Winding Down

To answer some of your questions regarding the blog, season two, and other various items of interest:

-    Production started today on the season finale. At 9 am this morning cameras started rolling on episode 125. This means that at the end of next week we will be officially on hiatus.
-    There will most likely not be any blogging to speak of during the break. I will do my best to sign on regularly and publish any comments people post, but there won’t be any news here to report about, so no new posts.
-    It’s a time-limited situation to be sure. The writer’s office returns in the beginning of June. So really, it’s only a month break before getting started on the second season.
-    Per popular request, I’m going to try my best to institute Thursday Photo Play as a weekly regular. That being said, there are only 2 more Thursdays before the break. Ain’t that always the way . . .
-    This weekend is our big wrap party. Sparky Hawes, our Associate Producer, has been hard at work planning a most excellent shindig. Look for a post next week with fun pics of the event.

That’s all for now.

-art alamo

Comments

[MJJ]

Congratulations to the creater, writers, producers , crew and especially the cast for a terrific season. Thank for you very much for making my Sunday night entertaining and making Sunday night my favorite tv. Kudos to all , for all the drama, that was bold , funny, inspiring and emotional. I longing for the DVD , so please don't keep us waiting too long for that to come out! To your talented ensemble cast , and crew, "HAVE A GREAT HIATIS" Can wait for another season of such great entertainment!!!

[EJ]

Wow, it's sad that there are only a few more episodes before the season ends. Hopefully, episode reruns & the release of the first season DVD will help out with "Brothers & Sisters"-Sunday night-fixation during the summer hiatus. (BTW, any news on what we can expect from the season one DVD, Art? Commentaries? Gag reels?).

I can't wait for Thursday's Photo Play post.

[will]

Hey, Art. Here is something I'd actually like to discuss before the hiatus: What kind of flak or repercussions (if any) have you guys had for portraying a SEXUAL gay character (as opposed to the non-sexual funny stereotypes that audiences seem to be so much more comfortable with). I have noticed that some of the (latent?) homophobic posters do not get actively outraged until there is physical gay contact (touching, kissing, morning-after scenes, etc). Then, prejudices kick in.

Do you get lots of letters from individuals or group campaigns (Focus on the Family-type groups) that try to influence Kevin's lovelife? How have things changed in the television industry in the past 10 years?

I know giving us a blog-class on how gays are perceived & portrayed in contemporary America is not exactly in your job description, but you must have some ideas & theories from working in the biz. And you guys ARE helping to change the television landscape in your own humble way with a sexual (amongst many other things) gay character.

[Jude]

Art,

how about wrap party pics before you head off for that month of R&R? Sort of a "be back soon" blog entry...

[rja]

just wanted to say, i love love LOVE brothers + sisters! i've been watching on and off since the show began. i've been getting more and more into it and decided to go back and watch the episodes i'd missed (woo hoo for being able to watch them all online now!) and i am now OFFICIALLY hooked. the show is so rich, so deep; the writing and acting, amazing - top-notch. which i'm sure you already know. i commend you all. i honestly can't remember how long it's been since i have been this satisfied by a tv show. i particularly love the complexity of your female characters, particularly the older women! (even though i'm a young woman myself.) i have a big(gish), crazy (definitely) family, and the show is so true to the experience. plus i grew up in LA, so the site-specificity and realness is an added benefit! i just watched the episode where they sell the ranch house in ojai... i have my own wonderful memories of summer camp in ojai that it brought back. i'm now trying to get my mother into watching the show. and anyone else i can think of.

[B&Sfan]

Sparky Hawes? Any relation to "sparky's party planner" in Something Ida this way comes? LOL...also, Emily "Craft" is that R/T the craft service table you've mentioned here before?
Name play; love it! I'm sure there's probably background stuff on how the creators came up with all the names....

This is one fantastic show; it's even keeping the cynics hooked! And don't get me started on the negative people who post here, but hey, guess what, they're watching it, so I think they may be even surprising themselves.

Congrats to a fabulous cast & crew for this great new show :)

[will]

Art: Of course I feel compelled to get in my "daily gay comment" on this site, so here goes:

I know not many "Thursday Photo Play" threads left this season (how nice you inaugurated this fabulous practice 3 weeks before wrapping everything up!) but what are the chances we get a photo play of Matthew & Eric during a romantic bedroom encounter? (BTW, we better get at least ONE romantic bedroom encounter in the remaining 4 episodes or there will be some irate fans). Or you could even post a "bloopers & blunders"-type webcast - for B&S fans only - that show how these 2 straight actors negotiate gay "romantic bedroom encounters" together. They're hip & open-minded. Matthew & Eric wouldn't mind sharing some jokey cutting-room floor moments with us. Actually that could apply to the whole cast. I'd love to see Sally in some blooper scenes where something cracks them up.

OK. I have way too much time on my hands. There's my D.G.C. (daily gay comment). Cheers everyone.

[Ashley]

Maybe you guys need to post Disney's unsolicited idea policy on this blog to encourage posters to stop posting storyline ideas, or would that be futile? Those internets...so difficult to control.

[anomaly]

thanks for a great season, you guys!
i can't wait until the finale. and season 2!
have a great hiatus, art and everyone at B&S

[Debbie]

know not many "Thursday Photo Play" threads left this season (how nice you inaugurated this fabulous practice 3 weeks before wrapping everything up!) but what are the chances we get a photo play of Matthew & Eric during a romantic bedroom encounter?

B&S Fan sounds like a great scene. I don't know if you're aware of this but TWOP (Television With Out Pity) has opened a Brothers and Sisters Forum and it totally rocks!!! I would love to hear more about your Kevin story ideas. Just google TWOP, click on the link. I think you'll find we're an intellectually stimulating group!!

[janedoe from D.C.]

Thank you everyone involved with B&S for bringing us a terrific TV show! I hope you all enjoy a much deserved break, and I will look forward to a season two that keeps bringing the best in television. I hope there are some Emmy noms ahead in the near future!

[Jozy]

i LOVE Brothers & Sisters!!!! Can't wait for the next episodes and season finale. This show has it all and more, fantastic cast, writers, and obviously crew. The story line is just what we have needed in a new tv series and it does get you hooked! I view it on line, as I don't have TV and after watching the first episode - I stayed on-line to watch several....I couldn't get enough!

Love ALL the characters and actors! It is a great mix! Thanks and have a great hiatus! Looking forward to season 2!!!

Oh yes, want to say I love Kevin! (I have a gay brother too! and love him dearly!)

[will]

Art, B&S fans...
I have compiled some comments over 7 months of this "Brothers & Sisters" experience....it kinda feels like we ARE "winding down" & getting sentimental here....the cast is having a wrap party....
Anyway, over the months, some of these (past) comments made me laugh:

"Oh, and please tell Sally Field to stop doing that shaky freak-out 'I'm calm... I'm freaking... I'm calm... I'm freaking' thing. She does it in everything she's in. It's getting old".....STEPHANIE

"One complaint, could wardrobe please not dress Ron Rifkin in the same gray sweater every week?".....CARRIE

"The gay ordeals are getting a little overdone. We KNOW the son is gay....then kissing, then dancing. WAY TOO MUCH FOR ME! Other than that the show is GREAT. It depends which will overtake the other for me to continue to watch".....BARB

"Thank you for showing Julia in panties at the end of the show".....TRAVIS

"Is it me or does anyone else have a sneaky suspicion that Uncle Saul is really operating a rogue international food supply company? And Sarah & Tommy think it is legit? Run, Kitty! Run! Your mother is really a double agent!".....Skooter Jones

"When Tommy & his wife are at the spermbank, it is indicated that he's of Irish/Jewish extraction. Since I assume that Nora is the Jewish parent, I couldn't help but sit up & notice when she exclaims 'Jesus, Mary & Joseph!'".....STEVEN

"Who is that handsome contractor starting to get romantic with Sally Field? He can tear down my wall anytime!".....SHERRIE

"This clan is a goldmine for reflecting the real american family's issues today. Now, mingle Robbie's virtuostic pilot on yuppie angst & alienation with David &
Molly's familial warmth, rituals & forgiveness & you'll have a clan that will shine for years & years & years".....iaintpeople

"Looks like ABC is a dinosaur & headed for the pits".....MARY

Regarding Kitty: "So if she walks like a liberal, talks like a liberal, ain't she really a liberal? Why not just have her become a Democrat & make your fantasy complete?".....BETRAYED

"Kitty is a liberal's concept of saying they are writing a Conservative, but in actuality, it's a liberal...this show will tank like Studio 60 has...this is some liberal, limousine, Greenpeace, climbing a tree hippie, druggie, abortion & sex craved idea of entertainment".....ADRIANNA

"I took the time to see Robbie Baitz's 'The Substance of Fire' yesterday. It was excellent. I always get very uncomfortable watching anything to do with the Holocaust, it's totally incomprehensible to me what happened, but I'm glad I saw it. I don't want to sound shallow, but I found it very 'Brothers & Sisters', you know a drama about the family, the business & sibling relationships".....STEVENSCOLLEGE

-----------------------

And here are a couple of my all-time favorites:

"Repulsive..... since when is abnormal sex entertaining? It's sad that actors & actresses spend time & energy on such distasteful programming....will never watch again".....ELAINE

"Sick... Sodom & Gommorah. Get ready".....CRIS

"The kissing of 2 males in lovers lane.... Congratulations, you've entered the realm of spiritually dead programming".....SANDIE

"Please don't have episodes of the homosexuals kissing or whatever lengths you're willing to go to as writers. 'Brokeback Mountain' addressed these issues. & I chose not to watch that movie".....DEB

"The show was better before you writers got horny".....ERIC

[Cady]

I've enjoyed the season but I had planned to love it. Sally Field is superb and Calista is a favorite I follow faithfully. I do not like Calista's character being involved with a Senator/Presidential candidate because you can't treat Lowe's job fairly without taking too much time away from the B&S. He should do something that doesn't require us to see his office, etc. I want to see the B&S's not a political office/campaign. Not liking the show nearly as much as I did in the beginning. It's not a 'can't miss' for me like Grey's. I catch it when it's convenient to do so.

[Philip Cook]

Could you ask whether the original pilot and third episode which never made it to air will be included in the DVD set for Season 1? It would be so cool for the fans, and after all, the show spent the money so might as well add them in.

[Melissa]

Just wanted to say thank you for the lovely video about "The Other Walker." Thank you mainly for showing us Matthew Rhys' sweet Welsh accent. Maybe you can have one of Kevin's possible boyfriends be from Great Britain? Just a suggestion.

Thanks again for a great season!

[JoAnne]

Another great episode !!!!

It has been years since a show with such talented writers has been on the air.

It has been a very long time since I have enjoyed a show this much.

I watch TVland all week and await sunday for my very favorite show.

[Melissa]

Art - tell my sister I said hi!

[Mimi]

Caught on to your show about 2 months ago. The characters and writing are exceptional. I haven't been slave to a show in a very very long time. I have told as many people about this show. Great job!

[Joshua Okemos,MI]

Just wanted to say, "Keep up the great work!" I have been watch the show from the very beginning and have gotten many of my friends and co-workers hooked on Brothers and Sisters as well. Now that I have the internet at home, I can watch the shows that I have missed as well the shows I love. I am very pleased with the writing, produding and the acting and as a gay man, seeing a "normal" gay guy makes me extemely proud. No longer do we have to be stereotyped into a happy go-lucky, non-complex, only interested in sex category. Thank-you for this and keep up the great work.

[Bryan from NJ...]

So, on 4/29 episode was that last scene what actually happened between Joe and Rebecca (the little vixen!) or just Joe's fantasy attempting to justify his actions? My vote is the latter, not the former; she's just like her Mom. Lovin' your show! ...Bryan (NJ)

[Debbie]

Love the show and the pics of Matthew Rhys. So much love. Any info on Sarah's wardrobe for S2. I heart everything she wears. I would love to see her in some Jones New York, Dana Buchman, and Allard.

[JoAnne]

I cannot stand the thought of this season ending. Just can't wait for season 2.

Rachel G is a great actress and so is Patricia Wettig, she must be, because I absolutely HATE her (HOLLY)

another great episode!

[Carol]

ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE SHOW!!! I hate to admit this, but I'm almost more addicted to B&S than I am to Grey's Anatomy. Would love to see the show on 52 weeks a year! Keep up the GREAT work!

[Jan Hawkins from Florida]

I just wanted to say, this is one of the best programs I have ever seen. You experience every emotion. I am a mother of 3 daughters, a grandmother of 5. This is by far the best ABC has produced. Thank you for airing the Brothers & Sisters. Please continue!!