Casting Couch: Lauren Ambrose to Play Parker Posey's Sister on "Jezebel James"

Talk about some inspired casting.

Every now and then there's a pilot or two that manages to snag a truly stellar cast. Dirty Sexy Money is one (Peter Krause, William Baldwin, Jill Clayburgh, Donald Sutherland, and Samaire Armstrong, etc.) and the other is The Return of Jezebel James.

Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under) has been cast in the comedy pilot The Return of Jezebel James, created/written/directed/executive produced by Amy Sherman-Palladino (Gilmore Girls). I've already followed the previous casting announcements with a certain amount of relish: Parker Posey as children's book editor Sarah and Scott Cohen as her affirmed bachelor boyfriend Marcus. Completing the triumvirate: Ambrose, who fills the very tough role of Sarah's estranged sis Coco.

Plot in a nutshell: Sarah's got a great job, great sex with no strings thanks to Marcus, and while she might still be reeling from the loss of a ten-year relationship, wakes up and realizes that she wants kids. She goes to see a fertility specialist only to discover that, thanks to a uterine syndrome, she can't carry a child to term. She seeks out her estranged younger sister Coco, a wild child she got evicted last time they saw each other, and asks her if she will be her surrogate.

I think that the casting is absolutely sublime and Ambrose is the perfect choice to play the sardonic Coco. Plus the pairing of Ambrose and Posey is a match made in indie filmmaking heaven. The Return of Jezebel James is quickly shaping up to be one of my favorite comedy pilots for next season (Action News being the other) and this news just seals it. Oh happy day.