Rainn Wilson is a well known actor for his emmy nominated role on the American version of the comedy, The Office. Wilson In 2014, Wilson was cast as the lead role in the upcoming FOX crime-drama BACKSTROM, based on Leif G. W. Persson’s Swedish book series of the same name. He plays Everett Backstrom, an offensive, self-destructive detective who is part of a team of eccentric criminologists. Wilson also serves as the show’s producer. In an interview, Wilson said playing this role has opened an entire new set of dark comedy for him to play with. [Read more…]
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THE MENTALIST Series Finale Recap: “I’VE BEEN WAITING SO LONG FOR THIS!”
Hello, peeps! It’s the last MENTALIST episode EVER. I will warn you. This is going to be supersized. The show was two hours, and I’ll never be writing another MENTALIST recap again. I may get a little shouty and maudlin. Fair warning. Here are your MENTALIST Top Moments!
Jane’s bought some land!
Yes, he did buy that little shack by the lake. Jane may stay with the FBI…or not. But he wants to renovate his new acquisition. Lisbon makes him promise never to run away again. And begs him to take off that ring. His reluctance makes me want to choke him through the screen. When she backpedals later, I want to strangle her. That is more than a reasonable request. Stop holding back, girl! Seriously.
There’s a serial killer on the loose!
In case you haven’t heard. He killed Gabriel, and now a nice suburban housewife. Jane thinks the scamp is getting more “playful” by leaving her body out there for the world to see. He’s also added a new twist to his repertoire. Besides the fingernail, he took a cup of blood.
New/Old Guy!
Rick, who was at the CBI and the FBI Santa Fe office, has worked with Jane before, enough to know to keep his hand on his wallet, so at least we won’t have the wide-eyed, “Who the hell is this guy” stare whenever someone new gets involved in an investigation with Jane.
The Investigation!
Since the guy takes blood, the new theory is he may be into some weird stuff, so they’re going to look into cults, etc.
Good ol’ Rick immediately ingratiates himself to Jane by suggesting Jane go on TV and pretend to be psychic to draw the guy out. Wow. The look on Jane’s face. You don’t see it often, but dayum. Cho clues him in, and Rick’s all “The wife and kid.” Oy. I thought he didn’t know. That makes it worse. Lisbon is also furious.
She tries to distract Jane by telling him poor Gabriel had little tumors in his brain, and that’s what caused all of his hallucinations, which is what I suspected after that little seizure he had plus his fear of going to the doctor. I mean, I guess at this point it wouldn’t have mattered, but still…
There’s a call that someone shot the serial killer, but we’re barely into the episode, so I’m sure it’s a false alarm. It is. Some poor guy and his wife, who don’t speak English, were going through trash cans looking for recyclables. The owner of the house grabbed their gun, yelled a warning the guy didn’t understand, and shot him. Then called to say he shot a serial killer. Someone that stupid should never have been issued a gun. He looks like someone’s grandpa.
Austin PD are getting a zillion calls a day. Cho asks for the log. To my utter shock, Jane volunteers to take Rick’s suggestion, under Lisbon’s vehement denial.
Jane the Psychic!
Wow. Who would have thought Jane would be on TV again, pretending to be a psychic. The reporter asks what it’s like to be a psychic. Instead of answering, Jane immediately tells the newscaster he just had a daughter and the daughter’s name, then talks to another woman about her dead aunt. We switch to a radio interview, in which Jane says the serial killer is trying to get in touch with someone on the other side.
Rick comes in to relieve Lisbon and says he’ll take Jane home. Lisbon goes out to her car. I’m already nervous.
Then Jane gets a call from “Lazarus” who says he spoke with someone like Jane once. He was a fake, and you could practically see it written on him.
Meanwhile, back at the FBI, they pick up on the “fake” thing and know Lazarus is the killer. Wylie traces his number to a landline. My head screams He’s calling from inside the house as things heat up. YIKES!
Lazarus says he believes in spirits, just not always the people who say they can communicate with them.
As the FBI busts in the door of where they think Lazarus is but clearly is not, he signs off his call to Jane, who gets an “OH CRAP” look on his face as he pulls out his phone. It’s Abbott to say Lazarus rigged the phone, of course.
Then it’s a showdown. Lisbon arrives at the Airstream to find it open, but it’s a false alarm. Rick and Jane get into the car, and that’s when a truck comes and slams into them. I’m NOT HAPPY.
I’m really not happy when I find out Patrick has been abducted. Rick is in the hospital. Lisbon is trying to keep it together as Abbott apologizes to her. But he does hold a ray of hope, since Lazarus took Jane rather than killing him, and Jane is pretty good at manipulating people.
Speaking of that, Jane is chained to a table with a pillowcase on his head. After it gets pulled off. Jane comes face-to-face with his abductor and looks around his place as you know he’s trying to get a bead on this guy.
Lazarus holds a gun to Jane and asks him to prove he’s not a liar. Oddly enough, Jane will use his finely honed lying skills to do just that.
Finding Lazarus!
A guilty Rick is already back at work, and Wylie has found a bookstore called Grimoire, only three miles from the buried bodies. Abott and Cho reject the idea, but Wylie, who seems to have developed his cajones, says Jane would and how he’d say how if you do the usual things, you get the usual results, which in this case is dead Jane. Cho is now on board.
Back at Creepytown, Jane tells Lazarus about his strict dad and how now he feels he deserves it. Also, he’s an exterminator. Then they get to the nitty gritty, which is that Jane needs to contact the spirit in the house. Jane says there aren’t any, and Lazarus starts with the fraud stuff, until he gets a call about an extermination job he needs to finish. He gives Jane the requested water and leaves.
Of course, Jane uses the top of the bottle as a tool to free himself. He not only manages to loosen the chains from the table but also unlock the handcuffs. That circus background comes in handy. But it’s not enough to get him out of the locked room.
In a bit of comic relief, Wylie and Cho visit Grimoire, where the owner complains about being arrested for practicing Santaria. She puts down the FBI for their religious persecution, and Cho thinks it’s a total waste of time, until Wylie says he’ll get the charges reduced for her if she helps them with the murder investigation. Just like that, she gets them an IP for a sooper seekrit creepy website. Afterward, Cho gives Wylie a low-five and a fist bump, and I do cartwheels. It looks like an awesome partnership is born!
Back at Crreepytown, Jane finds a badly decomposed body in a connected room to where he is. I guess there is indeed a spirit there. Lazarus’s strict dad?
That website, as Wylie describes it, is the Ebay of the deeply weird. A group of people said they’d harvest blood for their blood rituals. Wylie was able to get the name of a professor who was in the group, so Cho and Abbott scoot off to pick him up. Meanwhile, Wylie explains to Lisbon that the blood is used on a dead body to bind their spirit.
Creepytown. There’s a Polaroid picture of a guy wearing the same shirt the dead guy is wearing, and on the back it says “Joe and Joe, Jr.” so yeah, Daddy.
FBI. Lisbon goes all Jane on the professor who cried “Lawyer” from the moment he was brought in. Lisbon knows he’s lying about knowing the names of the people in the group, and after she threatens to spread every kinky secret he’s ever had, the guy gives her the names. Damn. Lisbon in Jane mode is awesome!
Creepytown. By the time Lazarus comes back, Jane has chained himself back up and dazzles Lazarus with his knowledge of dad and their fishing trip. Lazarus explains that he keeps his dad there, because he hears a voice that makes him go out and find someone. Once he does, he’s okay again for a while. He asks “dad” if it’s his voice. That’s when Jane says his dad’s voice is gone, and he needs an hour to recuperate. Then asks for some gum. Oh, Jane.
Jane goes back to where daddy is, blows out the pilot light in the water heater, turns out the light, and puts gum over the light bulb.
FBI. Lisbon and Cho are closing in. They’ve found Joe’s old landlady. As she searches for the exterminator company card in her purse, Wylie tells them dad may have been a serial killer. DUN DUN DUN. Wylie has an address. Lisbon is going to check it out while Cho sticks with the landlady. Alone? Please tell me she’s not going alone.
She’s going alone.
Creepytown, Lazarus comes back. Jane points to the room where dead daddy is. While Lazarus is in there, the light bulb sizzles then bursts. Since the room is filled with gas, the whole thing explodes. Just before it happens, Jane tries to leave, but I think he’s only able to hit the deck. As the explosion happens, Lisbon arrives.
Supremely freaked, she runs toward the house and manages to kick down the door to find Jane coughing on the floor. YAY.
OH NO! Lazarus made it out. This is not good. Rick supervises the cleanup crew.
Jane Takes Off His Wedding Ring!
EEEE!!!! They didn’t even make a big deal about it. Just Lisbon brings lunch over to the new house and notices.
“You’re not wearing your wedding ring.”
“I’m not married.”
I’VE BEEN WAITING SO LONG FOR THIS!
Jane Proposes!
I’m sorry, but this deserved two entries.
Anyway, Jane takes the ring out of his pocket and talks about how it signifies his past but also that if he hadn’t had the ring, he never would have met Lisbon. He wants to share it with her and have it represent their future. Then he asks her to marry him! Of COURSE she says yes.
When she tells him he knew she’d say yes, he tells her that after all these years, she’s still a mystery to him. Then he kisses her. Sigh. My shipper heart just grew three sizes.
Abbott has a case of lame duckness, poor guy, and is trying to find something to do now that the case is supposedly wrapped up, when Jane and Lisbon come in to announce the engagement. Shipper Abbott is the first to congratulate them, and I guess Cho wasn’t as oblivious as I thought, because he claims he totally knew.
They inform everyone they’re going to just go to the Justice of the Peace. Let’s see how that pans out.
Lisbon also Skypes with her brothers. It’s all very adorable. Already the plan for a small, quiet, just Jane and Lisbon wedding is getting blown to bits, when the brothers get insulted they won’t be there and insist upon it. Guilt, guilt, guilt, Mom will spin in her grave, etc. etc. The woman is Catholic. Of course it worked. Before she says anything, Jane tells her it’s okay that she invited her brothers.
Then, of course, it’s weird that just the brothers will be there, and where do you draw the line as to inviting coworkers, and you get where this is going. Jane surrenders as Lisbon’s number of invited people grows as he’s sitting there. He decides to put an end to the nonsense by saying he’s going out to buy her a ring. Lisbon warns him to get nothing too gauche. Oh, Lisbon.
Abbott offers to have the wedding at his house, and by now the number has reached fifteen.
OMG! Lisbon brings CHO to help her pick out her dress. I guess she wanted someone honest and to the point.
We don’t see the final dress.
Rigsby and Van Pelt also skype with her and agree to come to the wedding. They look great!
Also, two of the brothers come with significant others and a bunch of kids. It’s now a lavish affair with caterers.
Cho and Wylie!
Wylie tries to wimp out yet again. He’s upset he made some wrong turns on the whole Lazarus thing, so he’s going to Salt Lake to be in Cyber Crime. He can’t look at Vega’s desk, etc. Cho gives Wylie the Jethro Gibbs head smack! He tells Wylie to stop feeling sorry for himself. That he bats 300 on a good day and needs to put Vega in perspective. He’s rebuilding the team, and he wants people he can trust. That includes Wylie. He humbles himself and asks Wylie to stay. He agrees.
The Case Must Go On!
A badly burned and sooted-up Lazarus is stocking up on medical supplies at the local drugstore as hilariously Tom Jones It’s not Unusual plays in the background. I love the little touches on this show.
He also manages to get a “Don’t Mess with Texas” cap to cover up his burned-off hair and some non-sooty clothes. He tells the horrified cashier it was some barbequing accident. Uh, yeah.
He seems to have kidnapped the news reporter. Never go to a secondary location, dude. It never turns out well.
Ugh. They drive to a remote location, where Lazarus asks for the reporter’s driver’s license then proceeds to brutally stab him repeatedly. It’s horrible to watch with the reporter yelling “NO!” all the way through. This show doesn’t usually show all of this gore, and with all of the fluffy happiness going on, this was a little too much to handle.
Then Lazarus calls the FBI. Rick answers, and he pretends to be the reporter. Rick lets him know Jane is out of the office, because he’s getting married. Oh, my gosh. Shut UP, Rick.
Right after Lisbon and Jane leave the City Clerk’s office, Lazarus comes in there. He still looks all banged up and a little deranged, so the clerk looks a little frightened. Lazarus asks for the marriage paperwork and says his bride-to-be is on the way.
As the clerk goes to answer a call, I guess the paperwork just sits there in a basket on top of the counter, because Lazarus is able to sift through it and find Jane’s paperwork. This is not good.
Cho also figures out that Lazarus may still be alive, since they’ve only found Daddy’s body parts. Abbott says not to tell Jane and Lisbon but says he’ll put some “bodies” at the wedding. He’s just happy for something to do.
Then Rick comes to tell Abbott and Cho how the reporter is missing, and oh yeah, he informed said reporter Jane was getting married. So now not only do they have a huge wedding, but there will be a gaggle of agents standing guard, plus a helicopter on standby. Thanks, RICK. When he suggests using the wedding as bait, he gets two death glares.
Jane corners Abbott, who still refuses to tell him what’s going on but does ask Jane if he’s sticking around. There’s talk of “the napkin.” Jane talks about how it would be hard to give up the chase. Then Jane totally guilts Abbott into telling him what’s going on by talking about how he appreciates Abbott’s honesty. Jane knows how to push those buttons. In a bout of cuteness, Jane gives Abbott a hug.
Jane goes to find Lisbon at Abbott’s totally freaking out over how this wedding thing has blown out of proportion. He suggests elopement. Lisbon agrees, then Jane hits her with how Lazarus is still alive. She gets upset then they agree to use the big wedding as a decoy. She runs to get her dress.
This brilliant plan goes FUBAR, as Lazarus is hiding in the judge’s trunk, and now instead of her leading him to a wedding with armed guards, she’s taking him directly to Jane’s out-of-the-way shack.
I guess that clerk at the City Clerk’s office was observant after all. She figured out about Lazarus and saw him take a peek at the paperwork. Wylie informs Cho and Abbott that the paperwork doesn’t show where the wedding will be but who is officiating. So, now they know about the whole judge situation.
So Jane waits for Lisbon outside of the Airstream. She looks beautiful in her wedding dress. After all of the disappointing ones from other shows, I’m so glad to see this. Anyway, they walk into the shack together, at which point Lazarus enters, only waiting for him are a slew of FBI agents, including Cho, Abbott, and Rick.
They take him down, and Lisbon doesn’t miss the opportunity to point out to Jane how much better it works out when he’s honest with her.
Jane and Lisbon Get Married!
WEEEE! The ceremony was beautiful. And I guess all of the money Abbott put into the centerpieces, etc., is going to waste, because they get married at their little shack. But somehow a dance floor and lights got out there, and everyone appears to be dancing and having a good time.
Lisbon Has Some News!
Jane and Lisbon watch the festivities from a distance. Lisbon says she has something to tell him. It looks like Jane gets to recapture everything he’s lost. Lisbon is pregnant, and Jane could not be happier.
The end.
I can’t believe it! What did you guys think of the finale? Did they do a good job? Should they have had a serial killer mucking everything up? Talk to me!
We Shine the Spotlight on GOTHAM Star Jada Pinkett Smith
Jada Pinkett Smith, an American actress, singer-songwriter, and businesswoman has added a new role on to her accomplishments playing Fish Mooney, a series regular, on FOX’s hit GOTHAM. In an interview, Smith said she doesn’t know where her character is heading, but she hopes she will make it through the season.
Fish Mooney has an awesome wardrobe. Do you have any input on that creative process at all?
Smith: I actually do. Our fantastic costume designer usually just comes to me and says, “What do you think about these fabrics? What do you think about this idea?” So, that’s pretty much it. I pretty much told Lisa to just do whatever, whatever she feels because she’s such a fantastic artist, and so we usually just talk about shape and color
What’s your favorite outfit been so far this season?
Smith: What has my favorite outfit been? I think it would probably have to be the one that I wore when I went to see Maroni about returning Penguin to me. And it’s the first time I realized that Penguin was alive, and the first time I see him after seeing him in Maroni’s restaurant, and think it was like teal.
It was this beautiful kind of antique fabric, but yet it had this kind of punk rock edge to it with the trim that she used, which was this kind of spiked teal leather and I just thought it was just a beautiful mixture of the old and the new and even with the shape of it, it was high waisted, but yet it had this kind of like warrior-esque, but quite feminine top that went to it.
It was pretty cool. It was really quite beautiful. Not that comfortable to wear, but beautiful.
At the end of the recent episode, obviously, Fish appears to be leaving. Is there anything at all you can tease about either what’s coming or maybe when she’s coming back?
Smith: Well, it’s not quite over yet, but we’ll see if Fish survives the season. It’s a little tense from here on out. That’s for sure. It’s a little rough on Fish from here on out.
Then, as a follow up, what’s been your favorite scene so far to do?
Smith: I think one of my favorite scenes would have to be that Maroni scene when I go to Maroni and I hear that Penguin’s alive, but I have yet to see him and then he comes from the back, in the kitchen, and I see him for the first time. I think that’s probably one of my favorite scenes that I’ve done so far.
What was it like preparing for this role? There are so many actors that had some much reference material in terms of comic books or previous films for their characters. You character was created for this show. What was it like preparing for the role, not really having much to reference?
Smith: Yes, I think that was one of the reasons why the role was so interesting to me was because it was something that Bruno really wanted a partner in creating this Fish Mooney character, and I love female gangsters. I just love them. I think that they’re really interesting characters and interesting people, and there’s one, Griselda Blanco, who I had studied, and I also love the character from Sunset Boulevard. I did kind of a mish-mosh of those two because Bruno had some suggestions, and it’s coming together, and I was like wow, I would really love to do a mixture of these two women, because the one thing I love about the super villains, and GOTHAM, is that they’re always so colorful. I really wanted her to be grounded, but also have quite a flair.
You are known for playing strong characters, which one would you say is your most favorite to play and is there a character that you would love to play in the future.
Smith: I would say, I love playing Fish Mooney. I think you’re going to see a lot more color from Fish in the next episodes to come. I think you’re going to see a lot more vulnerability. I think you’re going to see a lot more of a human side of Fish Mooney. I see Fish Mooney as kind of an extreme version of a woman. A woman who wears many faces. A woman who is strong, but yet afraid. I would say that the Fish Mooney character has, especially in these coming episodes, has been really fun and I love how smart and perceptive that she is. She just decided to use her skills – you know, she’s a criminal. She decided to be a criminal instead of a doctor. But, I really love her and I love what’s she becoming too. I think in the next few episodes, and definitely towards the end, you’re going to see a whole different Fish, and a woman that definitely has some heart. You’ve seen the ruthless, now you’re going to see some heart.
Catch Smith in GOTHAM on Monday’s on FOX (CTV in Canada). Photo Credit FOX
Move Over Agent Carter: ORPHAN BLACK’s Evelyne Brochu Talks About Leading a Team of Spies on CBC’s X COMPANY
When I say “‘40s female secret agents in pop culture,” the first names that will likely come to your mind are Peggy Carter and Bridget von Hammersmark. But with CBC’s new World War II-set spy series, X COMPANY, the name Aurora Luft may become equally as synonymous in this league of characters inspired by the true stories of women who boldly defied traditional gender norms of their time.
Played by ORPHAN BLACK star Evelyne Brochu, Luft is a half German-Jewish, half French-Canadian journalist who is recruited to join the Allies’ top-secret espionage organization based at Camp X, a real-life training camp — located between Whitby and Oshawa on the shores of Lake Ontario — that trained British, American and Canadian spies.
A sergeant to four fellow recruits — Alfred Graves (Jack Laskey), Tom Cummings (Dustin Milligan), Harry James (Connor Price), and Neil Mackay (Warren Brown) — Luft lends not only her experience as a reporter working abroad but also her remarkable ability to speak three languages fluently: English, German and French.
When we’re first introduced to Luft in the pilot, she puts her talents to the test in a life-threatening undercover mission to help the Resistance defeat vicious Nazi leader Sturmbanfüher Richter (Philip Bulcock), who has declared no mercy on a small French village. But since the show is set in 1942, long before modern espionage was nurtured into what we perceive it as today, Luft and her colleagues are thrust into a mission with no precedent to guide them, presenting audiences with a unique angle in this popular genre.
Related: CAMP X Interview: I Spy a Return to Television for Dustin Milligan
Will Luft join the ranks of renowned fictional spies? Or, better yet, will she inspire viewers to learn about the real women — such as Agnès Humbert, Nancy Wake and Noor Inayat Khan — who served as spies for the Allies?
We’ll soon find out when X COMPANY, which is brought to you by FLASHPOINT co-creators Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern, premieres on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 9 p.m. on CBC. Until then, check out my interview below with the Québécois actress for more insight into her role as well as some scoop on the third season of Space’s ORPHAN BLACK.
First of all, I just wanted to say congrats on the new show. I thought it was really interesting.
Evelyne: Thank you so much.
The first time I watched it, I didn’t know it was based on true events, that Camp X actually existed, so that part was really fascinating. Were you aware that this camp existed before the show?
Evelyne: I had no clue. I think people that worked at the camp, that created the camp, did such a good job at keeping it a secret that it’s kind of remained a secret. I know at the time the Prime Minister didn’t know it existed. I was glad to get to learn about it. They call it “Canada’s coolest secret.“ (laughs)
Since Canada isn’t really involved in those kinds of espionage dramas, it makes it look cooler. (laughs)
Evelyne: Yeah, exactly. I think the six following directors of the CIA were all trained there. There’s something kinda special about it when you think of that.
Based on the first impressions we get on the premiere episode, we’re introduced to Aurora as a strong-willed, intelligent character who isn’t afraid to put her life in jeopardy. But we see her in these moments throughout the episode where she’s more vulnerable. Was there any particular aspect that drew you to this character?
Evelyne: I think that you’re exactly pinpointing what really attracted me to her.
(laughs) Did I just answer my question?
Evelyne: No, you’re right. She’s relatable. They’re heroes because they’re courageous, and they turn their beliefs into action. But they’re not superheroes; they do have feelings. They’re not always right. They make hard decisions sometimes. They make mistakes. Aurora is exactly like that. Plus she has a very passionate side. So not only is she passionate about a cause in what she’s doing, and a sense of justice, but she’s passionate about her lover. As you’ll see, it’s going to be hard for her to deal with the aftermath of what happens at the end of episode one. Then she’s going to be faced with a new challenge — she’s going to become sergeant of these four boys. This is 1942, two years after women started voting in Quebec. So you can imagine being in a position of authority in those days was quite difficult. What fascinates me about Aurora is to see how she navigates all that.
In a past interview, you also mentioned that in preparing for the role you read about Agnès Humbert. Could you tell us about how she inspired you to play the role?
Evelyne: There’s a flame inside that woman of truth and justice. Even though she got tortured, even though her body was weak, even though mentally it must have been hell on earth — there’s something inside her that knew that she was right and that what was going on was wrong. To me, when you think about a show about World War II, you’re like, “Oh, we’re gonna learn about how barbaric humans can be.” And it is true. Those historical events remind us of that, but I think the unsung heroes of that era also remind us of the capacity the human being has to know what’s right and what’s good.
I’m surprised they haven’t made a film about her. I actually never heard about her until I read your past interviews for the show. So now I’m more interested in hearing about her. I’m probably reading that book [Resistance].
Evelyne: Oh, you’re going to love that book. It’s like Anne Frank’s journal, so there’s something very day to day — the details, the day to day, the actual truth cause it’s autobiographical. So there’s something in there that’s extremely relatable. She’s an incredible woman. You’re going to be very, very moved by that book.
Since the show is set before the inception of the CIA, these characters aren’t the archetypes of the traditional freedom fighters that we’re used to seeing. Instead, they’re these ordinary people. But they each have this skill. Your character is trilingual, so she can speak English, French and German. Do you think it’s just as important to have intellectual capabilities as physical to be a good spy?
Evelyne: I think so, especially in this specific team. I think they built outside-the-box fighters, if you wanna call it that, so it’s not necessarily the sort of physical army talents that you think people have. Being intellectually fit for special missions — for example, Harry’s character is the total brain. He’s a genius. I don’t think that if he were in BAND OF BROTHERS, he would’ve been the hero, but in our team he’s a major hero. I do think these outside-the-box talents do make us unlikely but very efficient team members. (laughs)
In a way, is this the show’s way of saying that you don’t need to have all these qualities in one? But you can use your ordinary qualities to rise up to an occasion?
Evelyne: I think that’s exactly what the show reminds you of. Also, that you’re stronger as a team. Mark [Ellis] and Steph [Morgenstern] have this ability to tell stories based upon the strength of team members coming together. FLASHPOINT was all about that. So is our show. I think one of the main, specific traits that drives me to our show is the force of the team. It’s also what was the best about shooting it. We were such a tight-knit group of very talented and kind people. You met them last week; we did the promotion. We couldn’t get enough of each other. We went to Niagara Falls, we went on Lake Simcoe…We’re praying for a second season just so we can get back together. I think that chemistry reads on screen as well. And I think, personally, I enjoy stories about people who need to rely on each other to succeed because that’s what life is about. Often you get fiction that are about individuals, their quest and love. But a tight friendship between a group of people is not an easy story to tell. Mark and Steph do a beautiful job at it.
Another thing the show does that I think is commendable is that it really doesn’t paint the war or the people involved with just black and white brushes. Your character Aurora encounters this Nazi soldier who shows a more sympathetic and human side towards this girl named Annie. How important is it to show a more nuanced depiction of a Nazi soldier but also not trying to ignore the horrors of their crimes?
Evelyne: One of the beauties of Mark and Steph’s writing is exactly what you’re talking about — it’s the very nuanced, non-black and white. They’re so well researched and so sensitive that I don’t think they’re trying depict the bad guy as a good guy necessarily. Even when you’re on the wrong side, you think you’re on the right side. So it’s interesting what that could mean for everyone.
The same can also be said for our heroes in the story throughout the episode. We saw their morals being challenged in precarious situations, and the most climatic obviously being the bridge sequence. How is it like to perform in that kind of scene where those heightened, life-threatening scenarios aren’t what you experience from day to day?
Evelyne: I have a newfound respect for people who do adventure dramas and action movies. I used to think all you gotta do is step on the gas and let these big, huge emotions come out. But they have to be truthful. And because they’re so loud, they have to be even more truthful. (laughs) There’s no place for making mistakes; it’s so in your face that it has to be right. I think the physicality of the actual filming helped me get into a sort of adrenaline mode. I’m not saying at all that what I experienced is comparable to war. Of course not — it’s movie-making. But you’ve gotta use what you have, right? I think what’s really appealing about our show is, what would I do in these situations? These ethical dilemmas we often have about the decisions we have a split second to make are what make it, yes, exciting but also kind of interesting that those are the things that will linger after the show is over.
In a way, I think it’s kind of how we mentioned earlier — how these are just ordinary people, they weren’t in wars before, so they’re reacting how normal people would in those situations.
Evelyne: I think it’s super important to resonate because it’s not a comic book. It’s not about seeing how cool they are. Often spies are depicted as cool, and they have all these magical gadgets. You kinda know that it’s life and death, but it’s not. They have so much swag, right? But that’s totally not the angle of our show. These characters were not inspired by one real person, but were inspired by very well-researched, real stories. They needed to be vulnerable, and they needed to be at risk because this is a true story we’re telling.
Will we see more scenarios where the characters are placed in these morally conflicting situations where the right answer isn’t really one decision?
Evelyne: Oh, yeah. And there’s gonna be mistakes made. I think all the characters on the team have these great, really rich emotional arcs. Their beliefs will be flipped around; sometimes their hearts are gonna be broken. There are gonna be consequences to some events, so I think every episode is gonna be a sort of a building block for each character. I think that’s also what makes it interesting — it’s serial. So, yes, there’s a mission, and a couple of missions even through episode, but there’s also something that you follow. You wanna know what’s going to happen, and what consequences events have on these characters.
Finally, for my last question, I have to ask this cause I’m a huge ORPHAN BLACK fan…Can you say anything about what happens to Delphine [Cormier] in season three, or is it really tight-lipped?
Evelyne: Sometimes I feel like if I talk too much, there’s gonna be a weird guy with a baseball bat that’s gonna run behind me and break my knees. (laughs) I’ve never been on a show that’s so secretive about story points and all that. But I can say that Delphine is gonna have more responsibilities. The stakes are even higher in terms of where she’s gonna be in the Dyad hierarchy. But because of those responsibilities, she’s also going to have to make really hard decisions. It’s a darker period for her.
Oh, interesting…
Evelyne: It might reveal a darker side to her. Maybe. (laughs)
Well, thank you so much for taking time for this, and congrats on the show again.
Evelyne: Thank you.
Morning Static: GAME OF THRONES, VIKINGS, NEW GIRL & More!
• TV Review: ‘The Odd Couple’
• Must See TV: See the 10-year evolution of YouTube in this epic supercut
• Interview: ‘Vikings’ creator Michael Hirst teases Season 3’s prophecies, romance and Paris attack
• An Inside Look at Powers: A PlayStation Original Series
• The Mentalist Finale: Will Jane and Lisbon Actually Make It Down the Aisle?
• I stopped watching MasterChef Junior, a show I really like
• The Business of Show: Movie About ESPN’s Early Days Adds Author James Andrew Miller To Team
• Pilot Watch: Whoopi Goldberg to Star in ABC’s Jermaine Fowler Comedy
• Super News: ‘Thor’s’ Jaimie Alexander to Star in NBC’s Greg Berlanti Thriller, ‘Blindspot’
• ‘Better Call Saul’ Is On Fire, Breaking Cable Records All Over The Place
• Q&A: ‘New Girl’ Star Zooey Deschanel Talks Season 4, She & Him and Pregnancy Discretion
• Late Night Wars: HBO Renews Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Through 2017
• Oh So Good: ‘Breaking Bad’ art exhibit in London is 99.1% chemically awesome
• Pilot News: Ground Floor’s Skylar Astin Joins ABC’s Basketball Comedy
• Blame Canada: Hollywood Location Shooting Surges as Canadian Dollar Collapses
• Scoop: ‘Devious Maids’ Admits Telenovela Star Cristian de la Fuente
• Game of Thrones season 5: George RR Martin warns fans to ‘be on their toes’ for surprise deaths
• Funny Business: Trophy Wife’s Albert Tsai Joins ABC Comedy Dr. Ken
• RIP: Jon Cryer on the Incredibly Long Life and ‘Absolutely Crazy’ Finale of Two and a Half Men 12-year role has been ‘87% blessing, 13% curse’
X COMPANY Interview: I Spy a Return to Television for Dustin Milligan
90210 fans can look forward to seeing the return of Dustin Milligan this winter in the role of Tom Cummings on CBC’s new spy series X COMPANY.
Milligan, who also stars as Ted Mullens on CBC’s other freshman series SCHITT’S CREEK, has not had a regular role on the small screen since his departure from the Beverly Hills-set drama back in 2009. But if fans are expecting more teen angst and love triangles, then they’re not going to get that from this series by FLASHPOINT co-creators Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern.
Instead, they’ll be immersed into a fascinating story that will make them curious to know more about how their country’s past. Filmed on location last year in Budapest, Hungary, X COMPANY takes viewers back in time to 1942 in the midst of one of the most harrowing six years in history, World War II.
Behind all of the covert operations is the headquarters known as Camp X, a top-secret training camp for spies that you may be surprised to know actually existed, was located on the shores of Lake Ontario between Whitby and Oshawa, and played a major role in providing the foundations of what we now call the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Related: CraveTV vs Netflix Canada vs shomi: Which Canadian Streaming Service is Right For You?
Although our heroes on the series — which include Aurora Luft (Evelyne Brochu), Alfred Graves (Jack Laskey), Harry James (Connor Price), and Neil Mackay (Warren Brown)— are fictional, the men and women they play are inspired by the real-life stories of the countless British, American and Canadian men and women who served as spies for the Allies during World War II.
As for Milligan, his character, Cummings, is a Madison Avenue wunderkind who is loosely based on David Mackenzie Ogilvy, the “father of advertising,” who worked with the British Intelligence Service. I interviewed the Canadian actor last month to talk about the new series, which premieres on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 9 p.m. on CBC, as well as how his Draper-esque character’s persuasive abilities benefit the team. Check it out below!
Congrats on the show. I found it really interesting.
Dustin: Nice. You saw the pilot?
Yeah, I watched it twice, actually. The first time I had no idea that Camp X existed, so I thought it was just a fictional take on espionage. Was that a factor for you wanting to join the show? Did you know about that as well?
Dustin: I just learned Camp X. I just started hearing about it cause I think a documentary had come out.
The History channel…
Dustin: Yeah, the History channel. And then a couple weeks [later], the script came across my desk — I don’t have a desk. My laptop. I took a look at it and was like, “Oh, yeah. This is pretty interesting.” What I loved about it is that, yeah, it was this dramatized version of this real place and these real people. I think it’s so cool that the show, as far as a TV show in general to tackle that, but not be so strictly adhering to the history part of it and allowing it to be creative. You know what I mean? Just allowing it to be its own story as well, but still basing everything, rooting everything in this real place and these real — I mean, that is always a great opportunity, a great honour to try to do that. So I was excited about that.
What I also like about the show is that they’re basically ordinary people but placed in extraordinary situations. Do you think the fact that they’re more relatable than someone who has skills for fighting is going to help?
Dustin: That was something we were dealing with all the time cause your instinct, especially I think as a male actor, your instinct is to try to be Mr. Cool…I shoot guns, I run and look like an action hero. But what I found really interesting about it — and this is what I kind of loved about my character Tom [Cummings] is that’s not his trade. He manipulates, he convinces people to do what he wants, and he slowly changes minds through dialogue, through subtlety versus just bang, bang, you’re dead kind of thing. That was something I really identified with. The idea, too, that you could go to war and that you’d be trying not to kill people. Not only are you trying to save lives, but you’re trying to not have anyone die in your effort to save lives. If I were to be put into a war scenario now, that would be what I would try to do as much as possible.
Was it a challenge to play in such a heightened situation that’s not from your normal life, or is it fun to play pretend you’re in a war? (laughs)
Dustin: But that’s what’s interesting… It’s not from my normal life, but this was a real thing, so that’s kind of the trick. So how does one react as yourself or as this character, which is ultimately an extension of yourself. How do you react in something that’s not only an extraordinary situation but it’s also real? I think that’s a challenge, and I think an honour to portray not necessarily real, historical figures but to be able to portray these struggles that people all across Europe, all across the world, at that time were struggling with.
Another interesting aspect to the show is that none of the characters are black versus white. They’re always facing moral dilemmas. Was that also part of the appeal for you to the show?
Dustin: Yeah, I know. And I think that’s what’s great about Mark [Ellis] and Steph [Morgensern], the creators of the show, that they’ve done is that a lot of the missions are based on reality. There is the historical part of it, but again they’re weaving in character traits that are fiction and weaving in these arcs and struggles that, like you said, aren’t black and white. I think that’s what’s great is that, you know, especially World War II and just wars in the past as time goes on, things get idealized. And there’s so much imagery of this strong, American or Canadian soldier. Just this iconic idea and ideal of what those wars were. But the reality is very different, and it’s ugly, and it’s not this shiny, nice picture. I think that’s what the creators have done very well, is make sure that it’s not a comic book version of what the war was like. They’re actually trying to express, through these five brand new spies, express what the effects of war can be while you’re there in the moment.
Since Camp X was so secretive, you didn’t really have that much material or actual cases to look at. Did you find other resources?
DUSTIN. Yeah, there is actually quite a bit of literature out there [that] I didn’t really read… (laughs)
They told me that the guy who did JAMES BOND was inspired by it…
Dustin: Ian Fleming.
Yeah.
Dustin: You know, Ian Fleming was trained an Camp X. David [Mackenzie] Ogilvy, who my character is loosely based on, was an advertising guy who was also apparently trained and working for the Allies as a spy. Yeah, I think that’s what’s interesting about this show is that there’s so much you don’t realize was going on. Because of the nature of espionage, of course you won’t know what’s going on, which I think is relatable to war now, where we’re learning things five, ten years later of what’s gone on recently in the Middle East. Torture…And all that stuff. You never quite know at the time how bad things really are.
As you mentioned, your character is described as having specialities in propaganda and deception. But we never really got to see that in the first episode. Would you be able to say how he does that exactly?
Dustin: Actually, in the second episode, there’s a great example of him…He’s put into a situation, as a lot of the characters are, it’s kind of a kill or be killed situation…Tom is able to find an alternate option in a) Kill somebody b) be killed by somebody. He finds a c). He’s employing these skills he has. Then it pops up again throughout the series. But it’s not until episode two that you really get to see him do his thing.
What do you hope audiences will take from it [the show]? Personally, I find it to be kind of like a tribute to these unsung heroes that don’t really have names since nobody knows them. But they’re kind of doing it vicariously.
Dustin: What’s great is that it’s telling the story of war from a different kind of perspective. There is action, and there is explosions, and guns, and all that kind of stuff, which is inherent in war. But what we’re really doing is pulling the curtain back on, like you said, people who don’t really have names that are famous and written down in books for being spies. Just because of the nature of it, you can’t know these things. It is a nice tribute in a lot of ways, and I think, too, a tribute to Canada’s role in ultimately helping to develop modern espionage and modern spy craft.
Thank you so much. I look forward to the next episode.
Dustin: Thank you, man.
Morning Static: SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, GAME OF THRONES, CONAN & More!
• Adam McKay: What It’s Like to Write for ‘SNL’
• Game of Thrones Monopoly: surely the definitive version of the board game
• Funny Stuff: Conan makes TV history in Cuba
• We Love Lists! All of the ‘Saturday Night Live’ 40th Anniversary special sketches ranked from worst to best
• We Love British Accents! J.K. Rowling’s ‘The Casual Vacancy’ Averages 6.6 Million Viewers in BBC Debut
• Behind-the-Scenes: Meet The Mystery Man Behind SNL’s Cue Cards
• Live From New York: ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ Star Dakota Johnson to Host ‘SNL’
• Scoop: ‘The Originals’ Boss on an “Emotional” Hayley and Elijah Scene, Mysterious Freya, More
• Writers Guild Awards: True Detective, Louie, The Good Wife Among Winners
• Attentions Purists: ‘The Simpsons’ Original Aspect Ratio Is Now Available On The Official App
• ‘The Middle’ Surprise: Co-Star Charlie McDermott To Topline CBS Pilot ‘Super Clyde’ As ‘Middle’ Cast Contracts Are Up
• Trailer Park: Billy Crystal, Josh Gad Bicker in First Trailer for FX’s ‘The Comedians’
• Scoop: Gotham Boss Bruno Heller Teases “The Beginning of the Joker Saga”
• Video: Watch the First Teaser for Ryan Murphy’s Scream Queens
• ‘View’ Insider: Rosie O’Donnell Replacement Might Not Be Named for Months
• Opinion: Can Marvel’s TV titans compete with the big-screen?
• Must Read TV: Love in the Time of Binge-Watching
• We See Dead Children: How Kids in Danger Became TV’s Go-To Story
• TV Pilot Season’s Big Get: Diversity
• The Business of Show: ‘Beauty and the Beast’ gets a May premiere, fourth season renewal
• Sorry, ‘Fifty Shades of Grey,’ but the steamiest sex is on TV, not in movies
• Pilot Watch: Zach Gilford Cast In Jenna Bans ABC Pilot, Ed Oxenbould In ‘Chev & Bev’
• Bloody Brilliant: Game of Thrones restaurant pops up in London to celebrate season four DVD
We Shine the Spotlight on TOGETHERNESS Star Melanie Lynskey
TOGETHERNESS premiered just over a month ago on HBO and surprised everyone with its raw and beautiful portrayal of marriage and relationships. There were no explosions, no run-ins with the President, or angst filled teenage-vampires. Instead the Duplass Brothers produced show features realistic storylines and relatable people.
What TOGETHERNESS lacks in cast size it more than makes up for in talent. With four lead actors the show somehow manages to make you want to know everything about these people, what they were like in high school, what their parents are like, and how did they become the people they are now. Michelle, Brett, Tina, and Alex are flawed and charming people. Watching an episode makes you feel like for that half hour you’re in their friend group, and in on they’re ridiculous, spiraling lives.
Melanie Lynskey wonderfully plays the tired, broken, and beautiful mother and wife, Michelle Pierson. The hurt and sorrow she constantly goes through trying to repair her marriage is addicting and captivating to watch. I caught up with Lynskey about what it was like to audition for the role, Brett and Michelle’s future, and what we can look forward to on tonight’s episode.
What was your initial reaction to reading the Pilot?
Melanie Lynskey: Oh Gosh! My initial reaction was just sort of overwhelming excitement (laughs) and fear because whenever I read something I love, I think it’s not going to happen, someone else is going to do this and I’m going to be so jealous. I just really loved it, it was whimsical and I thought it was really, really funny without being annoying. There was a lot that I loved about it.
What did you love about your character, Michelle?
Jay (Duplass) actually showed me the script for two episodes before I auditioned so I really got to see a lot of different sides of her, cause the second episode has the handcuffs and spanking. I really liked that she’s a person who is dissatisfied but she’s really doing her best to work it out, she’s not sort of moping around complaining about it, she’s doing her best to talk to her husband. I liked all of the different relationships; her relationship with her sister is very loving even though they are very different people. I just really liked the depiction of their marriage, it’s not the typical thing that you see, where people are really sick of each other there’s a lot that they really love about each other but it’s just not working out.
How did reading the second episode change the way you approached your audition rather than just reading the Pilot?
I auditioned with one scene from the Pilot, the scene that Amanda (Peet) and I have on the porch where we’re having a big argument. The other scene was the handcuffs scene, which was miserable, horrible scene. Then they cast me and I read that scene with every actor that came in to read for the part of Brett before Mark knew that he could fill it. So I did that scene a million times, but its good to always have as much information you can have. It was really great to get that second episode and to see how much she tries to take charge. It kind of informs stuff from the first episode where she’s getting steam rolled over by everybody.
How was developing that chemistry with Mark?
It was great; it’s a really complicated thing because the nature of the relationship is that you can’t really have sexual chemistry. You have to have the chemistry where you really love each other and have know each other for a very long time, it’s a really sort of delicate balance when working with another actor because you can’t get too excited about each other, sometimes actors try to fall in love with each other. We really had to develop this deep knowledge of each other and how to behave like we’ve known each other for a long time.
Do you think we’ll get to see Michelle and Brett get out of the sort of rut that they’re going through right now? Will we see them go through therapy or at least try and work out their problems?
The next episode we go to therapy but you don’t see it in the episode, which is one of the things I really love about the Duplass’s it’s always kind of surprising. You don’t see the couple sitting there talking about their problems but you do see the aftermath of it and how they both feel after a bunch of stuff has been discussed and dealing with the fact that their marriage is in trouble. I think it’s more interesting to see what happens after therapy to see what happens in therapy. They have very, very different reactions to it. Michelle’s not really somebody who is comfortable talking about her feelings but she wants to, she’s kind of just we’ll go to therapy, give it an hour and that’s enough.
Aside from Michelle and Brett this week what can we look forward to from Tina and Alex?
It’s really funny because we are all together. Its kind of a Tina and Alex storyline, it’s a really good one! We all go to the park and play this game of kick the can and a lot of developments happen, it’s a really great episode.
What are your thoughts on Alex and Tina’s “will they or won’t they” that developed really early on?
I think they’re so amazing together, I think they’re so adorable. In real life they have that crazy kind of chemistry, they just crack each other up all of the time about stuff that is nonsensical to everybody else. I feel like half the time I don’t know what [they] are saying. They have this really goofy, fun kind of energy with each other but the complicated thing is Tina is somebody who is so worried about her position in the world and so worried about her status. She really loves Alex and I think the feelings are surprising her and a part of her thinks I should be with somebody who is better than that, or richer than that, or more handsome. She still has all of those status issues going on.
You improvise on the show, how has that been?
I love it! I’ve never had any formal acting training but from when I was about nine or ten I took this acting class in my hometown in New Zealand and it was dramatic acting but it was improv. I learned to act and everything that I’ve done pretty much has been scripted, but it’s been wonderful to use those tools and get to have the freedom. Especially because there is a script and you’re not just kind of being hung out to dry and forced to makeup a whole story. You’re very safe and if something comes to you in the middle of a scene you don’t have to hold back.
The show is so fantastic! I’m so glad you guys got picked up for another season. What would you like to see happen next season?
Mark and Jay haven’t told me anything because I was so nervous we wouldn’t get picked up and I didn’t want to get excited. The little actress who plays Sophie (Abby Ryder Fortson) is so great. I’d love to have a few more scenes with her; she’s always been really wonderful. I trust the Duplass’s so much, I would like the relationship t remain as complicated and interesting as it is now.
What shows are you loving on TV right now?
I just started watching EMPIRE, which I think was literally created for me. I’m really sad that PARENTHOOD is over.
The finale was so great.
Oh gosh! So many tears! That’s really like a big gaping whole in my life now that it’s gone. I’m super excited for VEEP to come back on I really love VEEP. I also watch a lot of murder shows like, DATELINE and FORENSIC FILES and stuff like that.
You should watch HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER it’s really great.
I’ve kind of missed it and I just need to do sort of a binge watch of it.
It’s very addicting.
It’s Viola Davis; she’s the greatest actress. I really need to watch that!
You can watch Melanie in TOGETHERNESS Sundays at 9:30PM on HBO.
Morning Static: THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, BANSHEE, GLEE & More!
• Super News: Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Adds Sopranos’ Drea de Matteo
• Wowza! Empire’s ratings have gotten progressively better each week
• Inside Brian Williams Camp: Anchor Mulls Redemption, Apology Tour
• Funny Business: Fox Orders Comedy Pilot ‘The Grinder’ Starring Rob Lowe
• Pilot Watch: Vanessa Williams Joins Fox Comedy Fantasy Life in Bossy Role
• Fun: 50 Questions About The First Promo Image From The Final Episodes Of ‘Mad Men’
• Smart: Cinemax adds ‘Outcast’ from ‘Dead’s’ Kirkman
• Mommy Patrol: Parents Television Council Up in Arms over Family Guy’s Statutory Rape Episode
• Friday Fun: This Crazy ‘Simpsons’ Theory Actually Makes A Lot Of Sense
• TV highlights: ‘Glee’ shines a light on trans issues with an episode devoted to Coach Beiste’s transition
• Casting Coup: James Franco To Star In Hulu Miniseries Adaptation of Stephen King Novel
• Live From New York: ‘SNL’ celebrates its 40th in a big way
• ‘Bosch’: Yet another doleful detective, but this one might have a case
• Streaming News: ‘CSI,’ ‘NCIS’ Will Soon Be Available on Streaming
• Roundup: Nathan Owens Joins ‘Devious Maids’ As Regular; Lloyd Owen In ‘Apocalypse Slough’
• Best high school ever plays Survivor, brings everyone together
• ‘The Vampire Diaries’ Postmortem: Producers, Star on the Heartbreaking Death
• RIP: New York Times Media Columnist David Carr Has Died
• Sillyness: All the Jon Stewart GIFs you’ll need as he leaves ‘The Daily Show
• The Business of Show: Banshee Renewed for Season 4