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Watch My Show: Kirstie's Marco Pennette Answers Our Showrunner Survey

TV Land's new comedy Kirstie arrives with an impressive sitcom pedigree, starting with its star, Cheers alum Kirstie Alley. She plays Broadway diva Madison Banks, who's reunited with the adult son (Eric Petersen) she gave up for adoption 26 years earlier.

Michael Schneider

TV Land's new comedy Kirstie arrives with an impressive sitcom pedigree, starting with its star, Cheers alum Kirstie Alley. She plays Broadway diva Madison Banks, who's reunited with the adult son (Eric Petersen) she gave up for adoption 26 years earlier. Alley's Cheers co-star Rhea Perlman plays Madison's assistant and best friend, while Seinfeld's Michael Richards is Frank, her eccentric chauffeur. Executive producer Marco Pennette took TV Guide Magazine's showrunner survey to explain why Kirstie might be up our alley.

TV Guide Magazine: I have time to watch just one more show. Tell me why it should be yours.
Marco Pennette:
Our incredible cast, plus such guest stars as John Travolta, Jason Alexander, Kristin Chenoweth and Cloris Leachman.

TV Guide Magazine: Who should be watching?
Pennette:
People. That's the audience we're going for. And their pets.

TV Guide Magazine:  What happens if we don't watch your show?
Pennette:
My three kids will be playing with a piece of yarn Christmas morning.

TV Guide Magazine: What's the best thing anyone has said or written about your show?
Pennette:
My folks think it's the best thing I've done.

TV Guide Magazine:  What's the worst thing?
Pennette:
They also think my brother's "the funny one."

TV Guide Magazine: Who was right?
Pennette:
Since I bought them a condo, they're starting to come around.

TV Guide Magazine: Give us an equation for your show.
Pennette:
Cheers plus Seinfeld divided by Smash minus Smash.

TV Guide Magazine: Come up with a premise for the spin-off.
Pennette:
Frank (Michael Richards) sells his limo and goes back to being a private detective. He solves crimes with the help of his two pet owls.

TV Guide Magazine: What credit of yours would you prefer we forget?
Pennette:
The Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz in the 6th grade. I just wasn't committed.

TV Guide Magazine: Tell us one thing about your amazing cast.
Pennette:
Emmys!

TV Guide Magazine: If you weren't producing this show, what series would you most like to be an executive producer on?
Pennette:
If I could go back in time, The Odd Couple. My absolute favorite.

TV Guide Magazine: Tell us an idea that didn't make it to the screen.
Pennette:
Frank's ventriloquism act, billed as Frank 'N Stein. The dummy was Stein.

TV Guide Magazine:  Finish this sentence: "If you like _______, you'll love our show."
Pennette
: If you like having legs, you'll love our show. Capice?

TV Guide Magazine: Pick another show and start a fake feud.
Pennette:
Blue Bloods, since Michael Richards and Tom Selleck are the only two men on TV who wear three piece suits who aren't maitre d's or valets.

TV Guide Magazine: With what show would you like to do a crossover episode, and how would that go?
Pennette:
Veep. Frank gets a job filling in for an ailing limo driver and must get Julia Louis-Dreyfus to a speaking engagement. But on the way they stop for a marble rye.

TV Guide Magazine: How will your show change the face of TV as we know it?
Pennette:
In clinical tests, Kirstie has lowered cholesterol, increased muscle mass and improved hair growth. How can you beat that?

Kirstie premieres Wednesday, Dec. 4, 10/9c, TV Land.

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