NBC is rounding out the cast of its upcoming comedy pilot set at a Native American community center.
Variety has learned exclusively that Frankie Quiñones, Eddie Spears, Brian Bahe, and Sienna Tso have all been cast in the single-cam pilot. They join previously announced cast members Jana Schmieding, Bobby Wilson, Wes Studi, and Rachel Dratch. Variety exclusively reported on the pilot pickup in March.
The official logline for the project states that it is “An ensemble comedy set at a Native community center in Oakland, Calif. The employees hustle to keep the lights on while lifting up those in need.” The pilot hails from writers Sierra Teller Ornelas, Jackie Keliiaa, and Wilson. All three are also executive producers, with Teller Ornelas set to serve as showrunner. Morgan Sackett will also executive produce. Universal Television, where both Teller Ornelas and Sackett are under overall deals, is the studio.
Quiñones will star as Vince, described as “a gossipy girl dad and both Josie (Schmieding) and Bobby’s (Wilson) main confidant. The place would fall apart without him.” Quiñones is an accomplished stand up comedian, with his first hourlong special set to film later this year. As an actor, he is known for starring in the Hulu comedy “This Fool” as well as for appearances in shows like “The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live,” “What We Do in the Shadows,” and NBC’s “St. Denis Medical.”
He is repped by UTA, OPE Partners, and Hansen Jacobson.
Spears will star as Himbo Lodge, said to be “an office flirt, he’s all charisma with more confidence than brains.” Spears began his acting career at age 10, appearing in the TNT movie “Geronimo.” He has also starred in films like “Dreamkeeper” and “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee,” while he has been in TV shows like “Yellowstone” and “Rutherford Falls.” Teller Ornelas, Schmieding, and Wilson are also alums of the latter show.
He is repped by N.A.S.S. Talent Management
Bahe will play Brian Austin Gleason. “Brian’s in HR and relishes his power.” Bahe currently writes for the hit CBS comedy “Ghosts” and was previously a writer on the Fox animated series “The Great North.” He is also a popular stand up comedian and has toured his stand up show, “Reading From My Phone,” in New York and Los Angeles among several other accomplishments.
He is repped by UTA and OPE Partners.
Tso will play Ashley, described as “a young and gruff maintenance worker at the center who wants nothing to do with the cameras.” Should the pilot get picked up, it would mark Tso’s television acting debut. She is an alumna of the Native American Media Alliance Writers Seminar and previously co-directed commercials for Visit California last year.
She is repped by CESD Talent Agency and Rothman Andrés Entertainment.
