Sons & Daughters: Trauma and Surprises
Allison Quinn, Sons & Daughters
Well, this blog has taken my celebrity to new heights. I simply didn't anticipate the extraordinary interest millions of readers would take in the random thoughts of me, a modest journeyman-actor-turned-huge-ABC-television-star. It hasn't given me a big head or made me treat people any differently than I did before. Just ask my assistants, Felicia and Maggie, my personal shopper Yvette, or Charles, the English butler who helps me put on my trousers one leg at a time in the morning — I really haven't changed at all. I still try to lead a selfless and simple life. I even hired a Tibetan to read quotes from the Dalai Lama aloud to me as I'm choosing which Hugo Boss suit to wear that day. Me, a simple, hardworking fellow from beautiful Montesano, Washington. Me, who leads a spiritual life and thinks only of his fellow man, even when I'm sailing in the Bahamas, playing blackjack for a thousand dollars a hand in Las Vegas, or waking up with
Eva Longoria. Well, we weren't in the same room, but we were in the same hotel in New York, so it counts to me.
This week Sons & Daughters will present two episodes about two traumatic events in the lives of the Walkers, Fentons and Halberts. First up is "Hospital Visit," written by Justin Adler and Tom Huang, and directed by confident newcomer Dan O'Connor (he did a terrific job). Next up is "Surprise Party," written by Wil Calhoun and the hilarious Julie Bean, and directed by a legend in the television business, Anson Williams, one of the nicest guys you’d ever hope to meet.
Anson and Lou Race, our colorful first assistant director, have a trunk full of juicy showbiz stories from their nearly 60 years (combined) of working the soundstages in this crazy, mixed-up piece of heaven called Hollywood.
What can I say about "Hospital Visit"? If you took Lost, Desperate Housewives and Grey’s Anatomy, mixed them all up in a bowl and added some tears, laughter and Tabasco sauce, you would have this episode. Colleen (Dee Wallace) is rushed to the hospital when she experiences chest pains — and Cameron (Fred Goss) feels responsible. Alison Quinn shows us a different side of Sharon, even as our daughter Carrie (Eden Sher) suffers a minitrauma of her own. Watch for talented guest star Brian Palermo as Colleen's doctor; he's a blast from Liz's (Gillian Vigman) past.
In the "Surprise Party" episode, Cameron unexpectedly gets laid off from work, just in time for his 40th birthday. As these episodes were filmed, the entire cast and crew were humming along like a well-oiled machine, and the work reflects that. Everyone in this cast, including the kids, brought their best game to the set every day, and I was constantly amazed by the work on this show, from the regulars to the guest stars. Even Scott Williams (our director of photography) was doing terrific work by the sixth or seventh episode. I can tease Scott because he lives two states away and doesn't know my address.
Fred, Nick Holly, JoAnn Alfano, Andrew Singer and Lorne Michaels have put together a very real and very funny television family, and it all makes for compelling and groundbreaking television. Even though I happen to agree with that last sentence, the executive producers did warn me that if I didn't add it to this blog, I would never work in Hollywood again. Then they said something about Brad Garrett. I got the drift.
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For even more on the "relative" insanity of ABC's Sons & Daughters, check out Jerry's blogs from March 7, March 14 and March 21.
