Seeing a golden opportunity to expand her visibility from the confining Nielsen restrictions of a basic cable comedy to the potential mass audience the America Idol final showdown could afford her, Tori Spelling was one of the first to answer the open Idol casting call seeking "upper middle class, Sherman Oaks types" who could adequately "feign genuine affection for Katharine McPhee." (An attempt to beef up the contestant's rather anemic show of local support on hometown visit week.) Producers, impressed with Spelling's lengthy resume, cast her immediately in the role of "Katharine's best friend Staycie," but still felt the need to bolster the scene with a veteran background actor in the role of "Aunt Jan."