NBC's upcoming comedy Mr. Robinson is making a change.
The comedy centers on a journeyman musician (The Office's Craig Robinson) who gets a job as a music teacher at a middle school and, while teaching the kids everything from rock to the blues, learns how to put the school's rules to the test.
Peri Gilpin (Frasier) will replace Jean Smart as the school's principal, Catherine Taylor. The character is described as being wary of substitute teachers like Craig (who is playing himself) with a reality-based approach who puts her students first and was burned by a famous musician in the past. She looks forward to the day when Craig exits the school for good.
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Smart was attached to the role for the original pilot, shot in 2013, but opted to move on when the series was shifted from single- to multicam.
NBC picked up the comedy with a six-episode commitment in January. Production on the new pilot/series begins next week.
From Universal Television, Mark and Robb Cullen (Back in the Game) serve as showrunners and exec produce alongside Howard Klein and Mark Schulman. Brandon T. Jackson, Lenora Chrichlow, Spencer Grammer, Ben Koldyke and Amandla Stenberg co-star. A premiere date for Mr. Robinson has not yet been announced.
Gilpin (Make It or Break It) is repped by Innovative, Burstein Co. and Bloom Hergott.
Email: Lesley.Goldberg@THR.com
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