Jamie Lee Curtis Unleashes Wacky New NBC Sitcom: A 'Madam Secretary' Meets 'Dharma & Greg' Mashup!

NBC is set to launch a new romantic comedy series titled “Newlyweds,” developed by Jamie Lee Curtis and Gail Lerner. The sitcom promises a unique take on a later-in-life love story, focusing on a spontaneous marriage between a free-spirited woman and a more reserved professor following a whirlwind courtship. The series marks a notable reunion for Téa Leoni and Tim Daly, who previously starred as a married couple in the political drama “Madam Secretary.”

Téa Leoni will portray Jeanie, a middle school teacher and single mother of two, while Tim Daly will play James, a philosophy professor. The show leverages the real-life chemistry of Leoni and Daly, who met in 2014 on the set of “Madam Secretary.” In that series, Leoni played Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord and Daly her husband, Henry McCord, also a professor. The couple officially married on July 12, 2025. Daly recounted their experience, stating, “We spent six years pretending to be married on TV, and now we get to do it again, but we actually are married.” Leoni added that they had been actively seeking a project to collaborate on, desiring to shift towards lighter content given the current world climate and to simply spend their days together.

“Newlyweds” draws parallels to the classic ‘90s sitcom “Dharma & Greg,” which featured a fun-loving yoga instructor marrying a straight-laced lawyer on their first date. However, “Newlyweds” updates this familiar “opposites-attract” archetype with the complexities of age and existing commitments. Daly explained that the characters marry without truly knowing each other, bringing with them established routines and significant baggage. Jeanie, for instance, has two teen children, Poppy (Emma Meisel) and Lolo (Ignacio Diaz-Silverio). James contends with a “crazy ex-wife,” Claudia, who is portrayed by Jamie Lee Curtis, and an overbearing assistant who frequently intrudes on their relationship. Bill O’Neill is also part of the cast.

Gail Lerner, known for her work as a writer and producer on acclaimed comedies like “Will & Grace,” “Black-ish,” and “Happy Endings,” serves as the showrunner and executive producer. Leoni and Daly, despite their dramatic background in “Madam Secretary,” are seasoned in comedy. Leoni previously starred in the ‘90s sitcom “The Naked Truth” and recently appeared in “Only Murders in the Building.” Daly achieved his breakthrough playing Joe Hackett in the NBC sitcom “Wings” and has made appearances in other comedies such as “The Mindy Project.”

“Newlyweds” is an addition to NBC’s growing comedy lineup, airing on Fridays at 8:30 pm EST, following “Happy’s Place.” The series is scheduled to premiere on October 23 on NBC and will be available for streaming on Peacock the day after its broadcast.