Jamie Lee Curtis Stars in NBC's Sitcom 'Newlyweds' With Téa Leoni and Tim Daly

Jamie Lee Curtis is drawing attention as co-creator and co-star of NBC's new sitcom "Newlyweds," which premiered on October 23. The show stars Téa Leoni and Tim Daly as a couple who marry after a whirlwind romance, with Curtis playing James's meddling ex-wife. The series is set in present-day Los Angeles.

A blind date leads to a quick marriage

The story begins with a blind date. James, a reserved college professor played by Daly, waits in a restaurant for Jeanie, a free-spirited middle school teacher played by Leoni, who is still deciding whether she wants to meet him. The two end up running into each other at the valet stand, and their attraction leads to a night together.

Believing the relationship is a fling, the pair are surprised when it deepens. They marry in Las Vegas just six weeks after meeting. Their differences soon become clear: Jeanie is closely involved with her adult children, who still live at home, while Claudia, James's ex-wife, remains a constant presence in his orderly life.

Reviewers have singled out the ensemble. Variety's critic described the show as fun and refreshing, and said Leoni and Daly work well as a couple later in life. The review also praised the supporting cast, particularly Bill O'Neill as Arvid, James's Norwegian-born teaching assistant, whose comic timing stood out in the episodes provided for review.

Behind-the-scenes history

The series has a real-life connection to its creator. According to USA Today, the story was partly inspired by the start of Curtis's relationship with filmmaker Christopher Guest. Curtis told the outlet that she married a man she had barely known, and said she had spent no more than 72 hours with him at one time before their wedding.

Leoni and Daly, who are a couple in real life, also shared their own history with USA Today. Leoni said she first noticed Daly after seeing him in the 1982 film "Diner," and said she later forgot about the idea for about 40 years. The two met on the set of the CBS drama "Madam Secretary," where Daly played Leoni's character's husband. Leoni said they exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony on July 12, 2025, and Daly said that they had promised each other they would divorce quickly if marriage damaged what they had.

Production changes

Behind the scenes, the show has had a change in leadership. Variety reported that co-creator Gail Lerner, who also served as showrunner for the first six episodes, was fired over what the outlet described as "creative differences." Bruce Helford, co-creator of "The Conners," has been brought in to replace her for the rest of the season. Variety's review noted that the show's direction under its new team will be watched closely.

What comes next

"Newlyweds" has a 13-episode first season. NBC airs new episodes weekly on Fridays at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT, and USA Today reported that the episodes stream on Peacock the following day. For now, early reviews suggest the series has found a strong start, with the question of whether it sustains that momentum still open.