NBC's Extended Family Will See Suits' Abigail Spencer Play a Very Different Role

Extended Family is the newest sitcom coming to NBC this fall and the show boasts an all-star cast with some familiar faces you may recognize from other popular projects. Most relevant to fans of USA Network, though, is series star Abigail Spencer, who fans may recognize from the acclaimed original series Suits. 

Spencer had a recurring role on the series that saw her cropping up from time to time in the lives of Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) and, particularly, Harvey Spencer (Gabriel Macht). Now she’s trading in her drama hat for a comedic one in Extended Family. For those excited for her next project but are unfamiliar, or need a refresher, on her Suits roots, we thought we’d catch you up before the sitcom drops later this fall. 

Who Was Abigail Spencer in Suits? 

Spencer played Dana Scott for fifteen of the series’ 134 episodes. While her episode footprint may not be as large as people like, say, Meghan Markle, her character loomed very large over the lives of everyone at Pearson Specter. She went to Harvard Law School with Harvey, graduating fourth in the class to his fifth. In college, they struck up a romantic relationship that didn’t quite last. When they meet again later in life, Dana is angling for a job at his law firm despite their history. 

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Reluctantly, they agree to work together, but as with all things on Suits drama bested them. They eventually rekindled their romance but it was short-lived because Harvey’s real devotion was to Mike and keeping his secret. She returns several times after the fallout of their breakup, but it’s usually just to test Harvey’s devotion to his best friend and his big secret — which remains steadfast until the very end of the show. 

What is Extended Family? 

Extended Family is a new TV show coming to NBC this fall that features Spencer as a woman named Julia who recently underwent an amicable divorce from her partner, Jim, played by sitcom legend Jon Cryer. Together, Jim and Julia decide to co-parent their kids in their old family home, with the arrangement being they take turns living in the house while the kids stay there full time. Further complicating the already complicated situation is the fact that Julia strikes up a romance with a man named Trey, who happens to be the owner of Jim’s favorite sports team.

Mike O’Malley is the writer and executive producer of the new show, alongside executive producers Tom Werner, Wyc Grousbeck, Emilia Fazzalari, and George Geyer.

How to Watch Extended Family

Extended Family will premiere sometime in the Fall of 2023. It will air Tuesdays at 8:30/7:30c on NBC and can be streamed the following day on Peacock. Extended Family will air directly after Night Court, in a back-to-back comedy powerhouse. 

Catch up on all of Suits on Peacock now.