HBO’s hit show “Veep,” starring Emmy-winning Palisadian Julia Louis-Dreyfus as the insulting, profane, narcissistic and eminently lovable U.S. Vice President Selina Meyer, is returning for its seventh and final season with a premiere date set for March 31.
The show was put on hiatus in June 2017 at the end of its sixth season when Louis-Dreyfus was diagnosed with breast cancer.
On September 28, Louis-Dreyfus tweeted a picture of a signed statement reading: “1 in 8 women get breast cancer. Today, I’m the one. The good news is that I have the most glorious group of supportive and caring family and friends, and fantastic insurance through my union. The bad news is that not all women are so lucky, so let’s fight all cancers and make universal health care a reality.”
Louis-Dreyfus finished chemotherapy in 2018 and is now reportedly cancer-free.
“Veep” has been on the air since 2012 and has earned Louis-Dreyfus six consecutive Emmys in her star role as Meyer, with the series winning the Emmy for best comedy series three times.
Louis-Dreyfus, who also serves as “Veep” executive producer, has, to date, the most Emmys not just of any woman in TV history, but of anyone in TV history, with her 11 wins and 24 nominations eclipsing icons like Candice Betty White, Tyne Daly, Mary Tyler Moore, Cloris Leachman, Ed Asner, Alan Alda and Bryan Cranston.
“I think where our show ends up ultimately is a place I’m very happy about, and I think it will surprise viewers too,” Louis-Dreyfus told reporters at Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour in Pasadena on February 8.
“Veep” season seven wrapped production in December 2018, with Louis-Dreyfus posting an emotional picture to Instagram of her tear-streaked face after the final day of shooting.
“Just rehearsed the final scene of our final day @veephbo—Guys, this is gonna be a cinch. #veep #finalepisode” read the tweet, which garnered over 119,000 likes.
A retrospective trailer for the final season aired January 20 featuring flashbacks of Meyer’s time in office, building up to her decision to run again for president.
The final season of “Veep” also stars Matt Walsh, Anna Chlumsky, Kevin Dunn, Gary Cole, Sam Richardson, Clea DuVall and Reid Scott. It will have an atypical seven-episode structure, eschewing the series standard of 10 episodes per season.
