Jamie Lee Curtis, who’s acted mostly in Activia yogurt commercials of late, will star in a CBS drama tentatively titled “Only Human” that’s based on an Israeli hit called “Rat Quartet.”
Curtis, 55 — who hasn’t been a TV series regular for 22 years — will play a physician named Caroline whose quadruplets (three boys and a girl) grew up in front of the TV cameras on a reality show.
Caroline runs Easton Hospital, which also employs her son, and is viewed as a tough taskmaster.
But there’s a reason for her attitude: She’s never recovered from her husband’s early death via a rare genetic condition — which also has a 50-50 chance of afflicting her four children.
The series is being developed by David Marshall Grant.
Curtis last starred on TV in “Anything But Love” opposite Richard Lewis. In the ABC sitcom, which ran from 1989-92, Curtis and Lewis played Hannah and Marty, co-workers at a Chicago magazine who were attracted to each other but tried to keep their relationship on a strictly professional basis.
Curtis, who’s married to actor/writer/director Christopher Guest (“This Is Spinal Tap,” “Best in Show,” “A Mighty Wind,” “For Your Consideration”) gained fame in the late ’70s/early ’80s for her starring roles in the horror movies “Halloween,” “The Fog” and “Prom Night” and later starred in big-screen hits “Trading Places” and “True Lies.”
She’s had a recurring role on “New Girl” and appeared on five episodes of “NCIS” in 2012.
Curtis’ upcoming CBS medical drama is the latest US series to be based on an Israeli hit. Here are three of the highest-profile shows that US networks have adapted from Israel TV:
“Homeland”: The Showtime hit, starring Claire Danes as cray-cray CIA agent Carrie Mathison and (formerly) Damian Lewis, is based on the Israeli series “Hatufim” (“Prisoner of War”), which aired for two seasons on Israel’s Channel 2.
“Hostages”: The 15-episode series aired from September through this past January on CBS with stars Dylan McDermott and Toni Collette — based on the Israeli series of the same name, which premiered last October.
“In Treatment”: This drama starring Gabriel Byrne as flawed New York psychiatrist Paul Weston aired for three seasons on HBO (2008-2010) and was adapted from the Israeli series “BeTipul” (2005-2008).