TV Casting News: Busy Philipps, Chris O'Donnell, Amy Acker

As pilot season rolls on in LA, I've got a whole bunch of new TV castings to report. Of course, this week's big news is Brittany Snow getting offered the lead in the Gossip Girl spinoff, but there's much more going on. A few highlights:

The cast for Courteney Cox's ABC comedy Cougar Town has filled out a bunch this week: Busy Philipps will play Cox's friend and coworker in the show, while adorable Aliens in America star Dan Byrd will play Cox's son. Brian Van Holt will play Cox's ex, described simply as "a loser."
Chris O'Donnell is officially on board for the NCIS spinoff. He'll join LL Cool J.
Angel alum Amy Acker has joined the cast of ABC's murder mystery Happy Town, playing the wife of Geoff Stults's character.
David Morse and Michael Nouri will play blue collar and blueblood fathers in ABC's Empire State, about a modern-day Romeo and Juliet-esque couple.
Derek Luke and Kevin Rankin (Herc from Friday Night Lights!) will play a doctor and a paramedic on NBC's Trauma. Jamey Sheridan is among others in talks to join the cast.