Tag: The New Normal

Posted on

Cancelled: “The New Normal”

NBC has canceled the gay parenting comedy The New Normal after one season, according to The Hollywood Reporter:

Boosted by The Voice, the Justin Bartha-Andrew Rannells starrer about a gay couple starting a family earned a full-season order in October despite early protests from conservative watchdog groups. The series, like the rest of its Tuesday block, suffered without The Voice, notching a string of lows before the singing competition returned to revitalize the lineup.

While its April season finale was penned to serve as a potential series finale, producers said that a second se  ason would have featured the newly married couple raising their newborn son.

The 20th Television entry marks Murphy’s first show to not move beyond its freshman run.

Ryan Murphy currently has two other shows that have received green lights to continue. Glee for two more seasons, and American Horror Story for a third season.

(source)

Posted on

Video: Watch “The New Normal” pilot online

The New Normal, a new sitcom about two gay men (Justin Bartha and Andrew Rannells) who decide to have a child through a surrogate mother, is available for viewing online before it’s network premiere September 11.

From the Advocate:

Rannells stars as Bryan and Justin Bartha plays David, a well-heeled gay couple preparing to have a child with the help of a sweet surrogate (Georgia King), despite the objections of her comically bigoted grandmother, played with great zest by Ellen Barkin.

The two gay dads scenario of the series not only taps into the cultural zeitgeist, it comes with an impeccable pedigree. It was conceived and developed by Emmy Award–winning hit-maker Ryan Murphy, on a long winning streak after Nip/Tuck, Glee, and American Horror Story, and Glee writer Allison Adler, and it costars The Real Housewives of Atlanta’s breakout star, NeNe Leakes, as the unrestrained assistant to Rannells’s character.

The sitcom has already come under fire from conservative groups such as One Million Moms due to its subject matter. In addition, Salt Lake City TV station KSL has announced it won’t air the series, calling the subject matter “inappropriate” for the Mormon Church–owned affiliate.

In a recent interview with The Advocate, Rannells expressed his hope that viewers will respond to the show’s timely message.

“Gay or straight, the family dynamic has very much changed based on who’s around to raise the kid,” he said. “Because of divorce or financial reasons there are all sorts of people who have to pitch in to help raise kids.”