NBC's "This Is Us," which is headlined by Mandy Moore and Milo Ventimiglia, debuts on television on Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 10 p.m., and it's expected to make waves. The show features an ensemble of characters who are connected because they have the same birthdates.
Mandy Moore plays a young wife who is pregnant with triplets. In preparing for the role on "This Is Us," the actress did her research by watching YouTube videos of mothers giving birth. She also had the help of a nurse on set, who guided her on labor and delivery. "Now I'm even more terrified of actual childbirth one day," said the 36-year-old actress in jest via New York Magazine.
Mandy Moore also had to play the role of a new mom in 1988 as "This Is Us" is apparently a period piece that takes place between the 70s and the 80s. The cast and crew of "This Is Us" are proud of what the show is about, given that there's plenty of dark stuff on television these days. "It's a good time for a show with heart and some humor that is just about people," said Dan Fogelman, who created the series, per Huffington Post. Fogelman is also credited for writing the screenplay of the box office movie "Crazy, Stupid, Love," which starred Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling and Steve Carell.
"This Is Us" was supposed to be done as a movie, but realizing that it can be told in a series, Fogelman adjusted the stories and pitched the show to NBC. As for Mandy Moore, she has had terrible luck with TV shows in the last few seasons. She was part of three series that never made it after the pilot phase. "I don't know if I have it in me to be able to weather another pilot season," Moore said after all the disappointments and rejections.
But "This Is Us" is supposedly a gold in this TV landscape, with over a thousand shows from different platforms. Early reviews from those who have already watched the first episode have been positive and encouraging, per E! Online. The series also stars Justin Hartley, Sterling K. Brown and Chrissy Metz. Watch the teaser to "This Is Us" below.
