CBS’ Elsbeth used Matthew Broderick‘s character as a setup for a joke about Felicity Huffman‘s involvement within the school admissions scandal.
Through the Thursday, February 20, episode, Broderick, 62, performed an academic guide named Lawrence, who guarantees an Ivy League future to high-paying shoppers with assist from an assistant — performed by the actor’s real-life son James Wilkie Broderick.
“Colleges are cracking down. They’re attempting to be extra meritocratic. Gone are the times when a easy 10 million donation assured you a spot freshman yr,” Lawrence informed mother and father about their baby’s future within the opening scene. “Within the present local weather, outmatch instructional consulting is an actual cut price. You don’t wish to begin too late then panic senior yr and find yourself sharing a jail cell with a Determined Housewife.”
The shady line referenced Huffman’s function as Lynette on Determined Housewives, which aired on ABC from 2004 to 2012. Huffman, 62, made headlines when she was arrested at gunpoint by FBI brokers in 2019 for her involvement within the notorious school admissions scandal, which was dubbed Operation Varsity Blues.
Lori Loughlin, Felicity Huffman and several other school coaches and officers had been indicted within the nationwide school admissions scandal on March 12, 2019 — and the fallout and jail sentences are nonetheless making headlines. Based on court docket paperwork, the Full Home alum and her husband, Mossimo Giannulli, allegedly “agreed to pay bribes totaling $500,000 in trade […]
The actress paid $15,000 to falsify the outcomes of her daughter Sophia’s SAT scores, and was one in every of 50 folks charged for the crimes. Following her arrest, Huffman pleaded responsible to prices of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and trustworthy companies mail fraud. She served 11 days in jail in October 2019, paid a $30,000 wonderful and accomplished 250 hours of neighborhood service for her crimes.
Huffman’s husband, William H. Macy, with whom she shares daughters Sophia, now 24, and Georgia, now 22, was by no means charged in reference to the case. She broke her silence in December 2023 when she mirrored on the “timeless disgrace” she felt following her involvement within the scandal.
“It felt like I needed to give my daughter an opportunity at a future,” Huffman informed ABC-7 Eyewitness Information concerning the drama. “And so it was type of like my daughter’s future, which meant I needed to break the legislation.”
Huffman thought she was a “dangerous mom” if she didn’t assist her daughter, including, “She was going, ‘Can we get ice cream afterwards? I’m scared concerning the check. What can we try this’s enjoyable?’ And I saved considering, ‘Flip round, simply flip round.’ And to my timeless disgrace, I didn’t.”
She continued: “I assumed it was a hoax [when I was getting arrested]. I actually turned to one of many FBI folks, in a flak jacket and a gun, and I went, ‘Is that this a joke?’”
Extra not too long ago, Huffman mirrored on how her life has modified within the years for the reason that drama. “It’s been exhausting. Form of like your previous life died and also you died with it,” she defined to The Guardian in February 2024. “I’m fortunate sufficient to have a household and love and means, so I had a spot to land.”
Huffman expressed gratitude to her household for standing by her.
“I stroll into the room with it. I did it. It’s black and white,” she mentioned. “[But] so long as my children are properly and my husband is properly, I really feel like I’m properly.”
Elsbeth airs on CBS Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET. New episodes stream the following day on Paramount+.
