What We Do
Greetings, loyal viewers. I thought I'd drop you a little bloggy postcard from boiling Burbank, California, where today there was a commencement ceremony of sorts happening right outside our little stages, on the Disney lot. Lord knows why.
Our titular creator, Robbie Baitz, who often contributes commentary to the Huffington Post, has asked me to link you to a cartoon of his they've published. He drew it during a lull in the writers room, and I hope you'll enjoy it. It's called The Nation And Me.
Happy Wednesday.
Thanks for keeping in touch over the break. I LOVE the show and can't wait for it to come back. Kudos to ABC for leaving the whole season up on the website so I can get my Matthew Rhys fix until the DVD comes out!
Posted by: Tiffany | June 15, 2007 at 04:56 PM
I love Rob Lowe's senator McAllister character (he seems to be a genuinely decent guy), but by making the brother an EQUALLY virtuous character (a gay Methodist minister)....you have stacked the deck & made these siblings impossibly virtuous & noble.
Eric Winter has a great, beautiful face & I'd love to see more of him (don't know the status of his returning), but if he does return, I hope you writers give him a boatload of flaws....he's been presented too pristinely.
The website "Afterelton" did a weekly re-cap of B&S episodes, and reading the synopsis of the season finale, I am struck by how funny the dialogue actually is READING it....though while watching it, it kind of floats on by without too much fanfare....
Example.
Uncle Saul overhears Kevin talking to Norah.
Saul: The Senator's brother? But he HATES you!
Kevin: No he doesn't.
Saul: Yes, he really does.
Kevin: He does not hate me. It's a secret crush turned inside out. Besides, we both share the gay party-planning gene so all you have to do is relax.
Then, later, in the kitchen pantry at the wedding party. Kevin is obviously getting drunk. Jason enters, looking for a Band-Aid. They have been eyeing each other suspiciously all evening & throwing catty little barbs each other's way.
Jason: What is that? Like your fourth margaurita? Why don't you just carry the pitcher.
Kevin: (with a perverse intensity) You didn't come in here looking for a Band-Aid, did you? ...... You came in here looking for ME!
Actually, I may be wrong about Jason being so damned virtuous. After a quick second of eyeing the other like hungry wolves, they throw themselves into an operatically passionate kiss. Actually, I guess I am wrong. I can hang with this Jason character as long as we get more of this beautiful snarky dialogue. My adrenaline level always jumps UP when the writers give us these intelligent, off-the-wall sneaky lines of dialogue.
Finally - one last exchange from "Matriarchy". Norah is in the study with her feet up trying to get away from the crowd. Kitty pokes her head in.
Kitty: What are you doing?
Norah: Resting and trying to not think about that tent collapsing as a metaphor for my life.
You know, in theater, I love Wendy Wasserstein's comedies, as well as Terrrence McNally's & (to a lesser degree) Richard Greenberg's. They made careers out of this kind of sophisticated offhand (again, snarky) humor. And it's a beautiful thing seeing a television program being able to compete in that league (after all, playwrights take MONTHS to fashion out a script). I hope the writers continue to give us a lot more to laugh about.
Posted by: will | June 16, 2007 at 02:55 PM
Man oh man! What a ride! I only just (this last week) discovered this show (third shift auditing the hotel gets pretty darn quiet). I LOVE it! Your characters are smart, funny and most of all, they feel like a real live American family. I almost get homesick for my own highly disfunctional but completely close and loving family, while I'm watching it... almost. You have a new number 1 fan! I'm positively drooling in anticipation of the next season. I applaud you guys. These writers, this cast, this show... Outstanding.
Posted by: jaquioh | June 17, 2007 at 04:03 AM
Wow. I've never felt such a strong emotional attachment to characters in a television show before. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE keep doing what you're doing! Watching this show was the highlight of my week and I'm already counting down the days to next season. Until then, I also pat ABC on the back for keeping the whole season up as I watch an episode (or two!) every day to tide me over until the DVD is released. Kudos to the all-star cast, they're all amazing!
Posted by: Caitlyn | June 18, 2007 at 06:42 PM
what happened to the rest of season 1 that was on the website? only the first four episodes are up now....
Posted by: left hangin' | June 22, 2007 at 07:24 PM
This might seem like a bizarre place to ask this, but I'm quickly running out of sources (have pity!)...can you PLEASE tell me how long Nora and William were married?
I'm writing a spec, and I need to incorporate the magic number into one of my first lines...help a would-be B&S writer :) Not that my script will ever reach your offices, but I need it to be accurate (for my peace of mind alone)...chances are I'll probably wind up writing on a procedural (joy!) but I digress!
And, as if it wasn't already obvious - LOVE the show. Thank you!
Posted by: Vanessa | June 24, 2007 at 11:14 AM
Why are there only 4 episodes available to watch? I am devastated. I am a medical student and I missed a lot of episodes last season. I LOVE this show and was so looking forward to watching them one by one. Now they are gone. I'm going to have to cry myself to sleep. Any chance they are coming back?
Posted by: Danielle | June 27, 2007 at 08:02 PM
OMG!! I love it. I it something that will be included on the S2 DVD? It would make a great poster. Okay now I want one.
Posted by: Debbie | July 31, 2007 at 08:58 PM
The website "Afterelton" did a weekly re-cap of B&S episodes, and reading the synopsis of the season finale, I am struck by how funny the dialogue actually is READING it....though while watching it, it kind of floats on by without too much fanfare....
I enjoy it both ways - in written or visual form. In Maternity, one of my fav pieces of dialoge is Kevin asking Kitty "he's a minister" and Kitty's response is just priceless. My other favorite dialogue is Kitty going "no-no-no" when MAC tries to confront her about setting their brothers up. Then there's all the Nora and Kitty scenes, Ron and his long lost love, and Sarah and Holly. I could on and on....
Posted by: Debbie | July 31, 2007 at 09:06 PM
I Have Been Waiting For The DVD Of Season #1. I Thought Would Be Out In August. Now August Is About over, Do You Know When It Will Be Out In The Stores?
Thank You,
A very Loyal
Fan!!!!!!
Posted by: Bonnie Sheldon | August 24, 2007 at 11:07 PM
I love the show and have really been drawn into your writing! Great job!!! Are you looking at guest stars? I think Marlee Matlin would be a great guest star.
Anyway, your show rocks and I am looking forward to the new season. Thank you for doing such great work!
Posted by: Charmaine | August 25, 2007 at 10:18 AM