More than a decade after they first crossed paths on the political drama Madam Secretary, Téa Leoni and Tim Daly are back together—this time trading the White House for a sitcom set. In NBC's Newlyweds, they play Jeanie, a free-spirited widow, and James, a pragmatic divorcee, who tie the knot after a whirlwind romance. The show also brings Jamie Lee Curtis into the fold as Claudia, James's fabulously overbearing ex-wife who can't resist meddling in his new marriage.
Curtis, who co-created the series, is no stranger to iconic roles—from Halloween to Everything Everywhere All at Once—and she brings that same energy to this comedy. Leoni, known for Bad Boys and Jurassic Park III, and Daly, of Wings fame, round out a trio that clearly enjoys riffing off each other.
In a recent chat, the three stars opened up about their on-set antics, including a surprisingly competitive pickleball showdown that took place in front of a live studio audience.
Pickleball Rivalry Heats Up
When asked whether they identify more with Jeanie's butterfly nature or James's gopher-like practicality, the answers were as playful as the show itself. Leoni called herself "a gopher with butterfly wings," while Daly joked about being a "butterfer, gopherfly." Curtis, ever the big-picture thinker, declared, "I'm butterfly—total butterfly. If I see a page with too many words, I say TLDR."
The conversation quickly turned to the show's pickleball scenes, which were filmed with a live audience. Daly recalled how he and Leoni first tried the sport with friends who were "turbo" about it, complete with fancy paddles and outfits. "We reached into this bucket of damp, moldy paddles," he said, laughing. Despite the rough start, they discovered a natural aptitude—and a competitive streak that Curtis was quick to call out.
"Somebody went to John Gardiner's tennis ranch," Curtis teased, pointing at Leoni. Leoni shot back, "You went to John Gardiner's?!" Curtis defended herself: "It's where I learned how to play bridge!" The playful banter continued, with Daly noting that they may have let their friends win—or maybe not.
Finding Confidence with Pamela Fryman
The pilot was directed by the legendary Pamela Fryman, known for her work on How I Met Your Mother and Frasier. For Leoni, who was returning to multi-camera comedy after a long hiatus, Fryman's presence was a game-changer. "She set the confidence for us to feel like we got this," Leoni said. "To have somebody that was so pure at the helm for a pilot, it's really important."
Daly praised Fryman's "gravitas," explaining that when she gave direction, you trusted it completely. "If you said to Pam, 'What if I do this?' and she said, 'No, that doesn't work,' you'd be like, 'Oh, okay,'" he said. Curtis added, "We got lucky. She's very special."
The trio also highlighted the show's sharp wardrobe, courtesy of costume designer Michelle Cole, which helps bring their eccentric characters to life. With a strong creative team and a cast that clearly enjoys each other's company, Newlyweds is shaping up to be a delightful addition to NBC's comedy lineup. For more on the show, check out our earlier coverage.
As for what's next, fans of the cast can also look forward to more from The Diplomat and other projects. But for now, Newlyweds promises plenty of laughs, a little pickleball drama, and the kind of chemistry that only comes from years of friendship.
