Casting Call for "A Nice Family Christmas" Show

The middle brother. Grew up in the shadow of his older brother, Michael, the doctor. Has a little inferiority complex toward Michael. He writes a column for the Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper.

Very nice. Always putting on a happy face, her goal is to keep the peace and get thru the family event without incident. Mom's husband, Carl (senior), died three years ago. She's doing her best to get over the loss and keep everyone happy.

A real character. Grew up in a one room house with 10 brothers and sister on a farm in northern North Dakota. Had a very tough life growing up. She is tough as nails, and wants everyone else to be, too. Think Estelle Getty on "The Golden Girls."

The older brother. The doctor. A little nerdy. Wears a bow tie. The favorite son, at least at first. He's a little self-absorbed, a little blind to what he needs to do to keeps his marriage to Jill, his wife, intact.

The younger sister. Nice. Kind of a wholesome innocence, even given what we learn about her. Overlooked, but not angry about it.

A partier. Fun loving. Has an agenda. Everyone has a crazy Uncle Bob.

Michael's trophy wife. Emotional from being hormonal. Sometimes a little spacey. The only one who seems to understand Grandma's crazy sayings.