Whedonesque : Comments on 22050 : SMG's Pilot The Wonderful Maladys not picked up for series.

That's a shame. Interested in this Amy Sherman-Palladino thing, though... hopefully it's better than Jezebel James.

Oh noooo!I was really looking forward to that!
I hope SMG gets to be back on tv someday soon anyway, she's really missed..!

JotheCat | October 16, 20:06 CET

I was really looking forward to watching this. I wish it had got picked up. Does any1 know if it will ever get shown?

gingyfromshrek | October 16, 20:07 CET

I don't really care since I never saw the pilot and I don't know who the creator is, but this comes as a huge surprise considering there were great reviews of pilot and the script. I hope Sarah finds another great role soon.

danielgm | October 16, 20:07 CET

Quite unfair. Maybe it's good news for SMG as a new mom _you never know, but I can't help to wonder why BtVS's best actors haven't find a show fitting their talents. I'm glad they're working so much, but not in a way I can fully enjoy them.

And that doesn't mean of course I don't appreciate Allyson Hannigan's or David Boreanaz's works _and worthy success. But I can either help finding this upseting and unfair.

But you never know when bad news become good news _maybe this wasn't a good show anyway.

Small Blue Thing | October 16, 20:13 CET

...

That's me not sharing my opinion of SMG, but pointing out that I still have it.

ZachsMind | October 16, 20:15 CET

Well... not to be a bitch about it, but I find it odd that an actress would publicly declare that she wouldn't do TV anymore and five years later there she is in a pilot.

[ edited by danielgm86 on 2009-10-16 20:51 ]

danielgm | October 16, 20:18 CET

Well... not to be a bitch about it, but I find it odd that an actress would publicly declare that she wouldn't do TV anymore and five years later there she is in a pilot. Some actors have a hard time being humble.

If she had actually said that there might be something to what you said but she actually said she wanted to try movies and maybe in five years ( this was in 2003 ) try TV again .

garda39 | October 16, 20:25 CET

Technically it should read "HBO has..."

;)

didifallasleep | October 16, 20:30 CET

I remember her saying she wouldn't do TV anymore cause of the hours.

danielgm | October 16, 20:30 CET

Some actors have a hard time being humble.

That's me not sharing my opinion of SMG, but pointing out that I still have it.

I expect to see people talk about the show or SMG in a way that doesn't comment negatively on her as a person. Zach, reminding us you'd like to be saying something is almost as bad.

That said, I'm not all that familiar with the linked board or the commenter. Anyone here know if the source is reliable?

Sunfire | October 16, 20:42 CET

I have no idea, I never saw that board before.

Simon, I removed the comment, by the way, sorry.

[ edited by danielgm86 on 2009-10-16 20:51 ]

danielgm | October 16, 20:46 CET

I'm fairly excited for Amy Sherman-Palladino's thing. I adored Gilmore Girls - Never watched her sitcom. At least, with that getting a greenlit, I'll know for definite I have something to watch in the future.

A lot of actors say how stressful a TV work environment is. It's a lot of hours (SMG, and many others don't help themselves by scheduling films and the like in their time off.) So, HBO's 12 hours compared to the 22+ of network telly is a helluva difference.

Jayme | October 16, 20:54 CET

I remember her saying she wouldn't do TV anymore cause of the hours.

Yes she said the hours were long and tiring and she needed a rest hence the five year comment but she never said she wouldn't do TV anymore .

As for the board that is the SMGFAN board and I'm surprised people haven't herard of it

Temponaut who posted the news orignally is reliable .He's unearthed other information which was true so I've no reason to doubt him

garda39 | October 16, 20:57 CET

I loved Gilmore Girls too, Amy Sherman-Palladino is a very smart writer, she created a really unique world and some of the funniest characters on TV. Jane Espenson wrote a couple of episodes in season 4.

danielgm | October 16, 20:59 CET

For what it's worth, Nate Corddry is guesting on an upcoming episode of 30 Rock. May not mean anything (Jon Hamm, for example, guested last year, and Mad Men is still going on), but it does indicate that he is doing other work at the moment.

JMaloney | October 16, 21:05 CET

Pity, would've liked to see SMG onscreen again. As to the time thing, this was a half-hour show on cable which means a shorter working day and fewer months of the year working on it (much less of a time commitment than an hour network show with a season of 22-24 episodes where, from what I gather from interviews etc., 12-14 hour days aren't particularly uncommon).

(actors take films during the summer hiatus because they want, just the same as anyone else who works for a living, to introduce as much variety into their professional lives as possible and to develop their careers and also because no-matter how exhausted you are, you only need a certain amount of time to recover. 6 weeks off before working again is as effective as 12 weeks in other words)

Saje | October 16, 21:33 CET

Man what a pity. l was looking forward to seeing Sarah on tv again. l ready miss her.

zee | October 16, 23:09 CET

Does anyone know if Amy Sherman-Palladino's thing has been picked up, or if she's just producing the pilot?

Jobo | October 16, 23:10 CET

I was thinking it might not be picked up with Amy's new show sharing a very similiar premise. That's too bad. :(

Though I'm really looking forward to ASP returning to TV.

Rhodey | October 16, 23:35 CET

On side note, temponaut also contacted the pilot director Alan Taylor and he said the following:

Sadly... the rumors are true. WM will not be going to series.

chazman | October 16, 23:44 CET

:( That's so not fair.

Allen Doyle | October 17, 00:41 CET

Seeing as how the thriller she filmed with Lee Pace will probably never see the light of day and there's no American release date in sight for Veronika Decides to Die, I was counting on TWM as my best hope for seeing SMG in something worthwhile. I'm very disappointed by this news.

Lirazel | October 17, 01:19 CET

This sucks :( I was really looking forward to seeing Sarah regularly again.

maje | October 17, 01:38 CET

I think I recall Freddy saying in an interview (something along the lines of) SMG being 'too good' for tv. I hope these sorts of comments don't have any bearing on their careers. Disappointing this didn't get picked up. I was looking forward to this. I hope SMG will be back on tv soon.

[ edited by NuVanessa on 2009-10-17 01:54 ]

NuVanessa | October 17, 01:43 CET

I think I recall Freddy saying in an interview (something along the lines of SMG being 'too good' for tv.

I thought that comment of Freddie's only had bearing on any future Buffy-related television ventures, not television as a whole. I could be mistaken though.

That's too bad about the show, however. I really love Sarah and thought it would be great to see her on TV regularly again.

I am stoked for Amy Sherman-Palladino, though. I agree that she is a very smart writer and that Gilmore Girls, for a majority of the time she was still running it, was a really unique and interesting world to visit weekly. It's great that she's getting another TV gig.

[ edited by jiggyfly on 2009-10-17 01:47 ]

jiggyfly | October 17, 01:46 CET

Amy Sherman Palladino (and her husband Daniel) did a great job with Gilmore Girls. Their follow-up, The Return of Jezebel James was...not as good.

Interestingly, she was a writer on Roseanne as well.

JMaloney | October 17, 02:19 CET

Ooh, thanks for reminding me how much I like Daniel Palladino too. I hope he writes for this HBO show. His Gilmore Girls eps were always my favorites.

Jobo | October 17, 02:23 CET

Why does this keep happening? :(

Emmie | October 17, 03:09 CET

Well.....this is good. More time for baby...and a possible stint on DH.

I wish.

SuperLaz | October 17, 03:25 CET

Whether or not Sarah said "no TV" or "no TV anytime soon" is irrelevant. She's allowed to change her mind nearly five years after the fact. Also, as others have stated above, this is a different circumstance. It's a premium cable show. It's shorter, both in season order and episode running time, and the hours are also greatly reduced. I'm sure it helped that the show probably didn't require any extensive stunt work or special makeup effects for Sarah. :)

According to a source at Spitfire Pix, Possession (starring Lee Pace and Sarah) is currently looking at a release date of February, 2010. Just a few months away from now. I'm not sure if this pertains to a theatrical release or direct to DVD. If I had to make an educated guess, especially given the film's long history and independent nature, it's probably the latter.

kungfubear | October 17, 04:12 CET

Sarah would be "allowed" to change her mind 5 minutes after saying "no TV" if she wanted to. It's her life and she can do whatever she pleases with it. That's not a dig at you kungfubear, I understand what you’re saying, just at anyone having the audacity to make snide remarks about her changing her mind and taking control of her life.

I for one am disappointed that this didn’t get picked up as I’d love to see SMG on our screens again and from what I heard, the script and pilot got rave reviews.

[ edited by vampmogs on 2009-10-17 05:05 ]

vampmogs | October 17, 05:01 CET

HBO passed on both Mad Men and Breaking Bad... just something to keep in mind.

hiddenicon | October 17, 05:05 CET

*highfives hiddenicon* Optimism, I like it. I really don't want to believe this news and probably won't for a little bit lol. I'm gonna hold out and have some hope before I give up and cave in to believing this horrible news.

holypotatoes | October 17, 05:53 CET

I think Spitfire Pix picture may be trying for a theatrical release for Possession as FOX have tried to release it twice on DVD and the release has been pulled both times .

Robb Sullivan, the editor of Possession has confirmed that Spitfire had tried for a theatrical release last summer but their plans had fell through .

garda39 | October 17, 06:42 CET

I hope there is some other network like AMC or F/X that would be interested in picking it up. It sounded interesting.

Donnie | October 17, 08:11 CET

Wow @ some of the comments in here, just wow.

Kyotoyoshi | October 17, 09:13 CET

According to Kristen over at eonline nothings set in stone yet...

jighooligan101 | October 17, 13:48 CET

I'm looking at Kristen's report and the lack of comment at HBO as pretty much confirmation that it's DOA. Also, we have another quote from TWM director Alan Taylor c/o temponaut re the possible release of the pilot:

Perhaps if enough fans let HBO know that they regret the decision, HBO might reconsider. But I doubt HBO will release the pilot.

chazman | October 17, 14:25 CET

Along with a couple of you I hope AMC picks it up. With Mad Men and Breaking Bad I'd rather have a show on AMC than HBO anyway.

RazorBlade | October 17, 15:06 CET

Plus n side is she's more free for features and guest shots. Any chance Lucas or Spielberg or Ridley Scott is planning a third version of SHE!?

Freddy made one rude-ish comment towards the end of BtVS; a lot of folks were under strain at the time and it was to be expected.

DaddyCatALSO | October 17, 19:01 CET

Two points really. Both are kind of digs, but they're not meant from any mean spirited place.

For HBO in general, they seem to have become complacent in their position. I don't see them really having capitalized on their position post The Wire. When I want edgy, original programming I don't necessarily think HBO anymore. That said, a normal family drama (even dysfunctional) isn't edgy. Although since I never saw it, it could have been original.

For SMG, I like her as an actress. But at the same time, I can't begrudge people their position. The problem with being Buffy, or Kirk, or Mal, is that IF you open your mouth and say something that can be construed as even slightly arrogant or ungrateful, it will be taken as such by some people. It's not fair, but that's the reality of being a star. Fillion works his magic because he sounds grateful all the time. If that's how he actually feels, I'm not sure. However as a career approach, it is infinitely better than, "I think I might be better than this." It doesn't mean it's not true, you just can't allow people to believe that it is how you really feel. After all, the producers who are informing the casting process, really don't want to have to deal with an actor's ego unless they're selling the actors and not the project. Even then, I'm sure they'd go with the least obnoxious A-list actor they could find given equal star power.

It's not about her taking control of her career now. She's always had control. It is the unfortunate reality of things that you've said in the past never really being forgotten. And as Rush Limbaugh would probably attest, that can prevent you from doing things you might like to do.

[ edited by azzers on 2009-10-17 22:58 ]

azzers | October 17, 20:50 CET

Don't know how to do the linky thingy, but there's a little bit more info at E! http://uk.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b149465_mysterious_maladys_sarah_michelle.html

Basff | October 17, 21:45 CET

After all, the producers who are informing the casting process, really don't want to have to deal with an actor's ego unless they're selling the actors and not the project. Even then, I'm sure they'd go with the least obnoxious A-list actor they could find given equal star power....It is the unfortunate reality of things that you've said in the past never really being forgotten

The deal for this series with the writer was that SMG was always going to Alice Malady and an executive producer so there was no casting of her by any casting staff .

Therefore if you had any problem with her why on earth sign the deal in the first place .

Unless you wanted a very expensive way , half a million or $1m for the pilot presumably , to say "fuck you" to someone .

garda39 | October 18, 00:46 CET

Aww. :(

Still waiting to watch more SMG projects. Hope not to wait too long. Still, one door closes, we all know the drill.

Jav | October 18, 01:10 CET

garda, I'm not making the case that the Maladys are an example of this. It was a counterpoint to the discussion about SMG changing her position on television and that I understand the criticism of her. I don't necessarily agree with it.

My point was far more general. Having said these things in the past, SMG has put herself in an awkward position. Especially when trying to get hired. You said yourself, SMG IS the producer in this case. If it's SMG's project, as an associate producer maybe you worry less about the things she says about it.

If however, this was your project and she was only an actor you might think twice about casting someone who vocally talked about NOT doing television and who has ever been associated with the idea of being too good for television.

In truth, I don't think honest people should have to deal with this kind of thing. SMG should be able to aspire to do major motion pictures without people getting offended (she's good enough) and people like Tony Romo should be able to lose a football game and say "it's not the end of the world." They are both honest, realistic sentiments. That's just unfortunately NOT what fans or management will ever want to hear. Icons aren't allowed to be transparently ambitious or realistic. They need to play their assigned part and do so with their "heart" on their sleeve. Anything less, and people get mad.

[ edited by azzers on 2009-10-18 03:20 ]

azzers | October 18, 03:14 CET

I'm sure that HBO passed on the scripts or the pitches for Mad Men and Breaking Bad and not the finished pilots. Someone correct me if I am wrong. I seriously doubt anyone else will look at this HBO produced pilot. It sounds DOA.

I hope I never say something that is memorized by ardent "fans" so that I can never be forgiven for changing my mind at a later date. Also, I hope I am never publicly quoted being protective of my partner. That could get me in all kinds of trouble later.

TamaraC | October 18, 03:28 CET

Can you look at someone elses produced pilot? I honestly don't know which is why I'm asking. I'd think if a network produced a pilot there wouldd be some sort of "no compete" clause to it.

azzers | October 18, 03:33 CET

azzers, it can be done. I've never heard of it being done at HBO though. If Universal was making a pilot for NBC and NBC decided not to pick it up then NBC might allow them to shop it to other networks. Doesn't happen very often.

TamaraC | October 18, 03:43 CET

If however, this was your project and she was only an actor you might think twice about casting someone who vocally talked about NOT doing television and who has ever been associated with the idea of being too good for television.

I seriously doubt anyone putting together a project in Hollywood is going to worry about gossip magazine quotes. If an actor gets a bad rep in Hollywood it's because of on-set behavior, not something like this.

witchlover | October 18, 03:54 CET

Sarah Michelle's projects sometimes don't reach the big, small or nano screen because she's taken on daring projects. I hope she has a big pile of Buffy bucks banked so that she can continue to choose projects on their artistic merits and to shine in them. As she is the Best. Actor. Ever. :D

Pointy | October 18, 04:21 CET

SMG should be able to aspire to do major motion pictures without people getting offended.

It seems the only people who got offended by Freddie's remarks are fans otherwise why was she apparently getting offers to appear on various TV shows including HIMYM .

As for other point witchlover has answered that excellently

garda39 | October 18, 05:38 CET

The comment by Sarah Michelle Gellar that has caused debate here was made during a press junket in New York for ‘The Grudge’ in 2004:

“In terms of working on another television series, I would definitely not consider one in the next five years. I just physically cannot do it.”

I can hardly believe that this comment could be construed to have had serious implications for her career or says anything bad about her.

The comment made by Freddie Prinze Jr in 2003 about Gellar’s decision to leave BtVS (the comment had nothing whatsoever to do about her attitude towards television generally) was:

“She’s a very strong woman, because she deals with a lot of nonsense, and instead of that nonsense, she should be thanked -- and she’s not. That’s the reason she won’t be coming back.”

Once again, does anyone seriously believe this off-the-cuff remark, whether or not it was justified or something that should have been said in a public forum, would sound the death-knell of her career?

alien lanes | October 18, 11:52 CET

I think we're starting to veer wildly off the topic here, if we could get back to Sarah's pilot not being picked up it would be awfully appreciated.

Simon | October 18, 12:49 CET

Sarah was offered HIMYM? I hadn't heard about that, what fun that would be!

Pointy, you've got a good point. She has chosen to do some pretty out there projects. So far, nothing I have wanted to see, except this one, but I don't get HBO so I hope it gets picked up by someone else. And aside from Buffy bucks, didn't she get paid a huge pile of Scooby bucks? I'm assuming that should hold her over for a very long time, seeing as how she is a smart woman with no apparent partying, drug type spending issues.

Xane | October 18, 15:52 CET

Aww, that is indeed a major bummer. I was really looking forward to the series. :(

Lunakitty | October 18, 19:52 CET

That really makes me upset! D: I wanna see SMG back on TV!

Fred_Sonja | October 19, 00:26 CET

I was really hoping to see this series on television.

Anne 5_by_5 | October 19, 07:37 CET

I was too. Hopefully she'll get something soon.

Simon | October 19, 09:14 CET

October 16 2009