Casting call: 'FlashForward,' 'Romantically Challenged'

A pair of new ABC shows, the already-airing "FlashForward" and the midseason comedy "Romantically Challenged," have added cast members.

Former "Sleeper Cell" star Michael Ealy will have a recurring part on "FlashForward," according to The Hollywood Reporter. He'll be playing the "nemesis" of FBI Agent Mark Benford (Joseph Fiennes), who's investigating why everyone on the planet blacked out for 2 minutes, 17 seconds and the vision of the future he had while he was out.

"Romantically Challenged" has cast Australian actor Josh Lawson as its male lead. The comedy centers on Lawson's character, who finds himself torn between his new girlfriend (Alyssa Milano) and a needy best friend (Kyle Bornheimer).

Lawson replaces Eric Christian Olsen, who played the role in the show's original pilot.

Other news from the TV world:

- Although they were passed over during the network upfronts in May, a couple of pilots are still at least technically alive for consideration later this season.

FOX's comedy "The Station" and CBS' drama "House Rules" have extended the contract options on their casts through the end of the year, the HR says. Keeping the actors under contract helps keep a pilot in contention for pickup down the road, as deals wouldn't have be renegotiated from scratch.

"The Station," which is executive produced by Ben Stiller, is set at CIA office in Central America whose agents are trying to prop up a new dictator. Justin Bartha ("The Hangover") heads the cast.

"House Rules" follows freshman members of Congress as they adjust to their new jobs. The cast includes Zoe McLellan, Eion Bailey, Tawny Cypress and Anna Chlumski.

- NBC is developing a series based on the book series "Midnighters," about a group of otherworldly crimefighters.

The show would center on a group of people who, by virtue of being born at midnight, have access to the "25th hour" of the day and use it to stop bad things from happening, according to the HR.

Chad Hodge ("Runaway") is writing a pilot script based on the books from Alloy, which also publishes the "Gossip Girl" and "Vampire Diaries" books.

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