The United States of Tara Premieres This Sunday

Published by Jeff Leins on: January 16th, 2009

I know the site is called NewsinFilm and I rarely touch on the world of television.  But Showtime’s “United States of Tara” is relevant because it was written by Juno screenwriter Diablo Cody and produced from an original idea by Steven Spielberg.

Toni Collette stars as a housewife and mother of two teenagers who suffers from multiple personality disorder.  When the stress of her life becomes more than she can handle, Tara transitions to one of her alter egos.  Sometimes she’s a 15-year-old pot-smoking wild child who relates to her daughter of the same age.  Or she’s Buck, a redneck “man” who gets in fights, drinks beer, and rides motorcycles.  Or finally she’s Alice, a proper homemaker with traditional values and a baking habit.

I’ve only seen the first 30-minute episode, which airs this Sunday (January 18) at 10pm EST, but the series is loaded with potential.  It’s also packed with talent.  Aside from Collette, there is “Sex and the City” favorite John Corbett as the husband and Tara’s sister is played by Rosemarie DeWitt.

If you’re interested, former blogger Diablo Cody will also be providing live commentary on each episode via her Twitter account DiabloonTara.

“It’ll be like Pop-Up Video only even lamer and more meta. As far as I know, I am the first show-creator ever to do live commentary, and I don’t expect Chuck Lorre or David E. Kelly to be jumping on this train anytime soon. So I may be the first and only,” said Cody.

Check it out and let me know what you think.