Maura Tierney Illness Delays New Show's Production

The production of a new NBC drama series has been put on hold after one of its stars, Maura Tierney, has become ill, the network confirms to Usmagazine.com.

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"Start of production on NBC Universals new series Parenthood has been postponed for eight weeks due to medical evaluation that valued cast member Maura Tierney is undergoing," an NBC rep told Us Saturday.

NBC would not disclose the nature of Tierney's illness.

"The top priority for NBC, Universal Media Studios and Imagine Television is the well-being of Ms. Tierney," the rep said. "We are unable to release further details and ask that you respect her privacy at this time."

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Tierney, who just ended her 10-year stint as a doctor on ER, was supposed to begin filming Parenthood, which is a contemporary look at the 1989 film of the same name, on July 27.

The show revolves around four siblings -- Tierney, Peter Krause, Erika Christensen and Dax Shepard -- and their parents.

The series was scheduled to premiere Sept. 23.

"Due to these circumstances, NBC's new drama series Mercy will premiere in the fall," NBC's rep told Us. "Details on changes to NBC's fall premiere dates will be forthcoming."

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The Hollywood Reporter, who first reported Tierney's illness, reported that the delay will give more time to writers to finesse scripts.

This isn't the first time filming on Parenthood has been put on hold. In April, production on the pilot was shut down for two days after NBC's VP Nora O'Brien died unexpectedly on the Berkeley, Calif., set of the show.


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