Brothers & Sisters - Behind The Scenes Drama that made Desperate Housewives look like the set of Sesame Street in comparison.

Ignore the other thread, bump this one up!

I believe you're correct. RG just wrapped her run in Other Desert Cities in NY and went back to Oz.

Always felt the show never recovered when Baitz left. He was forced out, wasn't he?

And I stand corrected about Australia…RG is in NYC doing that Some Desert Cities play. I thought she left but that was apparently another actor.

Sorry for confusion R1, I didn't know someone else was doing this!

Finally, some good gossip on this site!

R2 Baitz was forced out, rather publicly about two thirds through season one. I think Ken and Patty were behind all of that.

But the show that B&S became - as much as I personally enjoyed it - was quite different than the one he'd envisioned.

RG leaves Other Desert Cities next week.

Interestingly, Matthew Rhys has also been in NYC doing Look Back in Anger. Their theatres are only 2 blocks apart and they have NEVER seen each other while they've both been here - HIS choice. He even told the press people to DIS-invite her from his opening night....

Is this DataLounge? It is? Then why no info on LM?

Otherwise, thanks for the info.

[quote] Y'all know Dave Annable was fucking Sally Field, right? His onscreen mom?

Why not? Sally Field has needs just like every woman. Straight men do that shit all the time and no one bats an eye.

What about Margot Kidder when she guested as Sally's pal?

I met her at a signing event and all she would say is that the show was great but "not worth the hassle."

R8 I never heard much behind the scenes about Luke. Other than his status as an out actor, he and Rhys apparently got along.

[quote]I met her at a signing event and all she would say is that the show was great but "not worth the hassle."

Maybe she meant having to comb her hair and keeping her teeth in?

OP's gossip is not entirely correct,there is some stretching of some half truths but i cannot say which ones or else people will know who i am. I worked on the show. There definitely were some big egos that is true. I mean between Rob and Calista, Rachel "im a movie star" and others but i can guarantee you Sally was not one of them. ABC did want the show to work and succeed.

OP's synopsis is not first hand. According to Baitz it was not conflict on the set that did him in but ABC/Disney's attitude toward creativity. Ken Olin was always an EP, i.e. even when Baitz was there. Baitz didn't leave because of anything done by the cast. ABC preferred Berlanti.

So was Matt fucking Luke yes or no?

My friend who worked on the set said those two had a puppy love kind of thing going on.

Baitz on Baitz. He left in 2008 almost two years after the show premiered.

Love Jon Robin Baitz. Truly handsome fortysomething gay man.

Baitz also talked about how he would have developed Holly as the typical LA mistress. Holly was a supporting role but not minor.

R13 I never heard that Sally had an ego issue. She was just DONE with a lot of the BS and the things I heard about her wanting to leave didn't have much to do with money, billing, screen time, etc. She just didn't like the negativity on set.

Sally and Matthew were pretty open with how over the show they were in print in the last season.

What was the original vision for the show that got changed?

Baitz definitely wanted something more emotionally complex, more like a play structure. I think in terms of what we'd see on our screens, something along the lines of an updated "Family" or even a "thirtysomething" was what he had in mind.

His first surprise was when ABC made him recast a few key roles. Betty Buckley was replaced by Sally and they changed and renamed the character that turned into Kevin, then recast him. (I think Jonathan LaPaglia had been cast before?)

ABC wanted some drama but also light and witty. Just like in Desperate Housewives when the little chamber music plays and you know something just darling and cute and funny! will happen. And they weren't getting that in Baitz's B&S.

According to Baiz: Baitz writes, "I cannot help but dream about what my version of Brothers & Sisters would have looked like. A show that could simply hold on the aging and real face of Sally Field, and reflect the sorrow and rage there... reflect the cold and funny sexuality of Patty Wettig's Holly, the perfect reconstruction of the L.A. mistress... hold on the eyes of Ron Rifkin, and reflect the wisdom, joyous childishness and the melancholy. A show [that] could have followed the youngest, prodigal son to Iraq [and] shown his fellow soldiers, dying... allowed Calista Flockhart's character to be actually truly political... go even further in dealing with Kevin Walker's internalized homophobia and his fear of contact with others."

OP

Any dish on the actor who played Sally's brother ?

I'm blanking on his name but I've always been a big fan of him. He used to be on Alias before B&S.

Baltazar had a really messed up childhood,despite being filthy rich. Surely that's why he may be a little nutty...

Ron Rifkin ?

Pure schmaltz

Speaking of Hot Men, Please comment on link below or start a new thread for this subject:

Men You Do Not Kick Out of Bed In the Morning:

TIA!

Does Baitz have a boyfriend?

In the original vision of the series, Sally Field would not have such strong bones from constantly taking Boniva.

Good dirt, OP.

I miss that shitfest, really.

Yay for Sally!

Rob Lowe ruined that show. Hated his presence. Also didn't care for the actor who played the youngest brother. Horrible.

Is Rob Lowe liked by the guys at DL?

R27, I have two words for you.

Eighteen. Dollars.

I have set my sights on Baitz when I move back to NYC. ill have a date with him within six months bitches...

I thought Dave Annable was the worst actor on the show. Terrible, terrible actor.

we are non plussed by Rob Lowe.

Is it true Dave A has a long and thin cock?

Caftan. Earrings.

Thanks for the dish. Kind of sad now though..loved me some Walkers.

I'd fuck Dave too. And the weirdness factor wasn't Sally's age. Indeed, get that dick girl!

But when you are on a long running project like that, fucking your costars is sort of a no-no. It makes things messy if it ends or gets complicated. In a play that runs for a few months you can do that (see under: Stanley Tucci leaving his wife to fuck Edie Falco during Frankie and Johnny).

I bailed on the show after the dumb wheel-spinning third season, but I appreciate the backstage dirt.

Lowe has such an ego. He always insisted on being submitted for Emmys as a lead actor rather than a supporting which he clearly was.

I watched B&S from beginning to end, and enjoyed almost all of it. That being said, the first season or two was really different from the rest. I remember being touched and actually moved by things in the first season particularly - something that never happened in later seasons, even if I was enjoying it. The characters were more emotionally complex at the beginning.

Indeed, R44. The first season or so especially did the whole politics thing well with Kitty and you actually got the sense that it was a real family with all these complicated things happening.

I used to love watching them all argue with each other on conference calling. I come from a big family, and we all do that all the time. It was cute.

I think the show lost its way when they decided to not make Rebecca a Walker after all because Emily VC was fucking Dave Annable. Then that "romance" which a lot of the audience found disgusting anyway took center stage. And there was never enough Kevin and Scotty.

The ONLY thing I miss about B&S is "The Sally Field Programme" Troll here on DL.

LOL R47, I never refer to the show as anything other than The Sally Field Programme because of that troll.

I really liked the first season. Then it slowly, and then quickly, turned to shit.

I never saw the last season.

I loathe Rob Lowe and the writing got tedious.

The stuff about Calista I'm not really surprised about. It was pretty obvious when almost none of the other actors are with her in her scenes. I watched the show for a long time(but stopped before the end) for Matthew Rhys. Too bad I was watching him suffer!

If the story about Sally and Dave is true then Dave was pretty brazen about it, because I saw him get interviewed once and he joked about reading about him and Sally in the tabloids.

I can't really see Griffith's pulling the "I'M A MOVIE STAR CARD". She just came off of 4 years on Six Feet Under and her film career at that point was stagnant. Also she was starring on a show with someone who could pull that card.

The Olins were incredibly heavy handed with Brothers and Sisters. The son and the daughter both got jobs there. I loved the Holly/Sarah tension and the actresses really brought it. Ken looked good at one point, kinda hot like he used to be. The last season, Sally got an EP credit and some say into what went on. She declared before the fifth season that it would be the last, 'we're all tired,' she said.

Heard they tried to get Emily Van Camp back for the finale but she refused. They also never wrapped up the Tommy storyline - his relationship with Julia and their daughter, and what the hell happened to the weird woman(that chick from MadMen) he brought home?? Sloppy, sloppy writing. Baltazhar Getty had a rough life - his father was the Getty who was kidnapped and had his ear cut off. That Getty also dated screwball Mackenzie Phillips. Surprised she didn't end up on B&S as a drug counselor for Justin.

I didn't think Sally sounded like a diva from the op's description, just fed up.

[quote] I never refer to the show as anything other than The Sally Field Programme because of that troll.

I always call the Price is Right [italic] The Drew Carey Programme [/italic] and The World's Worst... [italic] The Tanya Harding Programme because of the SFP troll.

[/italic].

Anyone ever see the pilot? How was Betty Buckley?

I loathed that "Sally Field Programme" shit. One of the stupidest DL trolls EVER.

I didn't like the gay character, he was always pissed off...yet, had a hot bf.

you sound like a lot of fun r57

Hard to imagine how different the show would have been with Betty Buckley playing Nora Walker. An edgier Nora would have been interesting. Also, isn't she notoriously difficult?

[quote] Also, isn't she notoriously difficult?

No. That is exagerated myth.

Worked with her, she was not.

Was there anyone Rachel didn't get along with on the show?

R63, don't you mean did instead of didn't?

I loved 'Brothers & Sisters.' I miss it and wish it hadn't ended. It was a good show, and good shows are a rarity.

It's not the show it used to be.

Really enjoyed the first two seasons of the show. Strong, clever writing, good acting, nice camaraderie.

Once they decided to de-Walker Rebecca, the show went drastically down hill. That decision was made even worse by the fact they brought the Ryan character in as the new Walker sibling and then didn't do anything with him.

Also frustrating was the Uncle Sol I'm really gay too storyline that would advance for an episode, then be dropped for six episodes, then advanced for two episodes, then dropped for the next eight episodes. What a waste of screen time.

Best relationship on the show was Kevin-Scotty. Luke MacFarland was so perfect in the role, had such nice chemistry with everyone.

Any behind the scenes gossip about Luke?

[15] Interesting. Are they still in a sexual relationship?

[R15] Interesting. Are they still in a sexual relationship?

Word for word with r67.

I hated every character on B&S and hardly could wait for the next episode so I could hate 'em some more. I loved the show. I never missed it.

Then season 3 came along. I never thought about it before I read this thread, but, you're all right- when Rebecca was De-Walkerized it was a big, white surrender flag.

The writers abandoned the delicious, addictive, outlandish, over-the-top storylines and, instead, chickened out with the merely landish.

I used to predict here at the "Sally Field Programme" that it would turn out that one of those Walker kids does not belong to Dead Dad Wlaker. Did they chicken-out about that,too?

This thread is useless without naked pics of Luke MacFarlane.

I loved how they lazily wrote Rebecca off the show.

"Oh, my mother has lost her mind. But, you know, she reacted poorly when she saw me once. So I'm going to abandon her and the man I love to take a super-glamorous, very competitive job in New York, for which I have heretofore showed no interest, experience or aptitude. Yeah, me. [smirk]. Bye!"

TV writers have proven time and again that they know nothing about how a business operates, and this was patently obvious with B&S. The way it was presented, the Ojai Co. wouldn't have lasted ten seconds. The whole land mystery plotline was ridiculous. Then the aging blond starlet with no prior experience decides she's going to be a food mogul and starts wheeling and dealing like she's some kind of takeover specialist. Then the company loses everything in two seconds on the China deal.

Totally contrived and ridiculous.

[quote]I used to predict here at the "Sally Field Programme" that it would turn out that one of those Walker kids does not belong to Dead Dad Wlaker. Did they chicken-out about that,too?

Don't know if that's meant as a joke by you, but Sarah (Rachel Griffith) turned out to have been fathered by a character played by Lloyd Bridges.

[quote]Baltazar had a really messed up childhood,despite being filthy rich.

Was he? His father, JP Getty III, was disinherited by Grampa John Getty after marrying very young and joining a commune, and subsequently cut off by Daddy Sir JP Getty Jr., after abusing drugs that led to his paralyzing stroke (even though Sir Jr himself had been a habitual heroin user in the 60's). He was told by Daddy that he had to fend for himself for the medical expenses (remember this was THE man whose oil tycoon dad had installed a payphone in the original mansion, for guests to use).

It was a fucked up family all around.

Lots of drug use, whoring around, multiple marriages and a few STD's (one of Balty's aunts or sisters - I can't remember - is HIV+)

The youngest Getty granddaughter (JPG III.'s little 1/2 sister) inherited the bulk of the fortune after Texaco saved their asses, so maybe she felt sorry for her wheel-chaired sibling and passed along some bucks. But otherwise, there wouldn't be much around for us to say Balthazar is "filthy rich."

[quote]I never refer to the show as anything other than The Sally Field Programme because of that troll.

Yes, sniff, sniff, we all mourn the loss of our weekly Sunday 10:45pm Nora Walker breakdown recap.

Anything behind the rumour that Balty "stole" Sienna Miller from MR and the cast took MR's side (along with Balty's wife's side)?

The craziest thing in this thread is people saying Betty Buckley isn't difficult!! I like Betty and she can be warm and very giving as an actress, but I've done two shows with her and if she's an hour late that's on time!

R13, can you confirm or deny the supposed offer for a 3-way with Calista and harrison ford and the woman in Revenge? I'm not buying it.

The behind the scenes drama was as boring as the show.

[quote]The behind the scenes drama was as boring as the show.

If only it could be as boring as you. Oh, what am I saying? That's just not possible.

I remember finding the whole thing rather cringeworthy. I couldn't watch it.

R60, I'm sure it would've been a lot like Eight is Enough.

Found this clip with Betty as Nora and the original Kevin.

And Balty looking kinda hot running at the beginning.

Thanks r74. No, I wasn't joking. By the time that was revealed, I had tuned out.

Jonathan LaPaglia would have made a hotter Kevin. I had no idea, either, that he and his brother are from Australia, and that Jonathan is actually a medical doctor.

Jonathan looks great in that clip, but Betty is awful.

Oh, and R74 it was Beau Bridges who played Sarah's father (I think Lloyd was dead by then).

i loved Season1/2 after that the show went down hill ..only reason i watched was the adorable kevin/scotty :) its so unreal that Luke/Matt are not an item opps boy they had chemistry

sorry, as r88 pointed out it was Beau Bridges.

I read in one of the threads Dave is BI? is it true do we have any proof? PS: He is always awfully Cozy with Matthew Rhys though!

Thanks for the clip, R84. I liked the little bit of Buckley that we saw. Too bad she didn't get the role--we would have been spared Field's cloying cutesy moments. LaPaglia looked good as Kevin, but I liked Matthew Rhys a lot, especially the underlying sweetness and self-doubt he conveyed so well.

I only watched B&S occasionally during its original run, but caught up earlier this year by DVRing its daily 2 episodes on the Soap Channel (yep, Mary!) The decline after season 1 and especially 2 is even more obvious watching all the seasons in quick succession.

R76, just for the record, hon, they were meltdowns, not breakdowns, and they occured at 10:41, not 10:45. Got it?

I'm the one who's shared all the dirt and R89, I never once heard Matthew and Luke were going at it in real life.

I hate to burst everyone's bubble but I think that's good acting on their part and wishful thinking on ours.

I'd heard LM had a crush on the guy that played Sarah's first husband. He's kinda hot and Neesom-esque.

I thought it was rather bad, I only watched it for Luke, who was so hot.

r95=Wentworth Miller

Bha! Thank god they replaced the original Kevin Since I would work nights , I would follow the Kevin/Scotty storyline on youtube. Those two had so much chemistry.

Someone needs to many a spinoff of those two!

Watched the first season and enjoyed it on and off. When the second season started, it became required of every episode that they all meet, have a family dinner, and get into some kind of screaming match. It became annoying and boring.

I loved B&S, although the show definitely ended up in a difference place creatively than when it started. I still enjoyed the last few seasons, although the family got less and less believeable. I liked most of the Walker mysteries, although they really seemed to be grasping for straws at the end. I also thought it was a mistake for them to de-Walker Rebecca and bring in Ryan, who sucked and didn't do anything anyway.

Calista and Rob are neither here nor there to me, but I loved Sally Field and Rachel Griffiths.

Oh dear! @ my own post.

This show wouldhave been great on cable as a gritty drama similar to 6 feet under.

Dave A. and Sally? Was that before or after he dated Kate Walsh?

Kate Walsh is a lesbian.

Dear me, r100!

R84: The original cast seems more real to me, less sitcomish.

Sally Field, as she will tell you first, is very likable, but she mugs too much and goes for the silly.

I also thought the new showrunner was a pussy for declawing Kitty's GOPness. She became the most politically neutral pundit ever. If they had made her a saner Ann Coulter, it would have made for some great discussions and conflicts.

They made the character of Ryan a member of the Green Party, and were about to set up a conflict between him and Kitty.

But then the next episode the whole storyline was dropped.

I stopped watching the show when Ryan came in and was being devious. What happened to his storyline?

The last straw for me was when they brought in Rob Lowe.

I hate Rob Lowe sooooooooooooooooo much.

Flames. Flames. On the sides of my head.

Looking at the trailer for the original pilot, I can see that the problem was that was just a horribly conceived show. Is it about politics, the family business, romantic relationships, family relationships? It couldn't make up its mind.

R108 Hea…hea….heaving breaths….breasts.

R94 Huh? I've heard from insiders that Rhys and LM were an item.

When Pyper was in B&S, LM was dating TR Knight and WM. Believe what you will, but I don't believe your 'source

At the beginning, the family were all flawed individuals, but not deeply or hopelessly.

Partway into the second year, they all started to be awful messes and from there on out it was like watching a slow motion train wreck. Part of what turned me off was their incessant intrusion into the most private parts of the other family member's lives. I had no idea families existed to be up each other's asses.

It didn't help that I despised Rebecca almost immediately, and that I came to dislike Sarah, Kitty and Thomas. None of them had any redeeming qualities to offset their negatives.

I liked Kevin and Scotty and thought they were the best part of the show. I also liked Justin and wish he had been played by a better actor.

Sally Field was Miss Congeniality, the family ostrich. She was irritating but not horrible, until she invited Rebecca to live in the family home. As much as I disliked Sarah, that was an act of betrayal.

What is Matthew Rhys doing now? I know he was allowed to direct a few B&S episodes-I liked the one he did with Justin trying to help the homeless veteran. And much as I find Jonathan LaPaglia hot,casting Matt was a great choice as the gay son. His pairing with Scotty is now legendary in gay tv history.(Don't MARY!me!)

Just on a physical level,I think Buckley was a better fit as the matriarch of six grown children. I always found Sally dwarfed by her much taller co-stars but her talent compensated for that. And I wished they explored the Danny Glover romance with Sally-that really rang true-people are willing to be more open racially as they age and don't care much about what people think.

The show started off with such promise, and then ran out of plots that made much sense. Too bad, because several of the Walkers were played by first rate actors and actresses. I ended up feeling sorry for them (despite the money).

Luke and Rhys have a strange platonic relationship, but I think it's just a really good friendship that just happens to be between a straight and a gay guy.

[quote] I've heard from insiders that Rhys and LM were an item.

No.

Sounds like the relationship between Rhys and the actor Ioan Gruffudd, his best friend from school.

Ha Ha, Ha you had me until the part about Dave and Sally fucking!

OP, this thread is basically a rehash of information that has been previously written about and talked about in all types of media. There is nothing new here.

Well, I never heard any of it, so... thanks OP.

R118, the only things really spoken of in the media was the Dave/Sally rumors and the Balty Getty stuff.

Dave and Sally's fling was hinted at in the media, but it did happen. Luckily it ended well - both were clear about what was happening - but it weirded others in the cast out, for reasons I mentioned above.

Actors do not like it when you fish from the company dock, because if it falls apart they have to navigate the drama…and they save that for the cameras.

[quote]I also liked Justin and wish he had been played by a better actor.

I love David Annable's display of emotions -- and that both of them are delivered using only one side of his face.

R121, Ha! Perfect description.

Why do we never get any info on Rhys and a girlfriend/date over all these years? He is usually alone at most events. To me, that is code for--he is hiding something.

I'd never seen anything about the Sally guzzling Annable cum, but it was out there:

For r118:

R123 Rhys always had Dave with him for many events during B/S that so called BROMANCE looked wrong to me !

Thanks for the clip, R84. I think that all looks really interesting. Much prefer Jonathan LaPaglia as the gay son, there was just always something so toothless about Matthew Rhys. Betty looks good in this. Would be fun to find the whole pilot episode.

I always assumed they cast Tom Skerritt with Sally Field because of the Steel Magnolias connection. Guess he was always William Walker.

This show was shitty from the get-go. Between the ludicrous plots and Sally's overacting it bordered on camp

Was David really that bad of an actor? I never noticed it. Now I'll have to find some clips of the show.

R115:

One of them is not gay?

OK. Who exactly is OP, is he personally spilling, quoting, and why should we believe any of this shit/

OP= Matthew Rhys

R132 :) Lol- So OP R U STRAIGHT?

Luke was dating TR, WM & MR all at the same time, he comes off as this uber sincere, gentle almost sorta philosophical sorta person.

My forehead was enormous until they made me get bangs.

Wasn't I darling in "Moneyball"?

R131 - I have connections at ABC. Not saying much more than that, but I have several direct links to multiple ABC productions. I do not, however, work for ABC myself.

R121 - Yeah, Dave Annable totally has only two expressions - angry/stompy and puppy dog. But puppy dog face + breaking voice can = hot. He worked that to his advantage.

The original pilot was very different. The Kevin character was divorced and had a kid before coming out of the closet; Sarah had a son with Asperger's, William died at the end of the pilot instead of near the beginning. Basically the show was REALLY downbeat and depressing (not a surprise if you read the post-ousting interviews where Baitz discusses his vision for the show.) ABC brought in Berlanti and he was the one who injected a little humor into the show in order to balance out the heavier moments. Even Baitz admitted Berlanti improved the show. Unfortunately, Berlanti left after the first season in order to develop his own shows (Eli Stone, Dirty Sexy Money) and after that it became a revolving door of showrunners/producers and there was no consistent tone or vision for the show. That's when Baitz was finally ousted. He was EXTREMELY pissed when he discovered the Tommy affair storyline because he had nothing to do with it and didn't know about it until right before they started filming it. But ABC chose the other producers over him and that was the end of his involvement in the show. I'm not sure who was responsible for the de-Walkering of Rebecca, but bad as that was, it was nowhere near the disaster of the Ryan storyline. The actor was terribly cast (which was odd because they made a big deal about searching for just the right actor) and his storylines just never fit with the rest of the show. As jarring as it was when he was suddenly written out, there was pretty much no way to continue the storyline because it was just so very clearly not working on any level.

But can anyone confirm the stuff about Calista? I find it hard to believe she was demanding more screen time when she asked for extra time off during the last season and supposedly was only working a couple of days a week (by her own choice) even before that. I'd also heard that she and Sally got along well (to the point they supposedly hugged hello every day). But maybe that changed at some point? How did she and Lowe get along? Rumor has it that he and Amy Poehler can't stand each other on P&R, so it's no surprise to hear he wasn't liked on the B&S set either.

I'd also like to hear more about what happened with Getty. Baitz was right that the affair storyline was bad, but the writers NEVER knew what to do with the Tommy character. To me, it seemed like the affair storyline was an excuse to just give him something to do. But was he not getting screentime because of on set issues? Or did they really just have no use for the Tommy character? I'm also curious how his relationship was with Annable and Rhys. Early on at least it seemed like the 3 of them were close friends and hung out a lot in real life. Did that fall apart because of Sienna Miller?

It's funny to hear about all the friction, though, because SO many of that cast had appeared together in other things. Field and Skerritt were in Steel Magnolias together. Rhys and Griffiths did a movie called Very Annie Mary together years before B&S. Getty, Wetting, and Rifkin had all been on Alias not long before B&S. And even in the original pilot, Skerritt and Buckley filmed a TV-movie together (Vinegar Hill) prior to doing the pilot and Kitty's fiance was originally played by her Bird Cage co-star Dan Futterman (he was replaced by Matthew Settle when they reshot the pilot because Futterman was doing the Daniel Pearl movie.) Based on all the overlap, you'd think there were like 5 actors in all of Hollywood.

Do you also have a direct link to a more successful brother who did a Fellini-inspired film that was trashed (and not just here)?

Is Rachel Griffiths difficult to work with? Is she a bitch? Who did she not get along with?

Jon Robin Baitz must have liked working with Rachel on Brothers and Sisters, she's now doing his play in New York.

R13 Any gossip about Luke M?

[quote] But can anyone confirm the stuff about Calista? I find it hard to believe she was demanding more screen time when she asked for extra time off during the last season and supposedly was only working a couple of days a week (by her own choice) even before that.

When I mentioned her screen time demands those were earlier in the show - and at the beginning of Kitty/Robert. That changed a great deal obviously as she was only in a portion of S4 and 5 episodes.

Saw Rachel out one night (she was in the audience behind me at a play). She didn't rush out afterwards but stood talking to her husband & co. Yet another actor that had one eye on her friends and one eye on the people around her - checking to see if they noticed her. I think she wanted to be approached but I'm not really a fan. I've had this experience with a few actors, always make me want to ignore them!

I remember the Annable/Field rumors and then right around the same time Annable was spotted out with Kate Walsh and suddenly there were rumors about them. Was that a PR setup by ABC to kill both the Field rumors and Walsh's lesbian rumors?

In the outtakes for the last couple seasons of "Parks & Rec" it's pretty obvious that the rest of the cast hates Rob Lowe.

Betty Bowers said that Rob Lowe is such a versatile actor: He can be wooden in both comedy AND drama.

What's up with the casting on Parks and Rec? One half of the cast are great comic actors and the other half are completely replaceable. Rob is completely replaceable.

I always wondered why the guy who playued Rachel Griffiths' husband departed the show so suddenly.

[quote]Yet another actor that had one eye on her friends and one eye on the people around her - checking to see if they noticed her. I think she wanted to be approached but I'm not really a fan. I've had this experience with a few actors, always make me want to ignore them!

It is funny that so many actors and other celebs do that, and then they complain about privacy. I guess their need for attention is stronger than the need to be "normal" and blend in.

John Pyper-Ferguson was hot - I was sorry when he left.

They should have had him have an affair with a guy and go gay and that was the reason for the breakup.

JPF might be good looking but every time I tuned into the show he was dressed like a hobo.

Well JPF 's character on.the show was unemployed living off of his wife

Each year in LA, the Paley Center for Media (formerly the Museum of Broadcasting) holds panels where they screen an episode of a series, then get the cast together to talk about the show, share anecdotes, etc.

The year B&S debuted, it was honored at the Paley Fest. When asked about the casting of Matthew Rhys, the producers (forget which ones were there, could have been Robbie Baitz) explained that Rhys placed no restrictions on what they could do with the Kevin character.

They explained that the previous actor (Jonathan LaPaglia, although he wasn't mentioned by name) placed many restrictions on what he would and wouldn't do on screen as far as kissing and gay intimacy/sex scenes. He was insisting that these restrictions be written into his contract.

Producers got fed up with negotiations about the gay scenes and just decided to recast. So, Rhys came in with no restrictions whatsoever.

Said because of Rhys' willingness to commit to the character and do whatever the script required, they were able to develop Kevin more fully. Said they were able to take Kevin places they never imagined because Rhys was so open to anything.

[quote]Sally Field, as she will tell you first, is very likable, but she mugs too much and goes for the silly.

Really? Because if you actually knew anything about the show, you would know neither she nor her character started out that way. That became less a reflection of her acting abilities and more about how terrible the writing and plots became once they ousted Baitz. What the show became was not what anyone signed up for. Plus, no one wants to look at Betty Buckley for an hour each week. She looks terrible in that clip. She clearly let herself go and looked like a washed up drunk to boot. I guarantee you she would never have been able to go with her limited theater abilities the places that Sally went on screen.

There's a reason Sally won the Emmy her first season. It was basically a given when you view the first episodes. She was real, and raw, and quite spectacular. Unfortunately, she had to go to her "Soapdish" place later which was a failure only of the writers and producers, nothing more.

Oh, and there are two Oscars that would disagree with you as well, one, "Norma Rae", that was a dramatically iconic role.

It's really fucking annoying when assholes like you who know nothing about acting follow the trite Hollywood trope that no one should take Sally Field seriously because of some perceived fictional and personal slight you took from an always misquoted line in a one minute Oscar speech. She's been around for five decades precisely because she is great at her job. Deal with it, and move on. Just shut the fuck up about it already.

And someone needs to tell me how it gets to the point that an actor like Anthony LaPaglia would be capable of making such demands in the first place. There was no negotiating to be done. He was and continues to be a nobody. It's bizarre to me as an actor that the producers would even bother to entertain his demands or that he would ever think he had any leverage with which to negotiate in the first place. No wonder he was immediately fired, he's almost as much of an idiot as r84.

I meant Jonathan LaPaglia above, obviously.

Has the original pilot with Buckley ever been released, like on one of the B&S DVD sets?

R156 - i dont think they released it

I believe it's an extra on the season 1 DVD set.

Great thread.

I didn't want to make the effort to catch on to "Mad Men" (which AMC presented at the same time as B&S) although I'm sure it's superb. "The Walking Dead" causes me to flip the channel when the scary parts come so by the time I turn back, I've missed plot points.

I, therefore, miss loving B&S. It was my last appointment TV experience since I gave up on it during mid-season 3.

One thing I don't get here on this thread is the complaints about how unrealistic the plots and chacters were on B&S. Isn't that bit like noting that the Great Lakes are comprised of water?

Of course B&S was pure fantasy. Wasn't that the point of it?

How many seasons would it have taken them to reveal that William Walker faked his death?

R160 - Lol - Williams Fake death was discussed in detail in one of them B/S forums. So am sure this is what they would do in Season 6 !

R154 sounds unhinged. Sally Field is certainly capable of, and has done, spectacular work. She can also chew the scenery with the best of them. The writing on that show was awful. But the fact that Sally so often fell back on her patented over emoting is not the fault of the writers, but because she became a lazy actor.

Emily Van Camp is notorious for sleeping with her co-stars, but who exactly has she slept with to advance her career? The producers of her shows are usually a bunch of gay men.

I never understood the decision to bring Rob Lowe in. He certainly wasn't needed, just as he seems very extraneous on P&R right now.

Too bad about LaPaglia. I think it would have been a good career move, actually. I don't think he is likely to have been typecast. I think he would have given Kevin an interesting sort of 'uptight' edge that would have bordered on self-loathing - kind of like a closeted Republican.

In terms of Jonathan LaPaglia as Kevin, the storyline he had signed up for was that Kevin was married, to a woman. And had a son.

After struggling with his sexuality, he decides to come out. The pilot open with Kevin separated from his wife and battling visitation during the custody battle.

So the first season at least there wasn't going to be much of man on man action.

But then the pilot was totally re-done, and that storyline was scrapped.

Rachel Griffiths is a good actress, even if she is crazy. She is actually too good for this show. She needs good roles.

Every one from B/S seem to be doing movies/telly shows, but Luke is doing nothing?

Luke M. was extremely lucky with his role. The original plan was to have Kevin end up with Lowe's brother, the minister. But when that actor booked another show they were forced to drop it and brought back the Scotty character instead.

Fun facts: the actors who played Kevin's ex-wife and son in the original pilot were eventually brought back to play the ex-wife and son of Sarah's husband Joe. Peter Horton was originally cast as Kitty's co-host/love interest (extending the thirthysomething reunion) but was replaced by Josh Hopkins (making it an Ally McBeal reunion instead.)

R 169 No

The original plan was always to bring Scotty back. Berlanti and Baitz were very adamant about it.

I agree R167. She took a potential thankless crazy girl role on Six Feet Under and turned out an fascinating character who eventually got her life together. She was great on B&S, too.

She should go back to HBO.

bump

R170 - Around season 1 Luke's contract was only for 5 Episodes, but got renewed later as Scotty became more popular then Chad and Jason. Even Luke never anticipated he is going to have such a long run on B/S..

That's interesting R166. Did they recycle part of Kevin's original storyline by deciding to have Saul come out late in life? Or was that always the intention? It didn't seem to be, early on when Saul was dating Holly.

R166 That's true but I read the pilot and Kevin had a boyfriend: "Tom Konher, who is in his early fifties, the head of a vastly successful new media conglomerate".

R154: Thanks to you, O blessed Thespian Yogi, for deigning to come down from the mountain to teach we mere mortals the sacred secrets of the CRAFT of ACTING.

Genuflecting before my new Sally Field shrine as I type . . .

[quote]Kevin had a boyfriend: "Tom Konher, who is in his early fifties, the head of a vastly successful new media conglomerate".

But the casting call said: "Character is in early fifties, but in a Datalounge way, so you should look no older than 31."

Time for your meds Dearie R154.

Sheesh.

It amuses me that someone used to call Nora's "moments" her 10:41 Meltdown.

My friends and I used to look at each other and just say: "Shelby, drink your juice!"

R179 - LOL

whats going on with Jon Robin Baitz, is he only intrested in theatre now? OR hez working on writting for TV/Movies?

Agree Buckley looks like hammered shit these days and she's always been an angry crazy loon. Waiters used to call her "Bad Mood Betty", she gets into arguments on Facebook about stuff like "American Idol" being "anti-Broadway" (as a singing style).

Insider has some good stuff. I have a weird connection to the entertainment industry too. And I heard some of this stuff as well. The Dave/Sally thing was just fucking. From what I heard. But he fucks everything that moves, supposedly. She always has flings with guys she works with. So it's not a big surprise.

One big disagreement...Rhys and LM did have a fling. Rhys is gay. They were both closeted at the time. This sort of info doesn't get bandied around as much. You have to know gay people in the biz; a lot of times these things get hidden even from straight co-workers. They didn't actually date, they just fucked around. Rhys works in the theater now.

It was a weird set. Tension between co-workers, tension between actors and producers, lots of drama. Things never settled down.

I heard that LaPaglia was replaced because he was considered too sexy and they wanted somebody with less sex appeal so the fraus wouldn't be upset that the character was gay. And he's a huge Prima donna.

Now, who are Rhys & LM? Is Rhys the gay son on the show? PLease explain, i didn't follow the show that much.

so was Baitz saying that Sally had a facelift?

R183 - cheers, looks lik b/s has a lota intresting drama backstage.. i mean LM and Rhys fling was some thing people talked about Ageed/Disagreed.. Dave/Rhys had a weird Bromance goin on , is Dave Bi?

If R183 is to be believed--and he does seem believable--I am rather disappointed in Matthew Rhys. Not only because he was going on all the talk shows waving the straight flag, but that he fools around without a commitment. He always seems to project such integrity and sincerity. You can just imagine him in a a long term monogamous relationship. Sigh.

R183 - I move...

R187 - in all fairness Rhys never talks in detail about he being straight/relationships, hez from Wales and people here dont care about ones sexual preference. what really irked me was he was marketed by Abc as a straight actor who plays gay blah blah bullshit ...

[quote]he fools around without a commitment

My goodness! The cad!

Unclench your vulva, Mary.

This is the frauiest suburban prude tut-tut in recent DL history.

According to DL, some gay guys fool around with women at will, r189 -- maybe he's one of the straight guys who do the same with men.

It is also hard to believe Rhys's old flatmate for 10 years, Horatio Hornblower star Ioan Gruffudd, didn't diddle a bit with Rhys even though he is now considered VERY straight and very married.

interesting thread ..i loved brothers and sisters so much ..it was my favorite drama series till it went down hill ..no other show has taken me on an emotional roller-coaster like this show did ..i cried laughed and felt the pain with them ..

the last season was by far most atrocious thing i have ever seen..the writers attempt of turning the show into some kinda sitcom ..failed miserable and most of the scenes were just cringe worthy and the storylines were just all over the place

everything started going down hill when they dewalkers rebecca ... i will say i loved rob lowe and cried so much when he was killed of the show ....he made it bearable and after he left ...

kevin .robert relationship was always a treat to watch ..i kinda wanted a kevin Jason mcclister thing to happen ..i didnt really like scotty but scotty proved himself ..what damn good actor's Matthew and luke are...

If you can't tell that R183 is full of shit, you are too stupid for words.

I have a friend who worked on the show, and he said the most cringeworthy moment he ever witnessed was guest star Richard Chamberlain subtlely putting the moves on Luke MacFarlane. That totally skeeved out my friend.

He said that Calista was very pleasant to work with on a daily basis, but that she pulled some major power plays behind the scenes. She assumed she would be lead, but then it somehow turned into more of an ensemble show. In a stealth move to island Kitty from the rest of the characters, she suggested they bring on a big name actor for her romance. At first she was against Rob Lowe, whom the produers really wanted. She was campaigning for Christian Slater, since she and Harrison Ford are personal friends of his. The producers won that battle and got Lowe. She and Lowe got along ok. They both have major egos, so as long as their characters could be isolated and eat up much of the show, they were fine.

Rachel Griffiths was probably the most miserable. She felt that her character was never really fully developed. She was not happy when Gilles Maroni came aboard. He was a very sweet guy, but no actor, and she resented having to share scenes with someone with little discernible talent or training. It was a struggle with her to connect with him in scenes. She just wanted it all to be over with.

Patty Wettig became very close to Emily VanCamp, and she and Ken took her under their wing, which didn't sit well with many people who saw the Olins getting more and more say about the show. Some thought that it VanCamp was pulling an All About Eve, pretending to get into the OLins's good graces just to further her career. A lot of people agreed that she could be devious.

R195 : Richard Chamberlain subtlely putting the moves on Luke MacFarlane - Flippin heck, i feel sorry for Luke just EWWW!

i feel for Rachel Griffiths come on now Gilles acting is cringe worthy!

[quote]Rachel Griffiths was probably the most miserable. She felt that her character was never really fully developed. She was not happy when Gilles Maroni came aboard. He was a very sweet guy, but no actor, and she resented having to share scenes with someone with little discernible talent or training. It was a struggle with her to connect with him in scenes. She just wanted it all to be over with.

You know what? I really like Rachel as an actress, but he came across as more natural than she did in all their scenes.

[quote]A lot of people agreed that she could be devious.

Ever hear of Revenge? Suck it, bitches.

I strongly believe there are people here who are crazy. How can people not tell the difference between what happens on scren and what is real life.

Luke is NOT Scotty, stop confusing Luke with Scotty who date Kevin in a make up fictional show. Ehhh ... Hello it not a freaking documentary you are watching.

That what cuased the fuss on Lukes thread.

You're right, r198. And yet the Kevin story line dating the gay actor was a take on Macfarlane being outed when he was dating T.R. Knight.

Oh, and btw, like Kevin and Chad, Luke Macfarlane is gay.

All valid points, R199, but MacFarlane being out doesn't make the insistent voices saying he and Rhys had a relationship any more valid.

I'm sure Luke had some lovely, adult, sexy relationships with sexy, out, confident men. Matthew Rhys WAS NOT one of them. EVER.

R200...and you definitively know this HOW exactly? You're asserting it as if you have a signed affidavit from all parties. Frankly, you sound unhinged. You can believe what you like, for whatever reason you choose to believe it. You're simply wrong.

You sound equally unhinged, R200. Unless you saw Matt or Luke's cock penetrating the other's ass, I'm at a loss to understand why you are so convinced.

so did SF have a facelift or not???

[quote]Rachel Griffiths was probably the most miserable.

You know, I really liked her acting in Six Feet Under, but in this show I didn't think she was anything special. Also, the more I read about her, the more she sounds like a miserable bitch.

If she thinks she's so above everyone else, maybe she should just fuck of back to Australia.

R202...that's the best retort you can come up with, dear? Oh dear, indeed.

I told you earlier. I have a friend who related this to me, and he was in a position to know. This is a gay gossip board. Perhaps you got lost on your way to the IMDB board? I'm always perplexed how posters on a gay gossip board will assert with enormous confidence that someone isn't gay or that a gay tryst did not take place. What are YOU doing here, dear? Correcting the 'queers' when we 'impugn' your idols?

From your earlier post where you emotionally insisted that this simply did NOT happen, one wonders what's wrong with you. Unless you are the partner of one of these two gentlemen, you are way too emotionally invested in denying something that is fairly innocuous. Rhys is closeted, but he is gay. He and Luke had a fling. Such an assertion shouldn't warrant your ridiculous histrionics, especially on a gay gossip board.

Some people get very defensive when their personal perception of a celebrity's public image is threatened. I love gossip because of that very challenge (= the contrast or conflict between the fake public image and the 'raw' or 'real' truth behind it).

Did Luke also have a fling with that cute writer?

I don't know about Luke, but during the years they were flatmates in London, Matthew & Ioan were thisclose. In a famous article about them at the time, they admitted they shared a bed and shared underwear.

I don't know ANY straight men who would admit to such things (they may do it, but they wouldn't admit to it in print). And if you ever get to see them as gay lovers in the English film "Very Annie Mary" with Rachel Griffiths.... well let's just say they are the MARY of the title.

Ioan got "straightened" when he came to America and wanted to be sold as a leading man in the Fantastic Four movies and now in "Ringer." But Matthew played gay on TV and now does theater, so he doesn't need to be publicly bearded like Ioan (and was best man at Ioan's wedding...)

It would be exceedingly hard to believe for Matthew and Ioan to be lovers all these years. If they were best friends and maybe more before (during their lean years of sharing a one bedroom flat), that sounds plausible. But I would be VERY surprised if they were anything beyond friends now as much as I would love to see that happen.

R200 Oh! darling! Are you in love with Luke Macfarlane?

R200 Are you jealous?

i thought this thread was to discuss B/S drama, turns out we are more intrested in Luke/Matt's love life :)

r199, where did you get from? There is nothing but a misinterpreted on-line tabloid articel that is not about Luke but is about Scotty.

There was a South African paper where Luke said unlike his role of Scotty he is niter earnest or gay.

R213 - please please do not start Luke is straight troll again..we are tired and bored ...

R205 YOU are the one being an overly dramatic ka-ween. I'm the person who originally posted what STARTED this thread. According to numerous people I talked to who worked for ABC, it didn't happen. None of the journalists I know or talked to seemed to think this rumor was valid.

[quote] Unless you are the partner of one of these two gentlemen, you are way too emotionally invested in denying something that is fairly innocuous.

Wow….you're reading a great deal into this and into my actions. I'm a journalist, you idiot. Facts and verification is what we do. But by all means, if some queen in Omaha in her caftan says it happened, then of course IT HAPPENED.

My friend said that everyone seemed to like and respect Ron Rifkin. He was a true professional. He tried to play peacemaker, but it was tough with all the egos involved.

Although they didn't all get along with one another, they were very protective of the show, especially early on before everyone became drained from all the backstage shenanigans and no longer gave a damn. So when they felt an outside threat, they would all band together. That happened in the episode when Susan Sullivan guest-starred on the game night episode, with the Walkers vs the Joneses. The original script for that episode did not resemble what you saw on screen.

The orginal script downplayed the Joneses' presence, and they didn't even intend on casting a "name" actress like Sullivan. They had a much lesser-known, and cheaper, actress in mind. For some reason, they decided to make the Joneses more prominent. Ken Olin was old friends with Sullivan way back in their Falcon Crest days, so he reached out to her as a last-minute replacement. The cast wanted to know what was going on. Rumors began flying that the episode was to be a stealth pilot for a Sullivan-led series to replace B&S, which was still struggling a bit. They knew that no one at ABC was happy that B&S wasn't holding onto the Housewives lead-in audience. Just so many rumors and hearsay. So the cast banded together to confront the producers who assured them that B&S wasn't about to be canclled to make room for a Sullivan series. That calmed them down, but needless to say, Sullivan got the cold shoulder treatment from the cast. The cast could never agree on much, but they all knew how face anything or anyone they deemed a threat.

Man, there is crazy make-up artist written all over this thread.

[quote]I'm the person who originally posted what STARTED this thread. According to numerous people I talked to who worked for ABC, it didn't happen. None of the journalists I know or talked to seemed to think this rumor was valid.

The lady doth protest too much.

I think OP is just repeating old rumors.

Thank you R195 R216 You seem very informed. Any gossip about Luke Macfarlane?

From what I heard, on the surface, Matthew and Luke were just friends. There was some teasing and flirting, which I guess some could interpret as sexual tension. My friend says that from what he could see, they enjoyed working together and had a playful relationship. If it went beyond that after hours, well, who knows? I can tell you that Luke made a play for Dave Annable early on at one point and was shot down.

Getting back to the spats, there was even quibbling over casting Marian Ross as Nora/Saul's mother. Sally had nothing against Marian, but she thought it a bit "too precious" to cast one of America's iconic mother figures in the role. She thought it would take away from the drama. Also, she wanted Rosemary Murphy, whom she idolized, for the role. Producers insisted on Ross. Sally was very cordial to Ross. From what my friend said, they made it up to Sally by casting her friend Margot Kidder for that one episode. Sally loved Margot. Producers didn't really want to work with her because of rumors of how difficult she can be (showing up late, forgetting lines), but it was their favor to Sally.

R221 Thank you! Good gossip.

Didn't Jenna Elfman play Sullivan's daughter in the game ep? Another bit of stunt casting.

Keri Lynn Pratt guested in the first season and she thought her part would be more expnasive but Calista look an instant dislike to her, made fun of her behind her back and generally froze her out.

Former 8 is Enough Star Laurie Walters was considered for the part of Holly Harper at one point. The show wanted a much flakier actress than Mrs. Olin. I'm guessing maybe if Betty Buckley was to have stayed as Nora, this was Betty's idea??

Early on, Scotty was supposed to show up at a Walker family gathering in drag to embarass Kevin, but he was to have been accepted by the rest of the Walkers which would make Kevin ever more red faced. The show chickened out on filming that.

Trieste Kelly Dunn was cast as Beau Bridges' daughter, in case the show made it to Season 6. She would have competed in a love triangle between Tommy and Justin.

The last minute smooch between Scotty and Kevin, dancing at Sarah's wedding reception, was striclty the brainchild of Matthew and Luke.

Justin was supposed to have freaked out and shot and killed people in the first season, as a war freak out but again the idea got vetoed by the network. Imagine Nora's meltdown over that!

R223 - Scotty in DRAG, would have been intresting, Come to think of it they turned Scotty into Poly Anna after Season 3 Boringg!

Last Minute was striclty the brainchild of Matthew and Luke - HMM is this true? i still dont why they never kissed in Season 5, they in turn were like Flat mates?

Justin was supposed to have freaked out and shot and killed people in the first season - this i think would have been John Baits idea!

Scotty's mannerisms seemed really exaggerated to me and I always thought his face fit on his head wrong. Didn't care for him physically. Matthew Rhys was the real star of this show.

R221 if you know any abc insiders, do you know why Season 5 was such a bloody Nightmare?

r226. IMDB the 1990 movie version of Captain America and you'll have your answer. ABC hated the show and gave it to the C team to run.

[quote]The last minute smooch between Scotty and Kevin, dancing at Sarah's wedding reception, was striclty the brainchild of Matthew and Luke.

Bless them!

R223 More insider information about Matthew and Luke?

R221 - Do you have any Dirt around Balty and Matthew, Apparenty Balty was caught Holidaying with Matthews Bird (Ahem that Sienna Miller)right?

Contrary to popular opinion, the entire cast did not hate Getty. According to my friend, he was one of the nicer people there. Yes, he has a healthy ego, but he did his best to steer clear of the backstage politics, and was always jovial with the crew. He got along with the male cast members pretty well, although Rhys could be distant. Sally and Rachel did not like him at all. According to my friend, those two were the ones who caused the most grief for him. It was nothing personal. They just found it highly unprofessional, which I suppose can be subjective. He just liked to clown around.

His closest ally on set was Sarah Jane Morris, who played his wife. Even though she is the polar opposite of Getty--no ego, no agenda whatsoever--just a very sweet woman, she also did her best to stay clear of the backstage drama, so the two of them had that in common.

From what I heard, Getty blamed himself for Sarah Jane leaving after he was essentially forced out. She didn't hold a grudge against him at all. Some of the other female cast members ignored her, and she always felt a bit out of place with these marquis name actresses, although Sally was kind to her. Since Sally didn't like Getty, she couldn't become too close to his ally Sarah Jane. When Sarah Jane was let go, Sally did throw a little party for her and invited most of the cast and crew. Just about everyone showed up. My friend was there and said that the only actor not to show up was Ron Rifkin, because he was doing a play at the time. My friend said that Emily VanKamp showed up with some queeny gay guy and kept to themselves the entire night. Word was that VanKamp didn't want to go, but that the Olins forced her to attend in an attempt to try to use the occasion to bring some harmony among the cast. Emily and her date wound up staying for cocktails and scooted out before dinner. Emily claimed she has food poisoning and needed to get home. Nobody believed her, especially since she showed up on the set the next day devouring everything in sight. No one liked her, but they were oddly afraid of her because of her strange alliance with the Olins.

I have worked on multiple shows with very famous casts, and I have never known this level of gossip about any one of them. What the heck was going on with Brothers & Sisters to inspire this daytime soap opera following of the cast's comings and goings? Where is this even all coming from? The crew?

GEE... i would hav loved me some time in Brothers and Sister backstage ...they all sound super bitchy ...do we have any dirt around Dave and Emily's breakup ? there were rumors that they were close to tie the knot blab blah...

R230 great insight about Getty and SJM.

EVC is such a bad bitch.

How Luke M. got along with the cast and crew?

That's interesting, R231. Were your shows long running ensemble casts?Or is that not the issue?

That was a large,rotating cast,r231. I'm sure there's more to be told about what happened behind the scenes...

Would love to have Ken Olin's hairy butt on my face.

Did Emily fuck Ken and Patty?

Just a feeling.

i asked this question before i think, does any one know about this Bromance between Dave/Rhys some point they were together every where Or its abc showing how the two walker brothers are so tight...

r221 so did SF have a facelift?

Sally definitely had work done before she accepted her Emmy in 2006. Remember her speech about the war? That was that weird Emmy show on Fox where it was 'in the round' or whatever??

I think the answer to a lot of what went on - high powered actresses, Field, Flockhart and Griffiths, with Wettig along as someone who saw her part grow and grow because of her husband's heavy handiness. Flockhart remember had turned down Susan Myer on Desperate Housewives so ABC still had an interest in 'placing' her somewhere and the 10pm slot after DH was the prime spot. I think the project was originally labeled as the Clasita Flockhart Project before it was really named B&S.

I know Field loved Tom Skeritt, even long before they worked on Steel Magnolias so his casting on the show drew her in. As for the last season, Beau Bridges was a crush of Sally's from the 60's - I think it was her idea to cast him (remember she was now an ep) and find a way to draw to the past.

I do know one thing that is kind of funny. Ron Rifkin loved the Jewishness of the show (Ken is a Jew, not sure about Patty) but Sally worried about her fanbase (she was the Flying Nun after all!) accepting her as a 21st century Jewish Mama so there was a plan in place to have it revealed that the Mother was Catholic, the father Jewish but they threw all of that out the window when Marion Ross was cast AS the typical Jewish mama.

The kids who played Sarah's son and daughter were kind of devastated when they were dropped from the opening credits and only made token guest appearences in the last season.

The way the show treated Sara Jane was horrible. Her character - the next generation MRS. WALKER - should have been more viable and be more at odds with her sisters in law and mother in law. A wasted opportunity. Not addressing where Julia and Elizabeth were in the last ep was stupid.

Remember when the Sally Field Programme recapper got sick or hurt and couldn't do the recaps, so someone stepped in to take his place one week and his recap was AMAZING?

I miss that person.

I only watched the first two and a half seasons so didn't see the season 5 finale. Was it handled as a series finale or a season ending like Dex and Alexis falling down to limbo?

No wonder EVC is so perfect in Revenge! She's a piece of work that one!

Slightly OT, but does anyone know if Rachel Griffiths and Toni Collette are friends off screen? They were such a great combination in "Muriel's Wedding."

Please stop feeding the troll (r.223/240), it's clear he's making many of this stuff up.

My friend said that Sarah Jane Morris was a lovely woman. One of the crew members had a wife with terminal breast cancer who since died. Sarah Jane spearheaded a donation drive to collect money from cast and other crew to pay any outstanding medical bills and to set up a college fund for their two sons. She would also plan birthday parties for cast and crew.

Ken Olin did not want to play Holly's ex. He felt that his days in front of the screen were gone, and he much preferred to stay behind the scenes. Patty convinced Ken to do it. There's actually a cute little story with this, in the form of a practical joke engineered by Ken. Ken rehearsed with the cast all week. When time came to film, and the scene called for Holly to answer the door to let in Olin's character, standing there was none other than Timothy Busfield, who played her husband on thirtysomething. Patty could've died laughing. The entire cast was in on the joke. Everyone, from cast and crew, were laughing their asses off. My friend remembers this being one of the few times the cast just cut the ego crap and had some good-natured fun.

Ken was a hottie during his 30-Something days. But I understand his reluctance nowadays, as he looks like he weighs about 275 lbs. Yikes. Plus he was always unshaven, sweaty-looking, and needed a good haircut.

Fuck you R245 - what the hell do you know?

Matthew Rhys cast in new pilot:

R244, it would seem that they were friendly, even if not the best of friends, at least back in 2003. The article in the link I've posted says that Griffiths and Collette attended each other's weddings. No idea if they are still friends or not.

[quote]know Field loved Tom Skeritt, even long before they worked on Steel Magnolias so his casting on the show drew her in.

The husband dies in the pilot. The husband died in the original pilot and he dies in the recast pilot. You think two time Academy Award winner Sally Field signed a seven year television series contract because she got to work with Tom Skeritt for a week?

None of this 'backstage drama' (though interesting) sounds all that dramatic.

Matthew Rhys in a new gig intresting, TIME for Luke to get into the Closet to get work?

I hope Luke can find work. He and Sally were the most likeable people on that show. IMDB shows he hasn't had any tv or film gigs since B&S.

I've been watching some clips from the last season of the show on Youtube. I didn't watch any episodes when they originally aired. It's like the entire show changed. No wonder it went off the air.

245 is the reason no one brings gossip to DL anymore.

I liked this show, but after a while it became irritating. It became the "people with money just inventing problems for themselves" show. And Rob Lowe's character was just annoying all the time. It would have worked if his role was more understated.

So we have the the Site Admin of lukemacfarlane.org amongst us?

The Walkers were Jewish? Damn, watched the series about 10 times and never realized that.

I can't believe so many of you thought this was a great show. I watched it for the cute guys only. I thought the plot was weak and somewhat dopey.

r259 - Hear ya :) i Religiously watched this show for KEVIN/SCOTTY

Amen R260! It wasn't for the stupid drama

Any Rob Lowe gossip? I want to hear more about him and his going on's on set.

I think he plucks his eyebrows.....and his ass.

Saul and Nora were Jewish, but the Walker kids were raised as Christians because William was not Jewish.

r262, he kills any show he's in.

I knew this thread would never make 500 replies.

There really isn't much evidence to suggest Luke is gay in real -life. The article is the only thing that everyone says is his coming out statement. Now, there is nothing else, he has neber spoken about iot,in fact there is no where else he says, "i'm gay" now if you realize and admit that that article was where he was talking about Scotty and not himslef, what other thing is there to say he is gay?

The answer is nothing.

Dear [r267] "I don't know what will happen professionally," MacFarlane said. "That is the fear, but I guess I can't really be concerned about what will happen, because it's my truth. ... There is this desire in L.A. to wonder who you are and what's been blaring for me for the last three years is how can I be most authentic to myself - so this is the first time I am speaking about it in this way."

The 28-year-old native of London, Ontario, appears to have decided to make the announcement he is in gay in part due to an upcoming storyline on Brothers & Sisters that involves his character being “married” to Kevin Walker (Matthew Rhys), his boyfriend on the show.

"From a standing outside perspective, and also *as someone who is gay*, I think that it's a very exciting time," MacFarlane said. "How exciting that we're saying, 'This can be part of the cultural fabric, now,' because it is two series regulars, two people that you invite into your home and you see every week. It's telling of the beginning of more waves and I'm very proud of that."

Actually 264, I remember Nora telling her granddaughter that they were secular humanists. I don't think the Walker kids were raised either religions.

this show was no the same show in season 5...it was beyonce cringe worthy at that point i only watched because of kevin and scotty..the best relationship on tv

I've only watched the first season, but there are many good moments. I understand the reason for the success

From my viewings though the series could be retitled, "my life in front of a glass of wine". DAMN, those walkers drink wine! And a party of eight drinks six or more bottles of wines in an average evening! Damn!

Silly saps, Sally was too good

I heard from one of the writers that the people who suffered the most were the Wardrobe Dept. because it was the one area of their work that the actors felt they could control.

What scintillating gossip r273

And the clothes were DiVoon

I heard that Rachel was snubbed by the other actors due to her past role on Mister Ed, as the horse. That bitch has more of a horse face than SJP ever thought of. You could describe Sarah's character in one phrase...constant PMS.

and the nora character as constant hot-flashes

There's a recent interview in Entertainment Weekly with Matthew Rhys and he talks about how much the B&S cast would love to drink wine on set when they (as their characters) would also be drinking.

They sure as fuck drink it.. "Cab sav" and "Merlot" should have been billed as cast members.

[quote] I heard that Rachel was snubbed by the other actors due to her past role on Mister Ed, as the horse.

Eh, I don't see it. Griffiths is an attractive woman.

It's Flockhart who always had Pinched Sphincter Syndrome face. She always looked like a Chihuahua in mid-snarl.

You know, I think I saw every episode of this show, but after reading this thread I realize I didn't like it very much. Looking back, I think I only watched it for Sally and Luke. I'd forgotten how outlandish it got. And yes--when they deWalkered Rebecca was the "jump the shark" moment.

R280, they both have long necks

[quote] And yes--when they deWalkered Rebecca was the "jump the shark" moment.

If it would have played as a big scheme by Holly or something it would have been one thing, but it was just weird how it played out.

I actually didn't mind the de-Walkering as much as the waste of Ryan Lafferty and the laziness in seasons 4 and 5 where every. fucking. THING was William Walker's fault.

It just got ridiculous. I was waiting for them to blame global warming, the death of the Lindbergh baby and the Challenger disaster on William too. Dead men make convenient villains, I guess.

[quote]Emily Van Camp is notorious for sleeping with her co-stars, but who exactly has she slept with to advance her career? The producers of her shows are usually a bunch of gay men.

She's sleeping her way to the middle. There was a rumor last year that she was with one guy publicly but was privately having it off with some grand poobah who could help her career. I can't recall who Mr. Big is but obviously it's not a gay producer.

As for sleeping with her co-stars, that can be a career move too. The two actors have more clout together than separately.

I wonder if EVC got to Ken Olin? LOL

Considering his wife played her mother, THAT would be icky.

tricky but it's always possible

I liked this lost episode. I wish they'd kept with Robbie's version of B&S.

They drank on the set, didn't they?

it looks like tons and tons of wine was consumed

Patti Wettig aged very well, and I would not have expected that from thirtysomething.

I love the lost epi, R287, very different tone!

Timothy Busfield still works a lot, as an actor, director, and producer. (He was even married to DL fave Melissa Gilbert.)

But who would have thought that Mr. and Mrs. Ken Olin would have the lasting careers in TV?

R292 - Mel's career was going pretty strong till about 2010.

It looks like they all got along in the blooper reels, especially the almost gay kiss between Matthew and Dave

that was really cute

[quote]I don't think anyone would be surprised at all about Balty Getty

Does anyone actually call him "Balty"?

I think that's his nick name

and he's gorgeous

I miss the theme song.

it's treacle, but befits an evening soap like this one

[quote]Timothy Busfield still works a lot, as an actor, director, and producer. (He was even married to DL fave Melissa Gilbert.)

They were married last year. She doesn't have any young daughters so his "problem" won't come up with her kids.

[quote] Does anyone actually call him "Balty"?

Sienna Miller's diseased cunt did....

I really wanted Matthew, Balthazar and Dave Annable to pass me around like a chew toy.

they would all be fun to try out

You mean Roxy Olin was not an aspiring fashion PR person??

bitchy bitches on this thread

I've never seen the final season, boredom kicked in and I watched, and frankly, it sucked. it was nice that they all appeared at the end happy, but the drama was simply sapped out of the series in the final season.

a real shame.

So, is anybody up for a reboot?

wasn't there another, better thread about the behind the scenes stuff?

[quote]Luke was dating TR, WM & MR all at the same time

Who was WM?

Wentworth Miller.

I'm still thinking about Dave Annabel's tight, hard, veiny cock and shiny, flared knob......

Balthazar Getty and friend.

Very minor claim to fame for me but Balty’s house (or one of his houses) used to be available for short term rental - not AirBnB but a high end version. A bunch of us stayed there at the top of Runyon Canyon for a week - summer of 2017. Fucking expensive but an incredible house. That picture in R313 looks like it was taken there.

I gave up after season 2. I should do a re-watch.

[quote]I should do a re-watch.

Nah.

R301 what problem?

R316 Why not?

Because you were right giving it up, r318. I wish I had not watched as they de-Walkered Rebecca.

The first season was the best. I couldn't watch once Rob Lowe was cast. I can't stand him.

[quote]I couldn't watch once Rob Lowe was cast. I can't stand him.

This.

This.

This.

CBS destroyed Code Black to bring him on. I hate him, and would never have started watching if he'd been an original cast member.

Rob Lowe was a network note.

Parks and Rec was ruined by adding Rob Lowe, too.

He's a double-threat: Can't do drama OR comedy.

He's turned many a show to shit.

Rob has loads of fans with many successful books about his life.

He felt undervalued on B &S and left in a huff like he did with The West Wing.

Calista was not helping

[quote]He felt undervalued on B &S and left in a huff like he did with The West Wing.

Rob *always* feels undervalued because he always expects to be the center of attention.

The B&S cast giggled behind his back because he would always submit a reel for "LEAD Actor" Emmy instead of a supporting one.

And he didn't leave -- they killed him.

Is there a thread where we can bitch about the specifics of Rob Lowe’s narcissism? I don’t want to be worse than Hitler and start one if another exists.

It might as well be in this thread, r328. I would not click on a dedicated Rob Lowe thread.

What is Balth. G.'s net worth?

$250 million according The the linked site, R330

Rob Lowe deserves his own thread but I don't care enough to start one.

Meanwhile, why were ALL the characters on the show progressive liberals? Even the so called conservative ones? Too many similar characters. It got monotonous and tedious.

R332 They ruined a good idea by making Calista's character (modeled after Ann Coulter) seem like a Clinton democrat. And Rob Lowe was supposed to be a GOP Senator, but never said anything that would piss the viewers off.

It seemed like the season two on showrunners were too timid.

De-Walkering Rebecca was the show's jump the shark point.

I also agree that the show wasted lots of potential by not having diverse political view points. A perfect opportunity to explore the psyche of a conservative who was raised in a progressive, liberal family.

R33, it was like the main cast of Murphy Brown always agreeing with each other about political issues, even Corky for the most part.

Of course on the reboot Murphy's fatherless son is a liberal just like dear old mom.

I liked it on All in The Family when they would mix it up about politics even if they made Archie look like a fool as much as they could.

Who was Nicole Wallace?

R334, Jesse Watters and Elisabeth Hasselbeck had progressively liberal parents and went completely the other way. I wonder what happened there.

Wallace markets herself as a conservative on MSNBC but doesn't much act like one.

She wasn't a character on B&S, r338?

I will never believe Dave Annable is heterosexual no matter how many women he allegedly impregnates, certainly not old hag Sally Field.

R331 Damn, he looks like shit now.

I believe the name of this TV show was The Sally Field Programme, OP, not Brothers & Sisters.

I believe you are a Douchebagge, r342.

did we ever get to see the Dave A cock?

I have not, r344.

I thought Balti Getty's dad was disinherited?

Bump I want to know the real status of Balti’s weath!

Sally Fields is notoriously method. When she did Lincoln she only responded as Mary Todd. When she got B&S she went full into the mom role. But Method for TV does not work. Shooting a movie for 6 months is okay but a multi year television show..yeah. Not so much.

She barely mentioned the show in her memoir. No one by name. But she basically says when Lincoln came along, she was creatively in a dry spell. I think Season 1 is excellent. Then I pretend the show was cancelled.

[quote] I thought Balti Getty's dad was disinherited?

[quote] Bump I want to know the real status of Balti’s wealth!

A 2001 profile of Balti in the New York Times states the following about his dad:

[quote] Eventually he would become a millionaire from the Sarah C. Getty trust fund ....

So perhaps that's the source of his wealth.

Wow so last night I had a dream I was at my old work with my old colleagues. Then today one of my old colleagues rang me to see how I was. Also in that same dream I was making out with David Annable. Then today I log into DL and this thread had been bumped to the top. Funny how the universe works.

WHET to Rachel Griffiths?

Griffiths lives in Australia. .. Coincidentally, she and her artist husband, Andrew Taylor, are featured in the current issue of "Vogue Living, Australia" (Nov - Dec 2018), and a photo from their home in St Kilda (Melbourne) is on the cover of the magazine.

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

R353 She recently did an Australian miniseries called Dead Lucky.

Interesting. The original writer of B&S and Ron Rifkin shared a house/compound.

[quote]OP: when a lot of the crazy shit started to happen and people were fighting, etc. and she just said "Fuck it" and started to stay in her trailer. She would skip rehearsals and several times flipped out at her "kids" and tell them to grow the fuck up and be professional.

I would LOVE to see blooper footage of that!

Someone told me Betty Buckley was fired from that role because she literally called some female crew member (?) a cunt while filming the pilot.

I wonder if that's true.