'About A Boy' pilot casts David Walton in lead role

Santa's Super Sleigh brings casting news from NBC's adaptation of Nick Hornby's novel "About A Boy."

David Walton, most recently seen in a guest-arc as Jess' doctor boyfriend on Fox's "New Girl," has been signed to star in the new project, taking on the role played by Hugh Grant in the 2002 feature film.

The adaptation is being spearheaded by "Parenthood"'s Jason Katims, who will write the pilot for the single-camera comedy. The story revolves around the unlikely friendship forged by a long-time bachelor man-child and a bullied, similarly aimless young boy.

I'm ambivalent about this casting decision. On the one hand, Walton has some fantastic comedic acting chops -- he was arguably the standout performer on NBC's mediocre "Perfect Couples" series and has shown plenty of charisma and charm in the short-lived "Bent" along with guest roles in "New Girl" and "Happy Endings."

On the other hand, everything he touches seems to get canceled -- see the aforementioned "Perfect Couples" and "Bent." Again, these were both solid series, particularly the underappreciated latter series with co-star Amanda Peet, but both failed to find their footing thanks in part to NBC being unable to lure viewers back into the peacock's loving embrace.

As they say, third time's a charm. Hopefully that holds true here.