TV Bites: 'The Pacific' premiere, 'Tim' returns, pilot casting

HBO has set a premiere date for its World War II miniseries "The Pacific."

The 10-part miniseries, which follows U.S. Marines fighting in the Pacific Theater, will premiere Sunday, March 14 and air weekly through May 16, HBO confirms to Zap2it. The Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg-produced miniseries has been years in the making and makes a bookend to the Emmy-winning "Band of Brothers," which focused on the war in Europe.

"The Pacific" stars Joe Mazzello, Jon Seda and James Badge Dale and is based on a pair of books: "With the Old Breed" by Eugene Sledge (who will be played by Mazzello) and "Helmet For My Pillow" by Robert Leckie (played by Dale).

- HBO has also picked up a second season of its animated series "The Life and Times of Tim," which it will pair with "The Ricky Gervais Show" early next year.

Both shows will debut Friday, Feb. 19, with "Ricky Gervais" at 10 p.m. ET and "Tim" at 10:30, Variety says. The former animates Gervais' podcasts with Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington, while "The Life and Times of Tim," about a guy who's forever having to extricate himself from awkward situations.

- In pilot news, Gerald McRaney is the first actor to join J.J. Abrams' NBC pilot "Undercovers," Jenny Wade has signed onto the FOX series "Jack and Dan," and CBS has ordered another project from "Two and a Half Men" creator Chuck Lorre.

"Undercovers" is about a married couple who work together as spies. McRaney ("Jericho") will play their boss at the CIA, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Abrams will direct the pilot, which he wrote with "Felicity" and "Brothers & Sisters" veteran Josh Reims.

"Jack and Dan," which has a 13-episode order from FOX, is about a pair of mismatched cops, a by-the-book younger officer (Colin Hanks) and his boozing, past-his-prime partner (Bradley Whitford). Wade ("Reaper") will play Hanks' ex, an assistant district attorney.

The Lorre project at CBS is called "Mark and Molly" and centers on a couple who meet at a weight-loss support group, the HR says. Lorre wrote the pilot with Mark Roberts, a writer and executive producer on "Men."

Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.

Related:

Trailer for 'The Pacific'
Ricky Gervais on the Golden Globes, 'The Office' and getting animated

Photo credit: HBO