What brought you back to television?
Lauren Graham: The decision was kind of just a very instinctual one. I have been reading scripts for two and a half years or three years, whatever it was since GILMORE GIRLS ended and there just wasn’t anything I connected to and that’s including things that I was developing that maybe didn’t get to exactly the place I wanted them to. It’s like dating. You have a list of things that you want and then you meet somebody and fall in love and half the things were not on your list. And this is kind of that in the way that I didn’t plan to play a mom, I didn’t plan to do an ensemble, I sort of, was thinking about a comedy and maybe cable. And then I read this script and I met with Jason [Katims] and just the idea of being able to collaborate with a writer who has such a beautiful group of work but also is encouraging in the… take your idea and kind of run with it and, you know, improvise once in a while if that makes sense to you. It’s just a very different model from the show that I had come from. So it just seemed like a good idea.

Can you talk about the differences between being part of a big ensemble like PARENTHOOD as opposed to more or less carrying a show like you did with GILMORE GIRLS?
Aside from being a more sane life for sure, I find that I have to really make sure I know where I am in the story because in PARENTHOOD I’m not in every scene and I have to sort of think about it as an actor in terms of the arc of each episode in a more deep way instead of trusting that since I’m in most of the scenes I can kind of gauge where I am. I’ve actually found this work really gratifying because it is more specific, you’re working with a smaller amount of material and therefore everything is really important. On GILMORE GIRLS sometimes I’d be in a scene that was just there kind of for fun, where as here each scene really is an important part of where my character is. It’s been really interesting. I don’t see dawn as much as I did on the other show which has been really enjoyable. And I think what I’ve discovered and what I’ve really enjoyed about — we’re in maybe episodes like 5 and 6 right now — is just finding the ways in which this character just continues to sort of feel like a failure. As opposed to Lorelai Gilmore who had a very sunny outlook on things, it’s been really interesting for me to play someone who is kind of shouldering a lot of baggage in terms of being disappointed about where she is in life and just the feeling of living in your parent’s house at 38 and how that informs everything and doesn’t make you feel too great. Looking at life through the eyes of disappointment is kind of a thing I think about a lot with Sarah. 

How would you compare Sarah [on PARENTHOOD] to Lorelai [from GILMORE GIRLS]?
They don’t remind me of each other at all. PARENTHOOD is less about verbal kind of dexterity and long speeches and it’s more small moments and real behavior people reacting to each in a moment. There’s a lot more silence. Sarah is really struggling in her life and not in a great place and hasn’t reached her potential in a lot of ways. Whereas the character I played in the past [Lorelai] is sort of always winning in a way, while this is someone who has much further to go to reach any of her dreams and that was all appealing to me.

On a personal level, which character —Sarah or Lorelai — do you relate to more?
Well I can only say Sarah because that’s what’s on my plate right now. But I would say, I mean, you know, this feels in a strange way like kind of a natural next step in terms of, you know, the world of GILMORE GIRLS was really idyllic in a way and such a great place to live as an actor and a person for awhile.
But this feels more grown up in a lot of a ways and so the possibilities sort of — the range of what I get to do on this show is — it’s more 10 o’clock than 8 o’clock. And that’s a great kind of next chapter to have in terms of just feeling challenged and moving forward.

Do real moms come up to you and ask you for advice?
Yes, moms do ask me for advice and I say I don’t know how to help you! But I did say to Jason [Katims] when we started this that I’ve been in a place where people are like, “Oh my mom is just like you and they mean that as a compliment.” And that wasn’t so much my interest going forward. I was like, I don’t necessarily want anyone to want to be me as a mom on this show. Like that’s what I like about Sarah is that she’s really kind of doing things in a more haphazard way and isn’t always noble and doesn’t always make the right choice. And so that felt different enough to me to, you know, that it wasn’t going to be it’s just like Lorelai.

PARENTHOOD airs on Tuesdays at 10PM on NBC (CityTV in Canada)

Ron Howard was apprehensive about another PARENTHOOD television show.
“Parenthood (The movie) was a project I cherish and is probably the most personal film I’ve ever been involved with,” explained executive producer Ron Howard when asked why he was initially hesitant to take a PARENTHOOD pitch from FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS showrunner Jason Katims. “[But] as a creative person, it’s unbelievable gratifying to see an idea that we were all so proud of twenty years ago quite frankly evolve into something so entertaining, so impactful and so beautifully executed.”

Lauren Graham is as surprised as anyone to be starring in another network TV show.
“I wasn’t expecting to be doing a show right now,” exclaimed the former GILMORE GIRL. “I’ve read so many scripts over the past two and half, three years and it [PARENTHOOD] was so moving, so beautiful and I was so impressed by the pedigree of the people involved, after talking to Jason [Katims] I thought it could be a really collaborative, really positive experience and it has exceeded all of my expectations. It’s just the most fun day at work.”

It’s an expensive show.
With a sprawling ensemble of actors who let’s face it, are all more than capable of headlining their own show (see: Lauren Graham, Peter Krause, Erika Christensen, Dax Shepard, Monica Potter, Craig T. Nelson to name a few) PARENTHOOD isn’t cheap. “So please watch,” chuckled Katims. “It’s not an inexpensive show and we are working very hard with everybody at the network and Imagine [the show's production company] to figure out a way to make a great show that is feasible economically.” Oh and if you’re wondering how Katims is handling servicing each of these big star. Katims promises that everything he learned about ensemble hour-long dramas he learned from a little gem called FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS “It’s a big story and you kind of need everybody, parents, children at different stages of their life. It’s a lot to keep track of, especially when you have actors of this calibre, but it’s worth it.”

Sex yes. Dirty and Money not so much.
Not only does star Peter Krause promise that the Braverman family couldn’t be anymore different than the ill-fated Darling family, Krause is fairly confident that his new series won’t be plagued with the same creative issues of his previous show. “[Unlike DIRTY SEXY MONEY] we have an agreement as to what this show should be, on the part of the network, Jason and producers Ron [Howard] and Brian [Grazer].” explained the former Darling, “On that other show there was no agreement, which led to a lot of creative battling behind the scenes.”

Oh, and did we mention it’s funny?
Sure, there is the requisite family drama that you’ll want to ensure you’re watching the pilot with a kleenex box within arms reach. But thanks to the audition of Lauren Graham, who knows a thing or two seven about comedic timing, like real-life parenting, there’s plenty to laugh about. Particularly thanks to the addition of Graham who Katims promises “brings so much incredible humor the role.” Teases Krause, “I was wrestling around with a possum not too long ago.”

If there is a silver-lining to be taken from yesterday’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade — that let’s face it — has become little more than a three-hour infomercial for Broadway musicals, has-been artists pushing CD’s (Cyndi Lauper, Katherine McPhee, the kid from Hanna Montana, Really?!) and NBC/Universal’s various movies and television shows, it’s this: A first look at GILMORE GIRLS’ Lauren Graham returning to TV in NBC’s PARENTHOOD. Something to be thankful for indeed.

Thanks to GMMR for the Tip!

[OCTOBER 9, 2009 UPDATE] According to Ausiello, “a source inside Graham’s camp confirms that her deal to join Parenthood has just closed! Woo-hoo!”

Good News: The CW is officially developing MELROSE PLACE Version 2.0 for Fall 2009. Bad News: 90210 Version 2.0 isn’t exactly must see TV. Although for some inexplicable reason, we’re still watching. [Source]

Good News: The TV Addict just became friends with HEROES stars Greg Grunberg and Brea Grant. Bad News: And by ‘friends,’ I of course am referring to friends on Twitter, not friends in real life. Even though I know Greg Grunberg and I would so be “BFF” if given the chance! [Follow theTVaddict on Twitter]

While watching last night’s installment of TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES, this TV Addict couldn’t help but thinking of one thing; GILMORE GIRLS. Weird, I know… but having visited the set of THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES last fall, one can’t blame me for the skewed perspective.

What the average viewer might not realize is that TERMINATOR shoots its series on the exact same Warner Bros. lot that used to be occupied by none other than America’s favorite mother/daughter duo, Lorelai and Rory Gilmore. Oddly enough, the similarities don’t end there. Consider the following.

• Overbearing and controlling mother Emily Gilmore was intent on molding Lorelai into the ideal replicant of herself. Lorelai rebelled by running away to Stars Hollow. Sarah Connor ran away as well. Well, time-travelled to Los Angeles to escape a group of power mad robots intent on annihilating the human race. An angry Emily Gilmore or a killer robot — who’s scarier?

• Lorelai raised a teenage daughter with the help of random townspeople. Sarah raises a teenage son with the help of random robots.

• Cameron, being a robot has issues fitting in. Looking back on seven years of GILMORE GIRLS, the same exact think could be said about Kirk. Did anyone even bother to ask creator Amy Sherman-Palladino if Kirk was human? Think about it!

• Did anyone else notice the jeep Sarah drove in last night’s episode? Call me crazy, but is that not the same jeep made famous by Lorelai GIlmore?

First things first. Lauren Graham may be returning to the small screen far earlier than expected. Variety reports today that NBC managed to do the one thing the CW couldn’t — get Lauren Graham to sign on the dotted line. In one of the year’s richest development deals, NBC has signed Graham with the hopes of having her star in her own comedy or drama next fall. Explained Graham as only she can, “After having spent so many years representing the frog on the WB, I am especially comforted to be part of the only other network with an animal mascot.”

For more fantastic GILMORE GIRLS news…. check back later in the day [How's that for a cliffhanger!?]

Jets57 asks: In the past you and Alexis both mentioned working on DVD extras but they never seem to appear – what happened?

Lauren Graham responds: We make no money on DVD so don’t tend to do the commentary as we think that is unfair.

Now there’s a rarity in Hollywood, an honest answer! Kudos to Lauren Graham for being so upfront with her fans. That said, does anyone else find it a touch depressing that it all comes down to dollars and cents with stars Graham and Bledel? Who knew sitting down for forty-four minutes and commenting on a show you supposedly love was such an ardous task. How much money would make these girls happy? If it wasn’t clear before, it’s more than clear now that the real reason fans didn’t get a proper final season of the GILMORE GIRLS was simply due to the fact that the CW failed to back up a big enough Brinks truck.

Update: As the debate rages on in the comments, Jenna said it best when she wrote, “It might not earn them anything but if nothing else it’s a nice way to say “thank you”.”

Thanks to TVTattle for the Tip!

Update: My source has informed me that at this time, there will be no official comment from Warner Bros. It should be noted that the last time I received a ‘no comment’ this quickly from Warner Bros, it was to deny the cancellation of THE OC! Needless to say, stay tuned…

If this just released photo is any indication (when is the last time we’ve seen these two smile?), Luke and Lorelai shippers have plenty to look forward to when GILMORE GIRLS returns on April 17. In an episode entitled “Hay Bale Maze,” Lorelai is seen apologizing to Luke for running to Christopher after their break-up, while Luke admits to having used April as an excuse for keeping Lorelai at a distance. Does anyone else hear wedding bells in the distance? Or at the very least a happily-ever-after series finale come May.