Maura Tierney and Mae Whitman to star in "Parenthood" pilot

I can't tell you how many times I've seen the Ron Howard movie Parenthood. A comedic 1989 film about an extended family had something for everyone — an angsty teen daughter, a frustrated and underpaid father, a slacker boyfriend who overused the word "dude." They're all there.

The film (which starred Steve Martin, Dianne Weist, Keanu Reaves, Martha Plimpton and a young Joaquin Phoenix, among others) was nominated for two Oscars, rare for a comedy, but deserved for one so well-written and casted. It's no wonder that TV writers have been trying to apply the magic for a regular series. The first attempt was in 1990, with a cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, David Arquette and Thora Birch. One of the writers on staff was Joss Whedon — so how did this go wrong? It's hard to be sure since I can't even remember hearing about it, much less seeing it.

In 2009, NBC is giving it a go, and has announced some of its cast. In the vein of the original film and TV series, things look to be star-studded. Maura Tierney has been cast as a single mother.

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Peter Krause (Dirty Sexy Money) will play father to Sarah Ramos (CW's Runaway). Arrested Development's (and upcoming Scotty Pilgrim star) Mae Whitman will raise hell as Tierney's unruly teen daughter.

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It sounds great already, and I hope this one doesn't end up on Brilliant But Canceled. It actually sounds similar to Arrested Development, which can't be a bad thing, as long as people watch it while it's on air.

Are you a fan of the Parenthood film? Will you watch Tierney take a turn as a single mom of a crazed teen?