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.

Continue reading The Dealership pilot announces casting →

From a media release:

Building on the drama pilot slate announced last month, Canwest announced a fifth commission today.

Joining forces with acclaimed Canadian show runner Andrew Wreggitt (Mayerthorpe, Shades of Black, One Dead Indian), are producers Virginia Thompson and Robert de Lint of Vérité Films (Corner Gas), and Jeff Beesley (Borderline Normal); Canwest has commissioned the one hour pilot The Dealership.

The Dealership is a darkly funny, one-hour drama series about the dysfunctional world of Harrison 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 Harrison. 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.

“Andrew Wreggitt’s script is simply one of the most original we have seen” said Christine Shipton, SVP Dramatic and Factual Content, Canwest Broadcasting. “Adding to that, the team of Virginia, Robert and Jeff? It was a very easy call for us and we cannot wait to get started.”

Casting, Directing and additional production development announcements will be made shortly.