'Parenthood' producers want Helen Hunt

By Rick Porter

September 15, 2009 10:03 AM

Oscar and Emmy winner Helen Hunt could be headed back to network TV, if the producers of NBC's "Parenthood" get their way.

The show has approached Hunt, who starred in the Peacock's sitcom "Mad About You" for seven seasons in the 1990s, to take over the role initially played by Maura Tierney, The Hollywood Reporter says. Tierney announced last week that she was dropping out of the show to concentrate on treating her breast cancer, which she was diagnosed with in July.

Tierney's diagnosis caused the network to push the show from its planned fall premiere to midseason, with the hope that she would be able to resume working after an eight-week leave. As the end of those eight weeks approached, Tierney decided she needed more time to devote to treatment and dropped out of the show.

The HR says Hunt is "considering" the offer to star opposite Peter Krause, Erika Christensen and Dax Shepard in "Parenthood," which is based on the 1989 movie about four adult siblings and their families. Hunt would be playing a single mom who's trying to get her life back on track, similar to the character Dianne Wiest played in the film.

Hunt won her Oscar in 1998 for "As Good As It Gets" and took home for Emmys for her work on "Mad About You." Her recent credits include the HBO miniseries "Empire Falls" and the feature "Then She Found Me," which she also directed.

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Related:

Maura Tierney quits 'Parenthood' for cancer treatments
'Parenthood's' Maura Tierney talks about her health

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| Comments (6)

6 Comments

how she has fallen, from an oscar winning movie star to a 2nd choice on an nbc show... poor thing.

meow | September 15, 2009 10:21 AM

Rick, do you know if the producers plan on re-shooting the entire pilot or just the scenes that Tierney was part of? I haven't seen the pilot, I'm just curious how they approach this kind of thing.

Thanks in advance.

HeavyRaines17 | September 15, 2009 10:38 AM

DANG IT i wanted Mare Winningham

boopbeedoo | September 15, 2009 10:56 AM

i love mare too---helen grosses me out--i for sure will not be watching this now

tim | September 15, 2009 11:17 AM

Helen Hunt has been out of the public eye because she has chosen to be a mom until she felt it was time to go back to work which she did in the fabulous "The She Found Me"..I don't think she was 2nd choice since Maura has been the choice to begin with but after Maura dropped out to treat her cancer, the producers wanted a top notch actress and I think Helen Hunt is a superb choice..after all she's an Oscar and multiple Emmy winner...I miss her on television and glad she's coming home to NBC..hopefully...

archey_angel | September 15, 2009 11:51 AM

Helen Hunt has chosen to raise her child thus dropping from the public eye for some time until she made and starred in the fabulous movie "Then She Found Me"..I also don't think she was 2nd choice either since Maura was their person to help launch "Parenthood"...I think the producers have made a great choice in going after Helen Hunt, after all she's got an Oscar and is a multiple Emmy Winner for "Mad About You"....she's perfect choice, and I for one am glad that she's coming back to television..hopefully:D

archey_angel | September 15, 2009 11:55 AM