MovieChat Forums > The Last Man on Earth (2015) Discussion > Interviews and news

Interviews and news

posted 8 years ago by grchereck
47 replies | jump to latest

AV Club: Random Roles with Mary Steenburgen

http://www.avclub.com/article/mary-steenburgen-last-man-earth-her-lucky-break-an-233125 

Right off the bat, she has some sweet things to say about LMOE:

The A.V. Club: After the midseason finale The Last Man On Earth delivered, it’s hard to imagine that anyone who watches it with any semblance of regularity hasn’t been ecstatic at the thought of the series coming back.

Mary Steenburgen: Aw! That’s so nice to hear! We are really crossing all fingers and hoping that it does well. We felt very optimistic about it. I was emailing with Kristen Schaal this morning, as a matter of fact. There’s just a really close-knit thing among all of us. It’s just one of those things that gelled, and we bonded. We get together when we don’t have to! [Laughs.] We like spending time together, and within two weeks of the [filming of the] season ending, we were all emailing how much we missed each other and wanted to see each other! That’s a pretty lucky thing.

It’s just a very creative experience, because it doesn’t have a lot of boundaries. Because we are creating our own world. We’re taking horrible bits of the past and our most petty selves—and occasionally our biggest, bravest, most optimistic selves—and playing survivors. We’re playing people who somehow, through whatever it is we don’t even understand about ourselves that caused us not to die with everyone else, are survivors. Sometimes we do that well, and sometimes we’re just showing the worst of humanity. I think it’s fascinating to play the gamut.

What I love about my character is that she’s brave enough to recognize when she comes to the wall of inevitability that she’s the only person there that is going to attempt to perform surgery on her friend that clearly has appendicitis. Before that, she tries every which way to get out of it, but when she comes to that, she’s brave enough to do her best. And she doesn’t succeed, but I love that I have both that kind of bravery and also I’m deeply flawed and using a lot of what’s going on as a reason to just anesthetize myself with booze.

It’s just such a beautiful, crazy tone that we work in. It feels so unique, the show, that we do the deepest things and then the most ridiculous, absurd, idiotic things within seconds of each other. And all of it somehow feels right to the world that we’re creating amongst the seven of us.

AVC: The midseason finale felt like a warning shot to everyone watching that the show isn’t just a comedy. It felt like a declaration: “We’ve been trying to tell you this, but in case you hadn’t figured it out yet, now we’ve really underlined it.”

MS: Right! And people that want it to just be funny should not despair, because there is so much true crazy comedy coming up. [Laughs.] But it definitely is in your face a little bit and throws a lot of depth in there, as it should. It’s not the sitcom version of the end of the world or the beginning of the new world. It’s much more profound than that, and just the edge that we feel sometimes when we’re on it… It’s terribly exciting. And it’s really all ultimately so inspired by Will Forte. You can’t talk about a single bit of it without just saying that his is such a unique mind. I’m around him every day for seven or eight months a year, and we constantly find ourselves looking at each other, watching our jaws drop at something he just said or did or is proposing that we’re going to do.

And the read-throughs are fascinating, because we don’t really see these scripts until the day of the read-through. I don’t know how much of the writing process you know, but I’m told it’s not the writers’ fault, it’s Will’s fault. [Laughs.] He’s doing so much, you know? He’s helping to write, he’s editing, he’s acting... He’s completely involved. And there’s this kind of wonderful Saturday Night Live improvisational edge to all of it, so sometimes when we’re doing our read-throughs, we’re literally reading it for the first time! So we’re performing, but we’re also the audience, because we don’t know what’s going to happen, and there are moments where we’re kind of gasping with surprise or getting emotional.

You wouldn’t think it’s that kind of show, but it goes there. It really does. These last episodes that are coming up have some really extraordinary themes, and there are things in them that, when we were doing them, we just kept saying, “Not only have I never done this before, but I’ve never seen this before!” [Laughs.]

"I know I'm not normal -- but I'm trying to change!" ~ Muriel's Wedding

[–] neumar 8 years ago

there is so much true crazy comedy coming up

3rd season??

So we’re performing, but we’re also the audience, because we don’t know what’s going to happen, and there are moments where we’re kind of gasping with surprise or getting emotional.

I immediately remembered of Todd's laugh when Phil revealed that he was hidding in front of the christmas tree.

[–] grchereck 8 years ago

3rd season??

Nope, she was referring to the rest of this current season (2.5) -- after this weekend, there are 4 new episodes in April and 2 more in May. Unfortunately, near as I can tell, nobody involved with the show knows yet whether or not it will be renewed for a third season. 

"I know I'm not normal -- but I'm trying to change!" ~ Muriel's Wedding

[–] grchereck 8 years ago

LMOE and B99 have been renewed for 3rd and 4th seasons, respectively:

http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/last-man-on-earth-brooklyn-nine-nine-renewed-1201738722/ 

"I know I'm not normal -- but I'm trying to change!" ~ Muriel's Wedding

[–] hotrats2112 8 years ago

Unfortunately, near as I can tell, nobody involved with the show knows yet whether or not it will be renewed for a third season.

Don't you get tired of being wrong all the time???? 😀

Third season WOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Also this!

making it the network’s top-rated live-action comedy

[–] grchereck 8 years ago

To be fair, those posts were two weeks apart -- it's possible during that time, the network was just waiting to look at the "Live + 7" DVR and streaming numbers for the first two episodes back from the break. 

But yeah, while I was a little worried about viewers getting frustrated and quitting the show because of the three-month winter hiatus and then another three-week break for the holidays, considering that even its lowest-rated episodes so far have fared way better than the likes of Cooper Barrett and Bordertown, it shouldn't have been a surprise that FOX wouldn't want to let this baby go just yet. 

"I know I'm not normal -- but I'm trying to change!" ~ Muriel's Wedding

[–] hotrats2112 8 years ago

To be fair, those posts were two weeks apart

I know that. Just pulling your leg. (metaphorically)

I tried to watch Bordertown. Even just to support the likes of Hank Azaria, Missi Pyle and Judah Friedlander. I tried anyway...

[–] grchereck 8 years ago

IndieWire: Forte, Lord & Miller talk about season 2

http://www.indiewire.com/article/will-forte-wants-to-be-sure-that-the-last-man-on-earth-will-always-keep-you-guessing-20160312

Forte praised Sudeikis' work, saying, "With Jason you do get a little vacation. That guy is so good. He is so funny and such a great actor. He just makes everything better. It made our job as writers much easier. He makes us all look really good."



"[Will] doesn't go halfway on anything, and he really pushes it in a way no other performer that I know does," [Chris] Miller said, mentioning as just one example: "Later on in the season, [Phil] shaves half his body, and [Forte] had to walk around for months with half hair and a half beard."

"It makes me so happy, except for when I have to sit next to him at a Clippers game and that's what he looks like," [Phil] Lord added...

And there are plenty more twists to come, according to Forte... "A lot of times the sections of the show that we can let [FOX] promote are such small slivers. How the heck do you make an ad from this?"

 Man, I cannot wait to see that... (I mean, I've seen a few pix of him out and about with the half-shaven look; but I curious to see it comes about in the context of the story.)

"We totally underestimated the audience's appetite for surprise and invention," Lord said. "We thought we were gonna get them to take their medicine with this crazy pilot, and then eventually it would just turn into a normal show. But the feedback was, 'No, we want the crazy stuff.'"

"I know I'm not normal -- but I'm trying to change!" ~ Muriel's Wedding

[–] grchereck 8 years ago

http://www.tvguide.com/news/fox-fall-2016-schedule/

Fall 2016:

SUNDAY
7/6c: NFL On Fox
7:30/6:30c: The OT/Bob's Burgers
8/7c: The Simpsons
8:30/7:30c: Son of Zorn (new)
9/8c: Family Guy
9:30/8:30c: The Last Man on Earth

Sunday is Fox's big comedy block, with new live-action/animated series Son of Zorn sandwiched between institutions The Simpsons (which will hit its 600th episode next season) and Family Guy.

Winter/Spring 2017:

SUNDAY
7:30/6:30c: Bob's Burgers
8/7c: The Simpsons
8:30/7:30c: Making History (new)
9/8c: Family Guy
9:30/8:30c: The Last Man on Earth

Same comedy lineup as the fall, with the exception of Son of Zorn, which will be replaced by another new comedy, Making History, which follows the time-traveling adventures of Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester.

"I know I'm not normal -- but I'm trying to change!" ~ Muriel's Wedding

[–] grchereck 8 years ago

FOX's presentation for TV Upfronts 2016 week was today -- LMOE producers Phil Lord & Chris Miller debuted trailers for their upcoming shows Son of Zorn and Making History:

http://splitsider.com/2016/05/check-out-the-trailers-for-foxs-son-of-zorn-making-history-and-the-mick/

As much as I like Jason, I think I have higher hopes for MH than SoZ... 

***

Also, a pic of JJ, Will and Kristen at the Upfronts:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFg7fsVjhOM/ 

If s.3 picks up were s.2 left off, looks like Phil/Tandy may be sporting the bald / clean-shaven look for much of the season rather than his usual long hair and beard.  (Another look he could try: Keep shaving the head while letting the beard grow out...)

"I know I'm not normal -- but I'm trying to change!" ~ Muriel's Wedding

[–] grchereck 8 years ago

Pop-punk rockers Good Charlotte are "the last band on Earth" in their new clip, "40 oz. Dream":
http://radio.com/2016/06/09/good-charlottes-40-oz-dream/

Benji Madden described the video as “A little tribute to our favorite show and the God, Will Forte.” The Last Man on Earth focuses on a group of people who find one another after a mysterious virus wipes out most of the human race.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMp_xIUy8L4

Includes stolen artifacts, ball-buddies, a mannequin, a malt-liquor pool, and parking-lot bowling. Oh, and love the flashlights taped to the overhead light fixture in the bar... 

"I know I'm not normal -- but I'm trying to change!" ~ Muriel's Wedding

[–] hotrats2112 8 years ago

They couldn't get the actual ball buddies from the show?? I bet Will Forte would have been OK with that. Unless they're booked on a promotional tour or something.

[–] grchereck 8 years ago

This past Thursday night at the Landmark Theater in L.A., Deadline held a screening of LMOE 2x18 and a Q&A panel with Will Forte, Kristen Schaal, Mary Steenburgen, January Jones and Cleopatra Coleman:

http://deadline.com/2016/06/the-last-man-on-earth-january-jones-will-forte-kristen-schaal-panel-interview-1201770472/

As problematic as these mystery [Hazmat] men may be, Schaal’s Carol and Coleman’s Erica are set to give birth next season, developments that should prove difficult without the trappings of a functioning—or even existing—society. Per Forte, family issues were a hot topic for debate among the show’s female writers. “Two women were saying, ‘There’s no way, in this type of society, would I ever have a kid. And the other two were like, ‘Well, you have to produce offspring to keep mankind going,'” explained the Saturday Night Live alum.

And then there’s childbirth itself — without medical professionals around, just how will this go down? “I’m out of this,” 63 year-old Steenburgen quipped, leaving Schaal to hysterically deliver a brief history lesson. “If I may — back in the day, before society became a little more advanced, women would just go in the fields, get on all fours, and just shoot the baby out. They’d take the baby out and be like, ‘It’s done,’ said the Daily Show correspondent. “Then King Henry VIII comes along, and he’s intimidated by this. He’s like, ‘No, no! I want to see it!’ So all of a sudden, women are on their backs, pushing out the baby in a very unnatural way, for the men to see it happen,” added Schaal.

“I’m hoping,” she continues, “in this show, we’ll all go out into a field, squat, and get it done.”

“….But who is going to deliver the baby?” Forte deadpanned.

 I kinda hope this panel was filmed so it can be a bonus feature on the s.2 DVD (like last year's Awardsline panel -- with Will, Kristen, Phil Lord & Chris Miller -- was included on the s.1 DVD)...

***

Also, some short red-carpet interviews with Will and the ladies:

https://www.redcarpetreporttv.com/2016/06/10/we-get-the-scoop-on-whats-happening-with-foxs-the-last-man-on-earth-at-awardslines-screening-panel-lastmanonearth-video/ 

"I know I'm not normal -- but I'm trying to change!" ~ Muriel's Wedding

[–] grchereck 8 years ago

Full list of 2016 Emmy nominations here:
http://emmys.org/sites/default/files/Downloads/68th-nominations-list-v2.pdf

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series

black-ish • ABC • ABC Studios
Anthony Anderson as Andre Johnson

The Last Man On Earth • FOX • 20th Century Fox Television
Will Forte as Phil Miller

Master Of None • Netflix • Universal Television, Oh Brudder Productions, Alan Yang Productions, Fremulon Productions, 3 Arts Entertainment
Aziz Ansari as Dev

Shameless • Showtime • SHOWTIME Presents, John Wells Productions, Warner Bros. Television
William H. Macy as Frank Gallagher

Silicon Valley • HBO • HBO Entertainment in association with Judgemental Films, Alec Berg and 3 Arts Entertainment
Thomas Middleditch as Richard

Transparent • Amazon • Amazon Studios
Jeffrey Tambor as Maura Pfefferman

Congrats, Will! 

I wonder what episode/clip he must have submitted, though... I know "Silent Night" (Tim McAuliffe) and "Pitch Black" (John Solomon & David Noel) were subbed for writing, both of those (Jason Woliner and John Solomon, respectively) plus "Smart and Stupid" (Payman Benz) were subbed for directing, and also "Silent Night" was subbed for one of the picture-editing categories ...  My guesses / favorite standout moments for Phil/Tandy:

1) "Dead Man Walking" -- the holdup
2) "No Bull" -- tie: Tandy's "team" talk, and the scene with the rocks
3) "Silent Night" -- Tandy going back-and-forth between Erica's baby and Phil 2's appendix
4) "Valhalla" -- the "closure" song
5) "Falling Slowly" -- Tandy's love confession during Mike and Carol's sex scene
6) "30 Years of Science Down the Tubes" -- tie: Tandy talking to Carol's baby, and his goodbye to Mike 

"I know I'm not normal -- but I'm trying to change!" ~ Muriel's Wedding

[–] hotrats2112 8 years ago

I really hope he wins. It'll probably got to Jeffrey Tambor (again) but I'm rooting for Will or Aziz.

[–] Alice-Morgan 8 years ago

Yeah but Will totally deserves it. I'm not a fan of comedy shows (prefer dramas, sci-fi/fantasy, horror etc) but I was hooked from the pilot with this one and that was all for Will, he is frikin' awesome  congrats.

So go on. Kiss me. Kill me. Do something.

[–] hotrats2112 8 years ago

Yeah but Will totally deserves it.

I agree 100%. He has put everything into this show and it's paid off. I'm still angry Alive in Tucson didn't win for writing. One of the best episodes of television ever done. And I've watched a lot of television. I really want him to win.

But I would rather he lose to Aziz Ansari just because..

[–] grchereck 8 years ago

Well, he lost to Jeffrey Tambor, again...  (Good speech from him, though; and his Garry Shandling tribute was quite touching. )

I was a little disappointed that there weren't full clips for the Comedy categories like there were for the Lead Actor in a Drama category.  But I noticed the little clip montage for Will apparently came from the "Fourth Finger" episode (Tandy spying on Mike in the ghillie suit, trying to comb over his half-'do, and on the beach after he rolled off the cliff). 

"I know I'm not normal -- but I'm trying to change!" ~ Muriel's Wedding

[–] hotrats2112 8 years ago

Well, he lost to Jeffrey Tambor, again

I'd like to say I'm surprised but if you read back on one of these threads when they announced the nominees you will see that I'm not. Good for Jeffrey Tambor, I do love the guy, but it would have been nice to see this show get a win.

The good news is we're now less than a week away!

[–] grchereck 8 years ago

Yep! 

In the meantime, I haven't been able to find any red-carpet pix of Will, but apparently he was at the Emmys afterparty with his mom:

http://www.people.com/people/package/article/0,,21026212_21031022,00.html (the last pic in the article) 

"I know I'm not normal -- but I'm trying to change!" ~ Muriel's Wedding

[–] hotrats2112 8 years ago

Leslie Jones kills me. The celebrity Naked and Afraid she did with Peter Dinklage on SNL is one of the funniest things I've seen recently. There's a good bit from Seth Meyers too where they watch an episode of Games of Thrones that she had already seen but he hadn't and she freaks out through the whole thing. Good stuff.

[–] grchereck 8 years ago

That "Naked & Afraid" bit was a hoot, but I especially love her Weekend Update commentaries -- the one rant about being given flowers ("They stink of DEATH!") was probably my favorite so far. 

"I know I'm not normal -- but I'm trying to change!" ~ Muriel's Wedding

[–] grchereck 8 years ago

I'm just glad he didn't get overlooked entirely, since the show itself didn't get recognized for anything else. 

"I know I'm not normal -- but I'm trying to change!" ~ Muriel's Wedding

[–] grchereck 8 years ago

Here's what Will had to say about his nom:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/emmys-nominees-reactions-2016-announcement-911036/item/emmy-noms-2016-will-forte-911247

"I was talking to my family this morning and the Fortes are all very excited. It was my first time I've ever [watched the live stream.] I thought it was on super early in the morning and so when nobody texted me, I just figured I didn't get nominated. But then I went to the website and it ended up being really great. My agent, he called me up right after they announced it so we had a chat — but then I went for a run because I have this weight loss bet with my buddy.* It's getting down to crunch time. My buddy and I really needed motivation so we said that if we don't reach a certain goal, we each have to donate $1,000 to the Trump campaign. So it's very important that I lose this weight. We just needed something that would for sure fire us up to do it, and that really has lit the fire under both of us. I have the advantage of having really fattened up last season so it's easier to lose that weight when you're grossly obese … But it was a really good run, I'll tell you that. A lot of good energy. It's been a great morning. And we're starting production in a couple weeks so we'll be spending a lot of time in the writers room banging our head against the wall trying to figure out what we're doing. But it'll be fun to be in there and hang out with the people who are the biggest part of getting me into this position to be nominated."

* Will previously talked about his weight-loss bet (with friend/LMOE writer David Noel) on his recent Tonight Show appearance:

http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/the-tonight-show-starring-jimmy-fallon/video/628162/will-forte-tells-jimmy-how-he-lost-weight-26424744/ 

"I know I'm not normal -- but I'm trying to change!" ~ Muriel's Wedding

[–] hotrats2112 8 years ago

And we're starting production in a couple weeks

Hip hop hooray!

[–] grchereck 8 years ago

6) "30 Years of Science Down the Tubes" -- tie: Tandy talking to Carol's baby, and his goodbye to Mike

Looks like I was right about this one:

http://www.goldderby.com/article/2016/emmy-awards-anthony-anderson-will-forte-episode-submissions-news-975318642/

Gold Derby has exclusively learned the episode submissions to Emmy Awards voters by two of the 2016 nominees for Best Comedy Actor. Anthony Anderson is entering the “black-ish” episode titled “Hope.” And Will Forte has selected “The Last Man on Earth” season finale called “30 Years of Science Down the Tubes.”

Anderson is nominated for the second straight year in this category and also contends as one of the show’s producers for Best Comedy Series. He plays Andre “Dre” Johnson, an advertising executive trying to pass along his urban upbringing to seemingly uninterested kids. According to the official ABC listing for his episode submission: “When the kids ask some tough questions in the midst of a highly publicized court case involving alleged police brutality and an African-American teenager, Dre and Bow are conflicted on how best to field them.”

Forte also contends again in this category for a second year running; he has three previous nominations in his career. He plays Phil “Tandy” Miller, who once believed he was the final person living after a virus has wiped out the population in 2019. According to the Fox listing for his episode: “Phil and Mike grow closer than ever and the whole Malibu group gets a big friggin’ surprise.”

Excellent choice. 

"I know I'm not normal -- but I'm trying to change!" ~ Muriel's Wedding

[–] grchereck 8 years ago

Analysis of Will's Emmy episode submission (2x18, "30 Years of Science Down the Tubes"):

http://www.goldderby.com/article/2016/emmy-awards-will-forte-the-last-man-on-earth-season-finale-news-1357924680/

PROS
Forte. Is. Funny. That’s something not all of his competitors can say, as frontrunner Jeffrey Tambor (“Transparent”) and dark horse William H. Macy (“Shameless”) both hail from dramedies.

Thanks to this episode’s storyline, Forte gets to show incredible range, from emotional (dealing with his family issues) to silly (the jar scene in the attic).

The fact that Forte also creates and produces the series should give him extra credit points.

CONS
“The Last Man on Earth” may simply be too high-concept for the older, conservative members of the TV academy to embrace.

The show went way down in Emmy nominations, from four in 2015 to only a single bid this year. Are voters still watching?

"I know I'm not normal -- but I'm trying to change!" ~ Muriel's Wedding

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] grchereck 8 years ago

Emmy Lead Actor nominees share their favorite scenes, what they learned this past season, and what other shows they'd love to have their characters appear on -- Will is the first one listed:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/emmys-aziz-ansari-tom-hiddleston-921067

Favorite scene

"It's more a series of scenes from the last act of the fall finale, when we cut back and forth between Jason Sudeikis [Mike Miller, his character's brother] hurtling down from space and Mary Steenburgen [Gail Klosterman] unsuccessfully trying to perform an appendectomy. It was fun to try something so intense and so different."

How has your character changed you?

"The main change in my life that I can attribute to Tandy is that I don't really use the F-word anymore. I used it pretty liberally for most of my life, but now I find myself saying 'friggin' instead. Thank you, network television, for helping me be able to hang out around priests and librarians again!"

I seem to recall him using "friggin'" before then (like when he was promoting Nebraska), and he still sometimes drops the F-bomb now (probably most heavily on his "Nerdist" podcast appearance last year).  But yeah, for the most part, he otherwise appears to be favoring the former. 

What other TV show would you like to see your character step into?

"Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Documentary Now!, Portlandia, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt — any show where I'd get to work with my SNL buddies. And Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. I love that show, and Rachel Bloom was actually an intern at SNL when I was there, so it would fit under that SNL umbrella."

Aww! 

"I know I'm not normal -- but I'm trying to change!" ~ Muriel's Wedding

[–] grchereck 8 years ago

Some Will & Kristen quips from yesterday's LMOE set visit during the Television Critics' Association summer press tour (July 26 - Aug. 11):

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/fien-print/tca-summer-press-tour-day-917826

Over lunch with reporters on the Fox Lot, Last Man on Earth stars Will Forte and Kristen Schaal were in fine form, especially when discussing Forte's unique half-shaved look last season that included both his hair and his bushy beard.

"Oh, people on the streets thought I was a crazy person," Forte said. "I mean, it was a lot of double and triple takes. And I was already with the big beard, people would walk to the other side of the street at night. And this was just like you know, this was another level of just 'This person is insane.'"

But apparently Schaal had been willing to follow her co-star.

"In solidarity, Carol would shave half her head. And I was so psyched, because I’ve had the same haircut for about 15 years now. Someone was, like, 'I’m going to come do your hair. What does your hair look like?' I’m like, 'Google any picture, Girl, because it’s never changed.' I just need it to change."

Nobody took her up on the offer.

This progressed, though, into a deep and philosophical -- Phil-osophical after Forte's character's name? -- discussion.

Schaal: Would you cut off a finger for a really, really good joke? Like, the best joke that I mean, that would like people would be talking about it 300 years from now?

Forte: If it was a pinkie, I might.

Schaal: Like if it’s the best joke ever done, but you had to lose a thumb?

After some deliberation, they both agreed that they'd consider it if, as Schaal put it, "[I]f we would go down in history thumbless, but the funniest."

Harder to explain is Schaal's long, running joke about wanting Beyonce to guest-star on the show "because she needs to work on her acting. And I think that I could teach her a lot," which was followed by ample protestation that "She’s perfect, and she will realize that," continuing with, "I really dug a hole. Why did I come here? Why did we just start a feud with Beyoncé? I love Beyoncé, guys."

I'm only reporting Schaal's comments as encouragement for Beyonce to appear on Last Man on Earth.

 I was hoping for a little more info, but I guess I can see why they don't want to give away too much (including the identities of the two new cast members/guest stars) before the season premiere; plus, FOX is on the schedule for Monday, so any news the network is allowed to announce about the show, it would probably be then...

"I know I'm not normal -- but I'm trying to change!" ~ Muriel's Wedding