Netflix announced today a new original comedy series, “Grace and Frankie,” set to star Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as long-time rivals brought together by a rather unusual change in their marital circumstances. The first season, to air in 2015, will consist of 13 half-hour episodes from Skydance Productions, written and created by Marta Kauffman and Howard J. Morris. Kaufman, Morris, Fonda and Tomlin also join Paula Weinstein, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Marcy Ross as executive producers.
“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,” said Ted Sarandos, Netflix Chief Content Officer. “The show created for them by Marta and Howard is warm, very funny and anything but wholesome. We can’t wait.”
“Netflix is redefining the way we produce and consume television and it’s a true privilege to be in business with Ted and his amazing team,” said David Ellison of Skydance. “Working with the wonderfully talented Marta, Jane, Lily, Howard and their producer Paula Weinstein is a dream come true, and the story they have crafted is both hilarious and heartfelt.”
The single-camera comedy focuses on nemeses Grace (Fonda) and Frankie (Tomlin) facing the last chapter of their lives, though not in the way they expected. When their husbands announce they are in love with each other and plan to get married, the women find their lives both turned upside down and to their dismay, permanently intertwined. Eventually, to their surprise, they find they have each other.
Two-time Oscar winner, Emmy winner and Tony Award nominee Jane Fonda recently starred 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 appears in Better Living through Chemistry, now in theaters.
Oscar-nominated Lily 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.” Tomlin continues to perform 30 to 50 theater concerts across the country each year.
Marta Kauffman is best known as the creator of the widely successfully television show “Friends.” The series was on the air for ten seasons, was nominated for numerous Golden Globe awards and won an Emmy for “Outstanding Comedy Series.” Kauffman also co-created “Dream On” for HBO. Most recently, Kauffman launched More Horses Productions, with Robbie Tollin serving as the company’s Executive Producer and Hannah K-S as creative executive. Under the shingle, Kauffman created the Lifetime television movie Five, five short films about breast cancer, directed by Jennifer Aniston, Patty Jenkins, Alicia Keys, Demi Moore and Penelope Spheeris.
