Kings of Comedy: Steve Carell and David Steinberg have teamed for a documentary chronicling the evolution of comedy over the past 60 years through the eyes of several generations of comedians. They’ll both be producing. The still-untitled doc is already in production. Among the comedians interviewed by Steinberg are vets Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks, Lily Tomlin, Don Rickles, and Carol Burnett, then Jerry Seinfeld, Ellen DeGeneres, Judd Apatow, and Robin Williams, more recent stars Sarah Silverman, Chris Rock, Jane Lynch, and Tina Fey, plus up-and-comers. [Deadline]
From Mistress to Ex-Wife: Abigail Spencer, better known as the elementary-school teacher mistress from Mad Men, has been cast in McG’s This Means War, the action comedy starring Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, and Tom Hardy. The script centers on two best friends (Pine and Hardy), who are also covert agents, that fall in love with the same woman (Witherspoon) and fight over her. Spencer plays Hardy’s ex-wife. [HR]
Right-Hand Woman: Anna Chlumsky will co-star opposite Julia Louis-Dreyfus in Armando Iannucci’s HBO comedy pilot Veep. Veep centers on a former senator (Louis-Dreyfus) who becomes vice-president. Chlumsky will play her “responsible and insecure†chief of staff, Amy. [Deadline]
She’s Back: Kelly Rowan, better known as Kirsten Cohen on The O.C., has gotten the lead female role in the TNT drama pilot Perception. Perception centers on Dr. Geoffrey Pierce (Eric McCormack), an “eccentric and brilliant†university professor in neuropsychiatry who helps the FBI solve cases. Rowan will play his best friend, who’s also a genius. [Deadline]