Debra Messing Joins CBS Pilot
"Smash" star Debra Messing has signed on for the lead of a new CBS comedy pilot, putting the future of the NBC show in further doubt.
Messing will play "Shira," a married mom trying to balance her home and work life in the pilot from writers and executive producers Julie Rottenberg and Elisa Zuritsky.
Messing is in second position for the project, meaning NBC has first dibs on her if "Smash" is renewed. But the casting is far from a vote of confidence on her part that "Smash" will return.
The series, which has suffered low ratings, is being shuffled to Saturday nights, generally a low-rated night for TV.
The CBS series, meanwhile, is based on an Israeli format and comes from CBS Television Studios.
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