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Abrams' Bounty Hunter Drama Tickles Rickles

Wednesday, April 21, 2004

09:03 AM PT

Don Rickles is bringing his biting humor to an ABC drama and Billy Campbell's lantern jaw is coming to The WB in the latest round of pilot casting news.

Rickles, last a television regular on the short-lived FOX comedy "Daddy Dearest," has signed on for ABC's bounty hunter dramedy "The Catch" from "Alias" creator J.J. Abrams. ABC is looking at the project, which stars Greg Grunberg and Orlando Jones, for midseason.

Rickles, best known to a generation of children as the voice of Mr. Potato Head in the two "Toy Story" films, would play the bounty hunters' boss. In addition to his decades on the comedy circuit, a variety of Dean Martin specials and roasts and features including "Run Silent Run Deep" and "Kelly's Heroes," Rickles has made guest appearances on everything from "I Dream of Jeannie" to "Sanford and Son" to "The Bernie Mac Show."

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Campbell will take a lead role in The WB's "Rocky Point," from "Blue Crush" writer Lizzy Weiss and director John Stockwell. The series focuses on a young woman living on Hawaii's North Shore who must take in her estranged father (Campbell).

Campbell's last regular television gig was his Golden Globe nominated role on ABC's "Once and Again." The "Rocketeer" star has also been a regular on "Dynasty" and "Crime Story." He recently starred as Ted Bundy in the USA movie "The Stranger Beside Me."

In other casting news, Aaron Paul (NBC's "Kingpin") has joined the FOX drama pilot "Point Pleasant," while Joel McKinnon Miller ("Deadwood") will appear in the HBO polygamy pilot "Big Love."