Happy’s Place Casts United States of Al Vet as Reba’s TV Daughter (Exclusive)

Happy’s Place has enlisted a familiar sitcom face to play Reba McEntire’s new TV daughter.

TVLine can exclusively confirm that Elizabeth Alderfer — best known to audiences for her starring role as Lizzie on CBS’ United States of Al — has been cast as Gracie, daughter of McEntire’s Bobbie. She’ll first appear midway through Season 1.

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Like her mother, Gracie is “no-nonsense, and somewhat tough,” according to the official character breakdown. “Gracie is in the military and has been deployed overseas. She has just gone on leave and is returning home to Knoxville to surprise her mother, only to be surprised herself to discover that she now has an aunt that she never knew she had.”

In addition to Al, which ended its two-season run in 2022, Alderfer’s TV credits include another Chuck Lorre sitcom, Netflix’s Disjointed, as well as Peacock’s A.P. Bio (on which she recurred as Lynette).

Premiering Friday, Oct 18 (NBC, 8/7c), Happy’s Place centers on Bobbie, who inherits the titular tavern from her late father and soon finds out that she has a new business partner, Isabella (played by Hocus Pocus 2′s Belissa Escobedo), a twenty-something half-sister that she never knew she had.

McEntire’s Reba co-star, Melissa Peterman, co-stars as bartender Gabby. Per NBC, “she’s a bit needy and dramatic, and would have loved to be Bobbie’s sister,” which sure sounds a lot like her former alter-ego, Barbra Jean.

As TVLine was first to report, fellow Reba vet Steve Howey (fka Van Montgomery) will guest-star in Happy’s Place’s Christmas episode… as a potential sperm donor (!) for Peterman’s Gabby.

NBC’s Happy’s Place: Everything to Know

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Rounding out the cast are McEntire’s real-life boyfriend Rex Linn (Young Sheldon), who plays tavern cook Emmett; Tokala Black Elk (Yellowstone) as waiter Takoda; and Pablo Castelblanco (Alaska Daily) as accountant Steve.

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