If you haven't heard of United States of Tara before today, you're in for a real surprise. Showtime posted a first look preview of their new comedy set to premiere January 18th. The new half-hour series stars Academy Award®-nominated actress Toni Collette as a woman who suffers from dissociative identity disorder or otherwise known as multiple personality disorder. In the preview below, we get to see the many different personalities Collette will play.

Most notably, United States of Tara was penned by Diablo Cody, the Academy Award®-winning screenwriter of Juno. The show will focus around Tara's dysfunctional family and their struggles with her disorder. John Corbett of Sex and the City will play her working husband who juggles her female and male personalities.

It's not hard to figure out why this quirky new Showtime comedy sounds so appealing. If you're still unsure, I'll lay it out for you:


First and foremost, say what you will about Juno but no one can deny that Diablo Cody has a talent for dealing with sensitive subjects. I, personally, thought Juno was hilarious but I definitely remember the public outcry over a movie about teen pregnancy getting so much attention. Dissociative identity disorder is a very serious condition but I have faith that Cody will treat it with the same warmth she gave to Juno's baby bump.

Second, Toni Collette is an incredibly talented and appealing lead actress. From The Sixth Sense to Little Miss Sunshine, Collette has proven her range and ability. If her new dysfunctional family is any bit as amusing as Hoovers from Sunshine, I'll be happy.

Lastly, John Corbett. Don't know who John Corbett is? John Corbett happens to be my favorite of Carrie's boyfriends from Sex and the City: Aiden Shaw. Oh, how I love Aiden. He was the most kind, loyal, wonderful man and I've never been more upset watching a television show than I was while watching Carrie break his heart. Twice! Then, despite the long hair, John Corbett made me fall in love with him again as Ian Miller in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Ian was so patient with Toula and her family. When Toula asked why he loved her and he responded “Because I came alive when I met you,” I think I drooled. I just know Corbett will make me fall in love with him again in United States of Tara so how could I not watch?

It's also important to note that although Diablo Cody wrote the pilot, she will continue to serve as a writer and one of the series executive producers along with Steven Spielberg. The pilot was directed by Craig Gillespie who directed Lars and the Real Girl, which I loved.

I'll definitely be checking out United States of Tara come January. Showtime will even be releasing a screener online January 8th, which is lucky for those of us that don't have Showtime. Check out the preview below and let me know what you think. Will you be tuning in to Tara?



Be sure to also check out: From Juno to Bristol: 17 Infamous Teenage Mothers

-Kim Wetter, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
(image courtesy of Showtime)