Entertainment
The 'Younger' Cast Is Full Of Awesome Women — And Men — That Could Help This Show Take Off
Get ready to purposefully turn on TV Land, y'all! The channel's new show Younger is premiering on Tuesday, March 31, and the cast of TV Land's Younger is a collection of some quirky actors. Edgier than expected, Younger is the story of 40-year-old Liza, whose husband left her for another woman — and also left her with debt. After being mistaken for a 26-year-old at a bar, she decides to re-enter the publishing workforce as a much younger woman.
Although I doubt the feasibility of the premise, it's still a plot that allows for a lot of fun moments. So, who are the people who are bringing Younger to life?
Sutton Foster
Any Broadway fan worth their salt knows about Sutton Foster who is portraying the age-defying (but not gravity-defying) Liza. She hit the scene as a relative unknown in Thoroughly Modern Mille on Broadway as Millie, which she took home a Tony for. She won another Tony for Anything Goes and was the original Fiona in Shrek The Musical. And she’s no stranger to TV either with a brief role in HBO’s Flight of the Conchords and her leading role in ABC Family’s Bunheads.
Debi Mazar
Besides having a movie career that includes Goodfellas and Collateral, Debi Mazar has been on a long list of TV series — most notably, she was in HBO’s Entourage. Mazar portrays Liza’s fast-talking and sassy (cause she’s Mazar) best friend Maggie. And her role is bringing some diversity to the show since her character is a lesbian. It was Maggie’s idea for Liza to try to pass as 26, and she’ll be there to help Liza out along the way.
Hilary Duff
Another woman who needs no explanation, the Hilary Duff is on Younger. Fans of Lizzie McGuire have been anxiously awaiting the day when Duff would return to TV and now it has happened. Duff plays Kelsey, Liza’s new 26-year-old coworker and fast friend. Kelsey is bound to bring Liza up to speed on what life is like for mid 20-year-olds (at least life for 20 year olds according to TV Land).
Miriam Shor
Miriam Shor, who plays Liza’s not-very-observant and tough boss Diana Trout, has been on shows like Damages and The Good Wife. Although Diana is only a few years older than Liza, she doesn’t know that and she disrespects the presumably young woman. If Diana played nice, her and Liza could actually discover they have a lot more in common than expected.
Nico Tortorella
Nico Tortorella is super appealing as tattoo artist Josh who gives Liza the idea in the first place that she can pass for a younger woman. Tortorella isn’t new to TV as he was in Season 1 of the The Following as a foe to Kevin Bacon. (He also was in Scream 4.) And I’m pretty sure he’s going to be earning some serious fans as Liza’s beau in Younger.
Molly Bernard
Molly Bernard (pictured second on the right) plays the brazen publicist Lauren who is horrified at Liza’s, uh, ungroomed pubic hair. Hey, 26-year-old ladies — this 28-year-old says no judgment. (Although apparently Liza’s hair also was a bit grey, so that would explain a big reaction). She was on a few episodes of Amazon’s Alpha House and will provide Liza with a rude awakening to the modern world of 20-somethings.
Tessa Albertson
OK, how is this for adorable? Tessa Albertson plays Liza’s teenage daughter who is in India through an exchange program. And yeah, she has the awesome name of Caitlin, but that’s not what makes her being on Younger cute. She played teen Fiona on Broadway and in the filmed version of the stage musical Shrek The Musical — and of course, Foster was adult Fiona. And now on Younger, they’re mother and daughter. As 26-year-old Liza would say, “Adorbs.”
Image: TV Land
Dan Amboyer
Dan Amboyer plays Thad, Kelsey’s jerky hedge fund boyfriend. Liza is definitely going to try to help Kelsey see the light on the fact that Thad is not good enough for her, so Amboyer may not last long. But the actor can’t be as bad as his character since he was in an episode of Comedy Central’s Inside Amy Schumer.
Jon Gabrus
Although he isn’t in the first few episodes of Younger, Jon Gabrus will be a recurring character on the series as Gabe. Gabe will probably be a funny guy since Gabrus has done videos for College Humor and been on IFC’s Comedy Bang! Bang!
Geneva Carr
Geneva Carr is in the pilot episode as Morristown, N.J. real estate agent Mary Beth Bell. Carr’s name may not be familiar, but once you see her face, you know you’ve seen her before. And it’s most likely from her commercial role as the mom who loved her some AT&T rollover minutes. Her role on Younger may have been brief, but you’re bound to see Carr somewhere else soon.
Martha Plimpton
Based on the second official trailer for Younger , Martha Plimpton will be making an appearance on the show. Since Raising Hope ended, I’m happy to see her on another TV show. I’m not sure how long she will be on Younger for, but she could always be back on The Good Wife at some point if her role on the TV Land show isn’t substantial enough.
Darren Star
Although he’s not in the cast, Darren Starr, as a producer and writer of the show, needs to be acknowledged. I’m pretty sure the fact that the creator of Sex and the City is involved with Younger is the reason the series is fresher than you expected. A man who can create Sarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw knows all about strong, funny women.
