Smallscreen News

Ed Asner and Liza Snyder join Tom Arnold in new CMT comedy

By April MacIntyre Jun 13, 2010, 21:33 GMT

US actor Ed Asner arrives on the red carpet for the 82nd Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California, USA, 07 March 2010. The Academy Awards honor excellence in cinema. EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT

Ed Asner and Liza Snyder were announced as principle actors on the new CMT show starring Tom Arnold.

The series, an untitled comedy, is executive produced by David Litt, Nina Wass and Eugene Stein.

TV veteran actor Asner will play the father of Joe (Tom Arnold), described as an outspoken man who's recently began dating after separating from his longtime wife, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Asner was cast as gruff Lou Grant in the 1970's American classic, "Mary Tyler Moore Show" which led to the smallscreen spinoff, "Lou Grant."

Arnold’s character Joe Herman, the owner of a hardware store, is described as “salt-of-the-earth kind of guy, good-hearted, eager-to-please, optimistic, but sometimes overwhelmed by the chaos around him.”  Snyder will play Marine, Joe's witty wife.

CMT ordered four comedy pilots earlier this year.

One series, "Working Class," has actress Melissa Peterman, host of CMT’s flagship series The Singing Bee attached.

Arnold shined as Georgie Caruso, a porn producer in season two of the excellent FX hit series "Sons Of Anarchy" due back for season three in September.