June 12, 2016 by The Sumter Item

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THE SUMTER ITEM

SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2016

New Comic Thriller is Weird and New comic thriller ‘BrainDead’ Wonderful is both weird, wonderful www.theitem.com

Sunday, June 12 - 18, 2016

series work. “We wanted someone who into coming to work for him. I don’t like By Candace Havens FYI Television politics and I’ve rebelled against it. But seemed approachable and normal, and By Candace Havens student Rochelle (Nikki M. James, “TheElizabeth Good now I have to work with my brother in Daudier the added bonus is that Mary “The Good Wife” executive producers FYI Television Wife”) to see if they can find out what istiming,” causingsays theMiinWashington, and if I do that, my family has wonderful comic Robert Michelle describeproducers their “Theand Good Wife”King executive Robert Mi-moneysanity. will give and me the I need to make chelle King. “She’s able to sell the jokes new show “BrainDead,” premiering chelle King describe their new show “BrainDead, ” preI first read it, I couldn’t believe how brave it my film. At the beginning “When of the show, to all the dramaticand work, Monday Monday at 10 p.m.at on10 CBS, as on a cross miering p.m. CBS, as a cross between was for the Kings toindoaddition something so unique she’s very much a fish out of water. As and “And she has with virtually between “Invasion of theSnatchers” Body Snatch“Invasion of the Body and “The West Wing.” strange,” Winstead says. it’schemistry all kind of done in a reI’m working there, I feel likewonderful somethingway. everyone.” ers”part andpolitical “The West Wing.” It’spart partscience-fiction It’s satire and thriller, ally I think for all of us, we don’t know notpeople quite right needed someone, in much theso with a bitsatire of romantic comedy thrown in.is off. There is something how are going“We to respond to it because it is political and part science-fiction people in theoff Senate and inIt isn’t something same way we hadany Julianna Margulies “It’s awith show has onecomedy leg in politicswith andthe another the wall. that of us have everon thriller, a bitthat of romantic Congress. comThe more the show goes on, inthrown sci-fi,”in. Robert King says of the series’ inspiration seen before, but we‘The all love Everywho episode getswhat craziGoodit.Wife,’ no matter the more my had charactererdiscovers what ing“It’s from strange events. “Two years ago we and more fun. Weshe justdid, hope want to you audiences were alwayswill on her side,” a show that yet has real one leg in politics mightItbefelt causing the shutdown oversays the budget. like that.”come along for the ride. just had a scene yesterday adds IRobert King. “We were very lucky andgovernment another in sci-fi,” Robert King people were losing their minds. There wasLaurel a suicide on friends with Aaron, and I don’t to give away anything becomes with Gareth withwant our whole cast. I think everyonein of the series’ inspiration coming from the Mall. A woman tried to ram a gate. ARitter stenographer the plot, but that was the strangest scene either one of (Aaron Tveit, “Graceland”), was looking for something different in a strange yet real events. “Two years ago in the Senate went crazy and started screaming us had ever both very excited for people to who is theabout legislative director to topdone. We’re script, and we certainly haditthat. They we hadOn thetop government shutdownseemed over Jesus. of that, everyone to lose their see it so we can finally talk about how weird was for Republican Senator Red Wheatus (Tony liked the subject matter and wanted to the budget. Ittofelt like people los-Everything seemed connection strategy andwere policy. all ofJackie”). us.” The Shalhoub, “Monk,” “Nurse wheretowe went withwas it. essential ingturn theiremotional. minds. There was a suicide on this idea that bato Michelle and I had Finding the rightsee actress play Laurel senator hates her brother, and the feel“As writers, one of the careers that sically people’s minds being taken over, and they to making the series work. “We wanted someone who the Mall. A woman triedare to ram a gate. ing is mutual. Gustav Triplett (Johnny were being turned extremists. seemed approachable added youand kind normal, of look toand andthe admire is [that A stenographer in theinto Senate went And it was like the Ray Gill, “Underground”), an eccentric flu. People were catching extremism – not just on bonus is that Mary Elizabeth has wonderful comic of] J.J. Abrams. In his TV work, he timcrazy and started screamingthis about is one of the first believe the right, butofonthat, theeveryone left as well. Now yougenius, see with our ing,to ” says Michelle King. “She’s to sell the jokes in started withable ‘Felicity’ and then, at least Jesus. On top seemed something nefarious isaddition happening current campaigns how true this is turning out to be. toon all the dramatic andlike, she‘Wouldn’t has chemisas I read work, it, he was it be to lose their connection to strategy Capitol Laurel andtry Gustav up everyone.” There is this sort of extremism whether you callHill. it prowithteam virtually great if Felicity was a secret agent and and policy. Everything seemed to that turn is entering gressiveness or Tea Party-ness the body “We needed with medical student Rochelle Daudier someone, in much the same way we had on people shoot’ who her?’no That’s emotional. Michelle and this I hadsci-fi this idea of politics. We’re using angle of (Nikki ‘Invasion of the“The had ‘Thetrying GoodtoWife, M. James, GoodJulianna Wife”) toMargulies created ‘Alias.’ that basically people’s minds are being Body Snatchers’ as a metaphor to personify ” can find outmatter she did,when you he were always on You her never side,”want adds see that. if they what iswhat causing to be pigeon-holed. soon as you findI taken and they werethrough being turned Theover, comedy begins the eyesthe of film docuRobert King. “We were very lucky withAs our whole cast. insanity. bored by one subject,in a mentarian Laurel Elizabeth Winstead, everyone lookingbeing for something different into extremists. AndHealy it was(Mary like the flu. “When I first read it, think I couldn’t believe was yourself “Mercy Street”), whothis hasextremism turned away from family. script, we certainly that. They liked the different subject you had should go in a 180-degree People were catching howher brave it was for the Kingsand to do They dynasty sheleft wants no part of, but matter and wanted direction. to see where we went with it. – notare justaonpolitical the right, but on the something so unique and strange,” she’s drawn in with by her Healy (Danny “As writers, one of the careers youalso kind of actors look lucky that that we have as well. Now back you see ourbrother, current Luke Winstead says. “And it’s kindadmire of doneis [that“We’re Pino), who needs her help. “He’s a Democratic senator toall and of]inspire J.J. Abrams. Incontinues. his TV work, he who us,” King “We campaigns how true this is turning out a really wonderful way. I think for ‘Felicity’ all from Maryland,” Winstead says. “I basicallyinget bribed started with and then, at least as I read it, he have a set story of what we want to do to be.coming There istothis sortfor of extremism of us, weand don’tI’ve know how are into work him. I don’t like politics waspeople like, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if Felicity was a secret with these first 13 episodes, but then whether you call it progressiveness or going to respond to it because it is so rebelled against it. But now I have to work with my agent and had people trying to shoot her?’ That’s when see Tony ad lib some- As Tea Party-ness that is entering body off family the wall.will It isn’t something that‘Alias. any ’ Youyou brother in Washington, and ifthe I do that, my he created never wantShalhoub to be pigeon-holed. thing, being and youbored want to to of politics. We’re usingI need this sci-fi angle my film. give me the money to make theever be-seen before, soon as find yourself bykeep onewriting subject, of usAthave butyou we all that. Not onlydifferent does he have this ongoof ‘Invasion of the Bodyshe’s Snatchers’ as a a fish ginning of the show, very much of water. you crazier shouldand go in a 180-degree direction. loveout it. Every episode gets but us,” As I’m working there,that.” I feel like something is off. is hope audiences “We’re lucky wefeud alsowith haveDanny’s actorscharacter, who inspire metaphor to personify more fun.There We just will thating something not quitethrough right with the people in to thecome Sen-along forKing continues. have setastory of whatrelationship we want alsoahas contentious The comedy begins the eyes want the ride. I just “Wehe ate anddocumentarian in Congress. The more goes on, the doAaron, with these 13 episodes, thenplayed you see Senator Ellabut Pollack, by Jan of film Laurel Healythe showhad a scene yesterdayto with and I firstwith more character discovers what might be causing Tony Shalhoub ad libMaxwell. something, and youwriting want in tothose keep You just start (Marymy Elizabeth Winstead, “Mercy don’t want to give away anything in the that. ” who has turned away from her writing to that. Not only does Then he have this ongoing directions. we were five episodes Street”), plot, but that was the strangest scene Laurel becomes friends with Gareth Ritter (Aaron feud with Danny’s character, but he also has a contenin and we saw that Mary and Tony were family. They are a political dynasty she onetooftop us had ever done. We’re Tveit, “Graceland”), who is the legislative either director tious relationship with Senator Ella Pollack, played by doing greatinwork thatdirections. we needed wants no part of, but she’s drawn back both very excited for people to see it so Republican Senator Red Wheatus (Tony Shalhoub, Jan Maxwell. You just startsuch writing those to have them together in more scenes. in by her brother,Jackie”). Luke Healy canbrother, finally talk about howwe weird it five episodes “Monk, ”“Nurse The(Danny senator hatesweher Then were in and we saw that Mary It’ssuch beengreat great work for us that creatively to push for all Ray of us.” Pino),the who needsisher help. “He’s a Triplettwas and feeling mutual. Gustav (Johnny and Tony were doing we needed our in boundaries, and I think thosegreat of the right actress to play Democratic senator from Gill, “Underground”), anMaryland,” eccentric genius, isFinding one ofthethe to have them together more scenes. It’s been actors.” first to believe nefarious us creatively to push our boundaries, and I think Laurel wason essential tofor making the Winstead says. something “I basically get bribed is happening

Legislative staffer Gareth Ritter (Aaron Tveit) holds strong in his beliefs on “BrainDead,” premiering Monday at 10 p.m. on CBS.

Capitol Hill. Laurel and Gustav team up with medical

those of the actors.”

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