The upcoming spinoff of the critically acclaimed series The Good Wife, titled Elsbeth, has recently announced the addition of four new cast members. The show, which will air on CBS, centers around the character Elsbeth Tascioni, portrayed by Carrie Preston. Elsbeth is an attorney with autism who relocates from Chicago to join forces with the NYPD. Preston has previously showcased her talent as Elsbeth in 14 episodes of The Good Wife and five episodes of its previous spinoff, The Good Fight, which concluded after six successful seasons in 2022.
In addition to Preston, Elsbeth boasts an impressive ensemble cast that includes Wendell Pierce and Carra Patterson. According to Variety, the show has now cast four guest stars to join Modern Family's Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Jane Krakowski will take on the role of Joann, a real estate broker who harbors both wealthy clients and dark secrets. Retta will portray Margo, an affluent matchmaker, while Blair Underwood will bring to life an unnamed father whose unwavering dedication to his son's tennis career knows no bounds. The cast is further enhanced by the addition of Linda Lavin, who previously appeared as Joy Gubrick in a three-episode arc on The Good Wife and now assumes the role of co-op-board president Gloria.
Interestingly, many of the newly announced guest stars have backgrounds in television comedy, hinting at the more overtly comic tone that Elsbeth may adopt. Jane Krakowski, renowned for her portrayal of the spoiled sketch show star Jenna Maroney on the acclaimed comedy 30 Rock, is a prime example. Prior to 30 Rock, Krakowski gained recognition for her role in Ally McBeal and has since starred in various other comedy shows, including Netflix's Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Apple TV+'s Schmigadoon.
Retta, known for her comedic chops, enjoyed a successful run as Donna Meagle on the beloved sitcom Parks and Recreation for all seven seasons. She followed this up with a starring role in the NBC dramedy Good Girls. Linda Lavin, another seasoned actress joining the cast, is considered sitcom royalty for her portrayal of the titular character in the classic 1970s sitcom Alice.
While the majority of the new cast members excel in comedy, Blair Underwood brings his dramatic prowess to Elsbeth. Recognized for his roles in Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Quantico, Deep Impact, and Rules of Engagement, Underwood also appeared in a single episode of The Good Wife as Jack Dargis. With such a versatile group of veteran performers, Elsbeth seems poised to effortlessly tackle any tone, be it comedic or dramatic.
Fans eagerly anticipate the premiere of Elsbeth, which is set to air on CBS on February 29. Building upon the success of its predecessor series, The Good Wife, the spinoff promises an engaging narrative and stellar performances from its talented cast. Alicia Florrick's return to the legal sphere after a thirteen-year hiatus, prompted by her husband's imprisonment due to a high-profile corruption and sex scandal, will undoubtedly captivate audiences once again.
