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Pink Villa
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Best TV Cameos of the Last Decade: From Prince in New Girl to Joe Biden in Parks And Recreation
While we binge on series or movies, being attracted to their storylines, sometimes the creators have a surprise for their audience in mind. They come up with shockingly intriguing cameos, which is why we are here to take you on a tour of the best TV cameos of the last decade. While the subject has become way more common these days, especially in huge movie franchises, there happened to be a time when cameos were much more appreciated and were original. These cameos were sometimes heartwarming and sometimes surprisingly hilarious and the people making them came out of nowhere while also having no relation to the series. We know you are excited to learn more about the people who have made these cameos, so here are the best TV cameos of the last decade. Prince in New Girl Cameo Role: Appeared as himself (Prince) Season/Year of Appearance: Season 3 Episode 14 Why It's Memorable: It was unexpected for the fans of both the series and the musician to witness his presence. This becomes even more memorable as the episode itself was named after the late legend. Cultural Impact: While the actors themselves were surprised by Prince's cameo, which happens to be one of the best TV cameos of the last decade, it left the fans stunned, also freaking them out. Fan Reactions: Many critics took this cameo to their website, which later became one of the most widely talked about cameos back then. Well, not only in 2014, when the episode aired, but even today, the cameo is discussed by many online critics. Two years later, Zooey Deschanel also explained how Prince showed up on the show. Fun Fact: The musical legend was a big fan of New Girl. Tom Brady in Living With Yourself Cameo Role: As himself (Tom Brady) Season/Year of Appearance: First episode Why It's Memorable: While the series had just begun, focusing on the life of Paul Rudd, the dramedy included a cameo by Tom Brady. It is said that when the series was being penned, its writer, Timothy Greenberg, wanted to have Tom Brady playing a central role in the Netflix series. Cultural Impact: Becoming one of the best TV cameos of the last decade, many thought that Tom Brady would have a role in future episodes as well. However, it was just a simple cameo. Fan Reactions: Tom Brady's cameo had even sparked rumors about being a dig at Patriots owner Robert Kraft. However, the NFL star clarified that his role was written four years prior. Rihanna in Bates Motel Cameo Role: Marion Crane Season/Year of Appearance: Season 5, Episode 5 Why It's Memorable: Rihanna was seen playing the role of Marion Crane in Bates Motel. This particular role was originally played by Janet Leigh. However, the show's writers decided to let the musician have her own touch to it, which eventually became the best TV cameos of the last decade. Cultural Impact: Show core fans had welcomed Rihanna's cameo with open arms. The cameo was appreciated by many, which eventually helped the horror series become more famous. Fan Reactions: While some were excited by this unexpected cameo by Rihanna, a few others were skeptical about her fit in Bates Motel. Michelle Obama in iCarly & Parks and Recreation Cameo Role: Appeared as herself. (Michelle Obama) Season/Year of Appearance: iCarly in 2012 and Parks and Recreation in 2014. Why It's Memorable: America's First Lady was so famous that the fans widely loved her on-screen presence in both shows. Michelle Obama's these became another best TV cameos of the last decade. Interestingly, she did the iCarly cameo because her daughters loved the show a lot. Cultural Impact: While the fans went haywire, her cameo also received a hilarious reaction from Amy Poehler's Leslie Knope. Fan Reactions: This was the time when both the series were at their peak, and also the exact time when America loved Michelle Obama a lot. The cameo of the first lady was appreciated by a large number of the Nickelodeon audience. Carrie Fisher in The Big Bang Theory Cameo Role: As herself (Carrie Fisher) Season/Year of Appearance: January 30, 2014 Why It's Memorable: It wasn't just Carrie Fisher who had the audience of the classic sitcom, The Big Bang Theory, feel amazed, but she was also joined by another legendary actor, James Earl Jones. Cultural Impact: Naturally, the two cameos by two of the biggest names in the Hollywood film industry became the best TV cameos of the last decade, pushing the show's reach even further. Fan Reactions: The Big Bang Theory is already about science and comics. And the fan base came from that of Star Wars and the Disney outings. With these two intriguing cameos, the fans appreciated the actor's presence on screen. A lot of stars in What We Do In The Shadows Cameo Role: Vampires Season/Year of Appearance: Throughout many seasons Why It's Memorable: The series itself has had many cameos, be it of Tilda Swinton, Wesley Snipes, Danny Trejo, or many others. Cultural Impact: While the series is celebrated for being a comedy horror mockumentary, these cameos have had a major impact on the outing throughout its grand seasons. Fan Reactions: Fans have always appreciated having many actors reprise the role from several movies, including that of Wesley Snipes' Blade. Mark Linn-Baker in The Leftovers Cameo Role: Appeared as himself but in a fictionalized version. Season/Year of Appearance: Season 3 Why It's Memorable: Although his cameo was a pivotal scene, Mark Linn-Bakker even gave the fans another Best TV Cameos of the last decade. Cultural Impact: His cameo helped the series grow, making its way into the hearts of fans. The cameo became a pivotal appearance as well as an arc that changed everything for the series. Fan Reactions: While nobody expected this grand surprise from the HBO series, fans appreciated it a lot. LeVar Burton in Community Cameo Role: As himself (LeVar Burton) Season/Year of Appearance: Episode 15, season 2 Why It's Memorable: This best TV cameo of the last decade comes as Pierce Hawthorne brings in LeVar Burton to torture Troy Barnes. The latter character always wanted an autograph from the legend. Cultural Impact: The fans of Community went on to welcome the cameo with open arms. Fan Reactions: Since the time LeVar Burton made a cameo in Community, the series became the talk of the town. Everyone was excited about it. Joe Biden in Parks And Recreation Cameo Role: Appeared as himself (Joe Biden) Season/Year of Appearance: Season 5, episode 7 Why It's Memorable: The politician had appeared in Parks and Recreation two times. One of the cameos was where he was a surprise engagement gift for Leslie Knope, while the other was seen in the series finale. Cultural Impact: Joe Biden's appearance in the aforementioned series became a big sensation all over America. Fan Reactions: With a lot of people being fans of the series, Joe Biden's cameos made it even more famous amongst the Americans. Ginuwine in Parks And Recreation Cameo Role: As himself (Ginuwine ) Season/Year of Appearance: Season 6 finale and season 7 Why It's Memorable: With Tom Haverford being a great fan of 90s R&B music, it was a shock for him to realize that his co-worker Donna happens to be Ginuwine's cousin. Cultural Impact: All the fans of Ginuwine had a great impact on the aforesaid seasons. Fan Reactions: Fans had a positive reaction towards Ginuwine's cameo in Parks and Recreation. Conclusion The aforementioned cameos had helped the series grow in numerous ways. Well, it can also be stated that sometimes it was not just the fan base that had a shocking reaction but also the actors themselves who saw these big names acting right alongside them and sharing the screen.
Buzz Feed
24-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Buzz Feed
21 Budget-Friendly Article Pieces That Look Expensive
A squiggly wall mirror that'll make guests think you're at a modern art museum every time you post a selfie. This solid wood frame makes a playful piece more sophisticated. Promising review: "The mirror is high-quality and adds a beautiful softness to our living room. Absolutely love it." —Hayley $249 (available in two finishes) A lounge chair so comfortable you might find yourself reading an entire book in one sitting just so as not to leave this new oasis you've created. Promising review: "Love the chair, beautiful design, and great proportions for sitting and reading." —Amy $349 (originally $599; available in gray and green) A solid wood console table for tossing your keys, mail, and anything else you want to keep organized by your front door. It only takes 15 minutes to assemble, so you can have your entryway looking majestic faster than you can finish an episode of New Girl. Promising review: "I absolutely love this little console table. I thought about it for a while before purchasing, as I knew it was going to 'just' fit the space. It was super easy to assemble, and I was thrilled with the quality of the workmanship. Perfect!" —Annabelle $299 (available in walnut and oak) A bouclé storage ottoman because you need a space to stash blankets, toys, and any other clutter before house guests a place to kick your feet up when they leave. If you're worried about having a light-colored ottoman, don't be! Article tests all their fabrics to make sure they can stand up to 50,000 rubs (aka this thing will last you for a looooooong time). Promising review: "The 48' ottoman is the perfect size for my small apartment hallway. I like cream color and the boucle fabric provides texture." — $399 (available in three sizes, two fabrics, and two colors) A minimalist desk that won't take up too much room, but will have space for all your workday essentials while maintaining a distance between your bedroom and your office. It's made of oak wood and has drawers to keep your workspace organized. Promising review: "I love the size and the look. It's big enough to fit my screen and monitor." —Anna $499 (available in oak and walnut) And a colorful desk chair to go with it. This rolling desk chair costs less than $100 and is the pop of color your home office needs. Don't worry, it comes in neutrals, too! Promising review: "I love this chair! Perfect size and color. Simple and minimal. I don't sit in it all day but it is comfortable for short bursts. It does not swivel but the wheels roll nicely. Recommend!" —Rachel $89 (available in five colors) A shelving unit so you can organize your book collection and fill up your blank walls while you're at it. Each shelf can hold a whopping 44 pounds, so don't be afraid to put your entire TBR pile on it. Price: $199+ (available with two or three shelves and two colors) A marble side table for anybody who likes to have three beverages at their disposal at all times. This will hold them all and look glamorous doing so. Promising review: "I wanted a low-profile/stylish end table and this one is ideal. Thankfully, as others described, the base is very heavy and sturdy, making it a perfect fit for the high-traffic area it's in. Not easily tippy, which was my biggest concern. Love it." —Nicole Price: $199 (available in two colors) A cotton gauzy throw to toss on your bed or couch and make it look magazine-worthy for less than $50! It's 100% cotton, so you can ~throw~ it in the wash whenever it needs a refresh. Promising review: "High quality and feels luxurious. Nice departure from the standard throw." —Sean $49 (available in charcoal and light taupe) A smoked oak and chenille bench with storage space because tripping over your shoes is no fun. Just slip them under this bench when you get home, and voilà, they'll be there when you're ready to head out. Promising review: "This is a beautiful entryway bench. The cushion feels quality and like memory foam, the wood is sturdy and well-made. It was also very easy to assemble, my husband did it in less than ten minutes! Would absolutely recommend!" —Kira $499 (available in two colors) A floor mirror to add some industrial flair to your space and make your OOTD pics pop. Promising review: "Love this mirror! The versatile and simple design makes it an easy choice for any room. It's surprisingly heavy and really great quality. So happy I decided to buy it! Thank you, Article." —Rachel $419 (available in black and walnut) An adjustable-height side table that'll always be juuuust the right height for your needs. Plus, it's got a steel base that easily slides wherever you need it to. No need to shell out your whole paycheck to get a custom piece. Promising review: "My husband loves this piece, it's a great and versatile table that you can adjust to the height that works for your furniture/space." —Stephanie $199 (available in oak and walnut) A small, hand-woven pouf people can put their feet on instead of your coffee table which is just, kind of, ew. Promising review: "This little pouf is great: nice looking shape, made of quality materials for a lovely color, texture, and feel, AND durable despite getting sat and laid on every which way by my primary school age kids. If it ever looks out of shape, I just roll it onto its side, pat firmly on any bulges, and stand it back up, and it looks just as good as the day we got it out of the box." —Trilby $149 (available in three colors) A twin bedframe so you can get your mattress off the floor and transform your bedroom into a haven. Some reviewers say it works great as a daybed! Promising review: "I got this as a daybed/guest bed in my office. It is very minimal in design, which was what I wanted. It looks great, solid, and simple to put together." —Cindy $299 (available in five finishes and three other sizes)Don't forget to add a wood touch up kit to your order to help cover up any scratches, knicks, or dings that might pop up over time. An upholstered bar stool that'll add the extra seating you need when guests come over or when you just want to hang out in the kitchen. It's made of solid wood with soft upholstery seats, so you can sit comfortably and still maintain your home's Mad Men-esque style. Promising review: "LOVE! Elegance and absolute perfection!" —Brandie $199 (available in two leg colors and five upholstery colors) A stackable armchair because outdoor season is upon us and you need a comfy place to soak up rays. It comes in a variety of matte colors that'll make your patio feel like you're sitting poolside at a Palm Springs resort. Promising review: "Great chairs! Came well packaged, no damage. Perfect size for my little space. Nice weight, heavy enough to not blow around on the deck but can be easily moved and stacked." —Sara $159 (originally $179; available in five colors and with or without arms) And a matching outdoor dining table so you can dine al fresco. Promising review: "It is more white than taupe, and super durable. I love the look of it and having the peace of mind that it can withstand snow and rain. Great for a small patio and can easily sit four chairs if needed." —Courtney $499+ (available in four colors and two sizes) A storage ottoman to give you a place for blankets, games, dog toys — whatever you need to store. It comes in a variety of fabrics and colors, including a classic brown leather and a cream bouclé, so you can find just the right one for your space. Promising review: "I love the shape and feel of this pouf. It's very sturdy and the storage is spacious for its size (I use it for blankets)." —Amanda $199+ (available in three sizes and colors) An upholstered ottoman because it can also double as a coffee table. That's a two-for-one deal right there. Promising review: "Love this piece! It's very large so we are using it as a coffee table vs as a chaise as planned but love how it adds to the space." —Bridget $299 (available in two fabrics and colors) A flushmount ceiling light to replace the unsightly boob lights in your home. These have a high-end look without the high- end price tag. Promising review: "It's a little small that I thought it would be, but the lamp gives a very nice bright light, so it is perfect for the kid's room. Takes a little bit of effort to install, but once it's done looks great." —Ekaterina $149 (available in four colors) An indoor/outdoor pouf so you can kick your feet up whether you're watching TV inside or sunbathing outside. It's made of a low-absorption polyester fabric that'll give you plenty of time to blot any inevitable spills before they stain. Price: $99 ($129)Check out the matching pillows to complete the look. How much guests will think you spent on your new stuff: Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Perth Now
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Megan Fox's baby was a 'happy surprise'
Megan Fox has branded her baby daughter "a happy surprise". The 'Jennifer's Body' actress and her former partner Machine Gun Kelly welcomed a baby girl into the world in March but she has now admitted that her pregnancy wasn't planned. Sharing a clip from Hulu's new comedy 'Overcompensating', in which she makes a brief cameo, Megan wrote on her Instagram Story: "38 years old six weeks pregnant (unplanned but a happy surprise). Please stop listening to the patriarchy. Women are eternal light beings.' Megan - who also has sons Noah, 12, Bodhi, 11, and Journey, eight, with her ex-husband Brian Austin Green - split from MGK in November shortly after it was revealed the actress was pregnant. The 35-year-old musician was said to be keen for a reconciliation but the former 'New Girl' star wanted to "move on". A source told Us Weekly at the time: "He has been focusing on mental health and getting back in shape. He's heartbroken but trying to move forward. "MGK would like to reconcile, but Megan is firm in her decision to move on. She does not see a future with him anymore. She doesn't want to put herself in the same position again with him anymore. She wants to break the cycle." And though the pair have grown closer since their daughter was born, it is unlikely they will reconcile their relationship. A source told Us Weekly earlier this month that MGK has been 'coming and going' and staying over a few nights a week to help out but there are no plans for the pair to live together. The insider added: 'Megan thinks MGK has stepped up and is being a good dad but doesn't think they have a future together romantically. Megan is in heaven with her baby girl and is really focused on being a mom right now.'
Tom's Guide
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
I'm renewing my Disney Plus subscription in June thanks to these three shows
It's no secret that I'm a certified Disney Adult. I live and breathe Disney magic, and I'm not one to shy away from new Disney or Marvel theatrical releases, despite how unfavourable the ratings may be. That said, I've cancelled my Disney Plus subscription time and time again to save on costs. Quite frankly, I haven't found myself reaching for the streamer in favour of other ones like Netflix, Prime Video and, in recent weeks, Max. Despite having a wealth of Disney-branded shows, movies and documentaries, I haven't found anything in recent months that tickles my fancy, and if I do watch something on Disney Plus, I tend to stick to reruns of my favourite comedy shows such as New Girl, Modern Family and Abbott Elementary. But June has a slate of new releases that have renewed my faith in the streamer — and oh boy, am I ready to binge-watch. These new releases are sure to warm up your winter watch parties, and maybe even get you reinvigorated back into your Disney Plus subscription, too. From new superhero suits to fine dining and a healthy dose of reality television, Disney Plus ushers in some seriously good highlights this month. If you're curious about what else Disney Plus has to offer, you can check out our comprehensive guide here. So, without further ado, here are the three new original shows I'm watching on Disney Plus this June. I know what you're thinking here — it's another Marvel television series — but I promise this one will be different. Picking up after the events of "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever", the series follows Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) — a young inventor determined to make her mark on the world — as she returns to her hometown of Chicago and gets caught up in cahoots with the mysterious, yet charming Parker Robbins, a.k.a. The Hood (Anthony Ramos) in pursuit of her ambitions. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. There were a number of timing delays with "Ironheart", as it was tipped for release in 2023. Despite this, the six-part series is set to bring the updated Iron Man action, comedy and hopefully an equally impressive soundtrack to the MCU. Fingers crossed that Riri's quest for greatness is just as appealing IRL as it is in the trailer (and comics!). Aside from the second season of "Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" that dropped earlier this month and the latest iteration of "The Kardashians", Disney Plus doesn't quite take the reality TV crown off Netflix just yet, but it's coming close with its upcoming addition. Hailing from the viral podcast "Call Her Daddy", host Alex Cooper prepares for her first tour in this two-part series, which showcases her beginnings as a self-conscious kid to the voice behind her successful podcast that has redefined the conversation for women everywhere. The series will offer longtime followers an intimate look into Cooper's life and the defining events that skyrocketed her journey from a woman with a dating podcast to the CEO of a media empire in just six years. Now, I've been a longtime fan of "FX's The Bear", and I am beyond excited to dive into the fourth course of this award-winning series. Season four of the Chicago-based show finds Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White), Sydney Adamu (Ayo Edebiri) and Richard 'Richie' Jerimovich (Moss-Bachrach) pushing forward, determined not only to survive but also to take The Bear to the next level. With new challenges around every corner, the team must adapt, adjust and overcome. It would be remiss not to mention the other great shows coming to the House of Mouse this June, including a brand new documentary narrated by none other than Sir David Attenborough. On June 8, "Ocean with David Attenborough" will draw on a lifetime of experience to reveal Earth's most spectacular underwater habitats. While exposing the Ocean's biggest challenges, the documentary highlights that the opportunity for marine life recovery on an unprecedented scale is within reach. Don't worry if you're a sports fanatic — Disney Plus' ESPN additions have plenty of action-packed live events on the horizon. June brings in the highly anticipated NBA Finals on June 6, followed by the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 8, and two UFC Fight Nights on June 15 and June 22. Other new additions coming to the platform include the entire "Mission Impossible" film franchise, a special recording of "Frozen: The Musical" and an all-new animated series "Predator: Killer of Killers". If these new releases don't quite have you reaching to renew your subscription, you can check out our how to cancel Disney Plus guide.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘We didn't want Molly to die': ‘Dying for Sex' creators on finding the comedy in cancer
A comedy about a woman diagnosed with metastatic cancer seems like a contradiction in terms, but that's the high-wire act that FX's Dying for Sex accomplishes. Cocreators Liz Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock, who'd worked together on New Girl, teamed up again to adapt the podcast cohosted by Molly Kochan and her best friend, Nikki Boyer, into a limited series starring Michelle Williams and Jenny Slate. The series, which launched in April to critical rapture (98 percent on Rotten Tomatoes), currently ranks in the top of Gold Derby's Emmy predictions for limited series and lead actress Michelle Williams, among other races. Here, the two executive producers reveal how they pulled off the impossible — capturing Molly's spirit, finding the chemistry between Williams and Slate, and the joke that still makes them laugh. More from GoldDerby Paul Giamatti talks 'Black Mirror,' playing a 'Star Trek' villain, and his go-to In-N-Out order Natasha Rothwell says goodbye to 'How to Die Alone' (for now), reveals what would've happened next The making of 'Matlock': 'I wanted it to be a love letter to women in the workforce' Gold Derby: Could you ever have imagined the response that the show was going to get? Liz Meriwether: I always imagine worst-case scenarios in my head, and I go into every project convinced that it'll be my last. But it's really been wonderful. There's been responses that have just meant so much to us, especially in the world of people who've had cancer, because it was so in our minds of just trying to get it right and put a show out in the world that told you something new about the experience. So those responses have meant an enormous amount to us. And also people who've experienced abuse in the same way that Molly did. Kim Rosenstock: One of our writers sent us a link to a Substack of the kink community, and said just so you know, they feel really seen, and that was very satisfying, honestly. We did a lot of work. We talked to a million people. Meriwether: These were areas that have been dramatized before, but we wanted to try to be as authentic as possible and to feel we were showing something new. I got an email from Seth Meyers, which made my whole year. He was really complimentary of the comedy, and that meant so much to me. Because that was another thing that Kim and I and the whole writers' room were very aware of — how do we find the comedy? How do we find the real funny moments? Rosenstock: We had to learn about so many things, and we had to be really diligent with our research — for the kink community, for the stage four metastatic breast cancer community, for the sexual trauma community. We weren't afraid to admit what we didn't what we didn't know. We leaned on so many experts and real people and our writers' room was incredibly diverse, and a lot of them had experience as caretakers or having been ill with cancer or other chronic illnesses. So we were able to make sure we were at all times checking ourselves and getting real perspectives from people whose lived experience reflected what was happening in the story. SEE'It's something only the two of us will share': How Michelle Williams and the 'Dying for Sex' cast navigated those eye-popping sex scenes So to ask the question you asked of yourselves, how did you tackle the idea of finding comedy in cancer? Rosenstock: It starts with the podcast. That is how the real people, the real Molly and Nikki, got through this together was their ability to laugh at it and make really dark jokes about it to each other. So I think we always took our cue from the real people and the real story. Meriwether: I think the podcast is so funny, and it was OK, that's the story that we're trying to tell. So it felt if we were telling the story in the right way, it was just going to be funny. Kim and I worked on New Girl for years, we come from comedy storytelling structure. So I think it was helpful, especially in the early episodes, to take all of the dramatic stuff that was happening around them, but to think about it in terms of comedy story structure and how could we build to a set piece, how could we build to a place that felt like the punchline of a joke from a structural standpoint. That was helpful muscle memory that Kim and I took into the project. Then later on in the show, we got to a place where it was OK, that just doesn't make sense anymore for what's happening in the story. Rosenstock: I also think it was really important to us, especially in talking to people with cancer, people who had dealt with chronic illness, to not let that define who you are. Being sick isn't your defining characteristic once you are sick. And I think, for us, that was a big part of why the comedy was so important. You don't get sick and then the rest of your life is a tragedy. Even if you get a diagnosis of a terminal illness, you can still be funny. You can still laugh. You can still have sex. You can still go out with your friends and have a crazy night. It's just to show that yes, there are very hard, painful, dark moments and days and pits of despair, but there's also these explosions of joy and light and humor. Meriwether: The other thing that was really important was that we were never laughing at people — isn't it funny that people have these desires. Rosenstock: Sex was never the punchline in any of the scenes where sex was part of the story. It was always about the people involved who were funny, but what they were doing was never something that we wanted to be the source of the joke. And I think a lot of the real story with the real Molly was about her having this very radical acceptance for what people liked. And I think we had to adopt that ourselves as the makers of this show, we wanted the show to always feel it was accepting of everything that we were portraying. Given that you are dealing with a real story, how involved was Nikki? Meriwether: She was our sounding board for what felt true, Molly's spirit keeping that part of the story alive for us. Because you do get lost in the writers' room, Nikki was this wonderful source of inspiration in keeping us honest and focused on what mattered. Rosenstock: She was always one of the most excited people when she would get a script or a cut. The first person we would always hear from was Nikki, and it was always a million exclamation points. I could count on one hand the number of times that she had a note or a thought on something that needed to change. One of them was her boyfriend in the show, his name was the name of her brother, and she asked, 'Could you just change his name, because that's my brother's name.' What was amazing really was getting feedback from her along the way that let us know we were on the right path. We were writing a lot of things that didn't necessarily happen and often it she'd be like, 'Oh my gosh, how did you know? This really feels like Molly.' Was Michelle Williams the person you always had in mind to play Molly? Meriwether: We just could not have done the show without an actress in the center of it who was so brave and just full of life and love. We needed a powerhouse at the center of the show because it does go to so many different places and has really complicated tonal shifts, and I don't think we would have made the show without Michelle in that part. I'm so grateful for what she brought to it and the fact that she was willing to go there and never looked back. She was in, and then she was all the way in. It was inspiring for us as writers. It inspired all of the actors around her. SEE'She cast a spell on me': Michelle Williams on how her character's 'radical acceptance of her own body' drew her to 'Dying for Sex' Her chemistry with Jenny Slate was pretty powerful. Meriwether: I continue to be in awe of actors, and I just don't understand how that works. How do you meet somebody and then have that kind of chemistry with them? But I do think they are such special people. They both are incredible actors and also really incredible people, and I think that that comes through on screen. The show requires of actors people who can go to really dark places and then pull out of those places really quickly. There's a really intense weird fart joke in the sixth episode, and an ability to have the most serious scene and then to be really silly. … I was so grateful to both of them because I never felt there was something we couldn't do. In fact, it was the opposite. It was, oh, I hope that we can live up to where they are with their performance. Rosenstock: It was so cool to watch how they built off of each other. Michelle is obviously one of our greatest living actresses. She can do anything, she's the amazing dramatic actress. And Jenny, there's nobody like her in terms of her comedy. She is so unique and special and brilliant. But to watch who they became around each other and what they were bringing out of each other, the comedy that was coming out of Michelle and then the absolute devastating emotional journey that Jenny goes on, was putting these two incredible ingredients together and then watching them just take off. It was very lucky for us because it made the show work. It's a high-wire act, for sure. Is there a moment really speaks to what you were trying to accomplish with the show? Meriwether: I am really proud of that fart joke. I am really proud of that whole scene in the bathroom, and I will carry that with me. Rosenstock; I'm also really proud of your fart joke. (Laughs.) I'm very proud of having put a caretaker on screen who doesn't seem a natural fit for the role — a disorganized, scattered person rising to the occasion and being entrusted with taking care of somebody. That moment where she drops her whole bag on the floor and then has to pick everything up, I'm just proud that we shot it, that that many things were in the bag, that we allowed it to be as long as it needed to be. I can't believe we were able to make a show about women in their 40s where they're not fighting, where they're just friends and they just love each other, and it's them against the world or the medical system. And the story is never about them against each other. I'm really proud that we pulled that off, and that we got to show a lot of crazy fun sex along the way. Meriwether: And being able to put a death on screen. I felt so moved by the research that we did about hospice and dying, and it was something that I never thought about and was honestly scared to think about. I know we were joking about not having the scripts done, but I think we were putting off writing that episode for a long time because I think we didn't want Molly to die. That's definitely a thing that I have taken with me into my own life is just the thinking about my own death and thinking about the death of people close to me as part of your life and as this natural kind of thing that we all go through and a chance to express yourself and be empowered even in the way that you die. Rosenstock: Our greatest hope would be that the show would inspire people to start talking about sex differently and that the show might inspire people to start talking about death differently. The show is about sex and death, and death definitely felt like the thing that was more taboo to talk about. We wanted to put that on screen with the same amount of honesty and emotion as we did the sex. Also, it's made me realize that aging is a privilege. I cannot complain. This is how old Molly got to. I think I'm probably the same age as she was in this story, and it makes you think. Best of GoldDerby The making of 'Matlock': 'I wanted it to be a love letter to women in the workforce' Is 'SNL' new tonight? Host, musical guest details How Natasha Rothwell helped Belinda get her groove back in 'The White Lotus' Season 3 Click here to read the full article.
