CMT has a new sitcom kicking off tonight, Working Class (10:00 p.m. ET), starring a couple of familiar faces. Melissa Peterman, who was Barbara Jean, the new wife to Reba McEntire’s TV ex-husband on the hit series Reba and Ed Asner, who has starred in a number of sitcoms (The Mary Tyler Moore Show), dramas (Lou) and movies (most notably Up).

Peterman takes on the role of Carli Mitchell, a single mom who moves her family to an upscale neighborhood (that she can’t afford on her grocery clerk salary) to give them a better opportunity.

Asner plays Hank, Carli’s grumpy neighbor and co-worker, who trades quips with her on a daily basis.

Both actors are fully adept at comedy and do their usual deadpan best in Working Class. That’s hardly surprising considering they’ve both cut their teeth on comedy.

Peterman says she studied the art of comic delivery in high school, as the pretty, but overly tall girl on campus.

“I was definitely a tall girl who tried to be short,” she says. “I’m glad that that happened because that’s where I learned that humor was my best defense.”

While Asner claims natural talent honed  his skill in comedy…as well as longevity.

“You always need a few droplets so that the youth can be compared to you,” he says. “I’m at that middle stage prior to becoming Mickey Rooney or Betty White.”

Click onto the media bars below to hear Peterman and Asner’s full comments.