Which Two 'Cheers' Stars are Reuniting on Primetime?

Alley (L), Perlman (R)

"Sometime's you wanna go where everybody knows your name." That's why Kirstie Alley,  and Rhea Perlman will be working together once again, only this time on ABC. "The Manzanis" will begin filming in December, according to Ms. Alley's Twitter. Alley will portray a wife and mother whose Italian-American family moves into a high-class New Jersey neighborhood. Perlman has been cast as Alley's mother-in-law, who is only 3-years older than Alley. It may seem like an odd concept but I have no problem with Alley playing younger. Since her recent weight loss, I think she looks better than ever. It's also not unheard of of actors of similar age playing mother-daugher either. Estelle Getty and Bea Arthur of 'The Golden Girls' were essentially the same age when Getty portrayed Arthur's mother.

Perlman-'Carla Tortelli' (L)
Alley-'Rebecca Howe' (R)

My only concern is the portrayal of New Jersey. Nowadays it seems that every show involves New Jersey-Jersey Shore, Real Housewives of New Jersey, Jerseylicious, etc. and every time the portrayal is the same-loud, tan, and raunchy. Being from New Jersey, it gets old real fast. The TV portrayal is a gross over-exaggeration. I can only hope 'The Manzanis' chooses to do something different with the Jersey persona.