Scott Bakula is Ray Romano's new best friend. Bakula is the latest addition to the cast of Men of a Certain Age, a pilot for TNT. The drama focuses on three men in their forties that have been friends since college; Bakula is one of the leads. His character, Terry, is an "intelligent, but struggling, actor." Terry's best friends have struggles of their own. Joe, Romano's character, is a divorced father who runs a party supply store. Owen, played by the supremely gifted Andre Braugher, is a family man who works at his father's car dealership.

This recent bit of casting news just made the TNT pilot a must-see for me. Ray Romano, Scott Bakula, and Andre Braugher seem like an unlikely group of buddies, but I suppose it depends on the chemistry between the three actors.

Men of a Certain Age has attracted a lot of talented people so far. Emmy-winning director Scott Winant, who recently directed episodes of Californication, is directing the pilot. Owen's father is being played by Richard Gant, formerly of Deadwood (he played Hostetler). The show will take a Sideways-style look at male friendship as each character confronts middle age.

I'm started to get really excited about Men of a Certain Age. There haven't been any negative industry rumors about the show yet, and the cast and creative forces working behind the scenes are all top-notch. I hope the finished product lives up to the show's potential.