Maura Tierney

Ever since we heard that Maura Tierney wouldn't be able to star on Parenthood because of her cancer treatments (hope you're doing okay, Maura!), we've been wondering who they could possibly get to replace her. She's pretty great, so they would need to find someone pretty great to fill that hole.

First the rumor was Helen Hunt, and we were pretty eh about that.

We were a little perplexed when NBC pushed back Parenthood, one of it's most promising new series to the mid-season, until we heard the reason. Maura Tierney, who we loved on ER and Newsradio, was undergoing surgery for breast cancer, and the show was waiting for her. It's sad today to find out that she won't be continuing on the show due to her treatments.

Maura Tierney, 44, will undergo surgery for a breast tumor.

The actress who made her name on NBC’s ER as Abby Lockheart spoke out in a press release from NBC Universal announcing that Tierney was ill and that her treatment would delay the production of her new series, Parenthood, previously scheduled to premiere Sept. 23, but now pushed to mid-season.