Greetings From The New Brunette

Hello, everyone...

My name is Brian Studler, the new kid on the blog.  I’m the assistant to Monica Owusu-Breen and Alison Schapker, the lovely and talented writers of “Sexual Politics,” last night’s bootylicious episode, and I am pleased as punch to be penning my first Bloggers and Sisters missive.

Monica and Alison and I joined the show a few months ago, after escaping from the Island of Lost Souls, and couldn’t be happier.  Brothers & Sisters is a great place to be working – far more like a (just slightly dysfunctional) family than your typical television show – and I give all the credit for that to the folks at the top. Robbie and Greg and Ken and Jennifer and Sarah and the rest of our producers are a great bunch, and you can believe me when I tell you that it ain’t always like that.

This is not to say that I didn’t have some misgivings when I first heard that we would be working here.  For instance, there is Greg Berlanti’s well-known penchant for making the assistants dress up like the characters on the show and act out the script in his office.  He says that it helps him to “visualize” the scenes, but all he does is laugh maniacally the entire time and tell Carl to make us “go faster.”  This is the infamous “Berlanti Method” that I had heard whispers of for years. Legend has it that Greg used to use a pack of trained dogs to act out the scripts, but after an unfortunate incident on Jack & Bobby involving his leather sofa and an afghan hound who was standing in for Christine Lahti, he decided to switch to assistants.  It’s not so bad, really... but they always make me play Holly and the wig is really itchy.  And I don’t look good as a blonde.  And sometimes Cliff makes me put the wig on and say things like “Mommy likes you best.”  That part is pretty awkward.

WORKING OUT THE DELETED “POKER SCENE” FROM EVERWOOD:

Other than that, things are going swimmingly.  The filming of 114 wrapped up just before the holidays, and may I just say what an honor and a privilege it was to spend some time on set, watching this cast work?  Not a lot of shows are blessed with the embarrassment of acting riches that we are, and it’s always exciting to see great actors in their natural habitat.  Lurking on set while Sally and Calista and the mighty Caroline Aaron did the “chicken cutlet” scene was like taking a little master course in comedic timing.

And now... Monica and Alison have started on their second episode (Number 118 – coming soon to a television near you) and I’m busy doing all those things that TV assistants are always doing: working on spec scripts, surfing the internet, and raiding the kitchen.  I look forward to our next little chat, here in the blogosphere.

Faithfully Submitted
Brian Studler

Comments

[will]

Every week I'm reminded of the AMAZING cast you folks have. This is probably the best ensemble currently on TV, agreed?
WHY put Sally & Calista
through that horrible stooooppid "junk in the trunk" stuff? Calista padding her *ss & breasts FOR A DATE?? This chick is not that hard up. Why wasn't Rob Lowe's character asked to augment his crotch with padding? This show came perilously close to breaching the edges of common sense. Listen, I'm as liberal as they come. Just don't want to see women I've come to appreciate made up into sexual caricatures.

[Kong Chang]

Welcome Brian, you're doing a great job. So they haven't made you wear that breast implant yet? For shame...it would be interesting to see some jiggle with that wig.

Please tell Monica and Allison, we love their episode. It was as great as David and Molly's episode 1.11, "Family Day" (prod #113). I can't wait to see their next one in a couple of months! :)

[ilovemylife]

Dear “Faithfully Submitted, Brian Studler”,

So happy to hear from you. It would be so splendid to be in your shoes and get to be around such a talented and buzzing set. Not the jealous sort. However, ahuuuuu-oooo . . . fantasize being there amongst the bodies and souls. Chills and thrills.

I loved Sally Field’s Nora in “Sexual Politics”. And Matthew Rhys never disappoints.

Could you ask someone who knows:
Why was BROTHERS AND SISTERS slated to be on Friday at 9:00 p.m. then, instead Desperate H was on? Is that going to happen again this Friday?

[will]

My advise to Kevin regarding his new boy-toy: Hit it & quit it. Don't get emotionally attached with this blockhead.

[concerned]

Are there really NO comments since the 14th? I find that very hard to believe, and I really miss hearing from people. You don't have to post THIS comment, but maybe check into if there is something going on and let people know? Thanks.

[Jude]

Hey Brian,
Welcome and thanks for posting to the blog.

Will, I agree with you wholeheartedly on the "junk in the trunk" scene, it rang false, pardon the pun.

But Kevin's involvement with an idiot just goes to show how anyone can become attracted to poison, not just heterosexuals. (The Monty Python "run away! run away!" voices were screaming in my head for him) I think this could be quite a relationship to explore. I just hope it doesn't continue for long; Maybe Scotty can come riding to Kevin's rescue? Please?

I look forward to Monica & Alison's next collaboration.

[stevenscollege]

I must say "Sexual Politics" was a very frustrating episode (mostly because of my obsession with Kevin), Monica and Alison are great comic writers (why shouldnt Calista wear padding?) but is Kevin really this desperate? I think we are being asked to believe in this episode Kevin has nothing else romance wise on the horizon and can hardly belive his luck, im not buying it or maybe successful LA lawyers really are this hapless, poor things. I sometimes have to remind myself Kevin is 34, esp in this episode and I hate to say it Kevin was a very non-stereotypical gay man at the beginning and a very welcome addition to TV`s gay cannon but he is now totally stereotypically TV gay, how infuriating. As for all these kissing comments I think one or two people are just posting a load of comments under different names, the comments are all pretty short and say the same thing (love the show but dont pierce my biggoted bubble).

[brian]

hi welcome to the blogosphere please tell the writers of sexual politics that i absolutly loved this episode

[TomB]

Hi Brian. Thank you for your post. Please tell everyone involved that I loved the "sexual politics" episode. The scenes between Calista and Sally were great!! They have a wonderful chemistry.

It was fun seeing Kevin kind of fall for the "not-so-gay" soap opera guy. We've all been there and done that! The scenes with him looking the guy up on the internet were great. Loved the interaction with is siblings.

Thanks!
Tom

[Balthazar's Hott!]

The only things I liked about the episode was:

1. Tommy
2. The Tommy and Julia Shower Scene
3. Balthazar Getty

[TBMeow]

I really enjoyed the "Sexual Politics" episode. Rob Lowe and Calista Flockhart have great chemistry together. I especially liked the Senator's expressions in the dinner scenes. Priceless. Can't wait for this week's ep.
And I agree. This has to be one of the top ensemble casts on tv right now. Thanks for getting Rob Lowe back on tv again.

[In Love with Eko]

Hi, I know that Monica was a writer on the show LOST. I am absolutely in love with Adewale Akinuoye-Agbaje and was wondering how possible it would be to meet him or get a message to him? Help, Please Help.

[Sandra]

Brian- did you grow up in San Diego??