Alec Mapa joins hot NBC pilot "The Sackett Sisters"

Casey Wilson (l) and Busy Philipps
film a scene in the new NBC pilot
The Sackett Sisters

As we inch closer to NBC's Upfront presentation -- i.e., the network's revelation of its 2017-18 schedule, complete with renewals, cancellations and new series pickups -- one comedy pilot that's been garnering buzz as an almost sure thing is The Sackett Sisters, starring Busy Philipps, Casey Wilson and Bradley Whitford.

In the potential new series -- which sources say if picked up may be held for midseason, to accommodate Casey Wilson's pregnancy -- two estranged sisters perform a Sully Sullenberger-esque act of public heroism, then are forced to navigate their newfound notoriety together.

Alec Mapa

In one latest bit of Sackett casting, Alec Mapa has signed on to play the sisters' therapist, Josh.  The out gay actor has appeared on such fun shows as Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty, Scream Queens, Mom and Jane the Virgin, and made history playing network TV's first gay Asian series regular role on the short-lived CBS sitcom Some of My Best Friends.  On the big screen, he was a scream in such films as Connie & Carla, and You Don't Mess with the Zohan.

NBC is already leading the pack with new series announcements, with its previous pickups of two new dramas, Rise and For God and Country.  On the comedy side, the network has the now 12-episode revival of Will & Grace -- which will need some comedy company.  Although multi-cam sitcoms like W&G generally work better with other multi-cams, the network has only one of those -- Relatively Happy, from W&G co-creator Max Mutchnick and Trial & Error co-creator Jeff Astrof -- among its pilots.  One of ABC's multi-cam pilots, Carol Burnett's Household Name, is produced by NBC Universal, so it could end up at the Peacock Network if ABC cuts it loose.

But regardless of format, NBC needs new comedy blood, and The Sackett Sisters -- which comes with an impressive pedigree, having been created by 30 Rock writer Luke del Tredici and executive produced by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock -- seems to be leading the pack as of this writing.  Stay tuned for more announcements from NBC, leading up to its big upfront morning of Monday, May 15.

Modern Family and Cougar Town at the 5th Annual New York Television Festival

I was all set to blog today about last night, the opening night of the 5th Annual New York Television Festival, and its screenings of, and subsequent talk-back about, the new ABC shows Modern Family and Cougar Town, set to debut tomorrow night.

I'll post more thoughts on both shows later -- and since they're both good, I urge you to check them out tomorrow. But for a really fun assessment of last night at the Festival, check out Bryan Reesman's blog, Attention Deficit Delirium. There's even a photo of me with the Fest's founder, Terence Gray. (I think I'd rather be Q. I love the gadgets.)

One thing more -- at last night's talkback alongside her Modern Family co-star Ty Burrell and Cougar Town star Busy Philipps and moderated by EW's Tim Stack, Julie Bowen said she'd love to do a Cougar cross-over episode. Considering how hot Bowen looks (especially now that she's not 8 1/2 months pregnant with twins, as she was in the Family pilot), I'd tune in for that!