Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis is stepping into a new role that combines two of her long-held dreams: being the boss and returning to the multi-camera sitcom format. The 68-year-old actress is executive producing and guest starring in NBC’s upcoming comedy series “Newlyweds,” which premieres this fall. The show stars real-life married couple Téa Leoni and Tim Daly as a middle-aged pair who tie the knot after a whirlwind romance. Curtis, who plays the ex-wife of Daly’s character, has been open about her desire to create this project after years of asking her agents for another sitcom opportunity.
Curtis Calls Herself the ‘Head Bitch in Charge’ on New Set
During a panel at NBCUniversal’s Summer Backlot Experience on August 10, Jamie Lee Curtis did not hold back about her role on the “Newlyweds” set. She proudly referred to herself as the “HBIC” – head bitch in charge.
“I like to refer to myself as the HBIC. Head bitch in charge. I’m 68 years old. I’ve wanted to be a boss my whole life.”
Curtis explained that she has waited decades to bring her own ideas to a project. She said her husband and daughters would agree that she has always been a boss. The “Freakier Friday” star added that she loves being in control of the creative process.
“I’ve been doing it not as a boss for a long, long time. And now I’m a boss, and I love it.”
Bill O’Neill, who is a series regular on the show, praised Curtis as a leader on set. He called her “the best kind of actor and boss to work with”. O’Neill noted that Curtis has wisdom and is willing to take chances.
Why Curtis Created Her Own Sitcom After Years of Waiting
Jamie Lee Curtis has wanted to do another sitcom for years. She called her previous sitcom “Anything But Love” her favorite job ever. The show, which ran for four seasons, starred Curtis and comedian Richard Lewis.
“It was my favorite job I’ve ever had. And I’m 68 years old, and every single year, all I’ve ever said to my agents is ‘I want to do a sitcom, all I want to do is a sitcom.’”
Curtis said she loves every part of making a sitcom. She enjoys rehearsing, learning jokes, and performing them. When she could not get another sitcom role, she decided to create her own opportunity.
“I just never got to do it, and so I just decided to basically kind of create my own job. I met Gail, and that’s why we are all here.”
She partnered with Gail Lerner, a writer and executive producer known for “Will & Grace”. Together, they developed “Newlyweds” for NBC.
The Single-Camera Experience Curtis Hated
Jamie Lee Curtis appeared on the hit show “New Girl” as the mother of Zooey Deschanel’s character Jess. While she thinks the show is great, she hated the filming experience.
“It’s a great show, New Girl, very funny, but doing it is just like doing a movie. You know, you’ve got a camera crew, and nobody laughs. It’s silent, and it’s awful. For me, awful. Single-camera comedies, for me, not fun.”
The single-camera format does not have a live audience. Curtis prefers multi-camera sitcoms where actors perform in front of a studio audience. She finds the laughter and energy of a live crowd essential to her comedy style.
“Single-camera comedy is not fun.”
This preference drove her to create “Newlyweds” as a multi-camera sitcom. She wanted the show to have the traditional sitcom feel that she loves.
Téa Leoni and Tim Daly Bring Real-Life Marriage to Screen
“Newlyweds” features a unique casting choice. Téa Leoni and Tim Daly are married in real life and play a married couple on screen. The two actors previously worked together on the CBS drama “Madam Secretary,” which ran for six seasons.
“We had a lot of fun on Madam Secretary. The world got darker, and we wanted to get lighter. We sort of thought we’ve done this particular medium, and loved it, and we wanted to spend our days together.”
Daly added that getting to work together again is special.
“Now we get to do it again, but we actually are married. It’s a miracle. It’s really fun, and it’s cool, and we still like each other.”
The couple married in July 2025. Their on-screen characters are a free-spirited woman and a buttoned-up professor who marry impulsively.
What ‘Newlyweds’ Is About
The show follows a later-in-life love story. Téa Leoni plays Jeanie, a free-spirited woman. Tim Daly plays Tony, a reserved professor. The couple marries quickly after a short courtship.
Jamie Lee Curtis plays Claudia, Tony’s ex-wife. The show explores how the couple handles married life after a whirlwind romance.
Gail Lerner, the show’s creator, said she wants audiences to feel inspired.
“I want everyone to watch this show and look at the spouse you have not really looked at in quite a while and be like, ‘Hello.’ Or just anything you have love for – photography, ceramics, animals – just to be open to finding new love at any age.”
Curtis also drew inspiration from her own love story with husband Christopher Guest. She married Guest after seeing his picture in a magazine. They had never spent more than 72 hours together before getting married.
Full Cast and Premiere Details
“Newlyweds” has a strong cast alongside the leads. Emma Meisel, Ignacio Diaz-Silverio, and Bill O’Neill are series regulars. Jamie Lee Curtis appears in a recurring guest-star role.
The show premieres on Friday, October 23, 2026, at 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time on NBC. It is part of NBC’s fall 2026 lineup. The network announced the schedule during its “Backlot Pass” presentation in Los Angeles.
“Newlyweds” will air on Friday nights. It will pair with another multi-camera comedy on the network’s schedule.
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Curtis Champions the Return of Multi-Camera Sitcoms
Jamie Lee Curtis has become a strong supporter of multi-camera sitcoms. She believes the format offers something special that audiences miss.
“A lot of people don’t have any money anymore.”
Curtis said network television provides free entertainment. She wants audiences to embrace the traditional sitcom format. Her love for the format goes back to her work on the 1988 ABC pilot that became “Anything But Love”.
Tim Daly also defended sitcoms against claims they are old-fashioned. He noted that young people still discover and love classic sitcoms like “Wings”.
“So I think that there is an audience; it’s just a matter of us finding them and them finding us, and, hopefully, they will.”
Stay tuned to VvipTimes for more updates on Jamie Lee Curtis, “Newlyweds,” and all the latest entertainment news making waves this fall season.
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