TV BRIEFS

HBO plays ball with Ferrell

Will Ferrell and Adam McKay are going "East Bound and Down" with HBO.

The premium-cable network has picked up a comedy series from Ferrell and McKay's production company, Gary Sanchez, about a washed-out ballplayer who returns to his hometown and takes the only job he can find: substitute gym teacher. "East Bound and Down" is the first TV series to get the green light for the company, which the Ferrell and McKay ("Anchorman," "Talladega Nights") founded last year.

HBO has picked up six episodes of the show, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Ferrell and McKay will serve as executive producers, along with Chris Henchy ("Entourage") and the show's three creators, Danny McBride, Jody Hill and Ben Best.

McBride ("Hot Rod") will also star in the show, playing the athlete-turned-gym teacher. The show will also feature John Hawkes ("Deadwood"), Katy Mixon ("The Quiet") and Andrew Daly ("Reno 911," Ferrell's upcoming "Semi-Pro").

"East Bound" is the second series HBO has picked up in recent months, joining "True Blood," a vampire drama from "Six Feet Under" creator Alan Ball.

'O.C.' veteran heads to Fox's 'Oaks'

One of the victims of the "Moonlight" casting purge, "O.C." veteran Shannon Lucio has scored a lead role in the Fox drama pilot "The Oaks."

Also joining the high-profile 20th Century Fox project are Bahar Soomekh and Matt Lanter, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Fox won a bidding war for "The Oaks" last month, giving the show a series commitment. "The Shield" veteran Shawn Ryan will run the show, which was created by David Schulner.

The pilot will be directed by Michael Cuesta ("Dexter") beginning in November.

"The Oaks" is a multi-generational story with supernatural elements focusing on three different families in three different decades living in the same house, haunted by the same spirit.

In 1968, a couple (Lanter and Lucio) who have just lost a child move in. In 1988, it's a family of four. In 2008, it's a pregnant couple (Soomekh and an uncast male lead).

In addition to the original "Moonlight" presentation (she was replaced by Sophia Myles for the actual series) and an extended arc on "The O.C.," Lucio's credits include "Spring Break Shark Attack" and the upcoming feature "Feast of Love."