The newly minted Mad About You revival has reportedly recast Janeane Garofalo’s role as the daughter of Paul (Paul Reiser) and Jamie Buchman (Helen Hunt). The original NBC 1999 flash forward in the finale saw actress Cara DeLizia play the teen version of Mabel, while Garofalo played the twenty-something version of the character.
In the revival/continuation of sorts, now actress Abby Quinn —known for Black Mirror‘s “Arkangel” and the upcoming Little Women film— has been confirmed as playing the updated version of the college-aged Mabel in the 12-episode order. Her previous credits also include Better Call Saul and Law & Order: SVU cameos.
Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt will reprise their previous roles on the limited series, which just recently found a home on the Spectrum Originals network in March. However, the series rehash was in trouble when it struggled to find initial buyers last July, with star Reiser himself commenting that the project was essentially in limbo:
It’s kind of stuck in the business end of it now. Sony is trying to figure out from their end; that’s where I just walk away and go, call me when you figure it out. I don’t know what happens at that level. They make their deals with whoever they make their deals with. So we’ll see if it happens. It may not happen. It likely won’t happen. My guess is it won’t happen.
The series’ extended season 8 will center on Hunt and Resier’s characters struggling with empty-nest syndrome in the wake of their 17-year-old daughter’s acceptance to college. Peter Tolan of Rescue Me will take on showrunning duties while also serving as an executive producer alongside Reiser, Hunt, Brian Volk-Weiss, Michael Pelmont and Matthew Ochacher. Hunt is also directing the series’ premiere episode.
“We are so excited to finally be doing this and thrilled to have Peter Tolan as our fearless captain,” Reiser and Hunt announced jointly in a statement. “We promise you the same funny and heartwarming show — as soon as we can remember what’s funny about being older. It’s going to be great!”