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Inside the Episode
With Executive Producer Cynthia Mort
This Week: Cynthia Answers Your Questions
Question:
If this show is supposed to be a groundbreakingly realistic view of couples, why have you stated that none of the married couples will engage in affairs? Do you not think that is even a possible realistic scenario of marriage? --Indeedity
CM:
First, it was never my intention to create a groundbreakingly realistic view of couples -- that's how the press has chosen to characterize the show.
For some people, it is a realistic view of marriage. Also, you have to draw some lines dramatically. I wanted to do a show about people who stay together. For me, creatively, infidelity seemed like a much-traveled road. I've seen it so many times, and I'm not that interested in exploring it. What I do find interesting is the work that people do to stay together. That kind of intimacy to me is as valid, if not more valid, as meeting someone and rushing off to have an affair.
Question:
What's up with the focus on Isabella – her period, the anniversary teddy – how does her becoming sexual factor into these couples' stories? --SpiderMonkey
CM:
The most obvious way is she's becoming sexual being -- she's feeling things she's never felt before and Dave and Katie are doing just the opposite. In some ways, their changing daughter brings their problems into relief for the viewer and probably for them.
Question:
How do you come up with storylines and therapeutic answers for each situation?
--394kmcn
CM:
That's an interesting question. When we write those therapy sessions, it is truly about writing character. Even though it's therapeutic, it's really just writing another relationship. Having said that, certainly I have to consider who is speaking and keep her both objective and true to who she is as a human.
Question:
I have a question about the 3 women characters, Jamie, Carolyn and Katie. I can relate very strongly to all 3 because of being in similar situations in my life. I was Jamie, at that age, with all of her jealousy, and her sexuality. Then after I was married I went through 4 years of infertility and all that goes with that, just like Carolyn. I also became very obsessed with having a baby and left my husband out of a lot of the decisions, and he withdrew just like Carolyn's husband. Then finally my husband and I had 2 children and our life revolved around them, like Katie and her husband. Our relationship was put on hold and our sex life suffered. My question is - in watching the show these characters seem so very different - but I feel I was like each of them in that period of my life. When you were writing the show was your intention to show how a woman can be so different in different phases of her life, but through her emotions and inner self remain the same person? Can you see Jamie becoming Carolyn becoming Katie? -Zbethz
CM:
My intention was not to show how a woman can be different in different phases of her life, although that's interesting, but to show the different stages of a relationship. The fact that people can see that one person could go through these stages is very gratifying. And it's true of the men on the show also. I think you're going to be seeing that Hugo and Palek and Dave at times are also one person going through different stages of a relationship.
Question:
It seems that the characters' only issue is sex. Are the problems the couples face going to be any less one-dimensional? ---Indeedity
CM:
Come on, that's not their only issue. It's how we move into what their real issues are. Their issues are the deals they've made, and the compromises, and how they have forgotten who they are, and what they've done to stay in these relationships, and how that all comes back to them. Sex is a great lens for that.
Question:
Was that Billy Walsh (Rhys Coiro) from 'Entourage' playing Jamie's almost-booty-call on the last episode? How did he end up on the show? --SpiderMonkey
CM:
Yes, that is Rhys Coiro, and he's fantastic. I would have used him even more if he wasn't always busy with 'Entourage.'
Question:
Ask the Creator. Now that's noble and honest! It shows that creator actually cares about her baby and the audience. Although I don't like the series, I support such effort 100%. --Proso
CM:
What do you mean you don't like the show? Keep watching, and if you get to episode ten and you still don't like it, then we need to have a conversation. A real, live one-to-one conversation.
Got a question for Cynthia Mort? Post it now.
Discuss this episode in the Tell Me You Love Me Bulletin Board.
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