Season Finale Sunday -- "Prior Commitments"

These actors would be even happier if they got a break after Season 2!

Yes, it's true -- Sunday night's season finale has what I believe to be a network television first.  You can correct me if I'm wrong, I'm sure you will, but if any other shows on the big 4 have done a gay wedding on prime time, no one gave me the memo.

Regardless of the history we're making or not making, "Prior Commitments" is by all accounts a fabulous episode.  Directed by Executive Producer Ken Olin, and written by fellow EPs Greg Berlanti & Monica Owusu-Breen & Alison Schapker the episode does what any finale should do -- wrap up one box and hint that there's another waiting behind it.

Me thinks you'll likey. 

Today was quite enlightening.  It started out with a hearty debate about the merits of a New York Times review of our show -- which left some of us in stitches, and others a bit irate.  To quote one writer/producer, "She went to a lot of trouble to say what a guilty pleasure the show was, but only mentioned all the reasons the pleasure had to be guilty." 

I'm not linking to the review, but you can access it easily via that old thing, the World Wide Web.

Then the entire writing staff convened for something like 8 hours and drank 347 coffees.  Some of them are still here, trying to figure out what agonies and ecstasies to put our beloved Walker Family through.  Through my office wall, I can still hear David Marshall Grant yelling about it.

Just so you know, since the writing staff is working straight through the summer (and in fact through April 2009), I will continue to be here, and will likely have more time to post sweet nothings in your ears.  So keep checking back.

-- and I'll try and get that music guide updated for y'all.

Thanks for all the love and enjoy our finale,
Dan

Comments

[Lee]

Scotty & Kevin's wedding is a first for series regulars on a primetime network drama. The GLAAD website has a nice section about this episode that includes a historical timeline.

I am excited and delighted to see this on ABC. Thank you to all involved (especially Matthew and Luke) for making this the most endearing story of the season.

[Lee]

Thanks for the update, Dan.

[Tiffany]

Yeah, uh...Friends did a gay wedding in like their first or second season.

[Brian]

The best part of that article is that it describes Robbie Baitz as a "West Wing" writer. He wrote one episode out of 7 seasons! And it only got worse from there.

I don't really understand why you would watch a show that causes you nothing but pain. Don't get me wrong, I hate this Rebecca/Justin bull**** - I think you writers have done your show a great disservice - but Kevin and Scotty will keep me watching.

[Bethany]

Friends did a lesbian wedding, although I bet the wedding on B & S will be much more moving.

[Sara]

I am quite excited about tomorrow's episode. However, the picture with this blog post worries me. Hopefully it is a stock photo, but isn't that Lena standing next to Justin and behind Saul. Please don't say she is back. Otherwise, it has been a great season and I can't wait to see this final episode.

[enchantrezz]

I am really looking forward to the finale..You guys have made a brilliant choice of showing onscreen the Justin/Rebecca and Kevin/Scotty storylines. You can never go wrong when the chemistry is there no matter how dysfunctional the relationship is. Congratulations and thank you :)

[Enchantrezz]

To Monica,
I read your interview and please dont cry...Im sure there are lot of fans who are very happy with what you've done to Justin and Rebecca,some just choose to stay quiet and not be reactive by the negative comments. I appreciate the effort that you guys put to make this a wonderful show and I continue to be your avid viewer.

[Anna]

Hi! First of all I’d like to thank all the writers, actors and all the people involved in making this show. I love the show. For me it’s the best TV show ever. The Walkers represent all the things that make a family (family as a value). That’s my idea of family. They love, they fight but always stick together, accept and care so much about each other.
I love Kevin and Scotty story. I really like where they’re going. Congratulations for Luke MacFarlane and Matthew Rhys! They’ve given so great performances in the last episode “Moral hazard”. The proposal scene was so beautiful and romantic. After everything Kevin and Scotty have been through it seems to be the perfect ending. I love Kevin’s character and the way he’s been changing during the two seasons. Please congratulate Matthew Rhys. He’s such a talented actor.
Now I can’t wait for the next episode when Kevin and Scotty are actually going to make a commitment to be life partners. Showing a gay wedding on prime time – it’s really great of you. I’m Pole, I live in Poland (by the way sorry for my English, it’s not actually my first language) where our television emits the first season of the show at 1.00 am and I’m pretty sure that they won’t emit the second season at all when they get to know how gay friendly it is. It’s sad and I feel embarrassed for people from our television.
So congratulations again. You’re doing a great job! Thank you.
Anna
PS Thanks that you’re going to update the music guide.

[hello]

Friends has done a gay wedding (the marriage of Carol and Susan).

[Julien]

First, the show rewrites history and tries to make things nice and neat with the bullsh*t surrounding Justin and Rebecca and now we see them playing tonsil hockey with each other. Disgusting! And then to make matters worse, there is another Walker child. How low will this show go?

[Barb Peterson]

Be it right or wrong, I'm getting a little sick of all the "gayness" on television when it starts to get as explicit as yours and Greys Anatomy. We know it's out there, but do we ALL have to watch it? I will not be watching anymore of this show!

[drdr]

wow...that article is rediculous
I love this show. I think the writer of that article is missing the whole point of teh show - family values, or at leasst that's what I get from teh show, not a bunch of sex maniacs or whatever she called them. Them being predominantly around one another just shows the strength of their family; it is rediculou to call it anything else.

[will]

To, variously, Dan, David, Molly, Monica, Alison, Sherri, Jason, Ron & Matthew, at season'e end:

Who knows what season three will bring, but please keep the pace lively & kinetic. Snappy, smart dialogue (episodes that MOVE), act as an amphetamine to our system & keep our (the viewer's) adrenaline levels up & our responses quickened.

I'm suddenly interested in Ron Rifkin (who'd have thunk it?). "Moral Hazard" came at a time when I'd just watched Laurence Olivier in a couple William Wyler flicks and "The Entertainer" (via netflix), turning me into a raving Larry Olivier fan, and Ron was so damned heartbreaking and graceful in that scene where Kevin picks Saul up from jail that I immediately sensed the artist in Ron. In a way, I sort of dread Saul coming out & dating now. I can't imagine the B&S writers coming up with any scenario commensurate with his talent, and I envision painfully run-of-the-mill scenes like Justin & Lena or Nora & Isaac concocted for him. And I don't want to see Ron's talent frittered in service of ordinary fare.

But I'm not here to gibe past episodes. I look forward to an emotionally fuller "Brothers and Sisters", a RISKIER "Brothers and Sisters", a fizzier & snappier "Brothers and Sisters" (picture a bowl of Rice Krispies, snap, crackling & popping in cold milk).

Let Matthew and Dave use their bodies more in full frame as I suggested in previous posts. Matthew is a wonderful physical comedian and a little slapstick & physicality might go a long way in countering the slightly oppressive upper middle class mostly-caucasion dramaturgy you invite us to partake in week after week.

I love when you quicken my senses & leave me lighter on my feet. It's because of these good parts to B&S that I can slosh & slug my way through the ennervating Kitty scenes & charity balls & the latest Ojai going under crisis.

Monica & Alison: Thank you for that mildly lunatic phantasmagoria in the mexican restaurant that left Kevin slurring into his margarita & giving silly, dada-istic responses to Nora & Saul.

David & Molly: Thank you for that mini-roadtrip to San Diego in "An American Family" with Kitty, Kevin & Nora and all that gloriously snarky banter ricocheting around the minivan:

Nora: (to Kevin, in the driver's seat) Will you please drive faster? You're driving like somebody's grandmother.

Kevin: Somebody's HOT grandmother. Did you notice that mechanic back there was cruising me?

Nora: You guys never LOOK at each other. You're always cruising.

(It feels breezy & liberating when we get full doses of this brisk nonsense. It is more artful than a hundred "serious", worthy plotlines)

And thanks to Sherri & Jason for deepening the characters of and our understandings for Saul, Kevin & Scotty. The dialogue felt honest & managed to be both emotionally resonant & the freshest, novelest thing going on network TV.

Will

[amanda]

I'm expecting nothing but the best for the finale! Tell Emily Happy Birthday on Monday!

[Kate]

Cannot wait for the Season Finale--though am sad all the new epis will be over. Anyway--THANKS for updating the music guide. Much appreciated.

[BR]

About the first-gay-wedding-on-a-big-4-network-in-primetime thing: Didn't NBC have a lesbian wedding on "Friends" between Ross' ex-wife and her partner? I believe that was in the show's first season (94/95?). I know they weren't regular characters, but does that count? I think it should...not to take anything away from your achievement, Brothers & Sisters!!!

Just out of curiousity, why ARE the writers working straight through the summer, and not taking a break before starting work on the next season, like they normally would? Are any other tv shows doing this? Just wondering.

Thanks!!!

[JOpinionated]

I am looking forward to the season finale tonight, and have really enjoyed this recent batch of new episodes. Your Kevin & Scotty storyline is refreshing and admirable; bravo to the writers, actors and even the network for presenting a slice of reality that represents so many of our lives, and one that is rarely illustrated in such a positive light.

[Suzie]

I just want to say that I love this show!

[MJJ]

Just wanted to again extend a BIG GIGANTIC THANK YOU FOR A WONDERFUL SHOW!! I REALLY ENJOY TUNING INTO THE WALKER FAMILY. I have read the reviews and saw the segement on Entertainment tonight I am looking forward to the usual does of fun , entertaining drama filled hour, that this show brings. Kudos to creator , writers , directors and unbelieveable actors. Well Done! I am expecting Emmyss all the way through!!! BRING IT ON AGAIN FOR SEASON 3!!!

Thanks very much again for a great season (short unfortunately).

Love Brothers & Sister!!!! o:)

[Erica]

Who sang the song at the end of the episode?

[Dorene Emmons]

Who the "_ell" is Ryan?

[robinc/Chicago]

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! I am a 49 year old gay catholic and tonight you have created a miracle. I just got off the phone with my parents - they have been watching brothers and sisters- I've been out to them for years - but they wanted me to know they and my brother and sisters want me to know that they are there for me - they want me to know that their home is open to me and the man I want to make a commitment to - WOW - - the power of your script - - Mr. Berlanti - I was not sure where you were going - and I am not sure I am Kevin or Saul - but you assisted in a conversation that needs to happen in many families, I have overcome the ravages of leukemia and always wondered why I lived and yet tonight I think I saw a glimpse of the "why"- i got to live so that my parents can let me know that they would stand by me and my partner. I am sure there will be many of you that will be freaking out - but you have to know that for 49 years I have never seen myself in television - well maybe as a comic stereotype but never an example of what can/should be! Thank you - Thank and God bless all of you on your imagining of a new season!

[dw]

The first time I saw this show it was take it or leave it...another after hours soap opera. Over the years, Sally F. has moderated her over emotive character and the others have developed. So, here it is May 11 and I am looking forward to next season and wondering- who is Ryan and what could the long passed Tom Skerrit possibly happen to this clan that we have not seen already? This family, by the way, puts the fun in dysfunctional.

[Bill]

So what happened at the end of the show?????

WJLA-TV, ABC here in DC went out just after Kevin arrived at Sarah's place.

OMG