parenthood: what they call “silver lining”
oh please oh please oh please! // the wb promotional photo
Updated 10/9: It’s official! Lauren Graham’s joining the cast of Parenthood!
When the news broke yesterday afternoon that Lauren Graham might take the Parenthood role vacated by an ailing Maura Tierney, a great deal of people (including myself) leapt for joy. As a longtime fan of both Maura and of the film version of Parenthood, I was really bummed when breast cancer treatments prevented her participation. By all accounts, it seems Maura will make a full recovery, but it still sucks that she’s not going to be able to do this role. (I’m sure there’s still room for her over at Untitled Noah Wyle TNT Alien Pilot.)
Anyway, if we have to replace Maura, I’ve got my fingers painfully crossed for Lauren Graham, who, in my opinion, can basically do no wrong. The woman lights up every scene she’s in, transitions seamlessly from comedy to drama, and spits that rapid-fire dialogue like it’s her job (oh, wait…).
Don’t forget that Parenthood, which was supposed to start in the fall on NBC but was pushed to midseason in the hopes of Maura’s quick recovery, is run by Jason Katims, the man behind Friday Night Lights. Is that a dream team OR WHAT? The rest of the cast aren’t no-names, either. Craig T. Nelson plays the patriarch, Peter Krause is the oldest brother, Erika Christensen is the youngest sister, and Monica Potter is Krause’s wife. Yeah, crazy extended family isn’t necessarily the freshest concept, but it’s also a concept with the power to deliver if coupled with the right writing.
And honestly, it might be a good thing that this show hasn’t premiered yet. With Modern Family making such a huge splash, this show may have come out looking like the Studio 60 to MF‘s 30 Rock. Now, they have more time to prep it, perfect it, and blend whoever takes Maura’s part into the family (please oh please, let it be Lauren, please oh please!).
