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Home » Blogs » Trish Bendix's blog » Maura Tierney and Mae Whitman to star in "Parenthood" pilot

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

by
Trish Bendix

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?

  • Trish Bendix's blog
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    • Submitted by
    Trish Bendix
    on March 25, 2009 - 3:37pm.
    TAGS :: 
    girlplease's picture

    I'd watch Maura Tierney read the phone book...

    Submitted by
    girlplease (1 post)
    on March 25, 2009 - 4:06pm.

    So, I'm pretty excited about this.  Since she left ER I miss seeing her on TV every week!

     And her daughter is being played by the girl who played Ann from AD?  That's awesome. 

    melikeyou2's picture

    Maura

    Submitted by
    melikeyou2 (111 posts)
    on March 25, 2009 - 4:06pm.

     I will watch her in anything!!

    Carola's picture

    Mae Whitman

    Submitted by
    Carola (19 posts)
    on March 25, 2009 - 4:15pm.

    really? her?

    So far the cast is great, I will be watching.

    Karman Kregloe's picture

    Really? Her?

    Submitted by
    Karman Kregloe (2655 posts)
    on March 25, 2009 - 4:25pm.
    Ha ha! Nice! God I miss that show!
    Penny_Lane's picture

    it's Bland! 

    Submitted by
    Penny_Lane (182 posts)
    on March 25, 2009 - 6:26pm.
    it's Bland! 
    Tandy's picture

    My God

    Submitted by
    Tandy (125 posts)
    on March 25, 2009 - 4:19pm.

    I have been crazy about her since forever. Since long before ER -- it kind of weirds me out to see that she's had "work done" on her face but I guess that's de rigeur if you want to stay alive in Hollywood (eg: be cast in as a single mom in a new show).

    The NYT did a piece last week about her newly-ex husband, and about the house he bought and renovated with her alimony check. Seems like a very appealing guy -- worth googling.

     Like the posters above, I'd watch her do just about anything, just to watch -- chop carrots? Fine. Prune flowers? For hours? fine.

    Tease's picture

    doubt

    Submitted by
    Tease (361 posts)
    on March 25, 2009 - 6:52pm.

    I don't think Maura has had work done on her face, but I'd bet there was work done on that picture up there.  I just saw her a few weeks ago in Shannon Airport.  She looked fantastic.  Petite.  She's even more attractive in life than on tv.  There's a quality about her that makes you take notice.

    Maura in Shannon 

    edited three times for typos

    Lisa

    Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security -- B. Franklin
    Tandy's picture

    thxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx :)

    Submitted by
    Tandy (125 posts)
    on March 25, 2009 - 10:10pm.

    Oh -- That is wonderful. Thanks!!!

    -edited to add: You know what's bizarre?! It looks like she does the exact same thing to her hair now that she was doing 20 years ago :) Check out the left side behind the ear and the right side hanging loose.

    ________________________________________________________________ ____               Only connect.  ~ EM Forster, Howards End

    admirer_of_dimples's picture

    One of my favourite films...

    Submitted by
    admirer_of_dimples (324 posts)
    on March 25, 2009 - 7:21pm.
    and one of my favourite actresses, sounds fantabulous
    ChavaAv's picture

    Whitman...

    Submitted by
    ChavaAv (137 posts)
    on March 25, 2009 - 8:14pm.

    I might watch it...if I have time.

     

    But anytime I watch something with Mae Whitman in it, I always think of Water Bending...

     

     

     

    OHSNAPSKIS.

    abbagirl's picture

    parenthood

    Submitted by
    abbagirl (129 posts)
    on March 26, 2009 - 12:17am.

    one of the first things i remember from this movie is an early scene, when kevin, going home from a little league game with his parents, starts singing what i now regard asa classic song:

    when you're sliding into first,

    and you're feeling something burst,

    diarrhea, diarrhea

    when you're sliding into third,

    and your shorts are full of turd,

    diarrhea, diarrhea

    etc.

    classic!

    Aya's picture

    Newsradio

    Submitted by
    Aya (796 posts)
    on March 26, 2009 - 2:06am.
    That's where I fell for her.  I always hoped the show would go for the sweeps stunt and find some way to make Lisa and Beth kiss. 
    grahamcracker's picture

    Love Parenthood...

    Submitted by
    grahamcracker (78 posts)
    on March 26, 2009 - 8:48am.

    All I can say is...

    What was is that? (young daughter)

    It's ah...an electric ear cleaner...(Mary Steenburgen/Mother)

    It sure is big! (young daughter)

    It sure is! (Grandma)

    The diarrhea song comes in second for me.

    solesister's picture

    only reason why i watched ER - Maura Tierney

    Submitted by
    solesister (119 posts)
    on March 27, 2009 - 6:58pm.

    .......Abby just did it for me on ER, ie got my pulse racing, was always waiting for that scene with Abby.    

    She looks fab at Shannon airport, so cool, just sitting there texting with not a care in the world.   I think she's got a great name too.

    Swooooooooon !


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