'New Normal' Books 'L Word's' Leisha Hailey, Constance Zimmer as Lesbian Couple (Exclusive)

Constance Zimmer and Leisha Hailey

NBC's The New Normal  has found its lesbian couple.

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The L Word alum Leisha Hailey and Entourage's Constance Zimmer have been tapped to guest star in the freshman comedy about a gay couple (Andrew Rannells and Justin Bartha) who turn to a surrogate (Georgia King) to expand their family, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively.

Zimmer will play Tiffany, an accountant in a long-term relationship with the sunny Victoria (Hailey), the latter of whom isn't as bitter about not being able to have a family with her partner. 

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They'll appear in the seventh episode of the season as a couple that are good friends with Bryan and David. The Big C co-star John Benjamin Hickey is also slated to guest star in the same installment as a "pivotal" character. Further details about his part, for which he started shooting Monday, are being kept under wraps.

Co-creator Ali Adler told reporters early Tuesday that the series would add a lesbian couple in an effort to put the spotlight on all different kinds of families. "We're trying represent all different kinds of families, parents and friends and certainly that is an area we would explore," she told THR. "We hope to see them soon as an ongoing part of the show."

"They're friends and also have a working relationship but we'll see them coming up down the line," the openly gay Adler said.

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Hickey will reunite with his Normal Heart co-star (and fellow Tony winner) Ellen Barkin on New Normal. (New Normal co-creator Ryan Murphy is currently adapting Normal Heart for the big screen with Jim Parsons and Matt Bomer attached, among others.)

Hailey spent six seasons playing the openly gay (and outspoken) Alice on Showtime's lesbian drama The L Word. She's repped by GEF Entertainment. Zimmer most recently filmed Netflix's original series House of Cards. She's with UTA and Sweeney Entertainment. Hickey, who also has an arc on the Fox freshman drama The Mob Doctor, is repped by Paradigm.

The New Normal airs Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. on NBC.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit