Sitcom Vet Takes Over 'Newlyweds' Amidst Shake-Up

Bruce Helford, an acclaimed sitcom veteran with four decades of experience, has been appointed as the new showrunner for the freshman comedy 'Newlyweds.' He steps in to replace Gail Lerner, who co-created the series and departed last Friday due to creative differences. Helford's extensive resume includes significant work on shows like 'The Conners,' 'Roseanne,' and 'George Lopez.'

This change occurred during the show's scheduled weeklong hiatus, which has now been extended. This allows Helford, who has executive-produced shows like 'The Drew Carey Show,' to acclimate to the production. 'Newlyweds,' a romantic comedy starring Téa Leoni and Tim Daly as a couple who marry impulsively, filmed its eighth episode before the extended break.

Production for the thirteen-episode order is set to resume in November. NBC and Universal Television expressed continued commitment to the series, viewing it as a strong companion to 'Happy's Place.' Jamie Lee Curtis, who also stars in and co-created 'Newlyweds,' previously expressed her long-standing desire to return to sitcoms, recalling a positive experience on the 1989 ABC sitcom 'Anything But Love' with Curtis in a lead role.