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‘Newlyweds’ co-creator Gail Lerner fired as showrunner ahead of premiere
Liza EsquibiasUSA TODAY
Updated Oct. 9, 2026, 8:16 p.m. ET
The showrunner and co-creator of “Newlyweds” has been fired two weeks before its premiere.
Gail Lerner announced the news in a lengthy Instagram post Oct. 9, alongside a teaser for the sitcom’s upcoming season, which debuts Oct. 23 on NBC.
“Hey Friends, Here’s the good news: I couldn’t be more proud of the new sitcom ‘Newlyweds’ that I created with the singular Jamie Lee Curtis. Premieres 10/23! Here’s the bad news: I got fired off it today,” Lerner wrote. “The reason I’ve been given is ‘creative differences.’ The cloudy part: I’m so sad to be separated from the most joyous TV experience of my life. The cast, crew, and writers are unparalleled.”
“The silver lining: the first six episodes were made under my leadership, and I wouldn’t change a thing. No one knows what’s going to happen in our meshuganah business, but I predict this show’s gonna be a barn burner,” she continued. “Please check out the first six (and beyond!). If you like them, please let me know! If you don’t, keep it to yourself. Sending all my love and hopes for a long and happy run to everyone who gave their talent and open hearts to make this happen.”
“As my dear friend @courtneyaltonlilly told me, better to die on your feet than live on your knees. Love from your friend on her feet,” wrote Lerner, whose producing credits include “Black-ish,” “Will & Grace,” “Happy Endings” and “Ugly Betty.”
USA TODAY reached out to an NBC representative for “Newlyweds” for comment.
‘Newlyweds’ stars real-life newlyweds Téa Leoni and Tim Daly
“Newlyweds” is described as “A later-in-life love story about a free-spirited woman and a buttoned-up professor who marry impetuously after a whirlwind courtship.” It stars Téa Leoni and Tim Daly, who are also married in real life and previously played husband and wife on “Madam Secretary.”
They recently opened up about their casting during the NBCUniversal Backlot Pass media preview event in August, where Leoni, 60, admitted, “We were kind of sniffing around to play together again.”
“We had a lot of fun on ‘Madam Secretary.’ The world got darker, and we wanted to get lighter. We thought we’ve done this particular medium, and loved it, and we wanted to spend our days together,” she added.
Daly, 70, chimed in, “Well, we’ve been told that we have chemistry. I mean, we were told that on ‘Madam Secretary,’ and, hopefully, we exported that into this show.” Leoni then quipped, “We haven’t lost it.”
Other “Newlyweds” cast members include Emma Meisel, Ignacio Diaz-Silverio, Bill O’Neill and Al Madrigal. Additionally, Jamie Lee Curtis serves as an executive producer and will appear in a recurring guest star role throughout the season.
Contributing: KiMi Robinson and Erin Jensen, USA TODAY
