NCIS alum Pauley Perrette sets return in CBS comedy pilot
Sources confirm on Wednesday that the actress has been brought on board as the female lead in Broke, a new sitcom pilot at the network from Jane the Virgin creator Jennie Snyder Urman. As it turns out, this series also stars Jane the Virgin actor Jamie Camil, who is playing an extremely rich trust-fund baby who finds himself in a bad spot. His father cuts off his finances and following that, he and his wife have to move in with her estranged sister in the Reseda part of Los Angeles. Perrette is going to be playing his sister (named Jackie). She’s a single mom, someone who can be hard but also someone who can be extremely loving. She’s loyal to those she cares about and she’s handy around the house. In a lot of ways, this character feels like the opposite of Camil’s, which is probably the point of the show — to throw these polar opposites into the same world and see what happens from there.
There is no guarantee that Broke makes it to series but for now, Perrette’s presence certainly seems to be a benefit. She’s one of the most recognizable names on CBS thanks to playing Abby for so many years and she has been waiting for the perfect project to arrive. She’s noted in the past that she has received a number of offers, but who can blame her for wanting to take a little bit of a break?
Broke fittingly does have some similarities on paper with 2 Broke Girls, another CBS comedy that featured a character (that time played by Beth Behrs) who found themselves down on their luck after their finances were taken away. Yet, here there seems to be much more of a family approach to this one. This is a network that needs some more big comedy hits — with The Big Bang Theory ending after twelve seasons, Young Sheldon will probably be seen as their marquee show with Mom maybe somewhere behind there. The network needs to get some more big hits going, and having a big, marquee star is one of the best ways to get eyeballs watching right away. After seeing Perrette play Abby for so many year, people are certainly going to be curious to see her in a different role in a different genre. We can’t wait!
What’s happening next on NCIS proper?
There is a chance (we don’t know how big or small that chance is – but a chance is a chance!) that you’re going to get to see another former cast member in Cote de Pablo return, at least if the story continues down the road it’s on now. We talked on that recently over at the link here, and it’s also the subject of our most recent video below! Check that out, and subscribe to CarterMatt on YouTube so you don’t miss any other updates. (We also have an NCIS playlist to make your search for more even easier.)
NCIS is going to return following a one-week hiatus on March 12, and we’ll have more on that installment before long. We’re certainly curious if the show opts to bring back Perrette at some point — it could make some sense, especially as a way to drum up some interest in the new show. Criminal Minds did this previously with Shemar Moore leading into the launch of SWAT.
Are you excited to learn more about Pauley’s new show?
Be sure to share in the comments! We’ll have more once we, in turn, know more. (Photo: CBS.)