If you find yourself watching an unfamiliar NBC sitcom that seems oddly familiar but also not, it isn’t just you. “Extended Family,” a new NBC sitcom, was inspired by the unconventional family life of Boston Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck, his wife Emilia Fazzalari, and her ex-husband George Geyer. The show explores the lives of divorced couple Jim and Julia, portrayed by Jon Cryer and Abigail Spencer, who continue to maintain an amicable relationship while co-parenting their two children.
Instead of the traditional arrangement of children moving between their parents’ homes, the show introduces the concept of “nesting,” where parents alternate living in the same home. Adding complexity, Spencer’s character gets engaged to Trey, a fictionalized version of Grousbeck, played by Donald Faison.
The series takes a positive approach to divorce, portraying the characters as navigating their blended family with humor and cooperation.
New episode of the Celtics Lab Podcast on YouTube, via @CLNSMedia ☘️🧪📺
Airing our NBA grievances on our annual Festivus episode with @Max_Lederman
Sponsored by: @FDSportsbook https://t.co/91v7nh2KDR
— Celtics Lab Podcast (@CelticsLab) December 21, 2023
“When George and I were getting divorced, we decided one thing, and that was to put (the) kids first,” related Fazzalari to the Boston Globe’s Matt Juul.
“He welcomed me into the family,” offered Grousbeck on the early dynamic Geyer helped create. “Wyc really fit in seamlessly,” confirmed Geyer.
“Extended Family” doesn’t shy away from its Boston roots despite being a fictional rendering of an unusual real-life arrangement, featuring iconic landmarks and integrating the Celtics’ name and logo with the NBA’s approval.
Reacting to the Boston Celtics blowing out the Clippers by 37 points on the road https://t.co/MfNv79iopX pic.twitter.com/EN46F8X59w
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) December 24, 2023
“It’s been a surreal process, but it’s been a lot of fun,” said Fazzalari of the process of making the show a reality.
“In a strange way, I think it’s kind of actually brought all three of us closer together.”
PHOTOS: Boston at Los Angeles: Celtics unplug Clippers, win 145-108 https://t.co/KMfKxSEauw pic.twitter.com/oIKZD2jGmi
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) December 23, 2023
Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ
