B&S Gears Up For Season 2 Premiere

These Season 1 cast bikes will never be auctioned off.   Never.   

It's that time of year again.  The time when the air takes on a chill and a bite, when the light wanes early, and when the pennant races heat up, boil over and then crystallize finally in triumph or despair...

Oh, and there's the new fall schedule. 

And in the case of Brothers & Sisters, that means you've got a whole season of Walkerness coming your way.  I've seen cuts of  the first four episodes, and let me say honestly, as a fan of the show, that I envy you your innocence.  Losing it is something you'll really enjoy.

I went down to set today briefly to check in on the production of episode 207, entitled "36 Hours."  David Paymer is directing; you may know David as Chad Barry's manager from Season 1.  He also directed the episode "All In The Family,"  and he's done tons of acting over the years -- most memorably for me in The Larry Sanders Show, as Larry's slimy agent.

They were doing a scene with Ron Rifkin, Balthazar Getty and Matthew Rhys in Justin's bedroom.  The mood was light and professional, no sense of concern about Sunday's premiere.  This time last year, things were a lot different, at least on the fourth floor.   

I asked Matthew Rhys what he thought fans of the show would be most pleasantly and unpleasantly surprised about in Season 2.  "Can I give this stuff away?" he asked.  I told him to feel free to be mysterious.  He thought for a moment and then responded, "The unions and breakups."  As always, you might say, as always.  Endings and beginnings, beginnings and endings.  The exciting start of something new paired with the cold, crushing, unexplainable collapse of what looked like a decent baseball team... but now I'm just talking about me.

But  you -- you've got a lot to look forward to.  And it all starts Sunday.

Happy weekend, go Mets!

Dan

Comments

[will]

Oh Lord, a whole season of "WALKERNESS" coming my way! I will be settling down with my chamomlile tea & critical eye! And I am 100% ready to have B&S de-flower me of my "innocence".

One criticism, Dan. Matthew was ready to GIVE AN HONEST ANSWER about the season 2 travails & misadventures of Kevin Walker....& YOU STIFLED HIM! ("Can I give this stuff away?" Matthew asked...you told him to "feel free to be MYSTERIOUS", which is another way of saying DON'T ANSWER the freaking question, goddamnit! Matthew's final distorted response is analogous to the responses that GW Bush gives when asked about wiretapping). "Unions & breakups", beginnings & endings... is a NON-ANSWER!

What is this show: top secret? I'm not allowed to be let in on one freaking goofy homo-sex-filled plotline???? OK... OK, I'll "wait". I'll wait & be pleasantly de-virginized, of de-flowered of my innocence....whatever the phraseology was.

CHEERS to a fabulous new season.

[maggie]

are you going to keep a blog using Nora's character? Since she's keeping a blog on the show, why not make it a real one?

[will]

Please, please..... I want Matthew Rhys to definately DE-FLOWER me of my season 2 innocence!!....nice & slowly ....oh yes, Rachel can help out I SUPPOSE.... and Calista I guess (if she must!)....OH! Dave Annable can UNABASHEDLY de-flower & strip me layer by layer of my sweet innocence..... and, it IS the season premiere, so I suppose it would only be FITTING to let Sally join in the proceedings.... and YES YES YES Balthazar Getty can artfully, artLESSly, WITHOUT GUILE, peel me & strip me & shamelessly de-flower me of my Season 2 INNOCENCE!!! Especially if he does it in those sexy boxer-briefs! (none of those tacky european "low-rise" briefs, please!).

[Carrie]

I'm so excited about tonight's premiere. I just finished watching my season 1 DVD and I think I actually enjoyed the show more the second time around.

[MJJ]

SEASON 2 WILL OUTDO AND SURPASS SEASON 1 !!!!!!!! THE VERY BEST OF LUCK TO TONIGHT 'S SEASON PREMIERE. I don't think that you will need it. I know lots of people who are looking forward to tonight. I love the summer but I am so very glad that this summer went by quickly.

Thanks again.

[MJJ]

Oh by the way I am so very pysche/pump for tonight. I have my snack food already prepared, my pillow fluff on the couch and homework done .. all so I can enjoyed a fresh entertaining, drama , funfilled episode!
Cheers!

[Jude]

Looking forward to tonight's premiere, Dan - and my deepest condolences on the team.

Go D'backs... heh heh heh

Loved Matthew's natural Welsh accent on the show last week. No one speaks English with a more delightful and musical tonality than the Welsh. If only we could get him to do an appearance on Leno or Letterman so we could hear those rrrrrrs for a longer chunk of time... Anyone working on that?

[CeCe]

Hee, will. Don't you know? It's more special to wait! *giggle*

OMG I am so excited for tonight!!! I have to go primp to get ready for my date with Kevin! *swoon*

[KellyP]

I was waiting for this. I know they better not take off Justin. They can't do that. I'm watching the first show of the season right now and it's so sad but it's part of life. So if anyone is reading this,DO NOT TAKE OFF JUSTIN//ok it's the end and well it's to late to say those words Man oh Man now I have to wait until next Sunday.I love this show.Thanks for everything.Take care

[JoAnne]

Great episode tonight! I only wish it wasn't interupted after each scene with so many commercials.

What wonderful talented writers...something that, in my opinion, is lacking in television these days.

Little concerned about Calista, she looks so frail and tired. Hope she is okay.

Great performances by the entire cast.

[aylin]

Great episode...as always I am reminded of the large, dysfunctional (what family isn't?) family I long to have.

With Eric Winters now on Viva Laughlin....why was the Kevin-Jason storyline left open-ended??? I was so excited to *finally* see Kevin in a possibly lasting relationship but then my hopes and dreams were all crushed...is he going to spend the entire season waiting? Will Kevin ever get some love? *sigh*

[will]

HOME FRONT

Sarah talking to Kevin on the phone at the start is so charming & beautiful....unlike last year at this time, Kevin & Sarah now seem like full-bodied characters. There's Kevin in church - quietly chatting up Sarah in the park, who's hanging out with the other moms... as Reverend Jason delivers his sermon..... Rachel & Matthew both have such great little character idiocyncracies that uniquely belong to Sarah & Kevin Walker. Matthew cups the cell phone in his hand & gossips COMPLETELY IN CHARACTER...he seems to ARCH HIS BACK in character, as Kevin Walker would, if that makes any sense.

Jesus!....Nora's kitchen is practically a Williams-Sonoma store. Gleaming stainless steel appliances....cutlery, cookbooks. It's almost a joke.... Every upscale kitchen acoutrement known to capitalistic Man on display. You get the feeling there's a freaking SORBET MAKER up there in one of the cabinets.

I love Nora (speaking to Kitty): "Since when do YOU PEOPLE" (meaning Republicans), "care about...? Kitty: " 'YOU PEOPLE'!?" Nice scene, though. I'm warming up to Kitty (or Calista? I'm not sure where one ends & the other begins).

Have Kevin & Jason been together ALL SUMMER LONG....? There's a hell of a lot of quirky-gay-men sharing a house together FUN we've apparently missed out on. And I WANT THOSE MONTHS BACK!! Matthew & Eric are natural together....& real drama & a real LIFE could unfold on television with these 2 guys.

Oh, great, the storyboard story-arc is sending Jason to frigging MALAYSIA? Hey, I actually doubly mean those above comments. GIVE ME THOSE SUMMER-LOVIN' MONTHS back goddamnit! How convenient B&S avoids another gay romantic entanglement. F--K this. (I guess we should feel GRATEFUL or something for the KISS after Jason comes out of the shower.....& listen you anti-gay B&S posters....just SAVE IT PLEASE! Don't use this board & that scene as a convenient dumping ground for your petty bigotry...).

Has anyone else noticed that Matthew gets funnier (as an actor) & quirkier & more individually "Kevin" when Kevin has a few drinks in him? He DRIPS sarcasm when drunk, OOZES oily insousiance.

This is NUTS - Jason is LEAVING already? Thank you, B&S....you've successfully surgically removed the GOOD best part of the relationship...the part that APPARENTLY happened this summer - OFFSTAGE! - when Kevin & Jason apparently had a freewheeling love story going on....& we're left with the frigging denounment....the crumbs... damn LEFTOVERS.... Oh criminy.... the "I love you's" were very sweet, but TO WHAT END? You're denying us an eventful love story. Oh, BOOO! HISSSSS! (I'm throwing popcorn at the TV screen).

Goddamn, I love Rachel. She is radiantly beautiful (in a simple straight-forward way). And she brings a simple straight-forward beautiful honesty to Sarah. Lovely final montage with Rebecca & the voice-overs. Evocative. Emily's best moment so far.

This was a bad idea, me typing like this with the show in progress. I'm missing out on too much meaningful character interaction. I was SO busy being ANGRY at being deprived of the Kevin-Jason relationship... that I didn't appreciate the few scant moments that were there. And those scenes, those two compatible actors, could potentially work out a beautiful chemistry together....if only ONE of them wasn't flying to freaking MALAYSIA... (this reminds me of "Will & Grace" when Doctor Leo left the show by being sent to some third-world country).
I can't help but feel we were gypped of something good. The best part of their relationship seems to have been surgically removed. And I want that time back.

[Wally]

Dan: As a Mets fan and a "Brothers & Sisters fan": Thanks for the show. It and a good glass of wine was a great antidote to today's terrible loss.

[Scott]

Really strong premiere! Loved the celebratory scenes in the Walker homestead, followed by the heartbreaking sadness as potentially bad news was dispatched about Justin.

Sally Field proved once again why she earned that Emmy, and then some.

Kevin and Jason were adorable together and their exchanging of ILY's was very touching. I sincerely hope Eric Winter can return down the line.

Love this family and this cast, and am so happy to have the Walkers back on my TV screen. Keep up the good work!

[jim]

oh my god, last night's episode was awesome. v. good job. the banter between the sibblings was so funny and so true as i come from a big family. the scene where kitty was shopping with her mom, loved it. those dresses were so ugly! Keep up the good work!!! : )

[jayce]

Where's the music guide?

[Kate]

LOVED the SP last night!!! Excellent writing, acting, direction-- the whole ball of wax.
Now that the web site has somewhat been re-vamped where is the MUSIC GUIDE???? Do not strip the music lovers of their guide-----PLEASE!!!!!!!!!! (now if Matthew Rhys wanted to strip me....okay okay off topic).
LOVED the show--am so glad it is back. Keep up the amazing work!

[Scott]

Will, you do realize that Eric Winter is starring in Viva Laughlin, right? He's not available right now, and hence the Malaysia storyline.

[will]

Scott: I reacted viscerally. Whenever there's a gay couple on network TV it is almost always short-lived (treated practically as a novelty item). Americans appear to have a growing "comfort zone" with gay characters AS LONG AS THEY'RE SINGLE. Even non-stereotypical individualistic gays....again, AS LONG AS THEY'RE SINGLE. But this comfort zone seems to get noticeably less comfortable whenever there's an actual physical relationship going on (Gay characters can be "homosexual"...though not overtly sexual beings).

I didn't know actor Eric's backstory. What I saw onscreen was the character Jason leaving to freaking MALAYSIA when the sexual part starting to enter the picture.

THAT'S why I threw popcorn at my screen & hissed.

[Anna]

oooohhhh. Mets. Ouch.

[Scott]

Will,

I understand that was your visceral reaction. My response was simply to draw attention to a practical reality (an actor's other commitments) to show that there were other considerations as opposed to "no sex for Kevin." (Frankly, I trust the writers more than that.)

[CeCe]

Aww darn. I responded right when the show ended last night but apparently I cussed a little too much for the moderator's liking. Goes to show ya...I'm no Sally Field. ;)

Basically, what I said last night was that I wasn't sure if I was ever going to recover. My god. I couldn't even think in coherent sentences, so I just wanted to say thank you, and then I would come back in later to elaborate. But you see, I cuss when I'm overwhelmed. And I was overwhelmed. Sorry B&S blog mods.

Well, it's later, now, and I made the mistake of re-watching the last 10 minutes of the show. GAH. But here goes...

The pace of the show was exhausting, and the peaks and valleys of emotions were like the worlds highest, fastest, and craziest roller coaster all in one! And I mean all of that in the BEST possible way!

Nora is like home to me, and I just adore every minute she is on screen. Her scene when she was making Justin's bed...that is when I lost control.

Nora to Kitty: "Please don't ask me to stop. I have to keep moving. Please don't ask me to stop. Ohhhh, I promised him I'd be brave. Kitty, I promised him I'd be brave!"

Amazing. She was worried sick, but so sad that she was maybe letting Justin down. Wow.

Sarah, I love. Her scene with the "mommies"? OMG, I have SO been there! This world has come so far, but you guys did a brilliant job of showing both the pain and the absurdity of that still-present dynamic and disconnect between stay-at-home moms and working moms.

Kitty has always been my least favorite part of this show (she is good, but I too, don't know where Calista ends and Kitty begins, so I struggle with that each time she in on screen), but maybe absence makes the heart grow fonder, because I kind of liked her last night.

Kevin. And Jason. GUH. I am with you, will, in that I WANT THE SUMMER OF KEVIN AND JASON BACK!!!! Their chemistry and banter was PERFECT and I squeeed with joy when I saw that they were together and happy!!!! Malaysia? WTF? And now I guess I'm going to have to find out what Viva Laughlin is, because I thought Eric was fantastic. His Jason is so grounded, and so strong...and I love it that he doesn't take any of Kevin's crap!

Matthew Rhys is just beyond amazing. Every word. Every nuance. Every expression is just perfect. I am completely head over heels in love with Kevin because of Matthew's brilliance at BEING him. He is cute and sweet and sarcastic and irreverent and bright and sexy and afreakindorable! And yes...I mean Kevin AND Matthew!!! LOVE!

The closing scene with Rebecca was one of the most heart wrenching, perfect moments ever. It tore my heart out (which is a really really good thing), her summary of the family members...and her very obvious love for Justin. Her video-mail has been playing over and over in my mind today. Her first line made me laugh and cry all at once:

"I've been getting to know your family. Not that that's an easy thing to do because, well, they're all a little unhinged."

No kidding, right? So sweet. Bittersweet.

But this...when she talks about Kevin and his brutal sarcasm. And says, "but I think even HE knows that's not always enough. Not now. Not for this." As they show Kevin moving to his knees to pray.

GUH. I am gone. Just gone. What a beautiful, poignant moment.

"And you were wrong about being the black sheep. You're the heart of this family, Justin. They all need you. I need you."

*fade to black, with CeCe sobbing uncontrollably in the background*

Bravo. Brilliant. Well done. Thank you, B&S, so much. Welcome back.

[will]

A serious note to Dan:

If CeCe or I (...or whoever? I don't wish to speak for everybody) gets a little excited & posts family-unfriendly language in the heat of passion, I GIVE YOU PERMISSION to edit (moderate) my remarks as you deem appropriate. Please don't junk the entire post (as in CeCe's case) for a foul word or two. B&S INSPIRES us (we get excited). Moderaters have altered (or omitted) my *bleeps* in the past...it is easily worked out.

We post here because we love the show. This posting ENRICHES our "Brothers & Sisters" viewing experience. I f**king love this show. See? I would rather read a slightly "compromised" CeCe post than no CeCe post at all. Don't wish to tell you how to run your ship! But moderating (not chucking) does seem to be a reasonable answer (especially when you're reading a post somebody look 20 minutes or more to write.... & I tend to like the longer posts better... when they're insightful).

Merci
Grazie

[CeCe]

Aww, will. If you don't quit being so sweet, I'm gonna be forced to hug you and squeeze you until you can't take it any more!:-D

Thanks for your support, hon. The funny thing was, I only said "holy s-word" -- and I even put in an exclamation point for the "i"! Ah well, must have been bad timing or something. No biggie.

Now, if they had chucked today's long-a$$ post...I'd be crying and pouting in the corner!

So was last night's show amazing, or WHAT?????

[will]

CeCe, I'm with you. Jason IS so grounded & strong. That would have been a really interesting relationship to explore. In the back of my head (as Jason explained he had to leave for Malaysia), I knew Scotty was coming back for a number of episodes, and Scotty reminds me of a nagging housewife. And I couldn't help but think what might have been with Jason (& not just in terms of the STORY....but in terms of showing a truly inspirational gay COUPLE on the screen....something that can actually help to change minds....and - in its small, humble way - alter history). I thought Kevin & Jason could help to alter history with the right screenwriters.... but now we get amiable, earnest Scotty. Ho-hum.