Hello, Ladies being piloted for HBO

Some supporting cast for Stephen Merchant’s US sitcom Hello, Ladies have been announced.

The Office co-creator is working on a pilot comedy from HBO, loosely based on his recent tour of the same name, in which he tries to find a girlfriend in Los Angeles. His character is described as gawky, and ‘half as charming as he thinks he is and twice as desperate’.

Christine Woods, who plays FBI special agent Janis Hawk in the ABC drama Flash Forward is to be Merchant’s female co-star, industry website Deadline has reported.

She is set to play Jessica, an occasional actress who rents Merchant’s guest house and gives him a jokily hard time over his romantic misadventures, although there is said to be no chemistry between their characters.

Deadline has also reported that Nate Torrence, who appeared in the 2010 film She’s Out Of My league, will play Merchant’s best friend Wade, who has to re-enter the LA social scene after his marriage falls apart.

And former Alias actor Kevin Weisman will play Kives, who tags along on their nights out and always scores with women, despite being obnoxious.

The pilot is due to be shot before the end of the year.

Published: 12 Sep 2012