Patton Oswalt Cast in Syfy ' s Caprica

THE Syfy Channel has announced that celebrated comedian Patton Oswalt will guest-star on its highly-anticipated series Caprica, premiering January 22nd, 2010. Oswalt will play the role of Baxter Samo, the wildly popular Caprican comedian talk show host on whose show Daniel and Amanda Graystone (Eric Stoltz and Paula Malcomson, respectively) ultimately appear. Humanity's storyline takes completely new twists with Caprica, which follows two rival families and their patriarchs - Daniel Graystone (Eric Stoltz) and Joseph Adama (Esai Morales) - as they compete and thrive in the vibrant realm of the 12 Colonies, a society recognizably close to our own. This original, standalone series will feature the passion, intrigue, political backbiting, and family conflict in an omnipotent society that is at the height of its blind power and glory...and, unknowingly, on the brink of its fall. Caprica also stars Paula Malcomson (Amanda Graystone), Polly Walker (Sister Clarice Willow), Magda Apanowicz (Lacy) and Alessandra Torresani (Zoe Graystone). The series is from Universal Cable Productions and executive produced by Ronald D. Moore, David Eick and Jane Espenson. Jeffrey Reiner (Friday Night Lights) directed the pilot. As a comedian, Oswalt has released three TV specials and two critically acclaimed albums. This month, his one-hour Comedy Central Special, My Weakness is Strong, will premiere on air as well as on DVD/CD through Warner Bros. records. Patton tours regularly and extensively, headlining both in the United States and the UK. A regular at music festivals like Bumbershoot, Bonaroo and Coachella, he has also made the jump to theaters, as well as performing/reading at events by McSweeney's and The Hammer Museum in Los Angeles. He has a regular bi-monthly show at the new Largo at the Coronet Theater in Los Angeles, and was also a regular fill-in host for Steve Jones on the nationally syndicated Jonesey's Jukebox on Indie 103.1. A versatile performer, Oswalt has also appeared in more than 20 films including Magnolia, Starsky and Hutch and Reno 911!: Miami, and provided the voice for Remy the Rat in Pixar's Oscar-winning Ratatouille. Later this month, Patton will make his dramatic debut on the big screen as Paul Aufiero in Big Fan, the directorial debut of writer Robert Siegel (The Wrestler). Oswalt will also appear in Steven Soderbergh's feature film The Informant, and recently appeared in Observe and Report with Seth Rogan. His many television roles include Spence on The King of Queens on CBS for nine seasons as well as appearing on Seinfeld, Reaper, Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Tim and Eric's Awesome Show, Great Job! Oswalt is also recurring again on the second season of Showtime's The United States of Tara. He is a regular contributor to Countdown with Keith Olbermann, Real Time with Bill Maher and Lewis Black's Root of All Evil.