Jenny Bicks on “A Tree Goes In Elmo”

Airdate: 10/12/07

Our First Blog of Season Two!!!

Hey, tree huggers-

I can’t believe I actually wrote “Season Two” up there. It is actually, FINALLY happening! If you are reading this, you probably caught our premiere episode tonight. If you didn’t, you may not want to read on until you have. I may be feeling spoiler-ish.

So this episode was a real puzzle for me. As many of you know, we had five great episodes left over from our shortened first season. But the first one back didn’t really help to re-introduce the whole town for a whole new season. So I had to create an episode that would make you guys who were newer to the show get some background, and also let our diehard Felmoians have some fun, too. And it all had to be closed-ended (meaning, I couldn’t cliff-hang anything for the next episode... since the next episode had been shot eight months ago!). And I needed to make it exciting. So I took to my bed and fretted.

What I did know I wanted to do in this episode was to allow Marin to have emotional closure with Jack. She had been on a real rollercoaster with him, and she needed to put all of her anger and pain somewhere. Actually, first she needed to acknowledge her pain. Jack moved on so quickly with Lynn that Marin began to feel that maybe what they had was never real. So that’s what the episode is about – Marin feeling it was real, mourning it and moving on. The tree is that symbol – like her pain, she doesn’t realize what deep roots it has. So, I knew I wanted to tell that story. But I needed what the people in suits call a “story engine.” I was reading about arctic cyclones and got into the idea of making that work for this episode. They blow through Alaska and unearth all this stuff and isn’t that kinda what’s happening to Marin? So, that’s what I did. How about that blowing snow, huh? It was soapsuds and plastic flakes. The magic of television.

Of course, other people unearth other things about each other as well – Patrick learns Annie isn’t perfect (how about Emily Bergl’s backbend playing Twister! In skorts!), Mai learns she wasn’t Buzz’s first choice in a mail-order bride, and Celia learns about Dick’s flatulence problem. I know. I did a fart story. I swore I never would. But I dare each of you in a relationship to tell me you haven’t been through the moment of the first fart. It’s real and it’s uncomfortable and that makes it worth writing. So there. P.S., John Amos brought a fart machine to work for days during this episode, proving once again, that boys just love anything resembling a fart joke. Yes, John Amos, heralded actor of stage and screen, owns a fart machine.

And a shout-out to my friend Rhonda Britten, life coach from the sadly departed NBC show “Starting Over.” Occasionally she would have the gals on that show do things like write their troubles on rocks and throw them off things or through things or into things. It seemed to work for them. So, I had Marin do it, too. Man, I miss that show.

What does Cash’s rock mean? You will have to wait and see. Will Sara lose Matty? Stick around. And what about Jack and Lynn? Watch the next episode... and then come back here for a whole new blog next week. That’s right. We’re going to be on AGAIN with a new episode next week... and the week after... and so on! Because it’s Season Two finally! I just had to write that again.

Jenny

Comments

[Katherine R]

SO glad y'all are back!!!! We've been waiting forever!!!! I know this season is going to be GREAT!

[HAPPY FAN!!!]

Lovedddd the seasons 1st episode!!!

THANK U for bringing it back!!!

Awesome season premiere !! Loved the sparks between Jack & Marin!! Where were Jane and Plow guy? great show!

[Janice]

All is right with the world...Men In Trees is back!!! I am so happy this show is back on.

I agree with you about Rhonda Britten...I loved that show as well and really miss it.

I can't wait to see everything that will happen this season. I am really excited!

Janice

[bunny]

what about the sickness rock? i thought that was marin's, but was it cash's? oh shoot, what color what is it written in (red or blue)? i already deleted the tivo!! darn!!

[delisha]

who sang that song at the end?

[Janine B.]

Great first show of the season--glad you're back!

[MIT fan]

I thought the fart story was great. And so true! It happens in every relationship! Even my boyfriend was laughing!

The whole espisode was wicked funny! Looking forward to seeing next wks episode already!

Sure looks like Jack is heading towards a crossroads... !!!

[Janine B.]

'Anxiously looking forward to what Cash's "sickness" rock is all about.

[Tiffany in LA]

i feel like i've been waiting for this moment for years... i love men in trees! i went thru this whole rollercoaster... i love jack. i hate jack. i love jack. i hate jack. and now i'm at I LOVE CASH!!! let's hope it never changes, cash is hot.

[carolinareds]

It was great to see show back this season ,I like all the story lines,can't wait for more shows to come

[Jake Lipson]

Hi

Thank you. It's good to be back in Elmo finally, and though the wait has been long, this episode was so much fun that I think it was worth it. I hate that Season 1 was so rudely interrupted, but if you had aired all of those we wouldn't have ever seen this wonderful episode. And I really enjoyed it and related to it, especially this week because this week has been kind of painful. And kind of wonderful in other ways, but...yeah. Just thanks. Oddly enough, you and Grey's Anatomy both did pain-focused episodes this week. (I wish you were still on after that show, and hope the Friday ratings are good enough to keep you guys on!) But yeah, it was great and it helped me deal with some crap, so thanks. It was fun, funny and a great capper to my week.

[Elmo fan : )]

How great was that rumble between Jack and Cash!!?!

Absolutely Genious Jenny!!

The whole cast was great!

[JennyBoop]

Hey Jenny!

Well this episode was worth the very LONG wait that we loyal Felmoians had to endure! It was witty, sweet and oh so funny!

I loved the Marin/Jack interaction.. especially when he admitted how hard all of this had been on him as well, since what they had shared together was "real".

It was great the way everyone went to The Chieftain to wait out the storm.. and I teared up when Buzz sang his off-key serenade to Mai... what a sweet man!

I could go on and on about what all I loved about the Season 2 premiere... but I'll make it easy and say... I loved it ALL!!

This show is such a breath of fresh air... a wonderful way to unwind at the end of a long week! Kudos to you, the actors and the rest of the staff that work so hard to bring us such a great show!

-JennyBoop

[Carol]

Thank you, thank you -- love the show and can't wait for next weeks episode! What great writing and characters. Keep em coming.

[sherry]

I loved the new season's 1st show! Awesome! I also wondered who sang that song at the end? I can't find it.

[Alison]

It's like having an old friend return home! Thanks for a great first show!!! I can't wait until next week.

[her]

It's been a LONG hard road waiting, and waiting, and waiting for this show to come back. I was hooked at the first episode LAST year. Can't wait to see what else you have in store for us. And, whatya know, we're back on Friday night just where it started! Now "sit" and STAY! :-)

[Christal SD]

Ah...Alaska, Ann, and her heart-felt love story...so glad you're back, Men In Trees! I've always fantasized about finding love in Alaska...

[Degee]

Great show! Who sang the song at the end of the show?
Are the songs and musicians going to be posted on humit.com?

[Diana]

Awesome first show!!! This is such an incredible show. Romance, comedy and drama all wrapped up in one delightful package. That scene with Buzz singing was so funny I nearly rolled off my couch with laughter. Thanks for reminding why I am in love with this show and all the characters. I love them all.. well except for Lynn. I can't wait to see what the future holds for Elmo!

[Diane]

Great to see a blog right after watching the season premier; thanks for the blog and for coming back! It's been a long eight months.

[Lisa]

So so glad the show is back. I was counting the days. Tonight's show was wonderful. I'm looking forward to what this season holds. I am anxious though about how these other 5 episodes are going to tie in with what we saw tonight if they were all supposed have already happened.

Keep on ABC to get more advertising out there for this wonderful show we love and want to stay around for a long time. I think the ratings will be good as long as people know it's on and when/where they can find it.

someone else asked but who DID sing the song at the end?? ABC needs a music section, kinda like the CW (aka x-WB)

[dan c]

great story - love the town, and the concept of values - best show on tv
dan