UPDATE: In a statement released by Maura Tierney on Monday, she revealed that the delay is due to a tumor in her breast, and that she is hopeful that she will be back to work on Parenthood in the near future.  In her statement Tierney said that the doctors believe it is treatable, but that they won't have a full diagnosis until after the tumor is removed.

Parenthood, the new NBC drama scheduled to premiere in September, is being pushed back to mid-season to accommodate star Maura Tienrey, who is undergoing an eight-week medical evaluation

Tienrey, who previously starred on NBC's Newsradio and ER, is one of the shows leads as one of four children trying to deal with raising children, their own relationships, and their parents. The show also stars Peter Krause and Craig T. Nelson.

Parenthood, based on the movie of the same name starring Steve Martin, was set to air Wednesdays at 8pm.  Now it will move to the mid-season while Mercy, a medical drama about a group of nurses, is being rushed up to fill its place.

Anyone who knows Maura Tierney's work knows how extraordinary she is.  Her role in Newsradio helped launch her career and, alongside Phil Hartman, Stephen Root, Dave Foley and Andy Dick, it is still to this day one of the most underrated sitcoms of all-time.

Tierney proved she could move from comedy to drama when she joined the cast of ER, ostensibly taking over for Julianna Margulies.  Tierney held her own, especially in the episodes with her character's mother, played by Oscar winner Sally Field.  That last connection is notable because Parenthood is very similar to Field's current show, Brothers and Sisters, also about a large, extended family who struggle to love one another.



-John Kubicek, BuddyTV Senior Writer
(Image courtesy of NBC)