We’d heard that Dirty Sexy Money‘s Peter Krause was one of the most sought-after men this pilot season (and rightfully so), and he’s finally chosen a project: NBC’s adaptation of the 1989 film Parenthood. Krause will update the Steve Martin role, a married father with various neuroses. ER‘s Maura Tierney will play a version of Dianne Wiest’s part, his single-mother sister with issues of her own. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Coach‘s Craig T. Nelson is in talks to play their dad (now a "Vietnam vet-turned-actor/hippie"), Let’s Go to Prison’s Dax Shepard is in negotiations to play their slacker younger brother, Mae Whitman (Diane Lane’s daughter in Nights in Rodanthe) will costar as Tierney’s wild teen, and Runaway‘s Sarah Ramos will be Krause’s good little girl.
What are we thinking? Did Krause make the right choice? The show is from Friday Night Lights’ Jason Katims, who will exec produce with Ron Howard and Brian Grazer (director and producer of the film) — so the talent is there behind the scenes. An attempt to bring the movie to the small screen failed in 1990, but as I said when the pilot was first announced, the timing could finally be right: The kids who loved the film are now parents, raising children of their own, and either embracing or fearing the rollercoaster of life.
With the casting of Krause and Tierney, who I trust to know smart comedy (Sports Night, NewsRadio) and good drama (Six Feet Under, ER), I’m in. At least for one episode. Then, it depends on whether Shepard annoys me (I always expect him to, but then he doesn’t), and how "hippie" they make Nelson look (not very, I hope).
Not surprised that Tierney was snatched up so fast. Here’s hoping she wins a deserved Emmy for her last episode “The Book Of Abby” on ER.
I think this is a great combination of talent and material. LOVE Peter Krause – he is excellent at straight-faced humor. I’ll be watching!
Parenthood is being made into a tv series…again? The first one came out a year or two after the movie and totally bombed. The jackazz host of MTV’s “Remote Control” played the role Rick Moranis had played in the movie.
I don’t remember much of the series, except that it wasn’t as good as the movie. Now that the flick is more than 10 years old are people going to still care?
So glad that Maura Tierney will be returning to TV! My Thursday nights just haven’t been the same since she left ER (thank heavens for last week’s little snippet!).
Ugh!!! Love him, hate her. She’s the reason I stopped watching ER! Sorry to Maura Tierney fans.
But who is going to play Cool?????
I’m very curious about this. Even though I’m trying to cut back on tv watching (curse you dvr, you’ve ruined me) I will check this out cuz I LOVED the film.
Maybe Joachin Phoenix can reprise his role as one of the kids. After his lame “rap career” joke, he’ll need a job.
Mae Whitman in the Martha Plimpton role? Ok….. Dax Shepard in the Tom Hulce part – no way, that part requires a talented actor.
Why can’t a writer come up with an ORIGINAL idea for this cast? Were the idiots on strike too long watching old shows and old movies? This is an absurd idea.
Ill def be watching even though I really cant stand Dax Shepard either. I miss DSM and Maura really deserves an Emmy for ER.
Really Hollywood? Do you have NO original ideas? Ugh, I guess it won’t be too long before some genius comes along and tries to remake “Freaks and Geeks” or “My So-Called Life.” Join with me, group, as that can be the day we all set out TV’s on fire!
Mae Whitman…her?
Exactly.I mean Egg, really?
Not super excited, but interested.
I’m glad to see Maura cast. I will watch any show that she is in, she’s one of my favorites.
First, get some better spam protection so these stupid “date a millionaire” ads stop popping up. Second, don’t we already have a show like this on television? Isn’t it called Brothers & Sisters? Man, why can’t NBC do anything that isn’t a rehash of something done in the past!