TV Land's "Happily Divorced" Starring Fran Drescher Announces Upcoming Guest Stars for Second Season Including Morgan Fairchild and Renee Taylor

Published on Thursday, 09 February 2012 14:49 Written by TradersHuddle Staff

NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- TV Land announced today its line-up of small screen vets that will guest star on season two of the network's hit original sitcom, "Happily Divorced," which premieres on Wednesday, March 7, 2012 at 10:30pm ET/PT immediately following all-new episodes of "Hot in Cleveland." "Happily Divorced," which is filmed in front of a live studio audience, stars and is inspired by the real-life story of sitcom favorite Fran Drescher ("The Nanny"), and revolves around Fran, a Los Angeles florist who finds out after 18-years of marriage that her husband is gay. Unable to sell the house with the economy tanking, she and her gay ex-husband Peter (John Michael Higgins, "Best in Show") must continue to live together happily divorced as they both re-enter the dating world. The series also features acclaimed actors Tichina Arnold ("Everybody Hates Chris") as her best friend Judi; Rita Moreno ("OZ") and Robert Walden ("All The President's Men") as Fran's parents Glen and Dori and Valente Rodriguez ("George Lopez") as Cesar, her flower shop employee.

"Fran's sense of humor, timing and creative force will keep the fans of 'Happily Divorced' engaged and laughing," stated Larry W. Jones, president, TV Land.  "We can't wait to see where she will take us in these next 12 episodes." 

This season will see Fran and Peter continuing to adjust to their new life being a straight-gay divorced couple, from Peter having to come out to his brother to Fran selling Peter's part of their joint burial plot, much to his dismay. Drescher will also once again re-unite with her former "Nanny" co-stars, including Renee Taylor, who appeared on "Happily Divorced" last season, and Ann Guilbert, who played Yetta on "The Nanny." Other guest stars will include Morgan Fairchild ("General Hospital," "Friends"), Sean Kanan ("The Young and the Restless") and D.W. Moffett ("Switched at Birth," "Friday Night Lights") in his recurring role as Elliott, Fran's on-again-off-again flame. 

According to Nielsen, the first season of "Happily Divorced" earned an outstanding 1.0 A25-54 rating, up triple-digits (+179%) compared to TV Land primetime average and scored a 1.3 with W25-54, up +214% versus TV Land primetime.  The series also attracted an average audience of 2.2M total viewers, up +125% versus primetime levels (Source: Nielsen, 6/15/11-8/17/11, Wed 10:30p-11p, L+7 data).

Drescher was nominated twice for both Golden Globe® and Emmy® Awards for her starring role on "The Nanny."  This past fall, she released her first children's book entitled Being Wendy which is added to Drescher's other writing credits that includes New York Times best-sellers Enter Whining and Cancer Schmancer.

Fran Drescher, Peter Marc Jacobson ("The Nanny"), Frank Lombardi and Franco E. Bario are executive producers, and Larry W. Jones and Keith Cox serve as executive producers for TV Land. 

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SOURCE TV Land