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Cougar Town returns Tuesday, January 8, to a new home on TBS. Starring Courtney Cox, the critically acclaimed comedy was cancelled by ABC after a three-year run due to low ratings. Thankfully, TBS stepped in and saved the show. With a new show runner and new home, the series is looking to continue its success in the land of cable. Series co-creator/executive producer Bill Lawrence and stars from the show participated in a panel during the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour.
Lawrence commented on some of the differences between the show at ABC, and now at TBS. “I don’t know if you’ve seen them but there’s commercials for this show now, it’s insane,” said the producer, making a playful dig against his former home. Lawrence previously vocalized his displeasure with the lack of promotion from the network.
Lawrence says the new season will be a little more edgy and sexier now that they’re on cable. “You will not see one scene where I don’t show my boobs,” joked Cox. “I want to start taking the focus away from my face, so I’m having them move it down. I figure as I continue to get older, eventually I will be fully nude. I hope it works.”
New showrunner Ric Swartzlander joked that TBS didn’t want him to change anything. “They were basically like, ‘Don’t screw it up. We don’t want to put your fingerprints on the show at all, and I think I pulled that off.” He also found it easy to accomplish what he wanted considering the cast remained intact during the transition. Storylines this season will focus on Jules and Grayson’s (Josh Hopkins) life as a married couple and the blossoming romance between Laurie (Busy Phillips) and Jules’ son, Travis (Dan Byrd).
“We build toward something by the end of the year,” said Lawrence. Look for Laurie’s boyfriend to return from Afghanistan. “I no longer have to have cybersex. I get to actually make out with him in real life,” says Phillips.
Cox previewed that in an upcoming episode, Jules and Grayson will have a “naked day” to spice things up. “It’s a way to keep their marriage fresh.” Though the scenes were filmed discreetly, Cox said it was still an acting challenge. “There happens to be only one spot in the whole house where I can stand and the light comes in at all angles. Step out of it, disgusting.”
Cougar Town stars Courteney Cox, Christa Miller, Busy Philipps, Dan Byrd, Josh Hopkins, Ian Gomez and Brian Van Holt. The series airs Tuesdays at 10PM on TBS.
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