Gail Lerner announced on Friday that she was fired from “Newlyweds,” the upcoming NBC sitcom that she co-created and on which she was to serve as showrunner.
“Here’s the good news: I couldn’t be more proud of the new sitcom Newlyweds that I created with the singular Jamie Lee Curtis,” Lerner wrote in part on Instagram. “Premieres 10/23! Here’s the bad news: I got fired off it today. The reason I’ve been given is ‘creative differences.’ The cloudy part: I’m so sad to be separated from the most joyous TV experience of my life. The cast, crew, and writers are unparalleled.”
“The silver lining: the first six episodes were made under my leadership, and I wouldn’t change a thing. No one knows what’s going to happen in our meshuganah business, but I predict this show’s gonna be a barn burner,” she continued. “Please check out the first six (and beyond!). If you like them, please let me know! If you don’t, keep it to yourself.”
Lerner’s full statement can be read below. When reached for comment, reps for NBC confirmed that creative differences led to the decision.
News of Lerner’s firing comes two weeks before the premiere of “Newlyweds,” which stars Téa Leoni and Tim Daly. Co-creator Jamie Lee Curtis also appears in a recurring guest star role.
The logline for the show describes it as “a later-in-life love story about a free-spirited woman (Leoni) and a buttoned-up professor (Daly) who marry impetuously after a whirlwind courtship.”
The show was one of just two comedies that NBC picked up for the 2026-2027 broadcast season. The other, “Sunset P.I.,” is set to debut at midseason.