Operating on the absolutely radical theory that a sitcom about a bunch of friends hanging out at a bar might somehow do well at NBC, Michael Schur’s Fremulon production company recently sold a very Cheers-ful sounding pilot to the folks at the peacock network. Now, Deadline reports that Schur and writer/producer Josh Malmuth (New Girl, Superstore) have cast the gamely bar-tending lead for their new show, Abby’s, tapping TV favorite Natalie Morales for the title role.
Morales has been a consistent bright spot in any number of shows over the years, including winnings turns on BoJack Horseman, The Grinder, Santa Clarita Diet, The Middleman, and Schur’s own Parks And Recreation. Now she’ll get a chance to star as Abby, a military vet who runs an unlicensed bar in her backyard (much to her new landlord’s dismay). The character is described as “no nonsense,” “warmly convivial,” but “never openly sentimental,” and sounds about as close as you can get to Sam Malone without dying and going to The Good Place first.