Country music icon and acting star, Reba McEntire, is making a grand return to her television home, NBC. McEntire, who recently served as a coach on NBC’s hit show, The Voice, is all set to headline an untitled comedy project that has earned pilot order. This promising comedy venture brings together McEntire and former Reba showrunner Kevin Abbott, who will be scripting the project.
The Untitled Comedy Project
The comedy promises a unique storyline revolving around McEntire’s character, who inherits her father’s restaurant. Much to her dismay, she discovers the existence of a half-sister she never knew, who happens to be her new business partner. The dynamics of this newfound relationship, intersecting with the management of the restaurant business, promise to deliver plenty of comic thrills and spills.
Reuniting Old Partnerships
Kevin Abbott is no stranger to writing successful comedy skits. The five-year showrunner of The WB/CW’s Reba, Abbott’s comedy credentials span several popular shows. Among his credits are Last Man Standing, Roseanne, The Golden Girls, and even McEntire’s former ABC half-hour show, Malibu Country.
For the NBC McEntire comedy, Abbott reunites with previous Reba executive producers Michael Hanel and Mindy Schultheis. Julie Abbott also joins the project, reaffirming their strong partnership. The multicam comedy is produced in-house by Universal Television.
NBC’s 2024 Season
This new McEntire comedy marks NBC’s first pilot order of the 2024 season. This has been significantly impacted by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, causing production delays and resulting in several networks pushing new series that were developed for the 2023-24 season to the 2024-25 schedule. NBC, for instance, only launched Found and The Irrational during the strikes, with drama Dr. Wolf and mockumentary St. Denis Medical already designated for the upcoming season.
There is an expectation that major networks such as NBC, ABC, and CBS will avoid high-cost pilot production due to cost-cutting measures within the current landscape.
A Winning Formula
McEntire remains a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment industry. As a proven star, her appeal spans across multiple platforms globally, from broadcast networks to streamers, who are continuously looking for broad programming that can break through the crowded landscape.
Wrapping Up
With a strong team of former partners and a proven television star like McEntire leading the charge, this comedy series is poised to be a significant entry in NBC’s programming. Keep an eye out for the upcoming series, which is sure to provide a healthy dose of laughter and entertainment. For more news on the latest television shows and entertainment updates, head over to HitPlay.
