CBS is moving forward with its How I Met Your Mother spinoff, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter.
After saying a (somewhat painful) farewell to Monday staple How I Met Your Mother, CBS is saying hello to this brand-new story with Meg Ryan's voice at its center with How I Met Your Dad. Starring indie darling Greta Gerwig, who will also serve as a writer on the comedy from Carter Bays, Craig Thomas and Emily Spivey, CBS will hope HIMYM loyalists remain on board with this female-skewing entry. CBS and producers 20th Century Fox Television both say a series order has not yet been made.
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The multicamera comedy, which unlike HIMYM will film its series in New York, hails from 20th Century Fox Television and is being billed as a new story with new characters and told from the female point of view. Gerwig will play the lead role of Sally, a female Peter Pan who never has grown up and has no idea where she's going in life. She just has figured out that she has nothing in common with her husband of less than a year. A breakup is inevitable, but Sally will find a solid circle of support in her friends and family, who often are too willing to give "good" advice that can backfire badly. Meanwhile, Sally must filter out the input and decide what's best for her.
Drew Tarver, Tiya Sircar, Nick D'Agosto, Anders Holm and Andrew Santino co-star, though the latter's role is in second position to ABC's high-concept comedy Mixology. That comedy, sources tell THR, is likely marching toward a second season renewal, meaning Santino's role as Sally's older brother in HIMYD would have to be recast.
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A series order for HIMYD was always considered likely as CBS will look to the name and concept recognition to help fill the void after the flagship series ended its run after nine seasons. The comedy becomes the network's first new half-hour ordered for the 2014-15 season. It joins a roster of previously renewed comedies The Big Bang Theory, Mike & Molly, 2 Broke Girls, The Millers, Mom and Two and a Half Men.
Email: Lesley.Goldberg@THR.com
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