CMT Plans First Sit-com: Blue Collar Mom

Posted Aug 11, 2010 by Walt Belcher

Updated Aug 11, 2010 at 08:57 AM

Country music videoes aren’t enough to keep CMT going so the network is adding its first sitcom.  The network has ordered 12 episodes of “Working Class,” , a half-hour, family-oriented sitcom starring Melissa Peterman (best known as Barbara Jean on “Reba”).

  Set to premiere in January 2011, “Working Class” follows the life of a single blue collar mom, who moves her family to a rich suburban neighborhood to provide a better life for her kids while retaining her ‘working class’ roots.  Sounds like a culture clash is brewing here.

Peterman, 39, has been working in films, TV shows, comedy clubs and theater since she played a hooker in “Fargo” in 1996.

“It’s exciting to be a part of CMT’s entry into the scripted comedy world and I’m thrilled they are jumping in with me onboard,” said Peterman.  “I loved the show and the character the first time I read the script – it’s funny, smart and the subject matter is relevant and relatable.”

Peterman, the host of CMT’s #1-rated series of 2009, “The Singing Bee”, recently starred in her first televised special “MELISSA PETERMAN: AM I THE ONLY ONE for CMT.”

  She has also starred on “Surviving Suburbia,” “Rita Rocks,” “Just Shoot Me” and “Living with Abandon.”  She has hosted CMT’s COMEDY STAGE, as well as the annual Hollywood Bowl’s “The Sound of Music” Sing-A-Long.  Peterman was recently signed to Big Machine Records to release her first comedy album and is currently on tour with Reba, George Strait and Lee Ann Womack.