Brothers & Sisters

He got a two-page spread in the magazine’s Sexy Issue and a cute photo and write-up in the following week’s “behind the scenes” party piece, and now the TV Guide Web site has a nice interview with Dave Annable about his current show, his last show, and his dating habits.

When asked outright if he’s dating Kate Walsh, the actor is circumspect: “Let’s kind of shy away from that…. [Laughs] It tends to sort of take over [the conversation], I’m starting to learn.” But he was much more forthcoming on other subjects. A few samples:

On the discarded pilot: “What happened was that in the original pilot, the dad died at the end of the second commercial break. So what happened is you had the funeral and everything, which was sort of a downer, and you didn’t want viewers wanting to slit their wrists after the first episode. And by adding Sally Field and Matthew Rhys [as Nora and Kevin] — and this is nothing against Betty Buckley and Jonathan LaPaglia — what they were trying to do was create the best product possible.”

On going to war: “I believe I’m definitely going to Iraq, which is sort of scary. I was like, ‘Wait, am I coming back from Iraq?’ As far as I know, I don’t know. All I know is I’m going to Iraq, and time-wise it’s probably right around the season finale. I hope they find a way to bring me back into the ol’ fam.”

On who is most like their character: “I think we’re all pretty similar, and that’s why we got cast. But with Matthew Rhys playing the homosexual character — he’s straight in real life, and he’s going to high-five me for saying that. But he’s an amazing actor because he’s pulling it off and it’s so believable for the fact that every person who comes up to me and him in a bar asks me if he’s gay or straight.”

On his previous show, Reunion: “I tell you, I still get it when I’m out, people are genuinely hurt by the fact that they cut that short — including my family, who I received death threats from for not telling them!”

On being in the Sexy Issue: “That was extremely flattering and completely terrifying in the same breath, because no one really considers themselves sexy, and if you do you may have some problems! [Laughs] Everybody’s giving me a lot of flak on set because I am the ‘baby’ of the group, so I was embarrassed to tell anybody about it. But now I’m going to make a T-shirt out of it and wear it to bars!”

Brothers & Sisters, ABC, Justin, Dave Annable, TV Guide

If you’re looking for some tidbits to tide you over to Sunday’s new episode, the ABC site has a nice little “Behind the Scenes” video right now on the last new episode, “The Other Walker.” It’s two-and-a-half minutes of clips from the episode plus actors talking about what their characters were doing (love hearing Matthew Rhys talking as himself with his Welsh accent, and as Kevin without). It almost makes up for the fact that there’s no preview for Sunday’s episode up on the site; the preview that’s there as of this writing is for last week’s “Family Day” re-run.

Brothers and Sisters, ABC, The Other Walker, Behind the Scenes, Matthew Rhys

“Obviously, I can make babies,” the Brothers & Sisters star tells USA Today, and he has three kids and one more on the way to prove it. A little uncomfortable with Tommy’s brotherly-sperm-donation storyline? “I was like, ‘Whoa, we’re taking away his masculinity a little bit,’ ” Getty says in the interview, which also covers his wealthy and sometimes weird lifestyle as a member of the Getty clan.

He’s family with his Walker co-stars, too, inviting Dave Annable and Matthew Rhys to his grandfather’s country home in England, and having playdates for his children with the kids of Rachel Griffiths and Calista Flockhart. In other show-biz news, his best friend and son’s godfather is Eric Dane from Grey’s Anatomy, McSteamy himself. A few more quotes from the interview:

On raising the next generation of Gettys: “The kids obviously know they have some privilege in their life and are able to do lots of neat things. But painting markers on their face is their idea of art.”

On big families: “I don’t think it’s easy growing up in any family — whether it’s the Gettys or the Walkers. There are always heavy dynamics in big families.”

On upcoming B&S storylines: “There is trouble brewing. I usually sit in those feelings all day. And after an emotional day like that, you’re happy when it’s done and you can come back to a loving home.”

Brothers & Sisters, ABC, Balthazar Getty, Tommy Walker, USA Today

All this romance between Kitty and the senator has been all well and good (okay, except for that sleeping with your boss thing), but the fact that Rob Lowe was only signed for one season left a little nagging worry. Were we going to get all invested in these two only to see them broken up by the actor’s unavailability?

Well, rest easy now, and invest heavily: Rob Lowe is officially on board for the second season, and as a full-fledged regular instead of a Very Special Continuing and Highly Paid Guest Star. Says show creator Jon Robin Baitz in a Variety report on the deal: “He brings a unique romantic addition to the show by his combination of wit and charm and his elegance. The great discovery of it is there’s such an intrinsic chemistry between him and Calista, which is so rare to find in two actors together. He’s been a tremendous boon to the show in terms of storylines and even the ratings.”

Plus, you know, the guy’s not bad to look at.

Brothers and Sisters, ABC, Rob Lowe, Calista Flockhart

The new issue of TV Guide has these goodies inside for Brothers & Sisters fans:

A guest column by Cliff Olin about working with his family on the show (that would be dad Ken Olin, executive producer; mom Patricia Wettig, who plays Holly; and sister Roxy Olin, who played Chad’s girlfriend Michelle). The family photo that accompanies it seems arranged to highlight how much Roxy looks like her mom and Cliff looks like his dad.

A “Highlight” on the April 8 episode: “Got weed? Margot Kidder returns as Nora’s bad-influence buddy Emily Craft, who talks Mama Walker into giving Prof. August a chance. Unlike Em’s last suggestion — to smoke pot in a parked car — this one sounds like a good idea, since Nora will need a distraction after Justin defends Rebecca against the rest of the family.”

A “Behind the Scenes” article about last weeks Sexy Issue, featuring a cute photo of Dave Annable trying to smuggle out a giant poster of Evangeline Lily, and a cute write-up: “Being one of the best-looking actors on TV isn’t as easy as you may think. ‘I got a lot of ribbing on set,’ says Brothers & Sisters Dave Annable. ‘Any time you screw up a line it’s, “Sexy guy forgot his lines.”‘ Plus, people — OK, us — keep asking him if the rumors that he’s tating Grey’s Anatomy’s Kate Walsh are true (he wouldn’t say). Yeah, it’s hard out there for a hunk.”

Brothers and Sisters, ABC, TV Guide, Dave Annable, Cliff Olin

I hate to see articles about stars’ salaries. They’re so out of proportion with the real world that it’s hard not to hate the actors for raking so much in, and yet with networks and production companies minting money with advertising and, eventually, syndication, the people who draw us in and keep us coming back surely merit a substantial chunk of change.

But tens of thousands of dollars, hundreds of thousands of dollars, for a half-hour or hour-long episode? However deserved it may be, reading about that sort of over-the-top payday has the potential to take you out of the dream world of a show and make you start wondering — is that one really more than this one? was that $100,000 worth of funny? I know I shouldn’t read those articles, shouldn’t let business intrude on fantasy.

And yet, of course, I read them. Because they’re kind of irresistible, aren’t they?

Entertainment Weekly has one of those articles in its current issue, leading off with Kyra Sedgwick’s new $250,000/episode haul for The Closer, and mentioning Zach Braff’s potential $350,000/episode Scrubs paycheck next season and the $300,000/episode each for the stars of Law and Order: SVU. William Petersen’s getting $500,000, Kiefer Sutherland takes in $400,000, and the Grey’s Anatomy cast members are getting well-publicized monster raises — well, some of them, anyway.

As I was reading all this, I was thinking, “Boy, a show like Brothers & Sisters with a large cast and a lot of name actors must cost a pretty penny.” And sure enough, our little freshman series does show itself with the big boys, garnering this quote: “This season, ABC Television Studio is believed to have spent in excess of $800,000 on cast salaries for Brothers & Sisters — including $150,000 or so per episode for Calista Flockhart and about $100,000 for Sally Field.” So, in TV math, a three-time Emmy nominee scores more than a two-time Oscar winner? And how exactly does that $550,000 remaining split among the 10 other regulars? There are some lesser-known and lesser-used actors who may be getting less-spectacular payments, but I’m thinking Rob Lowe and Rachel Griffiths and Patricia Wettig don’t work for peanuts.

This is probably stuff I shouldn’t be thinking about. But if the show keeps getting stronger through the end of this season and the next, it will be interesting to see if there are any Walker walk-outs come salary re-negotiation time.

Brothers and Sisters, ABC, Calista Flockhart, Sally Field, star salaries

Since Family Day had its first showing fairly recently, you don’t have to wait for a recap here the day after the re-run. The following are already written and available for your recalling enjoyment:

• Recap: 1-11 “Family Day”
• “Family Day”: Memorable Lines
• Five Questions: “Family Day”

Looking ahead, here’s what Entertainment Weekly has to say about next week’s non-re-run new episode, “All in the Family,” in its Sunday listings: “Nora Walker’s (Sally Field) bravery keeps her sprawling family together, just as Field’s strength as an actress keeps this drama from drowning in soapy complications. Tonight, bold and frazzled Nora finally invites her late husband’s illegitimate daughter, Rebecca (Emily VanCamp), to dinner with the family. The kid gets the full Walker treatment, but Nora shows her respect, finding emotions that only Field could do justice. Turns out, it’s good to have a two-time Oscar winner on hand.”

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Brothers and Sisters, ABC, Family Day, recap, quotes

Remember that episode? The one where Justin was at that cool beachside rehab facility? Where Kitty was sparring with Kevin over gay marriage, and with the senator on the rifle range? Where Sarah and Joe were arguing about disciplining Gabe, and Tommy was worried about disciplining his mother, who was letting people bring their dogs to work? Where Holly decided to come to work, too, and got this whole wine business rolling? Remember that episode? Shouldn’t be too hard, since it was only on in January. But it’s on again tonight, as our last episode of March and last re-run for a while. So grab a mango smoothie and settle in for some short-term nostalgia. Next week, it’s all new!

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Brothers & Sisters, ABC, Family Day, Dave Annable, Calista Flockhart

The theatre magazine Playbill has an interview with playwright and Brothers & Sisters creator Jon Robin Baitz (pictured above right with show runner Greg Berlanti at Paley Fest) on topics including his childhood, writing for television, and his favorite plays by others and himself. The whole interview is interesting and worth reading, but here are some B&S-related quotes to whet your appetite.

On Kevin: “Kevin is certainly the most like me on the show. I use my psychological state with him quite a bit. [Laughs] Sometimes you can see where I am by watching Kevin flailing about haplessly.”

On the difference between theatre and TV: “I tend to gravitate towards a kind of crisis-moment in real drama; at times, in a strange kind of way, that can be at odds with what works best on the show. So there’s a balance between dark and light that I’m trying to learn. It’s very different [from theatre] in every respect.”

On early cast and crew changes: “Getting something wrong is not an unfamiliar feeling to a playwright. So, as difficult as it was, I feel that my training in the theatre prepared me enough to be able to keep going, to persevere.”

On what a show runner does: “It’s someone who is a sort of day-to-day writing boss. He assigns scripts, makes sure they [are completed on time]. It’s an incredibly managerial job, but one that requires real talent. Greg Berlanti [also an executive producer, as is Baitz] has been both artist and manager. If I’m the creator of the thing, he runs the company.”

On the writing staff: “As well as myself, our writing staff consists of some very good writers and two other playwrights I brought in: David Marshall Grant and Craig Wright. The writers are very proprietary; I’m trying to build that. Next season, I’ll try to bring in another playwright, and [in time] try to rescue some more impoverished denizens of the theatre from a life of pennilessness.”

Brothers and Sisters, ABC, Jon Robin Baitz, Playbill

The highlight video from the Brothers & Sisters Paley Fest appearance is up now on the Museum of Television and Radio site. It’s a short clip — you have to go to the museum’s site in either Los Angeles or New York to see the whole glorious thing — but worth watching to hear Sally Field, Rob Lowe, and Calista Flockhart talk about what drew them to their roles; and, in less reverent moments, to find out who set whose underwear on fire, and that you sometimes have to separate the boys.

Brothers and Sisters, ABC, Paley Fest, Museum of Television and Radio

Is this the face of one of television’s sexiest men? Is it even the face of the sexiest star on Brothers & Sisters? TV Guide says yes to both in its current Sexy Issue, putting Dave’s pic in among the Grey’s and Lost and Heroes hunks and hunkettes as the sole B&S representative. Each photo is accompanied by an appreciative bit of text from a co-star or family member, and Dave’s comes courtesy of his TV big sis, Rachel Griffiths:

“He’ll kill me for saying this, but Dave wasn’t always sexy, which is why he’s so sexy now. His mother sent over photos of him in his younger years to use around the set, including one of the most unattractive prom pictures of all time. Dave looked horrendous! But because he didn’t grow up looking like a hunk, he developed a personality that’s sweet, vivacious, gracious and, most of all, normal. Then, of course, Dave bloomed into this gorgeous man. But he kept the regular-guy personality. That makes him practically irresistible. What I especially love is his self-effacing humor. Recently, there were rumors floating around the Internet that he and Sally Field were having a bit of a romantic … thing. For the record, it’s not true, but we all gave Dave a hard time about that one. He just laughed it off with that exuberant energy of his. He’s a guy who just steals your heart.”

It’s a nice two-page picture, one worth picking up and pinning up if you’re an Annable admirer, but really — with all the familiar and fantastic-looking stars on Brothers & Sisters, the magazine couldn’t wedge in another one or two? What are Matthew Rhys and Balthazar Getty, chopped liver? Rob Lowe, people! Some may say Calista Flockhart’s too skinny to be sexy, but Rachel Griffiths? Come on! She totally deserves a photo and a blurb of her own.

Oh, well. With momentum building for the show and the second season now assured, B&S will be poised to take next year’s Sexy Issue by storm. Send those cocky Grey’s heartthrobs straight to the ER, they will. Knock those grubby Lost stars clear out of the water.

Brothers and Sisters, ABC, Dave Annable, TV Guide, Sexy Issue

ABC just made it official: Brothers & Sisters will be back next season! Let the rejoicing begin, as well as the gloating at all those folks who never hopped on board because they thought the show would tank fast.

Here’s the important part of ABC’s lengthy “early pick-up” press release:

“In this compelling drama about the Walker family, we meet a collection of intertwined and somewhat damaged adult siblings who embrace one another unconditionally while striving to reflect the perceived perfection of their role model parents. In the days ahead, they will navigate waves of temptation, deception and grief.

“Brothers & Sisters leads its CBS drama competition (Without a Trace/Cold Case) in Sunday’s 10 o’clock hour this season among adults (18-34/18-49), and dominates its time period with each of the key women demos. The freshman drama stands as the No. 2 new series on any network in its hour this season with Adults 18-49, behind only ABC’s high-rated debut of October Road (3/15/07).”

Now for the less important parts of the press release, in case there are, like, other shows you watch. Also getting the early pick-up and vote-o’-confidence are Men in Trees, Ugly Betty, The Bachelor, Boston Legal, Dancing with the Stars, Desperate Housewives, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Grey’s Anatomy, Jimmy Kimmel Live and Lost.

And if that leaves you worried about America’s Funniest Home Videos, Supernanny and Wife Swap, don’t be — the renewal announcement on those shows has already been made. (Though frankly, if you’re worried about losing those shows, I’m a little worried about you.)

_{Photo: ABC.com}

Brothers and Sisters, ABC, renewal, early pick-up, 2007-2008 season

Five questions from this past Sunday’s re-run episode still rattling in my brain today.

1. Has anybody in the family noticed that Tommy’s usually right? The guy doesn’t seem to get a lot of respect at the office, but he was right about hunting down the land, he was right about checking with the bank, and he was right about everybody babying Justin excessively (himself included). It’s too soon to tell if he’s right about the wine business, but holding his track record up next to Sarah’s, I’d put my money on him.

2. Was Nora’s dalliance with David really necessary? Let’s see, in this two-episode arc, Nora goes on a date with him in which she mostly talks about her husband, sleeps with him, and then breaks up with him. Were we supposed to see some sort of emotional growth from Nora based on this, or some purpose for those minutes that could have been applied to another story line? I’d gladly have given up that whole plot point for more time with Sarah and Kevin and Tommy in the bar.

3. Why is the senator offering Kitty a job? Hiring someone who just admitted on national television that she tried to bribe you and compromised her journalistic integrity doesn’t seem to be the keenest choice for a politician to make. We’ve not seen any evidence that she’s any kind of an ace communicator, and she doesn’t seem to be all that much of a Republican, either. Maybe he just really, really wants to buy her that espresso.

4. Does the resolution of William’s embezzling scheme make sense to anybody? Don’t get me wrong, I am ever so glad to see that particular plot development put to rest. But … he stole the money to buy the land that would be worth a lot of money and that his children would have to play Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew to figure out how to get? All right, I guess he didn’t know he was going to die, and maybe he had plans to make things clearer, but … I don’t get it. Kind of feels like the writers wanted to get rid of that plot development, too.

5. Is everyone in Nevada a hick? This episode originally played right after a Studio 60 episode that also had civilized coastal folk caught in a desert backwater with locals who do not embrace the ways of the 21st century, like them newfangled credit cards. Oh, you city slickers, racing down our highways and putting Evian in your engines. We gonna bring you down!

Brothers and Sisters, ABC, Mistakes Were Made Part 2, commentary

As a follow-up to the recap, here are some memorable lines from the episode “Mistakes Were Made Part 2.” Did I miss your favorites? Add them in the comments.

Justin: I enlisted today.
Nora: Enlisted in what?
Justin: In the miitary.
Tommy: Is this like the time you wanted to be a roadie for Linkin Park?
Kevin: Or open the brewery?
Tommy: Or the karate school? “Dudes, it’s called a dojo.”
Justin: Guys, I’m serious. I went to the recruitment office today and joined the Army.
Kevin: As in the Army, the actual Army, the guys with the missiles and tanks.
Tommy: Hey, look, it’s too soon to be makng jokes.
Nora: He’s not joking.

Justin: I may be your son, but I’m not your child anymore. I’m an adult and I can make my own decisions.
Sarah: Oh come on, Justin, you don’t even carry your own credit cards. You really think you’re old enough to carry a gun?

Kevin: Justin, she’s a radio personality. Half of what she says she doesn’t mean.

Nora: New Horizons. Sunset Acres. Bradley Ridge Detox and Spa.
Sarah: Maybe we can get a family rate.

Kevin: As vice president, he does have to consent to the conveyance of any corporate asset valued over 1 million.
Sarah: Well, I’m a mother of two and I’m responsible for the candied yams at Thanksgiving. I don’t have time to road trip to Nevada.

Kevin: As company president, you do have a fiduciary obligation to make an informed decision.
Sarah: No, I don’t.
Kevin: Yeah, you do.
Sarah: Stop saying legal things just to piss me off.

Kitty: Divorce is not news.
Warren: Messy divorces are news, and this one was messy. I mean, the guy’s the best-looking man in a 20-square-foot radius of DC and his wife left him for his chief of staff.
Staffer: After she found him in bed with the nanny!
Jack: That’s what she said. The nanny denies it.
Warren: See? News!

Warren: Hey, you okay? There’s been some talk around these parts of you finally acting like a Republican.
Kitty: Ah. You mean, bitchy?
Warren: You said it, not me.

Nora: I’ll stop by the video store. You want me to pick you up anything?
Justin: Yeah, Black Hawk Down.
Nora: Nice to see attempting suicide has not hurt your sense of humor.

Kitty: So I have an interview with Senator McCallister, but then when I come back I’d love to help.
Nora: Oh, Kitty, sweetie pie, I don’t know how to say this delicately, but I’m not cremating anything.
Kitty: I am an excellent cook. In fact, some people even call me a chef.
Nora: Some with a really good sense of humor.

Nora: He came back earlier this morning, about four pies ago.

Tommy: This is ridiculous. Country, light country and static.
Kevin: Pick the static.

Sarah: He’s going to get himself killed.
Tommy: He’s pouring water into the radiator. He’ll be fine.
Sarah: I’m talking about Justin.
Tommy: He can handle himself. He’s not a baby.
Sarah: I didn’t say he was.
Tommy: But you treat him like one. You all do. You all complain and you worry and you don’t see that you’re responsible.
Sarah: How am I responsible?
Tommy: We all are. I mean, every self-destructive thing he’s ever done, including enlisting in the military, he did to prove that he’s not the baby of the family.

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Mistakes were made. That’s the theme of last night’s episode, which continues last week’s motif of random flashbacks, introduced with a whoosh and marked by Nora’s old ‘do. I’d say that haircut is one of the mistakes that were made, but there are plenty more to talk about.

Justin’s overdose was a mistake, he assures his mom, and not a suicide attempt, and fortunately he survives to move back home and be mother-henned. His impending return to military service has Nora doing the stare-into-space flashback thing as she recalls the mistakes she made in handling his original enlistment. Most specifically, she made the mistake of forging his name on a letter rescinding his request to enlist, rather than letting him come around to doing it himself. That pushed him right out the door and onto a plane to Afghanistan, and though now-Justin admits it’s the best and worst decision he ever made, he doesn’t think it was a mistake to make it, and he won’t resist returning.

Which is a good thing, ’cause his siblings’ attempts to save him go nowhere. Kevin reports that there’s no legal angle to get him off the hook, and Kitty’s illegal one doesn’t fare much better. Slated to do an interview with Senator McCallister, she offers him a deal: She won’t ask him embarrassing questions about his divorce and alleged nanny-dallying if he’ll get Justin out of duty. The senator refuses, but Kitty softballs the interview anyway, in the (unrequited) hope that he might change his mind. When Warren hears the senator wish Kitty’s brother luck, after the (gasp!) non-gossipy interview, he fears Kitty has compromised the show’s integrity. Kitty denies it to him, and denies it to the boss after Amber rats her out, but the next day, on the show, she admits that (ta-dum!) mistakes were made, confesses to her journalistic indiscretion, rags on the war a little, and apologizes. It’s too soon to tell whether she’ll get her skinny Republican ass fired, but she does get a call from the senator offering her a job. Because honesty’s so valued in politics — ha!

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