'Bad Teacher' to CBS: TV Comedy From Cameron Diaz Movie

CBS continues to pile up the new comedies, this time adding a series based on the 2011 Cameron Diaz movie, "Bad Teacher."

It’s the sixth new comedy ordered by CBS, slated for a midseason debut. Actress Ari Graynor will take on the Cameron Diaz role of socialite-turned-penniless, husband-hunting teacher Elizabeth Halsey. Graynor recently starred in the flick "For a Good Time, Call..." and appeared on the show "Fringe" as Rachel.

She also appeared in in the films “Celeste & Jesse Forever” and “The Sitter.” She has also provided voices for “Family Guy” and “American Dad!” One of her first TV gigs came in the acclaimed HBO series “The Sopranos,” playing a college roommate of Meadow Soprano.

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Written by Hilary Winston, “Bad Teacher” is described on Deadline.com as an always inappropriate, fearless and unapologetic former trophy wife who masquerades as a teacher in order to find a new man after her wealthy husband leaves her penniless.

The film’s writers, Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky, will serve as executive producers for the series with Winston, Sam Hansen, Jimmy Miller and Michael Lasker for Sony, CBS Studios and Mosaic Media Group. It also stars “The Talk” co-host Sara Gilbert, who will juggle the talk show and the series; David Alan Grier; Ryan Hansen; Sara Rodier; and Kristin Davis. Deadline said this marks the third series order for Eisenberg and Stupnitsky, who serve as executive producers/showrunners on ABC’s “Trophy Wife” and HBO’s “Hello Ladies.”

Tim Surette of TV.com seemed unimpressed with the CBS pickup, given that series order was made so late in the season.

“I'm guessing the network finally got a look at its crop of new sitcoms and panicked a bit,” Surette said. “Plus, now that the network is expanding its Thursday comedy block to two hours, that's eight laughers on the schedule and there's nothing wrong with having a little backup. ... I'm still trying to figure out how this setup is actually supposed to make sense. Doesn't she know that she'll be teaching KIDS? Is she trying to marry a kid? Is she going after single dads? Does she have eyes on the gym teacher?”

“Bad Teacher” joins “The Crazy Ones,” “The Millers,” “We Are Men,” “Mom” and “Friends With Better Lives” as new CBS midseason comedies. New episodes of “Mike & Molly” are also being held for a later date.

New CBS dramas include “Hostages” and “Intelligence.”

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