NeNe Leakes lands a role on new Ryan Murphy comedy pilot ‘The New Normal’
While “Real Housewives of Atlanta” cast member Kim Zolciak landed a reality show spinoff on Bravo, her former friend NeNe Leakes has been making a heavy push into acting.
She’s had a well-received recurring role this season as a tough-talking swim coach on Ryan Murphy’s “Glee.” Now Murphy has tapped her again for another recurring role on his NBC comedic pilot “The New Normal” about a blended family of a gay couple and their surrogate, according to Deadline.com. She plays a character named Rocky, though the article provides no details of what that entails.
Broadcast networks are shooting pilots across the country for the 2012-13 season (including two in Atlanta: J.J. Abrams’ Revolution” and an untitled Kevin Williamson project starring Kevin Bacon). On average, network pilots have about a one in three shot of making it on air the next season. “The New Normal” has the pedigree of Murphy, who has also created FX’s “Nip/Tuck” and “American Horror Story.” And NBC needs hits – badly.
Style Network last week aired an episode of “The Amandas” featuring Leakes getting her master closet remade. She scared Dionne Warwick and La Toya Jackson last year on “Celebrity Apprentice.” Recently, she made appearances as herself on BET’s “Let’s Stay Together” and “The Game.”
UPDATE: Wednesday, March 29, 3:32 p.m. EST. In an earlier version of this entry, I made a presumption that NeNe’s work in Los Angeles is making her need to stay on “Real Housewives of Atlanta” increasingly unlikely. But her attorney Darrell Miller, in response to a text query, said she is staying with the show, just “adding to her plate.” I can only guess Bravo feels it still needs her on the show and NeNe still feels a need to cash what is probably a very nice six-digit paycheck.
She has been increasingly checked out and disengaged from the other cast members, especially Kim. From a creative standpoint, what more can she do with these other ladies? Obviously, they are bringing in at least one (if not more) new members that could shake things up.
There are two more original episodes and two “reunion” episodes, where NeNe will likely engage in a fair amount of eye rolling and looking bored.
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By Rodney Ho, Radio & TV Talk
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78 comments Add your comment
Shawnta Turner-Richard
March 27th, 2012
5:03 pm
Go NeNE! do your thang!
Gwendolyn Stone
March 27th, 2012
5:14 pm
I thought NeNe had a boob job. Her boobs are hanging lower than mine and I am a Jitterbug over 64. Phaedra had on the ugliest outfit to go to her husband’s speaking engagement. it made my eyes cross!!!
I have never seen so much behind on so many women in my life. Have they never heard of girdles or exercise?
I still have my own hair and now Kandi’s mom has joined the “Fake Hair” troupe.
Sheree’s daughter’s boyfriend manned up and told her that he was not ready to marry her. You Go Boy!!
Kim fired Sweetie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Has anyone seen or heard from her?. Check the Ladies Shelter. Kroy is whooped……All things in time.
Cynthia and Peter are a tragedy waiting to happen. By the way, where is the new bar? Did they really spend $10,000 on their Anniversary? Why? Next chapter.
Waiting to expel.
Ej
March 27th, 2012
5:30 pm
Congrats, NeNe!! I’m happy for you. Do you need an assistant?
Cascade Shaniqua
March 27th, 2012
6:18 pm
Please just make NeNe go away. She is an insult to all the black sisters. She has no talent and is disgusting to watch.
TK
March 27th, 2012
6:28 pm
Let her go as far as she can, she couldn’t be any worse than some other no-talent reality stars who work the business- let her get hers. It’s just entertainment!
just as I am
March 27th, 2012
6:30 pm
Ya’ll be nice and stop hatin’.
what if
March 27th, 2012
7:44 pm
notaracist… you said , “I have to say, I am actually happy for NeNe. She is becoming famous and she did not have to take her clothes off or sleep with anyone.”…..if she would have taken her clothes she definitely would NOT be getting any jobs.
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Fact Check
March 27th, 2012
7:49 pm
“Ghetto Proud” Lmao. Come on now. LOL
black girls rock
March 27th, 2012
8:41 pm
this wack especially when real actress cannot get roles!
kreedham
March 27th, 2012
9:06 pm
I’ll be sure not to watch.
jesse
March 27th, 2012
9:23 pm
YOU GO GIRL FRIEND MAKE THAT MONEY MAKE THAT MONEY GIRL GOD BLESS YOU
A Commenter
March 27th, 2012
9:30 pm
I really enjoyed NeNe’s “keep it real” attitude at first but definitely dislike the “I cash Donald Trump checks” diva that she morphed into. I’m glad that she’s turning her stint on RHOA into a broader career. Her history as a former stripper or ghetto girl doesn’t and shouldn’t hold her back.
Brenda Keyton
March 27th, 2012
9:31 pm
Very proud of you Ne Ne, hope and pray that God will give you peace, and the wisdom and knowledge to make the right decision. I think she has a Great Heart…..
BK
Dee T.
March 27th, 2012
9:32 pm
This woman is a joke and an embarrassment to the entire city of Atlanta.
gine
March 27th, 2012
9:51 pm
NENE you go girl put god first and he will take you places,congrates,love you and i will be watching.
STH
March 27th, 2012
10:19 pm
Personally, I like NeNe. I never saw RHOA, so I was first exposed to her when I saw Celebrity Apprentice last season, and I really liked her. I’m not saying she doesn’t have her flaws, but at then end of the day, she respects her elders (remember “Miss Dionne”?) and she keeps it real.
And on Glee? She’s great! Her character is very believable. Honestly, in the role, I don’t look at her and think “Great, another loud black woman” stereotype… she’s basically the perfect counter to Sue Sylvester. I see her as a sassier, more comedic version of Sue. I don’t know that Nene will do more than those comedic roles, but I don’t really see why she would need to branch out – there’s a place for her talent (yep, I said talent) there in Hollywood.
I agree with those of you who said, love her, hate her, gotta admire her hustle – and I do! I wish her tons of success, just like I wish success to anybody who works hard and makes use of the resources available to them.
Notahaterbutathinker
March 28th, 2012
9:04 am
Not a fan of NeNe, but am a fan of Kim and Kandi… hopefully NeNe horrible attitude will disappears, the Girl is Ghetto too the bone….yes she is Ghetto…she is the typical bougie-ghetto sister that got a little cash and it went to her head… Kims a Nurse,Kandi, Starr Jones and Phaedra are the only sisters that have really made it on their on because they have true smarts and talent.
NeNe and Sheree are nothing more than mattress backs with big mouths and trouble makers…
.
NeNe Leakes Lands Role On New Comedy Pilot |
March 28th, 2012
11:01 am
[...] Source [...]
why?????
March 28th, 2012
11:18 am
You idiots continue to whine about ‘who cares?”, yet continue to follow every article on this broad and even take out time to comment…ummm, who’s the loser here? Nene, who by the way could probably care less about your envy and obvious bitterness, is laughing all of the way to the bank… Please keep the comments and her FREE publicity flowing. Yeah, that’ll make her go away…..
NeNe Leakes Lands Another Acting Gig But Don’t Worry… She’s Still A “Housewife”!
March 28th, 2012
1:47 pm
[...] to the AJC: She’s had a well-received recurring role this season as a tough-talking swim coach on Ryan [...]
Shawn
March 29th, 2012
12:45 am
Good for you Nene! Doesn’t matter what we say or think. You do you!
Austin
March 29th, 2012
1:20 am
She’s a man baby!
romeo
March 29th, 2012
5:03 am
As Don King said only in america. I can not stand any of the women on that show. The only thing I have seen worse on tv . The Jerry Springer Show had black women showing their brest while they were fighting Real House Wives comes in second. I keep reading where a lot of black women are calling this making it. Really . I call this blood money. I have always thought that a woman who stripped would do anything . NeNE has proven me right remember she was a stripper at the Gold Club in Atlanta at one time. Where are the black women at who had the problem with rapers ? This show and others like it are sending a message to black women. That if you are loud and willing to be disrespectful of black people and date white men who have money, and hang around gay black men we will put you on tv and pay you for it. Black people wake up while you are glued to these types of shows you are being exploited in so many ways it would take me days to write it out. There is nothing wrong with watching shows that stop you from thinking but shows that show black people disrespecting each other at this time in history there is no place for it. Will someone please tell me where is one show on tv that shows a positive good looking black male?
falconsjrt
March 29th, 2012
6:04 am
Its about time nene or pepe lol leave the show!!!! She is an ego long as peachtree street and the rest of the ladies on the show have great class except marlo!!! The real housewives of atlanta will be much better without nene and maybe she need to go back to magic city and dance(she is not a great dancer at all lmao) because is is very fake and stuck up! Plus she will never have anything on kandi when it comes to talent, class and beauty!!
RealNeneFan
March 29th, 2012
6:14 am
Don’t let any of these jealous losers give you shade, NeNe! You are one strong black woman and people across America just fell in love with you on your 1st season of RHOA. (even the Silver Fox aka Anderson Cooper called you out as his fave early on) Your performance on Glee has been awesome, as well. Keep on grabbing that brass ring, and Sheree will still be stirring crap and looking at that empty lot where her mansion should already be!
carla roqs
March 29th, 2012
6:33 am
romeo, wow–of couurse there are not any non AA women who rose from the ranks of stripping. sit down somewhere! even those of us who do not like the show nor the fake lifestlyes give ne ne credit for wanting more and working towards achieviing something other than bashing others.
bee gee
March 29th, 2012
6:54 am
What is y’all problem? Whatever negative feelings about Nene Leakes do not mean a thing. As ghetto as some of you think she is, Nene has outgrown that housewives show and is moving on. Producers contact who they want to be on their shows, whether it’s one of the many highly talented actors that have been working their behinds off to get jobs or a no name loser. It’s the producer’s decision. Good for Nene.
Karen
March 31st, 2012
12:25 am
Good for you Girl!!. I have always been a fan. She kinda scared me last year, but really stepped up and owned her behavior and well at least taking a look at how disgraceful at times it was. ….Who does that..?..The light just always gets brighter…