Latest news with #Will&Grace
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hulu's 'Mid-Century Modern' Furthers Gay Representation in Both Big and Small Ways
Hulu's 'Mid-Century Modern' Furthers Gay Representation in Both Big and Small Ways originally appeared on L.A. Mag. When Mid-Century Modern —starring Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer and Nathan Lee Graham, and developed and created by Max Mutchnick and David Kohan of Will & Grace fame — premiered March 28 on Hulu, the gay pedigree had already been signed, sealed and delivered. The sitcom, which includes Ryan Murphy among its executive producers, was touted as the heir apparent to the (still) wildly popular NBC show The Golden Girls (1985-92). Yet that sobriquet felt unfair — partly because the two generations of programming are most dissimilar. Forty years ago, when The Golden Girls premiered, Blanche, Dorothy and Rose — three heterosexual women — were dealing with gay storylines in a very different way. They responded with utter shock upon finding out a longtime friend was a lesbian, or a brother was gay, or to the very difficult and very real AIDS crisis that was affecting its core audience in real time. But the show was seen then as groundbreaking television and the representation mattered. Almost a half-century later, it still does. So, specifically, what do the two sitcoms have in common? Not a lot, actually, unless you consider an inhumanely hot location as the setting. Miami was the home of The Golden Girls, while Palm Springs is the backdrop for Mid-Century Modern — complete with a seemingly endless supply of fabulous robes worn by both Lane's character Bunny and the always fab Arthur, played by Graham. When the cost of those robes is brought up at my recent sit-down with the three actors, Bomer — who plays Jerry, often seen in short-shorts and tank tops — quips, 'What they save on Jerry's wardrobe, they put into the robe budget.'It's clear the three actors have developed an easy chemistry off-camera as well as on, with Lane — who has a wealth of experience playing famously gay characters on both stage and screen — effortlessly taking the role of den mother, much like Bunny on the show. When asked what drew him to the project, he cites the cast as well as the subject matter. 'I get to work with these people,' he says. 'It's just about trying to do good work, and with a story and characters that I don't think you've seen that much of: gay men who are getting older; men in their 40s, 50s and 60s trying to navigate life. I think that's what makes it new and refreshing. And if we're entertaining folks and making them laugh, it's the best way to get your message across.' Lane feels viewers can relate to the same fear of aging with which his character grapples. 'I'm just like you: I don't like getting old,' he says. 'How do I deal with it? Am I still viable in the marketplace? Can I still get a date? You see why [Bunny] wants to live with these two men who have been his closest friends all these years. It's interesting how they've all come together. I sort of force the issue impulsively and say, 'Move in with me, and I'll pay for everything.' Which is kind of crazy, but they do it. We're not making some grand statement — but I think subtly we are. Even people who might not agree with us politically, [I hope] that they enjoy who these characters are and laugh. And that is a statement in itself.' For Graham, ubiquity is key to furthering gay representation. 'Some of us do parades, some of us write op-eds, some of us do podcasts,' he says. 'My thing is, if someone sees me doing something positive, then that's my activism, to always show up, to be that glamorous cockroach that never dies. [I love that I] always, always, always hear, 'There's that bitch again! There she is again.' You can't get rid of me.'Graham gets pride in helping others in similar situations navigate life. 'If you feel seen in any way, or if you feel good after watching our show, the mission is accomplished. If you're going through it that day [and] you put on an episode of our show, and you get through the next three hours because of it, well then, we've done our job. That is why it's so important to have a show like this on right now.'Bomer, who was coming off the melodramatic, decades-spanning Showtime miniseries Fellow Travelers, which follows closeted political staffers from the McCarthy era through the AIDS crisis, sees Mid-Century Modern as a welcome shift in tone. 'I'm just so grateful that we were able to put this show out and to try and bring some joy to the world and bring some visibility as well,' Bomer says. 'These are real people in real conversations in a fun way.' He says he feels the show's occasionally zany sugar coating is a plus. 'Sometimes, for me as an audience member, if I can laugh when I'm hearing any type of messaging or identifying with another person, it sinks a little bit deeper than if it's too earnest or on the nose,' he says. 'So that's one of the things that really appealed to me about being a part of something like this.'Bomer explains he's tired of hearing questions about the obstacles LGBTQ entertainers face. 'People always want to talk about the 'problem' [of] what it's like to be a gay actor, but I'm so much more interested in the solution,' he says. 'And I think it's [in giving] our voices to something like this — that people can identify [with] or feel seen or get a release of some kind from watching it. That's meaningful to me and makes it worthwhile.'When the conversation turns to the tragic loss of beloved actress Linda Lavin during production, the guys disclose that the cast and crew were tasked with the unimaginable feat of producing an episode that dealt head-on with an unexpected death. Lavin portrayed Lane's character's mother, Sybil, and Lane has to play the scene from a raw place that's both personal and immediate. The episode mixes the very real, sad emotions with the humor that's often needed in diffcult times.'You could hear a pin drop when we got to that section of the show,' Lane recalls. 'It was emotional, but it felt very satisfying and gratifying, because I felt they had paid tribute not only to the character, but to Linda, the great actress.'For Bomer, the depth of the loss struck backstage. 'I remember when it really hit me that Linda was gone,' he says. 'We would always be together behind the curtain when they'd introduce us before the show. And one of my favorite things about this whole experience is being with these actors: Linda Lavin, who's a legend; Nathan [Lane]; and Nathan Lee — all theater icons. And we're all still just as nervous to go on stage before the show starts, and that's something that I'll hold so near and dear to my heart. Then, not having Linda there that day really drove it home to me.' In contemplating a possible Season 2, all three men grow animated when describing how they'd like to see their characters evolve. 'I'd love to meet Jerry's ex-wife, his mom [and] the congressman he slept with!' Bomer exclaims. Graham has some guest stars in mind. 'We got to get these black ladies lined up,' he says: 'Jenifer Lewis, I think she's the auntie. Maybe Phylicia Rashad is the mother.' Lane feels more time is needed to fully uncover the show's ties to past sitcom glory. 'I'm the real Golden Girl,' he says of Bunny. 'I'm the one who spent his whole life in [the] business and never had that major relationship. So that may not happen. I mean, it possibly could, but … we need to explore all of those things.' Lane believes a second season of Mid-Century Modern would allow the series to continue to deepen its characters and their connection to the audience. 'I think with the unfortunate passing of Linda, and how we treated that happening, [it's] indicative of how the show can and will move forward — with serious subject matter that happens in real life,' he says. 'And [it'll explore] why this chosen family is now even more important.'At the end of our time together, one thing is abundantly clear: These three actors have helped diffuse the stigma of the label 'openly gay actor' for members of the generation that follows. The show has also proven that the sitcom may actually be alive and well. The format still has new stories to tell, new families to visit, new life experiences to share … with a few 'F-bombs' and 'C-words' thrown in for good measure, all while 'filmed in front of a live studio audience' — just like The Golden Girls. Photographed by Irvin RiveraPhoto Assistant: Avery Cefre @dinoschmoodio; Nathan Lee Graham: Groomer: Steve Schepis (@steve_schepis); Styling: Clint Spires; Nathan Lane: Groomer: Angella Valentine (@angvalentine); Styling Team: Sam Spector @samspector Styling; Assistants: Katie Vaughan @kvaughan1 & Esther Pak @pakesther; Matt Bomer; Groomer: Jessi Butterfield @jessibutterfield; FASHION: 1ST LOOK, Nathan Lane: teal suit, white shirt: Suitshop; tie: Seaward and Stearn of London, pocket square: Tie Bar, shoes: Greats; 2nd Look: Vince Jacket, Vince pants, Brooks Brothers shirt, Marc Fisher shoes This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Good Morning America' Anchor and Wife Suffer Heartbreaking Family Loss
'Good Morning America' Anchor and Wife Suffer Heartbreaking Family Loss originally appeared on Parade. Good Morning America anchor George Stephanopoulos and his wife, Ali Wentworth, are reeling from a family loss days after a milestone celebration. Wentworth and Stephanopoulos lost their beloved dog Cooper just days after watching their oldest daughter Elliott graduate from Brown University. Taking to Instagram, Wentworth shared their sad news in a tearjerker post. 'I lost my longtime companion. The greatest dog and integral part of our family. He once swam after a giant Elk in a pond. Ate a whole bottle of melatonin and felt nothing. Always devoured all the candy in our Christmas stockings. Slept at the foot of our bed and dreamt running in place. He loved every species. Especially humans. Kissed and cuddled everyone that came through our door,' she began her caption. The social media share included a video tribute to Cooper to show just how much his family loved him. 'Cooper was unconditionally adored by all. I will miss him with all my heart. See you on the other side, Coop! We still have many squirrels to chase….' Wentworth ended her tribute. The comments section of the Instagram post was filled with love and support for Stephanopoulos, Wentworth, and their girls. Several of the condolence comments were from familiar faces. 'A special kind of heartbreak,' wrote Jennifer Garner, while Andy Cohen commented, 'oh my gd! Ali! I'm so sorry!!! I feel a connection to Cooper through Wacha. I am so sad about this.' Beth Stern, wife of shock jock Howard Stern, shared, 'Cooper helped me rescue that gull on the beach during one of our many beach walks... The bestest boy!!!!' and actress Demi Moore replied, 'Sending you all love! They are truly the most heart expanding gift we are blessed to share our life with!' 'Aww. I loved him. So sorry honey!' stated Will & Grace star Sean Hayes. That's just a snippet of the outpouring of love written to Wentworth, Stephanopoulos, and their family after they lost their beloved dog Cooper. Good Morning America airs weekdays on ABC. 🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 'Good Morning America' Anchor and Wife Suffer Heartbreaking Family Loss first appeared on Parade on May 30, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Actor Lauren Weedman Was Diagnosed With Bell's Palsy. Then, Hollywood Showed Up In The Most Unexpected Way.
Actor Lauren Weedman has depended on her lovely, expressive face to make a living in Hollywood for more than three decades. Weedman cracked audiences up in projects including 'Date Night,' 'Looking,' 'Will & Grace,' 'Arrested Development,' 'Euphoria,' 'Special' and 'Mom.' Recently, she's had recurring roles on Emmy-winning comedies 'Abbott Elementary' and 'Hacks.' Then, last August, the 56-year-old actor experienced severe facial paralysis. Weedman had developed Bell's palsy, which temporarily paralyzes the muscles on one side of the face. The exact cause of the condition is unknown, but Bell's palsy often stems from a viral infection that inflames the facial nerve. Stress can be a contributor. Her symptoms included complete freezing of the right side of her face, an inability to align her lips and smile normally, an inability to close her right eye, headache and general malaise. The paralysis began at the start of a three-week break from work. Weedman wasn't auditioning for new gigs. She was already employed, having shot two episodes of the new hourlong dark comedy 'Sirens,' which premiered May 22 on Netflix. 'The idea of sitting out and waiting for it to get better just was not an option,' Weedman wrote in a text to me. Some patients diagnosed with Bell's palsy experience drastic improvement in a few weeks. Many performers might've stayed silent about the condition, hoping to pick up where they left off once production resumed. Weedman knew she couldn't afford to wait out the symptoms. Not only because the single mom needed the money, but because she desperately wanted to remain part of that stellar 'Sirens' ensemble. Created by showrunner Molly Smith Metzler and based on her play 'Elemeno Pea,' the sexy, suspenseful, female-focused limited series stars Julianne Moore, Meghann Fahy, Milly Alcock, Kevin Bacon and Glenn Howerton. Weedman was cast as Patrice, the longtime chef of Moore's family. With three episodes left to shoot, that show had to go on. But without Weedman? Not if she had her say. 'I wanted to talk to [the 'Sirens' team] about it as soon as I could so I wouldn't be stressed the whole time,' the actor told me over Zoom from her home in Santa Monica, California. A video conference was scheduled between Weedman, Metzler and Quyen Tran, the director of Episodes 3 and 4. 'At that point, I had fallen in love with Lauren like everyone else had,' Metzler said in a phone interview. 'I just felt awful that she was going through something like that.' Grateful for Weedman's forthrightness — and struck by how candidly and hilariously she spoke about her symptoms — Metzler let the actor take the lead in making next steps. Whatever she needed, they'd make her performance for the series happen. 'We didn't even wanna conceive of the show without her in it,' Metzler said. '[Molly] was so kind … But it was really hard for me to think that I mattered,' Weedman said. Part of it was her Midwestern upbringing. The actor was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, then adopted and raised in Indianapolis. Mainly, Weedman was embarrassed. 'You don't make a big thing out of being hurt or sick,' Weedman said. So, she suggested they write Bell's palsy into her character's storyline. Metzler, surprised and impressed that Weedman was 'so, so game,' agreed. 'It's such a terrific character trait,' Metzler said, adding that the tortured, long-suffering Patrice is made more relatable and likable by uttering the line, 'Every summer, this happens; the stress of this job, my Bell's palsy is back.' This wasn't Weedman's first bout with Bell's palsy. She'd had a mild case while pregnant with her son, Leo, now 15, but it resolved relatively swiftly. This felt dreadfully different. By the time she returned to set, Weedman had gone through steroid and antiviral therapy, was receiving acupuncture and had quit drinking to reduce inflammation. At night, she'd tape her right eye shut to keep it from drying out. While she feared her performance would suffer, it didn't. But the fatigue and pain were unrelenting, and the prospect of watching herself made Weedman cringe. 'If it serves the character, I don't care if I look heavy or fat or bad or whatever,' she declared. 'But this one was a new level of [vanity].' Once 'Sirens' wrapped, Weedman still wasn't out of the woods. She'd long ago booked two recurring guest spots: 'Abbott Elementary,' where she plays Kristin Marie Schemmenti, the snarky sister of Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter), and 'Hacks,' where she portrays feisty Las Vegas Mayor Jo Pezzimenti. In both, she took the same tack. 'Our first and foremost concern was her health, and whether she felt comfortable being on camera,' 'Hacks' creator, showrunner and director Lucia Aniello shared via email. 'When she said she wanted to shoot, we just went with it!' Quinta Brunson, creator and star of ABC's 'Abbott Elementary,' said she was 'really excited about the opportunity' to keep working with Weedman through the condition. 'The way I look at it, that is what normalizes any form of otherness,' Brunson said. 'Her dealing with it falls in line with who [Lauren] is. She just rolls with the punches and does her job.' Weedman's face has visibly improved since shooting 'Sirens,' 'Abbott' and 'Hacks,' but her neurologist recently cautioned it might take a full year for her to recover completely. She credits talent reps Christie Smith and Lindsay Cohen of Rise Management with recently helping her land a guest spot as a psychotherapist on the upcoming second season of Netflix's 'Nobody Wants This.' But she also said she lost parts on at least two series — a new comedy, an Emmy-nominated drama — due to not yet having regained full control of her facial features. Weedman is at peace with all of it because she's 'so happy' she was able to keep working. And so, she marches on, buoyed by the unconditional support of her teen son, who told her, 'Mom, it's no big deal. This is your Bell's palsy era, that's all.'
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Actor Lauren Weedman Was Diagnosed With Bell's Palsy. Then, Hollywood Showed Up In The Most Unexpected Way.
Actor Lauren Weedman has depended on her lovely, expressive face to make a living in Hollywood for more than three decades. Weedman cracked audiences up in projects including 'Date Night,' 'Looking,' 'Will & Grace,' 'Arrested Development,' 'Euphoria,' 'Special' and 'Mom.' Recently, she's had recurring roles on Emmy-winning comedies 'Abbott Elementary' and 'Hacks.' Then, last August, the 56-year-old actor experienced severe facial paralysis. Weedman had developed Bell's palsy, which temporarily paralyzes the muscles on one side of the face. The exact cause of the condition is unknown, but Bell's palsy often stems from a viral infection that inflames the facial nerve. Stress can be a contributor. Her symptoms included complete freezing of the right side of her face, an inability to align her lips and smile normally, an inability to close her right eye, headache and general malaise. The paralysis began at the start of a three-week break from work. Weedman wasn't auditioning for new gigs. She was already employed, having shot two episodes of the new hourlong dark comedy 'Sirens,' which premiered May 22 on Netflix. 'The idea of sitting out and waiting for it to get better just was not an option,' Weedman wrote in a text to me. Some patients diagnosed with Bell's palsy experience drastic improvement in a few weeks. Many performers might've stayed silent about the condition, hoping to pick up where they left off once production resumed. Weedman knew she couldn't afford to wait out the symptoms. Not only because the single mom needed the money, but because she desperately wanted to remain part of that stellar 'Sirens' ensemble. Created by showrunner Molly Smith Metzler and based on her play 'Elemeno Pea,' the sexy, suspenseful, female-focused limited series stars Julianne Moore, Meghann Fahy, Milly Alcock, Kevin Bacon and Glenn Howerton. Weedman was cast as Patrice, the longtime chef of Moore's family. With three episodes left to shoot, that show had to go on. But without Weedman? Not if she had her say. 'I wanted to talk to [the 'Sirens' team] about it as soon as I could so I wouldn't be stressed the whole time,' the actor told me over Zoom from her home in Santa Monica, California. A video conference was scheduled between Weedman, Metzler and Quyen Tran, the director of Episodes 3 and 4. 'At that point, I had fallen in love with Lauren like everyone else had,' Metzler said in a phone interview. 'I just felt awful that she was going through something like that.' Grateful for Weedman's forthrightness — and struck by how candidly and hilariously she spoke about her symptoms — Metzler let the actor take the lead in making next steps. Whatever she needed, they'd make her performance for the series happen. 'We didn't even wanna conceive of the show without her in it,' Metzler said. '[Molly] was so kind … But it was really hard for me to think that I mattered,' Weedman said. Part of it was her Midwestern upbringing. The actor was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, then adopted and raised in Indianapolis. Mainly, Weedman was embarrassed. 'You don't make a big thing out of being hurt or sick,' Weedman said. So, she suggested they write Bell's palsy into her character's storyline. Metzler, surprised and impressed that Weedman was 'so, so game,' agreed. 'It's such a terrific character trait,' Metzler said, adding that the tortured, long-suffering Patrice is made more relatable and likable by uttering the line, 'Every summer, this happens; the stress of this job, my Bell's palsy is back.' This wasn't Weedman's first bout with Bell's palsy. She'd had a mild case while pregnant with her son, Leo, now 15, but it resolved relatively swiftly. This felt dreadfully different. By the time she returned to set, Weedman had gone through steroid and antiviral therapy, was receiving acupuncture and had quit drinking to reduce inflammation. At night, she'd tape her right eye shut to keep it from drying out. While she feared her performance would suffer, it didn't. But the fatigue and pain were unrelenting, and the prospect of watching herself made Weedman cringe. 'If it serves the character, I don't care if I look heavy or fat or bad or whatever,' she declared. 'But this one was a new level of [vanity].' Once 'Sirens' wrapped, Weedman still wasn't out of the woods. She'd long ago booked two recurring guest spots: 'Abbott Elementary,' where she plays Kristin Marie Schemmenti, the snarky sister of Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter), and 'Hacks,' where she portrays feisty Las Vegas Mayor Jo Pezzimenti. In both, she took the same tack. 'Our first and foremost concern was her health, and whether she felt comfortable being on camera,' 'Hacks' creator, showrunner and director Lucia Aniello shared via email. 'When she said she wanted to shoot, we just went with it!' Quinta Brunson, creator and star of ABC's 'Abbott Elementary,' said she was 'really excited about the opportunity' to keep working with Weedman through the condition. 'The way I look at it, that is what normalizes any form of otherness,' Brunson said. 'Her dealing with it falls in line with who [Lauren] is. She just rolls with the punches and does her job.' Weedman's face has visibly improved since shooting 'Sirens,' 'Abbott' and 'Hacks,' but her neurologist recently cautioned it might take a full year for her to recover completely. She credits talent reps Christie Smith and Lindsay Cohen of Rise Management with recently helping her land a guest spot as a psychotherapist on the upcoming second season of Netflix's 'Nobody Wants This.' But she also said she lost parts on at least two series — a new comedy, an Emmy-nominated drama — due to not yet having regained full control of her facial features. Weedman is at peace with all of it because she's 'so happy' she was able to keep working. And so, she marches on, buoyed by the unconditional support of her teen son, who told her, 'Mom, it's no big deal. This is your Bell's palsy era, that's all.'
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Actor Lauren Weedman Was Diagnosed With Bell's Palsy. Then, Hollywood Showed Up In The Most Unexpected Way.
Actor Lauren Weedman has depended on her lovely, expressive face to make a living in Hollywood for more than three decades. Weedman cracked audiences up in projects including 'Date Night,' 'Looking,' 'Will & Grace,' 'Arrested Development,' 'Euphoria,' 'Special' and 'Mom.' Recently, she's had recurring roles on Emmy-winning comedies 'Abbott Elementary' and 'Hacks.' Then, last August, the 56-year-old actor experienced severe facial paralysis. Weedman had developed Bell's palsy, which temporarily paralyzes the muscles on one side of the face. The exact cause of the condition is unknown, but Bell's palsy often stems from a viral infection that inflames the facial nerve. Stress can be a contributor. Her symptoms included complete freezing of the right side of her face, an inability to align her lips and smile normally, an inability to close her right eye, headache and general malaise. The paralysis began at the start of a three-week break from work. Weedman wasn't auditioning for new gigs. She was already employed, having shot two episodes of the new hourlong dark comedy 'Sirens,' which premiered May 22 on Netflix. 'The idea of sitting out and waiting for it to get better just was not an option,' Weedman wrote in a text to me. Some patients diagnosed with Bell's palsy experience drastic improvement in a few weeks. Many performers might've stayed silent about the condition, hoping to pick up where they left off once production resumed. Weedman knew she couldn't afford to wait out the symptoms. Not only because the single mom needed the money, but because she desperately wanted to remain part of that stellar 'Sirens' ensemble. Created by showrunner Molly Smith Metzler and based on her play 'Elemeno Pea,' the sexy, suspenseful, female-focused limited series stars Julianne Moore, Meghann Fahy, Milly Alcock, Kevin Bacon and Glenn Howerton. Weedman was cast as Patrice, the longtime chef of Moore's family. With three episodes left to shoot, that show had to go on. But without Weedman? Not if she had her say. 'I wanted to talk to [the 'Sirens' team] about it as soon as I could so I wouldn't be stressed the whole time,' the actor told me over Zoom from her home in Santa Monica, California. A video conference was scheduled between Weedman, Metzler and Quyen Tran, the director of Episodes 3 and 4. 'At that point, I had fallen in love with Lauren like everyone else had,' Metzler said in a phone interview. 'I just felt awful that she was going through something like that.' Grateful for Weedman's forthrightness — and struck by how candidly and hilariously she spoke about her symptoms — Metzler let the actor take the lead in making next steps. Whatever she needed, they'd make her performance for the series happen. 'We didn't even wanna conceive of the show without her in it,' Metzler said. '[Molly] was so kind … But it was really hard for me to think that I mattered,' Weedman said. Part of it was her Midwestern upbringing. The actor was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, then adopted and raised in Indianapolis. Mainly, Weedman was embarrassed. 'You don't make a big thing out of being hurt or sick,' Weedman said. So, she suggested they write Bell's palsy into her character's storyline. Metzler, surprised and impressed that Weedman was 'so, so game,' agreed. 'It's such a terrific character trait,' Metzler said, adding that the tortured, long-suffering Patrice is made more relatable and likable by uttering the line, 'Every summer, this happens; the stress of this job, my Bell's palsy is back.' This wasn't Weedman's first bout with Bell's palsy. She'd had a mild case while pregnant with her son, Leo, now 15, but it resolved relatively swiftly. This felt dreadfully different. By the time she returned to set, Weedman had gone through steroid and antiviral therapy, was receiving acupuncture and had quit drinking to reduce inflammation. At night, she'd tape her right eye shut to keep it from drying out. While she feared her performance would suffer, it didn't. But the fatigue and pain were unrelenting, and the prospect of watching herself made Weedman cringe. 'If it serves the character, I don't care if I look heavy or fat or bad or whatever,' she declared. 'But this one was a new level of [vanity].' Once 'Sirens' wrapped, Weedman still wasn't out of the woods. She'd long ago booked two recurring guest spots: 'Abbott Elementary,' where she plays Kristin Marie Schemmenti, the snarky sister of Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter), and 'Hacks,' where she portrays feisty Las Vegas Mayor Jo Pezzimenti. In both, she took the same tack. 'Our first and foremost concern was her health, and whether she felt comfortable being on camera,' 'Hacks' creator, showrunner and director Lucia Aniello shared via email. 'When she said she wanted to shoot, we just went with it!' Quinta Brunson, creator and star of ABC's 'Abbott Elementary,' said she was 'really excited about the opportunity' to keep working with Weedman through the condition. 'The way I look at it, that is what normalizes any form of otherness,' Brunson said. 'Her dealing with it falls in line with who [Lauren] is. She just rolls with the punches and does her job.' Weedman's face has visibly improved since shooting 'Sirens,' 'Abbott' and 'Hacks,' but her neurologist recently cautioned it might take a full year for her to recover completely. She credits talent reps Christie Smith and Lindsay Cohen of Rise Management with recently helping her land a guest spot as a psychotherapist on the upcoming second season of Netflix's 'Nobody Wants This.' But she also said she lost parts on at least two series — a new comedy, an Emmy-nominated drama — due to not yet having regained full control of her facial features. Weedman is at peace with all of it because she's 'so happy' she was able to keep working. And so, she marches on, buoyed by the unconditional support of her teen son, who told her, 'Mom, it's no big deal. This is your Bell's palsy era, that's all.'
