Nina Dobrev made a name for herself on the small screen thanks to her role as leading lady Elena Gilbert on The CW's The Vampire Diaries. She left that series as a regular after the end of the sixth season in 2015, and she hasn't had a regular leading TV role since. Now, Dobrev has landed a new gig that will take her back to the small in a whole new way. Dobrev is slated to star in a multi-camera comedy pilot for CBS, called Fam.
In Fam, Nina Dobrev plays a character by the name of Clem whose life is upended when her younger half-sister shows up to live with her and her fiance after getting tired of living with their dysfunctional dad. Unfortunately for Clem, Shannon's arrival uncovers some secrets that she's worked hard to keep hidden, not the least of which is their father. To escape her messy past, Clem has charmed everybody around her and lied that her father is dead to escape the embarrassment of affiliation with him. Even her fiance didn't know that her father was alive. When Shannon turns up, the truth about Clem's father comes out, and her relationships with friends and loved ones are jeopardized due to her many lies.
The pilot for Fam is written by Corinne Kingsbury of The Newsroom and Back in the Game fame, according to Deadline. Scott Ellis will direct the pilot. On the one hand, Fam sounds like it could pass for a dramedy or even a drama based on its description. On the other hand, there's a lot of potential for humor in these characters, and Fam is already putting together a cast that could be pretty fabulous. Brian Stokes Mitchell and Sheryl Lee Ralph will play the affluent parents of Clem's fiance, Jay. Odessa Adlon will play Shannon.
Of course, there's no guarantee at this point that Nina Dobrev will indeed end up back in primetime with Fam. The project is only in the pilot stage, and we likely won't hear for a while if CBS delivers a series order. Still, I'm optimistic about the comedy making it to the airwaves. After The Vampire Diaries, Nina Dobrev likely has a loyal following in the key 18-49 age demographic. Brian Stokes Mitchell and Sheryl Lee Ralph are proven talents as well, and they signed on as series regulars. Odessa Adlon is still relatively unknown, but she comes from a very funny family. If Fam can find a recognizable name to play Jay and/or the deadbeat dad, the odds will be pretty decent that Fam gets a shot at primetime.
We'll have to wait and see. Fans of Nina Dobrev haven't gotten to see her on TV too much in the last couple of years, aside from a role on Workaholics and a return for the series finale of The Vampire Diaries. Fam would give her the chance to flex her comedic muscles on a regular basis. If you're now in the mood for more Dobrev, you can find her in the first six seasons of The Vampire Diaries, which are available streaming on Netflix. For more viewing options now and in the not-too-distant future, take a look at our midseason TV premiere guide and 2018 Netflix schedule.
