B Positive Promotes Linda Lavin and 2 Others — Plus, Meet the 6 New Cast Members Joining for Season 2
B Positive‘s ensemble just got a lot larger — and that includes big promotions for three existing cast members.
CBS on Wednesday confirmed that Linda Lavin (Norma), David Anthony Higgins (Jerry) and Darryl Stephens (Gideon) have all been elevated to series-regular status for Season 2. They join returning series regulars Annaleigh Ashford (Gina), Thomas Middleditch (Drew), Kether Donohue (Gabby), Sara Rue (Julia), Izzy G. (Maddie) and Terrence Terrell (Eli).
In addition, the network has released a statement by executive producer Chuck Lorre, who reveals the central premise of Season 2:
“Having donated a kidney and saved a man’s life, Gina has learned that happiness is in the giving, not the getting,” the statement reads. “She puts this principle to work by trying to improve the lives of the elderly residents of Valley Hills, the assisted living facility where she’s been working. In the meantime, Drew is struggling with a strange new feeling. Post-surgery, he’s convinced he’s in love with Gina. It’s complicated.” (Meanwhile, Gideon — formerly a dialysis nurse — will now work alongside Gina as the head of nursing at Valley Hills, the network also revealed.)
What’s more, CBS has announced six new recurring cast members, with familiar faces from The Kominsky Method, Last Man Standing and Supernatural:
* Hector Elizondo (Last Man Standing) will play Harry, a gruff, no-nonsense resident at Valley Hills, fighting to keep his terminally ill wife, Meredith, comfortable.
* Jane Seymour (The Kominsky Method) will play Bette, an aging beauty who is incapable of coming to terms with her senior status.
* Ben Vereen (The Good Fight) will play Peter, a brilliant, retired professor struggling with a failing memory.
* Priscilla Lopez (A Chorus Line) will play Meredith, who is dealing with her terminal illness as best as she can while trying to help her husband, Harry, move.
* Jim Beaver (Supernatural) will play Spencer, a former NYPD transit cop who was a 9/11 first responder. Politically and socially, he finds it difficult to behave appropriately.
* Anna Maria Horsford (Hacks) will play Althea Ludlum, the no-nonsense administrator of Valley Hills. She’s a thorn in Gina’s side, but Gina needs help running the place.
B Positive returns for Season 2 on Thursday, Oct. 7, at 9:30/8:30c. Which piece of casting news excites you most for the new episodes?
So it’s now a show about the staff and residents of an assisted-living facility. Why do they even need Drew? He was always kind of a downer of a character (in a way that’s supposed to be funny, but isn’t) — and the idea of him being in love with Gina is something we were all happy they mostly managed to avoid in season 1.
Agreed, let’s hope the show starts to faze Drew out and focuses on Gina and everyone else. Drew is a whining boring character.
Not to mention, Middleditch’s personal life is pretty disgusting and I can’t really watch him anymore without cringing. Gross. Phase him out completely, please.
As soon as I saw these promotions, I sorta assumed it was an attempt to build up the cast so that the writing out of Drew wouldn’t be as big a deal. Middleditch is in hot water these days.
I soooo agree!!!
Seems we are retooling big time with more focus on Valley Hills. Hope it works. While I found Season 1 good, I wanted more. Though the cast is uniformly great! Love the names on this roster. I’ll be watching.
No word on Briga Heelan (Samantha)? It’s odd they are keeping all of Drew’s fellow patients but not her. (And really only Eli has justification based on known plot to stick around, as Gina’s boyfriend. What’s the plan for Jerry?)
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And I love Sara Rue, but she barely had a role in S1. Hope she’s a lot more involved this new season.
Agreed on both counts, Briga was one of the best parts of S1, and Sara Rue was woefully underused.
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Also is Rosa Salazar returning this season?
So no Briga Heelan?
I found B-Positive to be one of the least funny sitcoms last year. The male lead was uncharismatic and the female lead’s nasally delivery were almost to much to deal with. How it, and the equally unfunny Call me Kat got renewed is beyond me.
I agree 100%
This sounds like a great, fun shift that I’m all for, especially with some of the names coming in! And I’m gonna try not to wish to hard for a Jared and/or Jensen cameo as nephews that Beaver gets to call idgit…
It sounds like they are setting up Gina to be the lead character should Tho.as Middleditch gets himself cancelled.
Thomas
If Middleditch was going to be “canceled”, it would have happened by now. There aren’t any new revelations, so everything is based on past revelations.
I think CBS and Lorre have so far chosen to ride out the storm and build the show around the care facility, just in case. Besides, his character’s only reason for being around was the transplant. He can easily be phased out if need be.
What about Briga Heelan?
Anyone else find the idea of goofy, perpetual screw up Gia being in any kind of management position,? It’s quite a jump from bus driver
I read it as Gideon would be head of nursing. Maybe I’m reading it wrong with the way the sentence is written…
(Meanwhile, Gideon — formerly a dialysis nurse — will now work alongside Gina as the head of nursing at Valley Hills, the network also revealed.)
Fun fact: Celia Weston costarred in Alice with Linda Lavin.
Loved Alice….and Blondie…lol…so now can I say “Sto it!’
Great to hear that Linda Lavin will be getting more screen time. She’s a gem.
Surprising that they kept Sara Rue and daughter. They barely used the second half of season. I figured they do a Mom and get rid of family.
There has to be a story behind Briga. How she just disappeared and was replaced by diff actress in one of last episode.
If they got rid of everyone attached to Drew, there would be no reason for Drew to be around, either. I sense more developments as the season progresses.
Briga?! (just adding my need-to-know to the list)
So glad to hear all of this, particularly Linda Lavin. I watched primarily for her. But the refocusing of the show is concerning. “Old people” shows (I can say it, I am one) can be hit or miss success-wise and in capturing viewers. It will be interesting to see how Lorre pulls it off. But Ben Vereen and Hector Elizondo? I’m in.
What about Bernie Kopell?
and that Girl that replaced Briga Heelan’s character, will she return?
Very glad to hear they are adding Lavin full time. I didn’t watch every episode but she was a definite plus in every scene she was in. Personally Middleditch isn’t my favorite in this show and I loved him in Silicon Valley… or maybe it’s how his characters written. Can’t quite put my finger on it but he just doesn’t click in the show.
I wonder if Adriana (Rose Salazar) will be back?
CBS stays keeping sexual harassers on their pay roll
Seriously, I didn’t know Linda Lavin was still alive. Shame on me.
How this received a 2nd season is a mystery to me. Horrible show.
After working with elderly in nursing homes and dementia and alzheimers patients in locked units for over 6 years, I will pass on this new premise.
Sounds like a downer.
Enjoyed the 1st season. Watching it go from what people go through from dialysis to the hopeful, successful transplant was done well.
Dementia theme isn’t funny to me.
OK, let’s B Positive: it’s almost a guarantee they’ll replace the creepy-AF opening credits now, right?
Let’s hope!! That was disturbing to say the least.
I feel like Jane Seymour is much better known for Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman than she is for The Kominsky Method.
I am glad they are expanding it so the show can continue with different storylines. I’m glad the young gentleman is now going to be head nurse at the home, he is great. I enjoyed the first season. What happened to the blonde who was getting kidney treatment.
I haven’t seen it, but Linda Lavin looks great!