TCA Press Tour: Carl Weathers and George Foreman: separated at birth?

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We didn’t think so either.

But halfway through the “Brothers” panel during Fox’s press day today, one reporter addressed one of the sitcom’s stars, Carl Weathers, as “Mr. Foreman.”

His co-stars started laughing hysterically -- as did the rest of the writers in the ballroom -- and Weathers got up from his chair to say, “I have suddenly become George Foreman. Ma’am, can you hook me up with a grill?”

Seriously, forget Apollo Creed. Did she never see his more recent appearances on “The Shield,” “E.R” or, most memorably, as himself on “Arrested Development?”

Michael Strahan, who plays Weathers’ character’s son in the show, joked: “I tell you what, I can understand your mistake. He’s starting to look like George Foreman from here too.”

Then he addressed the show’s creator-executive producer, Don Reo: “There’s an episode.”

“Brothers” revolves around retired NFL star Mike (real-life football retiree Strahan), who returns to his Houston hometown to find life standing still for his mom, Adele (CCH Pounder), and dad (Weathers) but turned upside down for brother Chill (Daryl Chill Mitchell.)

To kick off the session, one reporter pointed out that he had counted 17 jokes picking on the obvious: Chill being wheelchair bound, Mike’s gap-toothed smile and a case of on-set Alzheimer’s. “Is that a pace you intend to keep up,” he asked?

Reo said yes. “You gotta go with what’s funny. Wheelchairs are always funny. Daryl’s in a wheelchair, Michael’s got dental issues. … But that’s not what the shows are going to be about. It’s going to be about families and what happens to families.”

Still, don’t count out the strong possibility of Weathers’ character meeting his grill-hawking doppleganger this fall. “Brothers” premieres at 8 Sept. 25, and Mike Tyson will guest on one of the episodes.

-- Denise Martin

Photos: George Foreman / Los Angeles Times; Carl Weathers / WireImage