Jamie Lee Curtis’ 89% RT Comedy Upends TV’s Long-Standing Formula

Published Nov 12, 2026, 4:30 PM EST Arielle Port started as a TV producer, developing content for Netflix (Firefly Lane, Brazen) and Hallmark (The Santa Stakeout, A Christmas Treasure) before transitioning into entertainment journalism. Her love of story went from interest to lifelong passion while at The University of Pennsylvania, where she fell in with a student-run web series, Classless TV, and it was a gateway drug. Arielle Port has been a Writer for Screen Rant since August 2024. She lives in Los Angeles with her boyfriend and more importantly, her cat, Boseman. TV comedies have been shifting toward dramedy for the last 20 years. First, the rise of single-camera sitcoms in the mid-2000s made TV feel more cinematic and allowed for more visually dynamic storytelling compared to traditional multi-camera sitcoms filmed on a handful of sets before live studio audiences. At the turn of the century, Friends was an iconic multi-cam sitcom because of its sharp writing and relatable performances within the confines of a few familiar sets. Debuting just seven years after the two-part Friends finale, New Girl premiered as a single-cam sitcom with greater flexibility in its camerawork and editing, allowing for more dynamic camera movement and creative visual gags. Following the rise of single-cam sitcoms, the 2010s brought increasingly dramatic and transgressive comedies, including Girls, Atlanta, and Fleabag. Even network sitcoms became more visually inventive and willing to experiment with unconventional storytelling, as demonstrated by Community and The Good Place. However, as ABC proved with Tim Allen’s record-breaking sitcom Shifting Gears, sometimes audiences want comfort and nostalgia, not experimentation or heaviness. Today, Jamie Lee Curtis hopes to capture that same audience by producing and starring in Newlyweds, an NBC sitcom that feels more 1996 than 2026 in the best way andcurrently holds an 89% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Téa Leoni and Tim Daly naturally have a lot of chemistry, playing an opposites-attract couple who spontaneously get married in middle age, but Curtis steals the show as Daly’s ex-wife, who is infuriatingly present in his life. Curtis’ character, Claudia, is an old-school, unapologetically antagonistic sitcom villain. NBC Modern sitcoms are often about well-intentioned people trying their best and making mistakes along the way. Even their antagonists are often given sympathetic backstories or redemption arcs, like Nate Shelley in Ted Lasso or Ava Coleman in Abbott Elementary. While this creates more emotionally complex storytelling, there's something uniquely funny about a character who exists solely to be a thorn in the protagonists' side. Classic sitcoms embraced these unapologetically abrasive characters, from Jerry's scheming nemesis Newman in Seinfeld to Frasier's ruthlessly manipulative agent, Bebe Glazer. These characters weren't interested in personal growth or becoming better people; their primary purpose was to create conflict, frustrate the protagonists, and make audiences laugh at their outrageous behavior. They didn't need tragic backstories to explain why they were so viscerally, hysterically unpleasant, and they certainly didn't need redemption arcs. Jamie Lee Curtis' Claudia in Newlyweds is a brilliant return to this tradition. She makes absolutely no apologies for hating James' new wife, Jeanie, and is determined to make their marriage as uncomfortable as possible. Claudia lets herself into the couple's home whenever she pleases, steals a couple's massage Jeanie booked for herself and James, and routinely disregards every conceivable boundary. Rearrange the movies into the correct US release order. Rather than apologize for her behavior, Claudia seems to delight in just how unwelcome she is — she doesn't need to be sympathetic or misunderstood to be entertaining. After all, comedy inherently comes from conflict. Newlyweds Is A Throwback With Potential NBC There's something comfortingly retro about Newlyweds, starting with its traditional multi-camera format, live studio audience, and laugh track. Even the simple premise feels like a throwback, treating the complications of a blended family as enough material to sustain an entire sitcom. In the first three episodes, there's surprisingly little friction between Jeanie and James themselves. Instead, most of the conflict comes from their inability to establish boundaries with the people around them, particularly Jeanie's adult children and James' ex-wife. Jeanie and James genuinely seem to like each other, even when their families make their lives miserable. It helps that Téa Leoni and Tim Daly, who are married in real life, have natural chemistry that makes their whirlwind romance believable. Their relationship provides a solid foundation for the chaos unfolding around them, rather than becoming another source of conflict. Cast Of Newlyweds Actor Character Description Téa Leoni Jeanie A free-spirited middle school science teacher Tim Daly James A buttoned-up divorced philosophy professor Bill O’Neill Arvid James’ quirky assistant Emma Meisel Poppy Jeanie’s emotional biological daughter Ignacio Diaz-Silverio Lolo Jeanie’s adopted son Jamie Lee Curtis Claudia James’ entitled ex-wife The supporting cast also shows promise, particularly Arvid, James' Norwegian assistant who has inexplicably followed him back to the United States. Arvid feels like a throwback to the days when sitcoms could introduce a lovable oddball like Full House's Kimmy Gibbler without needing to explain their quirky behavior. Of course, many sitcoms need time to evolve and discover what works best for their characters, both in the writing and the performances. So far, Newlyweds’ ratings have been modest. Some of television's most beloved comedies took a season or two to find their footing, and this show is still figuring out how to make the most of its ensemble. With an initial order of just 13 episodes, Newlyweds doesn't have the luxury of a lengthy first season to experiment and grow. Hopefully, it can find its comedic rhythm quickly enough to break through with audiences, or at least earn a second season that gives it room to develop. Release Date October 23, 2026 Network NBC Showrunner Bruce Helford Directors Pamela Fryman Writers Jamie Lee Curtis, Gail Lerner