohen joins "The Men's Room" following a stint on Showtime's "Street Time." He joins an ensemble that also includes Eric Lively ("A Minute with Stan Hooper") and previously announced John Cho.

Cohen's credits also include "Kissing Jessica Stein" and "Gilmore Girls." NBC Studios laffer explores the lives of men in their 20s, 30s and 40s.

The Stein/McCall laffer, which is based on Joel Stein's experience as a Time magazine columnist, has added Sheryl Lee Ralph ("Moesha") to its cast. Ralph will play Cicely in the Warner Bros. TV/Acme Prods. comedy.

Among the thesps to be found in "Lost," Matthew Fox ("Party of Five") has been cast as Jack; Harold Perrineau ("Oz") will play Michael; Malcolm David Kelley ("Antwone Fisher") is on board as Walt; Naveen Andrews ("Rollerball") has been added as Sayid; and Josh Holloway ("CSI") will play Sawyer.

"Lost," from Touchstone TV, revolves around plane crash survivors marooned on an island.

ABC has also found its Marc Antony: Vince Regan ("Black Knight") will play the legendary character in the short-order Taranus/Storyline drama "Empire."

As for the untitled Rhimes drama -- also known as "Surgeons" -- Patrick Dempsey, most recently seen in HBO's "Iron Jawed Angels," has been cast as Derek, a surgeon and attending physician who supervises the show's interns.

Touchstone produces the drama, which focuses on surgical residents in San Francisco.

Then there's ABC's still-untitled Jessica Simpson laffer, which has brought Brad Rowe ("The '70s") on board as Mike the camera guy. Touchstone pilot stars Simpson as a TV newsmagazine reporter.

Over at the Eye, casting on "Numbers" includes "Ally McBeal" vet Peter MacNichol.

MacNichol will be joined by Gabriel Macht ("The Recruit"), who will play FBI Agent Don Epps in the Paramount Network TV drama pilot. Project revolves around Epps, who calls upon his mathematical genius brother to help solve crimes.

Also cast in projects Tuesday:

• Christina Hendricks ("Tru Calling") has joined the cast of Touchstone's UPN pilot "Kevin Hill" as Nicolette.

• Nick Searcy ("Runaway Jury") will appear as Barry in ABC's untitled Rodney Carrington sitcom pilot, which also stars Carrington and Jennifer Aspen.

• Rebecca Creskoff ("Greetings from Tucson") will star as Andy Richter's wife in Fox's untitled Mark Reisman project.

• Also added to ABC's Kelley/Katims drama are Lara Cox ("Kangaroo Jack"), who will play European princess Erika Liechtenstein, and Chris Diamantopulos ("Third Watch"), who has been cast as DeMarco Palace resident chef Ernesto Boticelli.

(Josef Adalian contributed to this report.)