Netflix Orders Comedy Series with Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin

19 Mar, 2014 By: Erik Gruenwedel

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Netflix March 19 said it has ordered 13 episodes of half-hour comedy “Grace and Frankie,” starring Oscar winner Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, from “Friends” co-creator Marta Kauffman.

The original series finds the former 9 to 5 stars in their golden years. When their respective husbands fall in love with each other and announce wedding plans, newly single Grace and Frankie suddenly find themselves sharing a mutual bond — much to their dismay.

Two-time Oscar winner, Emmy winner and Tony Award nominee Fonda recently appeared on HBO's "The Newsroom" and was nominated for an Emmy for "Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series" for her role on the show.  She most recently was seen in Lee Daniels' The Butler and Better Living through Chemistry.

Oscar-nominated Tomlin recently won an Emmy for the HBO film An Apology to Elephants, which she co-executive produced and narrated. Tomlin has won numerous other honors, including two Tony Awards, two Peabody Awards, seven Emmy Awards and the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.  Last year, she co-starred with Tina Fey in the film Admission, and currently appears on Showtime's "Web Therapy."

“Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin are among the funniest and most formidable actresses ever and it’s an incredible privilege to give them the opportunity to run riot on Netflix,” Ted Sarandos, chief content officer at Netflix, said in a statement. “The show created for them by Marta and Howard is warm, very funny and anything but wholesome. We can’t wait.”

Netflix hasn’t announced an exact 2015 launch date for “Grace and Frankie,” which joins upcoming sci-fi drama “Sense8,” period adventure “Marco Polo” and the final season of “The Killing,” among others, on the subscription streaming pioneer's slate of original content.

Netflix Originals currently include “House of Cards,” “Lilyhammer,” "Hemlock Grove," "Orange Is the New Black” and “Arrested Development.”

 

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