Anna Fricke on "Get a Life"

Airdate: 4/2/08

WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD!

Believe it or not, the idea of a celebrity coming to Alaska has been rattling around in the writers' room brain for quite a while.  Why?  Because they do whacky things, these celebrities.  We originally thought that a celebrity might come to Elmo and love it so much they'd try to buy it.  This happens, people.  Kim Basinger owns an island somewhere.  Who can blame stars for seeking a place to escape?  Or a life to escape into, in Morgan Fairchild's case.

But at the end of the day, this episode is not really about Morgan Fairchild, delightful though she may be.  It's about what happens when someone shines a light on your life; do you like what you see?  Marin, having been here for a year, has grown quite comfy in her routine.  She loves Jack, she loves Elmo… but does she love everything she's become?  We think it's important on this show to remind ourselves from time to time where Marin comes from.  She will always be, to some extent, a fish out of water.  At the same time, she wants to feel like she truly belongs in Elmo.  No one likes to feel like an outsider.  I come from Maine, but my mother and I are still considered "from away" because we weren't born there -- we moved there when I was five.  It takes a long time for a town to officially adopt you, and even though Marin owns a cabin in Alaska, she herself isn't ready to adopt the area code.

"Men In Trees" is actually loosely based on the life of a matchmaker who lives in Alaska and we own her life rights.  While we were breaking this story, we got a sample contract for buying someone's life rights.  It's pretty fascinating.  You're basically allowed to do whatever you want with a person's life story when you own it.  It's a good thing Marin decided not to sell. 

This episode was called "Get a Life" because everyone is exploring the other side of the fence in this episode.  Morgan wants to be Marin.  Marin wants to be the old Marin.  Patrick wants to be Ivan.  Ivan wants to be a better man to win Annie's affections.  Annie wants to be ready.  Sara sees her boyfriend through someone else's eyes and realizes she's more than she thought he was.  Buzz thinks he can safely go back to his gambling habits but is sorely mistaken. Everyone gets to try out another style of life for a change… and most decide they'd like to go back to what they had.  Some find that they can't. 

Some things of note: that is really Nick Lea, who plays Eric singing.  He wrote the song that he plays at the church.  That's also his real band in the background.  He does have a website, nicklea.com.  I asked Suleka, who plays Sara (and also dates Nick in real life), if she'd be uncomfortable if I visited the website and started making him cookies.  I don't think she thought that was funny.  That's also newcomer Diego Klattenhoff out there on the ice.  He may not be a recruit from Croatia, but he's pretty good.  And I would like to give Emily Bergl props for always managing to keep it together when she's standing out there in the freezing cold just wearing those cute little tights Annie always wears.  The rest of us, behind the camera, were bundled up in long underwear and several layers the night we shot that beautiful scene with Annie and Ivan on the road. 

Stay tuned next week to see Julia again – and meet her husband, Jim. And don't think that Mai's not gonna find out about Buzz's gambling problem. 

Anna

Comments

[Rosemary]

Thanks for letting us know about Nick Lea. I was searching for that exact info. Beautiful voice and awesome sounding band. I was very impresssed.
THis may be trite but are you guys influenced by Northern Exposure at all? I know that it is a similar setting but even the writing seems a little influenced. anyway, so happy you guys made it back this year but I miss it on Friday nights. thanks

[Jenn]

I cannot find Men In Trees in my guide for the next week. I hope it is not cancelled. I wait and not patiently each week to see the next episode and I am pleased with the outcome. Thank you.

[Lynn]

Great show tonight! It was so good to see the old Jack back. He seemed so off the last couple shows. Jack and MArin had that chemistry we all love once again. As always we love seeing Cash. And Pastor Eric singing... wow! What an amazing voice. CD anytime soon Nicholas? Thanks for a great show. We are keeping our fingers, toes and everything else crossed for a third season!!!
LONG LIVE MEN IN TREES!

[Jamie from Denver]

No previews for next week??? - I looked up the run down for next Wed. and a NEW show is on at the same time-----What a dissappointment!!! ABC why are you doing this to the MIT fans??? :(
It has been so refreshing to enjoy the antics of Elmo - No show next week? - I can't stand it! Please let us know when we can see another show.
Jamie

[Christiana Robinette]

I love this show. Another great epsisode. Why didn't we see a sneak preview for next week. That always gets me so exicted for next week. Please don't tell me that your not going to be on!!! This is the only show I watch on ABC....I love seeing Jack and Marin back to their own special magic. Loved seeing Sarah realize how special Eric is. I just love this show. I hope Patrick realizes how special Annie is. Please keep these episodes coming.

[michwoods]

Anna, thanks so much for one of the best hours of tv watching I've spent in a long while. Tonight's episode was funny, romantic, touching, and very sweet! I especially LOVED you showing Jack and Marin so in love and happy together...Jack coming up behind Marin in the kitchen, putting his arms around her and kissing her..tv doesn't get any better than tonight's MIT.

[Staci from Santa Margarita]

ABC, please stop yanking off this amazing show. Tonights episode was fabulous and I can't wait to see the next one. So bummed its off the schedule next week.

I have so many friends who've gone to cable shows just so they don't have the fickleness of he networks deciding when to grace us with an air date. No wonder fans aren't thinning on many shows.... they can't find thee night it's on and give up when it goes missing for weeks at a time.
Please ABC, give us our MEN IN TREES!

[Yammer]

Anna,
I'm in the Pastor Nick band. Thanks for having us on. It's a great show and pure class on both sides of the screen.

[HolyWow]

Have you actually looked at "nicklea.com"???

It's kinda... well, not very cool. I mean the section with the "fan art" is a little creepy... especially this one - http://www.nicklea.com/spot9.htm

Merman Nick Lea.

At least the website says it's not his "official" website. Does he have one that isn't... well, a joke? He's trying to raise money for Babz Chula - if he had a real website, the dude could rake in the money for Babz selling MP3's of him singing. Nice voice. :)

Episode was GREAT, btw! I love the whole cast, but have been a fan of Anne Heche since way back when she was Vicky/Marley Hudson on Another World! :)

[Marci in Phoenix]

I couln't sleep - after seeing that MIT won't be on next week. It's after 3 am and I'm searching the web for news on the show. Cancelled? I hope ABC has the sense to give us Season 3 and truly promote this wonderful show.

[Diane]

This was an amazing episode. I enjoyed every second of it, except the no previews part. The entire MIT family is great. Thanks for bringing us such a great show; it is my hour of escape from reality each week. Really, it's my favorite two hours as I usually watch on ABC.com too and pick up things I missed, the little details that make MIT so special.

[TGoosesMom]

This was a really FUN episode! There were some serious issues that were dealt with, of course, but it was so much fun! I love the balance in this show.

It was great to see Jack's humor again, and to see him being affectionate and more open with Marin. Loved Jerome's response to having Morgan Fairchild in town. And, the exchanges between Terri and Cash were priceless...both touching and a real hoot.
Thanks again for the best show on TV!

[MIT fan in MT]

Anna - Now I know why you're so fantastic - I, too, moved to a small town in Maine, at the age of 9, so I completely understand about being considered "from away", no matter how long you put down roots, buy a home and become active in your community.
I really enjoyed this episode, as always. MIT never disappoints. I had no idea someone could buy someone else's life! I could relate to Marin re-evaluating her life, and was glad to see her decide that yes, Elmo and the "new Marin" is where and who she wants to be. What we want out of life changes, depending on the choices we make getting there. Sometimes they work, sometimes not. When we question it and finally are able to validate that it was the right choice, we are finally able to settle in and move forward, happily. Being from Maine, I have a number of friends just like Cash, being very comfortable living in the woods in a tent. And they are very much like Cash in personality, so I give you all kudos for making Cash very real (and of course he is extremely easy on the eyes). It's nice to see Marin and Jack finally settling into their life together at home - playing scrabble (and other board/card games) is a favorite nightime activity at home with my "Jack" as well (except when MIT is on, of course!). I can invision the real Marin and Jack doing exactly that when not on set. I loved the Sara and Pastor Eric storyline, and yes, Eric has a beautiful voice - thanks for letting us know it was really him. Though I am still waiting for Patrick to fall back in love with Annie, it was nice to see him pick the girl with subtance rather than a bimbo. Right on! It's nice that the writers keep true to who these people really are, week after week.
Hate that you're not on next week ... maybe we'll play a game of scrabble ...

[Grace]

No previews for MIT this week. ABC continues to push MIt fans around. HOW SAD!

[victoria nyc]

thank you for a wonderful
show last night.....love it
jack and marin is soooo
cute
every time there is no
preview for next week....
i got nervous, please
update us......please

[Betty]

I enjoyed Pastor Eric's song and voice but REALLY love his smile!!
I liked the Fairchild storyline about buying Marin's life but was waiting for SOMEONE [likely Mai] to say something like "Morgan can play Marin's MOTHER". Did no-one else see the age discrepancy? Despite that bothering me, I loved the episode. It was good to hear Jack speak in complete sentences, sometimes two consecutively.Props to Scott Elrod for some good nuanced acting.

[Jenny]

I believe it will be back on the 16th then will have 1 more episode before it is on a mini hiatus until May 28th. Women's Murder Club is moving to Boston Legal's spot for a few weeks and Boston Legal is moving to MiT's for those few weeks. Then MiT will be back to finish their season (3 episodes until 6/11, I believe).

[Corinne]

As always, last nights episode was great but with no episode next week I'm dying to know what happens to Cash and Terry as a result of the surgery. I just love this show, it's the best on tv and the ONLY show I look forward to watching. I certainly hope ABC isn't dumb enough to cancel this show because it is so special, so sweet and sentimental. It's wonderful to watch a show about love and relationships instead of murder, rape, dead bodies being discovered in dumpsters....and all those really BAD reality shows. Ugh!! ABC, if you're reading this, wise up and RENEW MEN IN TREES for a THIRD SEASON!!! Give us viewers a break!!!

[Sarah in MN]

I just had to post as I was thinking about last nights episode - which I loved and I got an email from ticketmaster letting me know that George Michael was coming to the Twin Cities (90 miles from me)!! Too funny - I guess Terry was wrong, he does still do concerts!!

[Chris]

How to we buy a copy of Nick Lea's music? Wow, what a talented guy! I always go to itunes after each episode of "Men in Trees" to find the music on the show (the Chieftan jukebox lists all of the music) and I can't find any recording information for Nicholas Lea. Do you think he will release any singles or even better an album any time soon?

[Robin]

Gosh, I just LOVE this show, the cast, writing, the list goes on. What we really need (when MIT is in seasonal hiatus) is a DVD release on Season 1 with Season 2 to follow). How about it folks?

[Alfie]

MIT is pre-empted next week for a special; returns for two weeks on April 16/08 at it's regular time.

It's final spring episode will be WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET) and will return for its final three episodes of the season or series, on WEDNESDAY, MAY 28 (10:00-11:00).

[Zoe]

Very intelligent, well-built, lovable episode. A true pleasure to watch, like each and every week.

So, what the hell, what the whatever with ABC broadcasting strategy ? Is it not obvious that MIT is one of the best shows on tv ? (talking to ABC :) Wake up, people ! (talking to MIT team :) You are the best, many many fans will back you up for a third season !

Can't wait for next ... time !

[Barb LI NY]

It was a great show last night. Loved all the couples. I do not know how old Morgan Fairchild is but she is a very beautiful women. God to look like that at any age. You can keep all the other stars that the rags follow. Where has this women been keeping herself and why in the world she is not seen ,more often. Thank you for bringing her on the show.

[Caren Ross]

I have heard that "Men in Trees" is not coming back next fall. Why is one of the best shows on TV being cancelled? Is there anything the fans can do to get it on another network (such as Lifetime or Oxygen)?