"I hope it runs for a million years," said Megan Hilty. "Or at least seven." The actress is very happy about being reunited with Sean Hayes (Will and Grace) in the new NBC sitcom Sean Saves the World, which debuted recently in Canada.
Last season, the pair was seen in a five episode story arc on the cherished if embattled musical drama Smash. On Smash, Hayes and Hilty played co-stars on Broadway in an ill-advised musical based on Dangerous Liaisons. Though Smash barely got through its second season, it amassed an intensely loyal cult following which continues to support its reruns on the Ovation Network, and it’s DVD release.
Smash, along with The New Normal, were both cancelled this past summer after struggling in the ratings. Both series featured gay characters in leading roles and were expected to be huge hits. Both debuted with great fanfare and initially brought in decent numbers. No one is sure what happened when both series ultimately failed. Yet NBC, which brought both shows to the airwaves, is willing to try again.
"The New Normal didn’t have Sean Hayes," said TV legend Linda Lavin (Alice). "He’s an extraordinary talent."
In the new series, Hayes plays...Sean! He’s a single gay dad whose wise, wisecracking teen daughter has moved in with him. As he struggles to be the best dad he can be, he also searches for Mr. Right, deals with the boss from hell, and spars with Lorna, his overbearing but loving Mom (Lavin). Hilty plays Liz, Sean’s best friend.
"Sean Saves the World is an identifiable story about a gay single dad as he balances his home and work life," said Lavin. "I’m delighted to be a part of it. It’s a terrific company filled with talented people and talented writers."
"Sean Hayes is magical, incredibly funny and a nice guy," said Hilty. "Liz is kind of a mess. She talks before she thinks, but she has the best intentions. They met at his wedding to a woman, and she outed him!"
In a fast paced trailer now posted on NBC.com, potential viewers can get a glimpse of what to expect when they tune in to Sean Saves the World.
"If you’re gay, then how did you and Mom have sex?" inquires daughter Ellie (Samantha Isler), as Sean nervously drops a pile of dishes.
"Fish have the right idea," says mom Lorna. "You just drop them and go!"
"She’s a force of nature," Lavin said of Lorna. "She’s a very energetic, funny woman, with a strong affection for her son. They see life the same way, and she’s very committed to his happiness."
Hilty feels that Sean’s gayness is incidental to the story. "It’s just another detail of who he is," she said. "It’s not OMG, he’s gay! He just is. That says a lot about where we are now."
In the aftermath of the New Normal/Smash failures, we’ll have to wait and see whether or not Sean Saves the World clicks with viewers. The online trailer is genuinely funny and the buzz around the show has been positive, so perhaps this time the Peacock Network will enjoy the kind of success they saw with Will and Grace.
"When you start a new show, you hope for a long life," said Lavin. "You hope for growth, and for a substantial income for those working on the show."