‘Private Practice’s’ Amy Brenneman heads to ‘The Leftovers’; Shonda Rhimes to Damon Lindelof

Can we now officially say that Amy Brenneman is one of the luckiest actors out there? Yes, we recognize it takes a ton of talent to get two great shows, but you get to leave a program with one notable showrunner in Shonda Rhimes (“Private Practice”), and then get the opportunity to then work with “Lost’s” Damon Lindelof? No TV actor would have it any other way.

Sources have confirmed that Brenneman, who starred as the at-times-miserable Violet on the ABC hit, has been cast to play the role of Laurie Garvey on “The Leftovers,” the upcoming pilot that will almost surely be picked up for a full series on HBO. (Just look at the producer attached again.) Laurie is the wife of Kevin Garvey (Justin Theroux), and she decides to leave him and that life behind after the Raputre in order to join some sort of mysterious cult.

“The Leftovers” will film later this year, and we fully expect the network to make a decision on the series soon after that. HBO does have some room in their schedule right now for another drama series: There wasn’t one that aired earlier in the year thanks to the “Luck” tragedy, and there are only so many comedies to place at 10:00 p.m. Eastern. Personally, the idea of pairing this show up with “Game of Thrones” or “True Blood” to boost numbers would be very smart, and with that later show reaching the end, the network desperately needs a new hit.

Just in case you want another reason to be excited about “The Leftovers,” remember this: The show has also cast Liv Tyler for a role. You have to love that, right? If you don’t, that must mean that you don’t like “Lord of the Rings” … and that makes us cry.

Photo: HBO