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NBC places summer bet on ‘Windfall’

NBC is laying odds that viewers will want to watch a scripted drama this summer, scheduling its series “Windfall” for a June premiere.

The show, which follows the lives of 20 people who each win a share of a huge lottery jackpot, is scheduled to premiere June 8. It will hold the 10 p.m. EDT “ER” slot for the summer months.

“This is an engaging and dramatic series with an extremely talented cast,” NBC Entertainment President Kevin Reilly says. “‘Windfall’ is an important component of our summer lineup and exemplifies our commitment to quality, year-round original programming.”

The show will center on four of the 20 winners of the $386 million jackpot, and the fallout their newfound wealth creates. Peter (Luke Perry, “Beverly Hills, 90210”) and Nina (Lana Parrilla, “Boomtown”) Schaefer are married, but Nina still carries a torch for her college boyfriend and Peter’s best friend, Cameron Walsh (fellow “Boomtown” alum Jason Gedrick). Sarah Wynter (“24”) plays Cameron’s wife, who’s wary of Nina.

“Windfall” also stars D.J. Cotrona (“Skin”), Alice Greczyn (“The Dukes of Hazzard,” “Quintuplets”), Jon Foster (“life as we know it”) and Jaclyn DeSantis (“Road Trip,” “Luis”).

The show has taken a rather circuitous route to the airwaves. It was originally developed at Fox during the 2005 pilot season before making its way to NBC. There, it was considered for midseason before landing in its summer home.

Laurie McCarthy (“Felicity,” “CSI: Miami”) executive produces and co-created the show with fellow “Miami” alum Gwendolyn Parker.

CAVANAGH NOT “MONKEY’-ING AROUND

Tom Cavanagh apparently doesn’t have any hard feelings toward CBS.

Cavanagh, who starred in the very short-lived “Love Monkey” on the network earlier this season, is back in business at CBS. He’s signed on to star in a comedy pilot called “My Ex-Life,” the showbiz trade papers report.

The latest round of pilot casting also includes Jeri Ryan, recently seen on “The O.C.,” Illeana Douglas (“Action”), Xander Berkeley (“24”) and Oscar-nominated screenwriter/actor Dan Futterman.

“My Ex-Life” is a comedy about two divorced couples and the contrasting ways they cope with their marriages dissolving. Cavanagh, whose credits also include “Ed” and a recurring part on “Scrubs,” will play half of one of the couples. It’s a quick bounce-back for the actor after “Love Monkey,” which debuted in January and was yanked after just three episodes.

Also at CBS, Ryan will star opposite James Woods in “Shark,” about a famous lawyer who becomes a prosecutor. The former “Boston Public” and “Star Trek: Voyager” star will play Woods’ boss in the district attorney’s office. Lynn Whitfield (“Madea’s Family Reunion”) will guest-star in the pilot in what could become a recurring part.

Over at ABC, Douglas has joined Heather Locklear in the comedy “Women of a Certain Age.” The show centers on Locklear’s character, a widow who embarks on a new life with the help of her friends. Douglas’ recent TV credits include “Six Feet Under” and “Law & Order: SVU.”

Berkeley, recently seen in “North Country,” will co-star in the ABC drama “Women in Law.” Futterman, who co-wrote the Oscar-nominated script for “Capote,” will guest in the network’s “Brothers & Sisters,” playing Calista Flockhart’s boyfriend – which he also did in “The Birdcage.” The role could be a recurring one if the show is picked up.

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NO REGRETS FOR “IDOL’ BOOTEE COVAIS 1/4

Kevin Covais figures that his rendition of “When I Fall in Love” on “American Idol” Tuesday was his best performance of the season. And even though the show’s viewers didn’t agree, he’s OK with that.

“I felt I did the best I could on it, and everything seemed right,” the 16-year-old from Levittown, N.Y., said Thursday, less than 24 hours after becoming the second of this year’s “Idol” finalists to be sent home. “So the fact that I was eliminated is a little bittersweet, but it’s nice to go out … knowing I did the best I could. That’s a great feeling.”

The youngest of the male finalists by nearly a decade, Kevin was the frequent – and willing, he says – subject of jokes about his appearance and his reputed charms with the ladies. Fellow contestant Paris Bennett nicknamed him “Chicken Little” for his resemblance to the Disney movie character, and host Ryan Seacrest made numerous cracks about his sex-symbol status.

“I can tell you, I probably encouraged a lot of that,” he says. “That was the producers of the show saying, “Do you want to try this, are you OK with this?,’ and I said to go for it. I want to have a good time, and I’m a sarcastic, fun kid.

“So as far as any of those comments, I wasn’t offended in the least. I loved it, and encouraged it. I said, Milk it for all it’s worth, because I might as well while I’m here.”

After his elimination Wednesday, Kevin and the other finalists had dinner together, where they said their goodbyes and exchanged numbers. The notion of not continuing on the show, though, is taking a little longer to set in.

“The whole vibe is different – you hear yes, yes, yes, you’re through, you’re through, and then it’s like – ehh, no,” he says. “So it’s different, and it’s hard. It’s like, back to reality – I’m not flying anymore, I’m back down to the ground. But it’s an OK feeling. This is over with, but now a new chapter will begin.”

That next chapter will include a return to his high school, rejoining his friends and looking toward college; he says he’s interested in studying music and broadcasting. If a singing career comes, that’d be great, he says, but “I’m 16 years old, so I know I’ve got a lot of time ahead of me.”

Whenever he does perform again, though, he’s pretty sure it will be a little easier. “Never again will I go on stage and feel a great deal of pressure, and I have “American Idol’ to thank for that,” he says. “Performing in front of 35 million people, it really helps get rid of those fears.”

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“CELEBRITY COOKING’ LAYS IT ON THICKE

NBC has finalized the sorta-famous kitchen crew for its week-long “Celebrity Cooking Showdown,” and the cast has a distinct “Dancing with the Stars” vibe.

The group includes an all-pro football player, a hip-hop star, a self-effacing veteran actor, a statuesque athlete/actress, a soap-opera star and a former boy-band singer, job descriptions straight from the “Dancing” playbook. In this case, those roles are filled by Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez, Ja Rule, Tom Arnold, Gabrielle Reece, “Days of Our Lives”‘ Allison Sweeney and O-Town/”There and Back” star Ashley Parker Angel.

Rounding out the celebs are famously temperamental supermodel Naomi Campbell, reigning Miss USA Chelsea Cooley and country singer Big Kenny, half of Big and Rich. “Growing Pains” paterfamilias Alan Thicke and the Food Network’s Sandra Lee will host the show; event planner Colin Cowie (“Everyday Elegance”) and food critic Gael Greene will serve as judges.

“Our superstars (sic) represent a great cross section of our multicultural country and share every American’s passion for food and cooking,” says Ben Silverman, who’s executive producing the show with Sean “Diddy” Combs. “That passion combined with a cooking competition will be great television.”

“Celebrity Cooking” will air over five consecutive nights, beginning April 17. Three celebs will compete in a cook-off on each of the first three episodes, after getting a culinary crash course from one of a trio of famous chefs: Wolfgang Puck, Cat Cora and Govind Armstrong. The winner from each night will compete in the final kitchen battle on Thursday, with the winner revealed Friday. Viewers will be able to vote on the presentation of the finalists’ feasts; those scores will be combined with Cowie and Greene’s marks for taste.