LOS ANGELES, CA – (June 4, 2008) – Showtime Networks has fast-tracked the pickup of UNITED STATES OF TARA, a new 12 episode half-hour comedy series starring Academy Award®-nominated actress Toni Collette ("Little Miss Sunshine") as a wife and mother who suffers from disassociative identity (formerly multiple personality) disorder, it was announced today by Robert Greenblatt, President of Entertainment for Showtime. The comedy series, a co-production of Dreamworks Television and Showtime Networks, will delve into how a dysfunctional family, including Tara's working husband played by John Corbett ("Sex and the City"), copes with the various identities that may appear on any given day and range in age, temperament and even gender.
Academy Award®-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody ("Juno"), who wrote the pilot, will continue to serve as a writer and one of the series executive producers along with Steven Spielberg, Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank of Dreamworks Television, and Alexa Junge. The pilot was directed by Craig Gillespie ("Lars and the Real Girl").
"SHOWTIME is known as the home of several shows featuring flawed main characters, and we welcome Tara -- and all her alternate personalities -- to the fold," said Greenblatt. "What a pleasure to watch Diablo Cody and Toni Collette work together, a combination of inspired writing and acting that raises this show from just a curiosity to a compelling examination of a modern family. It is our distinct pleasure to also work with Steven Spielberg, Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey, and all the talented people at Dreamworks Television."
UNITED STATES OF TARA, which will begin production in Los Angeles this summer, marks the 11th primetime series to join SHOWTIME's impressive lineup of original programming, including The Tudors, Dexter, Weeds, Californication, Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Brotherhood, This American Life, Tracey Ullman's State of the Union, Penn & Teller: Bullshit!, and The L Word.
Toni Collette is an Academy Award®-nominated actress known for starring in a variety of intriguingly diverse film roles. She made an indelible impression on Hollywood with her unforgettable performance in "Muriel's Wedding," earning her first Golden Globe® nomination. She then went on to star in "The Sixth Sense" for which she earned an Academy Award® nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Collette's most recent memorable role was in "Little Miss Sunshine," for which she received the 2007 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture and was nominated for a Golden Globe®. That same year, Collette garnered an additional Golden Globe® nomination for the miniseries "Tsunami: The Aftermath." Most recently, Collette starred in last summer's "Evening" alongside Vanessa Redgrave and Natasha Richardson, and will top line the upcoming "Towelhead," a controversial and highly anticipated Alan Ball film that debuted at the 32nd Annual Toronto Film Festival last fall.
John Corbett became known to television audiences for his performance in the series "Northern Exposure." He is most recognized for his performance as Aidan Shaw in the hit series "Sex and the City." He also starred in the series "Lucky." Corbett's feature film credits include "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," "Raise Your Voice," and "Raising Helen." He will soon be seen in "I Hate Valentine’s Day" and "Baby on Board."
