PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, THE: COUGAR TOWN IS BACK! (LA) {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in a series of seminars presented at The Paley Center for Media in Los Angeles. This seminar celebrates the return of "Cougar Town," the comedy series about the misadventures of an eccentric, wine-loving group of friends, lovers and family in Gulfhaven, Florida.
Host Rene Reyes (director of public programs and festivals, The Paley Center for Media) offers opening remarks and then introduces moderator Bill Lawrence (executive producer/creator for "Cougar Town"). After discussing the show's unplanned hiatus and the loyalty of its audience, he brings co-creator Kevin Biegel to the stage, who introduces the episode "Ain't Love Strange," which is then screened in its entirety. (For synopsis and credits, see ACCNUM 107252.) Following the episode is a highlight reel for season three, featuring various scenes from upcoming episodes.
After the screening, Lawrence introduces the panelists: Biegel; executive producer and cast member Courteney Cox (Jules Cobb); and cast members Ian Gomez (Andy Torres), Christa Miller (Ellie Torres), Brian Van Holt (Bobby Cobb), Dan Byrd (Travis Cobb), and Josh Hopkins (Grayson Ellis).
The panelists discuss topics which include: the writers' use of their real-life stories in the scripts; the similarities of Ellie and Andy's relationship to Lawrence and Miller's real-life marriage; comparisons to Gomez's marriage to actress Nia Vardalos; Lawrence's repeated casting of Miller in projects as a character married to a "schlub"; Lawrence's reaction to Miller's deleted love scene with Benjamin Bratt in "The Andromeda Strain"; Gomez's avoidance of the romantic scenes in Vardalos' film "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"; Van Holt's views on the secret sadness of the typically jovial Bobby; his past work with Lawrence on "Spin City"; Byrd's repeated mistakes in the show's pilot; Hopkins' talent on the guitar and Lawrence's idea to add it into the show; Hopkins being a "commitment-phobe," in contrast to the recently-engaged Grayson; the shift in the first season from focusing on Jules to featuring the ensemble; Cox's lack of concern with the "cougar" theme and early sense that Jules would settle down with Grayson; Cox's role as an executive producer and her contribution to the creative decisions; Cox's closeness with various cast members; a funny scene parodying the movie "Braveheart"; the influence of Cox's personal life on her character's lines and her willingness to laugh at herself; and the show's true focus on strong adult friendships.
Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics among others: Miller's role as music supervisor and talent for discovering new artists; an appearance by Susan Blakely as Ellie's "unloving" mother; the "grassroots" efforts to recapture the show's old audience after the hiatus; Miller's love of rap; the actors' roles on other programs while the show was on break; the actor's love of chatting with fans and recruiting new viewers; the potential for a romantic relationship between Travis and Laurie Keller(Busy Philipps) despite their age difference; Miller's view of the sarcastic Ellie as a good "outlet" for her pointed comments; the desire to avoid similarity within the show to Cox's "Friends"; plans for a storyline about Andy's political aspirations; other guest stars, including Cox's "Friends" co-stars; the need for "a little dose of mean" in mocking the actors' real habits in the scripts; the characters' mysterious professions and the show's constant "setting" on weekends; the talents of guest star and director Michael McDonald; hints about upcoming plans for the supporting characters of Barb (Carolyn Hennesy) and the "creepy" Tom (Bob Clendenin); and shooting the season finale in Malibu, which will serve as Napa.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: February 8, 2012 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:52:10
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 107242
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Rene Reyes … Host
- Bill Lawrence … Moderator
- Kevin Biegel … Panelist
- Ian Gomez … Panelist
- Christa Miller … Panelist
- Brian Van Holt … Panelist
- Dan Byrd … Panelist
- Josh Hopkins … Panelist
- Courteney Cox (See also: Courteney Cox-Arquette) … Panelist
- Susan Blakely
- Benjamin Bratt
- Bob Clendenin
- Carolyn Hennesy
- Michael McDonald
- Busy Philipps
- Nia Vardalos