Goldie's due date is inching closer on NBC's freshman comedy The New Normal, and as the time passes, fathers-to-be Bryan and David will continue to have their hands full as they prepare to become parents.
Part of that will entail Bryan (Andrew Rannells) making peace with his estranged mother -- who will be played by Mary Kay Place (Big Love, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman) -- when she arrives in the penultimate episode of the season.
"Their relationship is a little chilly, so there will be a little conflict there," co-star Justin Bartha told The Hollywood Reporter at the PaleyFest honors for Ryan Murphy this week. "David is trying to smooth it over and do the right thing and he's trying to get them to reconcile a bit. But it's easier said than done. We're filming this and the finale so we'll see if she's at the wedding, if there is one."
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Murphy first hinted that the series would explore the relationship between a gay man and his mother in September. "It's tough for me sometimes to write it and edit it; it's really emotional," he said at the time of writing about his on-again, off-again relationship with his mother.
The potential to see Bryan and David formally tie the knot after their adorable engagement earlier this season is a definite possibility for the rookie comedy's season finale but don't go shopping for gifts for the couple just yet.
"I don't know if there's going to be a wedding but I really want to see that baby being born," co-creator Murphy told THR. "I just had a baby and [co-creator] Ali Adler and I were working today on the finale and there is a baby. It's a very moving episode. We want everybody who's been on the show in all these different incarnations to be in the finale and be a real celebration of that child."
Among those set to return are The Big C's John Benjamin Hickey's wise priest, with Murphy noting the actor -- who is among the cast in his upcoming adaptation of The Normal Heart -- would play a big role in the finale.
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Meanwhile, as surrogate Goldie (Georgia King) prepares to deliver the bundle of joy, her estranged husband Clay will lean on the show's wisest character for advice to woo her back.
"He's starting to realize that Goldie (Bebe Wood) is his person; there's been a major transition between the cheating Clay we saw in the beginning and the Clay that he is today, who chased his family down and is trying to better himself to be a more suitable man for them," Jayson Blair tells THR. "You'll see more of Clay approaching Shania for advice for the troubles he's having with Goldie. There's just so much to learn from Shania!"
For his part, Rannells says Clay's bid for Goldie and the impending birth of David and Bryan's child will raise a new handful of questions for the proud papas.
"I'm curious to see what our relationship with Goldie and Shania is like after the baby comes. It's not her kid -- what is the relationship then?" Rannells says. "Technically the business part of that is over when the baby is born so how do you maintain the relationship and the friendship? It'll be interesting to see what happens."
As for whether the series will earn a second season, Bartha is optimistic and says the decision is months away (likely in May after the network evaluates all its comedy pilot offerings and various needs). "We know that the network likes it and we'd love to do another season," he says.
What are you looking forward to seeing for David, Bryan, Goldie and Shania? Hit the comments with your thoughts. The New Normal airs Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. on NBC.
Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit
