The Dealership pilot announces casting

From a media release:

CANWEST’S NEW DRAMA PILOT ‘THE DEALERSHIP’ SIGNS TRICIA HELFER, WILLIAM DEVANE & PATRICK J. ADAMS

Canwest’s Original Canadian Series pilot THE DEALERSHIP has signed on Tricia Helfer and William Devane, along with up and comer Patrick J. Adams to star in the new one-hour pilot about love, larceny and luxury used cars. In addition, Fremantle Media Enterprises (FME), a division of FremantleMedia, has signed on as worldwide distributor of THE DEALERSHIP.

The pilot, which was announced by Canwest in November, will star Helfer (BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, BURN NOTICE) in the lead role of Rachel Carson. Rachel is the beautiful, tough as nails sales manager who runs Carson Luxury Auto Gallery, a civic institution started by her irascible father Frank, played by Devane (JESSE STONE, WHAT ABOUT BRIAN). Rachel spent the last decade waiting for her father to retire, cementing her defacto control of the dealership and holding off the banks. Now that the car industry in North America is in the grip of recession, Rachel is fighting to keep the place alive with the help (or in spite of) her unreliable younger brother played by Patrick J. Adams (FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, OLD SCHOOL). When Frank un-retires and tries to help, things go from bad to worse.

THE DEALERSHIP is a darkly funny one-hour drama series about the dysfunctional world of Carson Luxury Auto Gallery, a family-owned, used-car dealership. Market collapse, credit crisis, the shrinking global economy – everything is conspiring against Rachel, Jack and Frank Carson. But this main street family isn’t going down without a fight and will do whatever it takes to make the sale and live for another day.

Tricia Helfer is notorious for her portrayal as Cylon ‘Number Six’ in the critically acclaimed award-winning sci-fi drama BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, which has enjoyed four hit seasons. In addition to BATTLESTAR, the current TV Guide cover girl has been heating things up in an eight-episode story arc on BURN NOTICE, and is slated to appear as Chuck’s new handler on the hit spy series CHUCK. Helfer recently wrapped production in Vancouver on the sci-fi drama HUMAN TARGET for director Simon West.

Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominated actor William Devane, has appeared in the television series WHAT ABOUT BRIAN, CRUMBS, and 24. Devane reprised his role alongside Tom Selleck in the fifth installation of the popular JESSE STONE franchise, titled JESSE STONE: THIN ICE. Distinguished for his political and “tough-guy” roles, the veteran actor’s additional television credits include STARGATE SG-1, THE WEST WING and KNOTS LANDING, among others. Feature film credits include SPACE COWBOYS, PAYBACK, MARATHON MAN, YANKS, and FAMILY PLOTS.

Patrick J. Adams made a dent on American pop culture with his scene stealing debut turn as “Patch,” in the 2003 Will Ferrell classic comedy OLD SCHOOL. In 2008, Adams landed back-to-back starring roles in a string of independent feature films including 2009 Berlin Film Festival competitor RAGE, with Judi Dench, Jude Law and Dianne Weist, and WEATHER GIRL, which was in competition at the 2009 Slamdance Film Festival, in Park City, Utah. His television credits include appearances on LOST, JACK & BOBBY, NCIS and GHOST WHISPERER.

THE DEALERSHIP is a Vérité Films production, created and executive produced by Virginia Thompson (RENEGADEPRESS.COM, CORNER GAS, INCREDIBLE STORY STUDIO), Writer/Showrunner Andrew Wreggitt (MAYERTHORPE, SHADES OF BLACK: THE CONRAD BLACK STORY, ONE DEAD INDIAN), Robert de Lint (RENEGADEPRESS.COM, CORNER GAS, INCREDIBLE STORY STUDIO) and Jeff Beesley (DOLAN’S CADILLAC). Bernard Bourret and Ty Hyland are producers for the pilot. THE DEALERSHIP is directed by Ken Girotti (MAYERTHORPE, RESCUE ME, LAW AND ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT).

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