The news of the cancellation of ABC's Ugly Betty had barely hit the Internet on Wednesday when the phones of the reps of co-star Eric Mabius started ringing off the hook.

The early cancellation of Betty was done mostly to help the dramedy's producers give it a proper ending, but the timing of the announcement also releases into the pilot talent pool a strong cast just as networks are starting to assemble this year's crop of series hopefuls.

"The networks and casting directors in Hollywood are looking very closely at the casts that have or will become available on shows like Dollhouse, Ugly Betty, Nip/Tuck, Three Rivers and Lost and bubble shows like Scrubs and Better Off Ted to cherry-pick actors," casting executive Marc Hirschfeld said.

Networks often cast actors from bubble shows on pilots in second position, betting that those series won't return.

Expected to be in demand in second position are Jay Harrington, Portia de Rossi and Andrea Anders from Ted, Eliza Coupe from Scrubs and Matt Long from The Deep End.