Jurnee Smollett-Bell Joins ‘Parenthood’
Jurnee Smollett-Bell has been added to the cast of Parenthood for season 5.
Smollett-Bell is currently appearing on season 6 ofTrue Blood as Nicole Wright, the co-founder of the Vampire Unity Society (VUS). The VUS is a group that wants to protect vampires and other supernatural creatures from people who think they are dangerous. Nicole is also a love interest for Sam Merlotte (Sam Trammell). The Eve’s Bayou also played Jess Merriweather on the last two seasons of Friday Night Lights from 2009 to 2011. In season 5, Jess decides that she wants to become a coach and shadows Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler). She then moves to Dallas, where she shadows a coach with Taylor’s recommendation.
The 26-year-old will play Heather Hall, Kristina’s (Monica Potter) new campaign manager. She joins six other Friday Night Lights alumni who have appeared on the NBC comedy: Matt Lauria, Minka Kelly, Michael B. Jordan, Derek Phillips, Angela Rawna and Jeff Rosick.
Jurnee Smollet-Bell also recently starred in Tyler Perry’s Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor. The film received universally negative reviews, with many lamenting the lack of sexual chemistry between Smollett-Bell’s Judith and Robbie Jones’ Harley.
Just last month, it was announced that Ray Romano would be returning to Parenthood for its upcoming season. Romano previously had a recurring role as Hank Rizzolli, a grumpy photographer who is hired to take a family portrait of the Braverman family. He takes Sarah (Lauren Graham) on as an assistant, even though she doesn’t know the first thing about photography. During the season finale, Sarah turns down fiance Mark Cyr (Jason Ritter) for Hank, who made plans to move to Minnesota to be closer to his daughter.
The fourth season finale of Parenthood aired on January 22, and NBC renewed the series for a 22-episode fifth season on April 26.
Are you excited to see Jurnee Smollett-Bell on Parenthood?
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