Beth McCarthy to Direct Road Trip Comedy TAMMY Starring Melissa McCarthy

After breaking out in a big way following the success of last year’s Bridesmaids, star Melissa McCarthy understandably has quite a bit on her plate at the moment. One of her projects that’s pretty far along is a road trip comedy called Tammy. The film centers on a woman who takes a roadtrip with her diabetic/alcoholic/foul-mouthed grandmother after she’s laid off from a fast food restaurant and discovers that her husband’s having an affair. The Help director Tate Taylor was previously in talks to helm the project, but subsequently dropped out. Variety now reports that TV helmer Beth McCarthy (SNL, 30 Rock) has come onboard to direct.

Director McCarthy—who has no relation to actor McCarthy—served as director of Saturday Night Live from 1995-2006, and has also helmed episodes of 30 Rock and Parks and Recreation, as well as two Super Bowl halftime shows. Actor McCarthy (who also wrote the script for Tammy) will next be seen in Judd Apatow’s This is Forty.