Jennifer Shaklan on "Taking the Lead"
Air Date: 6/12/2008
Well, Elmoians, not only was this my first script for “Men in Trees” -- it was the first script I was ever hired to write! It was a very exciting time for me, but also a crazy time all over town as the writers strike was about to happen. How did this affect things? Well, I had to write like there was no tomorrow in order to make the strike deadline, and at the same time, continue doing my regular job as the script coordinator on the show, which meant proofreading everyone else’s scripts, making sure they were delivered to all the right people, etc. And, since this episode shot in January, well into the strike, I wasn’t able to fly up to Vancouver for the filming (I was out picketing with all the other writers in town – a crazy experience in and of itself!), so I can’t give you any inside, behind-thescenes scoop. I can, however, tell you what it’s about, although being that this is the series finale, I’m not going to reveal much – better to let you soak up your last visit to Elmo as it happens.
What I will say is that in general, this story is about the balance of power in relationships, the role each person takes on – or finds themselves in, and what “taking the lead” in a relationship can mean, for better and worse. And all this is set against the backdrop of... an Elmo talent show! Yes, that’s right – performances by Elmo’s finest, including Buzz and Mai doing a little singing (in fabulous costumes, I might add – thank you, costumers!), Dick and Celia doing some magic (with Celia as feisty as ever), and Marin, Sara and Theresa putting a new spin on a Marilyn Monroe classic. Of course, there are surprises, too, on stage and off, but you’ll just have to tune in to see what they are. And although Jane and Sam aren’t in town for the theatrics – they’re driving cross-country from New York to Elmo throughout – they have a bit of a show(down) of their own, something that helps them make sense (or in this case, cents) of their relationship.
I’m sad that this is the series finale – it’s been so much fun the past two years spending workdays in the charming world of Elmo, which was full of such an endearing cast of characters (and a lovely bunch of actors playing them) – but Elmo, its inhabitants and all the journeys and self-discovery that Marin and everyone else there experienced will always have a place in my heart, and hopefully yours, too. Thanks for tuning in all this time and, hey, long live the “Trees”!