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At the two emotional extremes of the season-one finale ofHBOsSomebody Somewhereare two performances by Bridget Everetts Sam.
As different as they are, both moments mark steps toward emotional openness for Sam.
It was a really special moment.
I wrote that song with my friend Matt Ray.
Thats what Joel does for Sam.
Im in a series.
1 on the call sheet.
This is a song I wrote.
I cant believe this is happening.
Originally, we had a big event at the end of the season.
It felt like it would be best if it was a love letter from Sam to Joel.
I guess I wrote something, pitched the idea, they liked it, and I got lucky.
In the finale, Sam also lets out her filthier side when shes performing for Joel and her friends.
Thats closer toyour own cabaret persona.
How did you think about introducing that part of Sam?We constantly talked about the Bridget-ization of Sam.
The finale ends on the quieter moment of Sam going into her dead sister Hollys bedroom and lying down.
Holly was her lifeline and the only person she ever felt believed in her.
Losing that left Sam very unmoored.
Its thrilling and scary.
They gave her a reason to stay.
And she is gone.
But shes always with her.
So thats the range of emotions she experienced in that moment oh God, Im sorry, Im crying.
I just got my period.
Everyone in Sams family has been deflecting the grief too.
Her mother hasnt bought a headstone.That feels like a real reflection of where Im from and my family.
My sister died and we just dont talk about it.
It must have felt surreal to act that experience out for TV.It did.
Im sure a lot of people have lots of great strategies for how to do things like that.
Jeff I have known for some time downtown, but we werent that close.
So we rented this house that Robert Cohen, our director, called the Ding-Dong Dorm.
It was a huge house, and we had dinner every night and would run lines.
The sweetest thing about it was having the shared experience.
Were all in our 40s having this HBO moment together.
It helped it feel a little less daunting and a whole lot more fun.
I love Kansas, obviously, growing up.
Then everybodys like, Well, I like it.
Do you like it?
The first season was about grief and finding your chosen family.
I think season two is: What happens when you start plugging yourself back into life?
The challenges that come with that and the family dynamics that come when youre not really addressing them.
The show isnt necessarily about big plot points.
Its more about slowly unraveling peoples emotional makeup.
That seems really easy, but its like a chess game.
Because you dont want people to see the work and you dont want it to feel written.
Shes ripe for the picking.
These are all things I experienced in my life.
I was like, What the fuck is this?
Sam is experiencing some of those same things.
I lived with Mary Catherine Garrison, who plays Tricia, for eight years.
You know when you fuck up and think, how could anybody love you when youve fucked up?
That is something Sam is going to struggle with.
How did you talk with the writers about what faith meant to these characters?
Especially Joel.We thought it was interesting that Joel would be faith based and that he loved church.
It wouldnt be that religion was scorning him because hes gay or whatever.
Sam is the one who doesnt see herself in God.
Thats when Facebook lights up.
They also loveWatch What Happens Live!
What is your favorite Boulevard Brewing Company beer?Theres a Boulevard Wheat that I like quite a bit.
Oddly enough, my second cousin is the founder of Boulevard.
I dont think the people at Boulevard know that connection.
I got my afternoon nap in and all was right.
