Brian Damage
09-15-2009, 12:06 AM
Helen Hunt has been approached to join NBC's upcoming drama series "Parenthood," taking over the role played in the pilot by Maura Tierney.
The Oscar and Emmy winner is said to be considering the offer, which would mark her return to series television and to NBC, where she starred on the comedy "Mad About You" for seven years before segueing into features.
On "Parenthood," a contemporary take on Ron Howard's 1989 movie, Hunt would join an already strong cast.
The UMS/Imagine TV series, created by Jason Katims, revolves around four adult siblings -- three of them played by Peter Krause, Erika Christensen and Dax Shepard -- and their parents (Bonnie Bedelia and Craig T. Nelson).
Hunt would play the fourth sibling, a contemporary version of the character portrayed by Dianne Wiest in the film.
Tierney, who played the role in the pilot, pulled out of the series last week to focus on her breast cancer treatments.
"Parenthood," exec produced by Katims, Howard and Brian Grazer, was slated for a fall launch but pushed to midseason after Tierney's illness was discovered in July.
In 1998, Hunt accomplished a rare feat when she won an Oscar, a Golden Globe (both for "As Good as It Gets") and an Emmy (for "Mad") in the same year.
In the past 10 years, she has focused primarily on features and made her directorial debut with 2007's "Then She Found Me."
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3ia88ac756513e0fd98dd4f44e2647ec35
The Oscar and Emmy winner is said to be considering the offer, which would mark her return to series television and to NBC, where she starred on the comedy "Mad About You" for seven years before segueing into features.
On "Parenthood," a contemporary take on Ron Howard's 1989 movie, Hunt would join an already strong cast.
The UMS/Imagine TV series, created by Jason Katims, revolves around four adult siblings -- three of them played by Peter Krause, Erika Christensen and Dax Shepard -- and their parents (Bonnie Bedelia and Craig T. Nelson).
Hunt would play the fourth sibling, a contemporary version of the character portrayed by Dianne Wiest in the film.
Tierney, who played the role in the pilot, pulled out of the series last week to focus on her breast cancer treatments.
"Parenthood," exec produced by Katims, Howard and Brian Grazer, was slated for a fall launch but pushed to midseason after Tierney's illness was discovered in July.
In 1998, Hunt accomplished a rare feat when she won an Oscar, a Golden Globe (both for "As Good as It Gets") and an Emmy (for "Mad") in the same year.
In the past 10 years, she has focused primarily on features and made her directorial debut with 2007's "Then She Found Me."
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3ia88ac756513e0fd98dd4f44e2647ec35