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But its more significant than that.
Never mind that Judith also edits the likes of Albert Camus, Anne Frank, and Jean-Paul Sartre.
Ive been around the block, Judith, Blanche spits at her.
(She retired from the publishing industry in 2011.)
Okay, silly opener, butare you aFrasierfan?
I didnt have any scenes with Bebein the first episode, but I did with David.
Listen, Im not one of these people who can hold back.
I just saw you the other day with Martin and Daphne on TV.Bebe talked a bit aboutCheersas well.
To see them together onscreen made me way too excited.
What day did you start rehearsing?
What day did you get new scripts?
When was your weekend?
When were your tape days?
I wanted to know what the real deal was like.
In the literary sense, this new way of writing arrived on her desk.
Her brain immediately began pinging off all of those genius areas.
Judith also loved food and cooking, particularly French food.
She spent quite a lot of time in France for work.
At one point, a couple of friends of hers put together this little restaurant in their apartments.
Judith loved the process of cooking and sitting down with people to eat.
WhenMastering the Art of French Cookingarrived on her desk, it was like her prayers were answered.
The sheer force of that extraordinary personality mustve taken Judiths breath away.
Theres a lot of terrific literature about Judith and her publishing legacy.
What was your most interesting discovery about her?I could keep you for hours talking about her.
There wasnt just one thing.
The more I got to know her, the more admiration I had for her.
She would do whatever she felt was needed to make the writer feel comfortable to work.
I thought that was really extraordinary.
Her job was a vocation, not just a job.
Theres no snobbery with Judith.
That really shows you the throw in of person she was.
She was at the pinnacle of her career, particularly a woman at that time.
She had a very happy marriage and many friends.
She was interested in other people.
I loved what you said it was mussels, yes?
Yes, mussels, while editing the chapter about fish.Thats wonderful.
I didnt know that.
She pushed the bread chapter as well.
She really wanted Julia to include bread in the book.
And she was right!
It was a cookbook for America, not France.
Something I realized at the end of the episode was that weve only seen Judith in a professional capacity.
Were shielded from her personal life, which, as you just described, seemed ripe for compelling stories.
Even the audience doesnt know she has a happy homelife.
I cant say what the thoughts of the writers were.
If we get another season, hopefully well explore her a bit more outside that lens.
Theres so much to Judith.
I was pleased that we got to see her relationship with Blanche Knopf, for instance.
Id like to know how you interpreted Judiths office standoff with Blanche, her mentor.
If you choose to follow a certain career, thats not all you are.
You dont have to be just one thing.
Hell, she didnt see anything.
It wasnt in the literary greats world that she was in.
For Judith and for me, I felt,Well lets not get pigeonholed.
Dont tell her what to do!She knows exactly what shes doing.
Its a bigger conversation about feminism.
Its a very nuanced conversation and different for every woman.
Its difficult to hear that from somebody whos your mentor, but it doesnt mean Blanche is right.
Every scene with Judith Light is joyful.
Have you ever spoken with her?
Its great that you have another iconic Judith in your life.Shes amazing, isnt she?
Doing a scene like that with someone at her caliber well, its enjoyable but not difficult.
Im glad you asked me that!
I had to get a little bit of a trim every two weeks.
You have to keep your eyes on the follicles.
The back grows quicker than the front.
But that was for someone else to worry about.
Im going to call the shows hairstylist right now and thank him.
