TV Interview!

Interview with Bill and Brianna of “Marrying Millions” on Lifetime by Suzanne 7/13/20

I don’t watch many reality shows, including this one.  I wasn’t sure  how this interview would go, but it was a lot of fun and turned out great.  Don’t miss the show’s second season premiere August 5th!

Here is the audio version of it.

Suzanne: Hey, guys. Thanks for coming today.

Bill: Well, I wish we were coming, but we are sitting in our house, so I guess that’s second-best, right?

Suzanne: Close enough. Are you in Miami still?

Bill: We are. We flew to Miami with a bunch of kids on Friday, and it has been raining here almost non-stop, but it’s still beautiful, and we are happy to be here.

Suzanne: Well, that’s good.  I’m about four hours from Dallas, so when I was watching scenes of you guys from the first season, the first thing you went into a restaurant that I had been to, so I was like, “Oh, that’s cool.” [laughter]

Bill: Oh, yeah. Did you see us in KĀI, the restaurant at Legacy West?

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Suzanne: I saw you on that one, too, but that was not the one — it was Toulouse.

Bill: Oh, Toulouse, yeah — one of my favorites.

Suzanne: Great food there, yeah.

Bill: So, where do you live — four hours from Dallas?

Suzanne: I live in Southern Arkansas, in a little town called Magnolia.

Bill: Oh! Is that where that movie was filmed?

Suzanne: Which movie?

Bill: Famous movie with Julia Roberts.

Suzanne: I have no idea. [laughter]. Oh, I know which movie you’re talking about, but I don’t think it was about our Magnolia — might have been another Magnolia. There are several.

Bill: Well, that sounds nice.

Suzanne: it’s pretty here — it’s very hot and humid, but you know how that’s, being in Miami.

Bill: Yeah, I think it’s hot and humid just about everywhere, right? Summertime and the Southern United States, right?

Suzanne: Right. So, I was watching, I hadn’t watched the show before today, so I was watching some of the first season. I didn’t get through all of them yet. So, pardon me if I asked you questions that were probably answered in the first season.

Brie: Yeah, it’s okay.

Bill: We are fine with that.

Suzanne: So, how did you get on the show in the first place, in the first season? How did it come about?

Bill: Well, we were asked to be on the show. We were not seeking any attention, and we got this call, and we did a computer interview — a Skype interview — and we asked them how they knew about us, and they didn’t want to tell us. So, we were not really looking for any publicity, and so we turned it down many times, but the production company was very persistent, kept calling us, kept proposing that we would get it on the show, and eventually, we invited the producer, who lives in New York City, to come down here to our home in Miami and sit down in our living room with us and just spend some time together, and we can tell him our fears, our concerns, the reason why we didn’t want to be on the show, and he could try and influence us otherwise — and you know the end result because we are on the show.

He ended up influencing us and telling us that he was not wanting to film a train wreck. He was actually wanting to film a very beautiful, sweet, romantic story of the two of us, along with several other couples in this show called “Marry Millions” that didn’t even have a name yet at that time. We were hesitant, but we agreed to sign on, and we are very happy that we did because we had a wonderful experience in Season One, which you just watched, and then when they invited us back to film Season Two, we had an even more fun experience. We really had a great time doing it. That has been a wonderful adventure for both of us. Right, Brie?

Brie: Yeah, loved it.

Suzanne: that’s good. How long have the two of you been together now?

Brie: We have been together for about three and a half years now.

Suzanne: Great.

Bill: Yes, that’s right. Brie is twenty-two right now, and we met when she was eighteen.

Brie: Yes.

Bill: So, it has going on for four years.

Suzanne: Okay, and did you actually get married yet?

Bill: Well, we can’t tell you.

Suzanne: Okay.

Bill: [laughter]

Suzanne: So, it didn’t happen in the first season?

Bill: Sorry. [laughter]

Suzanne: That’s okay.

Bill: I don’t want to get in trouble here.

Suzanne: That’s fine. Feel free. Did you know that they would ask you back for a second season?

Bill: No, we didn’t know. In fact, after we watched Season One, which we enjoyed watching with our family and friends, it just went silent. It just was over, and nobody called up. Obviously, we heard that we grew up a pretty large fan base, and they were all reaching out to us. We made a lot of friends — Brie is making quite a lot of friends from the TV show — but we didn’t hear anything for weeks and months, and finally, we wrote to– we emailed the production company and said, “Hey, did Lifetime like us? Are we going to be coming back?” and they said, “Well, we hadn’t heard anything.” So, we all just sort of waited for several months, and all of a sudden, one day, the call came. Brie got the call on her phone. I got the call on my phone. The show is a success, and they wanted us back, and it made us feel very happy.

Suzanne: Great. So, how has being on the show affected your relationship?

Brie: I don’t think being in the show has affected our relationship at all. I guess, really, it made us feel things that we hadn’t even crossed over yet — we hadn’t gone past that battle. It let us take a look at ourselves and see if this is what we want.

Bill: When you say we hadn’t gotten to that battle, what are you talking about?

Brie: Prior to the show, we’d touched on marriage very seldom. It was not something that either of us pushed for, and I think, being on the show, [it was] something that we talked about a little bit more openly and frequently. Prior to the show, we were not really talking about it as much. We had touched base on the marriage topic, but it was not anything that either of us was bringing up.

Bill: Okay, that’s a good point. Right. So, it made us confront issues that we hadn’t even been thinking about just as we were dating.

Suzanne: Right. Okay. Well, that’s good.

Bill: I think, when you said the word “battle,” I was like, “What battle? What are you talking about?” We got along great before the show. We had a little bit of drama during Season One, and here we are, loving life, still together. So, we are still getting along great.

Suzanne: Well, I did see a clip of the two of you arguing about her going out all night dancing and not texting you back.

Bill: Well, that’s true, and that was a real episode. You know, Brie is forty years younger than I’m, and so she has these interests that I’m no longer interested in, like going out late night and dancing with her girl friends, or making girl friends, or going to nightclubs. When you’re sixty-one years old, you sort of burn out, and you sort of lose interest in that side of life. I’m very understanding of her needs — I used to be twenty-two once myself — and so she did go out, but she stayed out very late. If you watch the whole show, I think she didn’t come back ’till like three in the morning.

Suzanne: Right.

Brie: It was a lack of communication, honey. I forgot to text you back.

Bill: I had been texting you all night.

Suzanne: [laughter] I don’t mean to bring it up.

Bill: She is with her new girl friends, I don’t know where she is, and she is not responding to my text, and so I get pretty upset.

Suzanne: I didn’t mean to bring up a sore topic. [laughter]

Bill: [laughter]

Brie: [laughter] that’s okay.

Suzanne: Just have to let it go. Yeah, well, I have been married thirty-eight years, so I know how it’s. Couples are going to have fights, and these things sometimes come up later, and there’s always at least one person that doesn’t want to forget about, like, “Remember that time you did that thing?” [laughter]

Bill: Exactly.

Suzanne: My advice is just to let it go. I’m sorry, what?

Brie: You said you have been married thirty-seven years, what’s the secret?

Suzanne: Thirty-eight years at the end of this month, yes. I don’t know; I guess we are just very committed. I mean, obviously, we love each other — we wouldn’t be able to stand to be around each other for this long if otherwise. [laughter]

Bill: The secret is, she doesn’t go to night clubs ’till three AM.

Suzanne: Well, it’s funny. When you were talking about that, I think it depends on the person because I would love to go to nightclubs — and I’m fifty-eight — but my husband has always been a very stay-at-home type, so he doesn’t like doing that stuff so much, although if we go to Vegas or something, he will stay out a little later, but he’s not a night person, and I’m more of a night person. He would rather go to a friend’s house or stay at home or something, not go to a nightclub. So, I think it just depends on the person.

Bill: You all sound a lot like us.

Suzanne: Yeah? Well, there’s only three and a half years between us, and he’s not rich, but, uh, in some ways….

Bill: Well, that doesn’t really have a lot to do with our relationship, to be honest.

Suzanne: Well, that’s good.

Bill: We’re a very normal relationship, but I probably like to eat leftovers more than Brie does. Money doesn’t really come into daily life. It just happens to be.

Brie: Well, I think a lot of people have a misconception of how rich people act and maybe their attitudes, and personality, and I’m lucky to say that I found someone who is a regular guy and is a simple guy who knows how to hold a conversation. He knows to be respectful to his spouse, who also wants the same respect back. I think it’s much more than just if you’re rich, or if that’s his personality because he’s rich.

Suzanne: Right. Well, no, I agree with that. Go ahead.

Brie: And hopefully, that’s something we can convey on Season Two, and they can really get a feel for who he is, not only for everything that we have done on Season One as well.

Suzanne: Okay. Yeah, I will say one thing, that I come from a similar background to you, Brie, and my husband comes from– are you there? Hello?

Bill: Yeah, we are here.

Suzanne: Sorry, there’s a lot of static there. And my husband comes from a more middle class, more educated upbringing. So, thereis some more similarity there. I understand what you’re getting at, and yeah, just because somebody has more money doesn’t make them a different person, really.

Bill: Yeah, I come from a very modest background. My father is a Methodist minister, and we grew up as missionaries in Monterrey, Mexico.

Suzanne: Wow!

Bill: They were missionaries down there for thirty-five years. So, I came back to the United States after spending ten years in Mexico, as I came to SMU in Dallas, ib a preacher’s kid scholarship. I definitely have a very modest and humble beginning.

Suzanne: Wow, that’s great. Do you both speak Spanish, then?

Bill: [foreign language]

Suzanne: [laughter]

Bill: Do you know what that means?

Suzanne: I know a little bit of it.

Bill: What I said yes, we both speak Spanish. But when she gets mad at me, she always speaks in Spanish.

Suzanne: [laughter] That was like the old “I Love Lucy Show”, right? Whenever Ricky would get mad, he would swear at her in Spanish.

Bill: Yeah, exactly. Well, I don’t think Brie really watched that show.

Brie: Of course I have.

Bill: You watched “I Love Lucy?”

Brie:  (not sure what she said here)

Suzanne: Everybody has watched that “I Love Lucy,” I think.

Bill: Oh, yeah.

Suzanne: It’s on in reruns everywhere, right?

Bill: Yeah.

Suzanne: So, I would like each of you to choose one thing that you like best about the other person.

Bill: Okay.

Brie: Nice.

Bill: Do you want me to start, honey? I would say that Brie’s sweetness. She has a heart of gold. Watching her interact with her family, with her mother, with her father, with my children, won me over. She is probably the sweetest, most loving person I have ever met. Your turn, honey.

Brie: I shouldn’t have let you go first because that’s really hard to follow.

Suzanne: [laughter]

Bill: It’s true.

Brie: My favorite thing about you would be the common sense that you bring.,  You have this aura around you, and we could be in the middle of a tornado, and you would say, “Oh, honey, this is just a little wind. Your hair looks great.” You have this ability to calm and persuade and just put me at peace, and I watch you do that with the children, with my family members, I watch you.  And watching you calming my father when you first met him, it was a beautiful thing. Because my father can be a very tense man, a very quiet man. I said, you got him out of his comfort zone to giggle and laugh, and talk to you. That meant a lot. I think you do that with everybody you access, and because I’m a little bit of a ball of nerves sometimes, I really appreciate that you have that in  you, thankfully.

Bill: Thank you, honey.

Suzanne: Yeah, I could definitely tell that he’s more outgoing than you are.

Brie: Oh, yes, I’m definitely the introvert.

Bill: Brie is the introvert, and I’m the extrovert.

Suzanne: Right.

Bill: You have to be an extrovert in business because we are out there doing deals, and we are meeting people, and we are networking, and if you’re not an extrovert, you’re not going to get very far.

Suzanne: Right. In a way, you’re kind of a salesman, especially if you’re
doing real estate, you have to do that.

Bill: Well, I am. I am a salesman. you’re right. So, whether you’re selling real estate, or whether you’re selling yourself to your partner or your partner’s family, or you’re selling your dream, or you’re selling your idea, your wisdom, I’m sort of always selling. In fact, that’s funny, when we were filming Season One, the director had to always take me aside and say, “Hey, Bill, you can tone it down a little bit. Like, even when you’re on camera, just talking, you’re doing it forcefully, like if you’re pushing something or you’re selling something.” They said, “Just be yourself. You don’t have to always be selling something.” It was sort of actually quite a funny moment.

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Suzanne: Right. Yeah, that makes sense. The two of you both have great charisma on camera.

Bill: That’s very sweet of you because I can tell you, when we watch ourselves, we don’t really see that in ourselves. I actually cringe when I watch myself personally because I think I don’t really like the way I usually come across, to be honest with you. What you don’t know about movie stars is that sometimes they don’t watch their own movies. They don’t like seeing themselves on the big screen, on the silver screen, and I thought that’s a bunch of BS. I’m sure they love watching themselves. Then, I watched myself on Season One, and I was cringing. I like watching it, but I’m also terrified at the same time. What about you, Brie?

Brie: I feel the same way. I do enjoy it because it’s a fun show, but I wish
I could just skip ourselves and get to the other couple because I see things like, “Oh, my hair,” or “I had something in my teeth,” or I made some weird hand gesture because I got too nervous, and so it definitely is cringey watching yourself. But we laugh about it, and we make jokes, and it’s fun.

Bill: Yes, it’s fun.

Suzanne: Yeah, I think everybody is their own worst critic that way.

Bill: Yes.

Brie: Yes.

Suzanne: So, Brie, what are you doing? Are you doing anything? Like, have you started a business or working in his business or anything like that?

Brie: Oh, ever since the pandemic….actually, I’d been working in a furniture showroom in the design district. Since the pandemic hit, no, we’ve been doing  appointments only, which is very limited. I’ve actually put a  pause on working for a while. The kids are out of school, and it’s so hard for them when we’re moving around a lot. I want to make sure to be here for the family. So, right now, we are just taking advantage of  the pandemic to get a few days off.

Suzanne: Sure, that makes sense.

Brie: No business yet, but I do enjoy working. I think it’s a very important part of someone’s life. You have to interact with other people, you have to keep your brain stimulated, and so I would love to go back to work as soon as possible.

Suzanne: Great. And were either of you a fan of reality shows before you were on the show?

Brie: Yes. Oh, “90 Day Fiancé” was our go-to.

Bill: We are updated to “90 Day Fiancé.” I also love to watch “The Bachelor.” We have always loved reality TV. It has been something that calms us down in the evening. With get in bed, we like to watch a good reality TV show. I like that much better than scripted TV, just because it seems like voyeurism. you’re watching real people in real situations, and like Brie said, “90 Day Fiancé,” is just hilarious. The couples that they find and the struggles that they go through, trying to make their relationships work, so one of them can get a visa to be here in America, we find it just hilarious and captivating. Then, I love the gamesmanship of The Bachelor, having some guy, having to pick between twenty-five women and narrowing it down all the way down to two, and then proposing for one of them. I have always enjoyed watching that show. Brie, you watched that with me, but I don’t think you liked it as much as I did.

Brie: I’m not a big fan of men picking out of a big group of women and trying them all out until they find somebody they like, so that show’s not big on my radar. I’m more likely to binge-watch Judge Judy on my phone while he watches “The Bachelor.”

Suzanne: [laughter] that’s funny.

Brie: I’ll watch some “Law and Order,” but definitely, reality TV is fun to watch at night. It just gives us some quality time in bed together.

Bill: My favorite one is now “Marrying Millions,” for sure.

Suzanne: [laughter] And have you given any thought to maybe going on another reality show or becoming actors — anything like that?

Brie: No…

Bill: Not really. We would stay with this show as long as they would have us because Season One was fun, and Season Two was even better. We had so much fun of filming Season Two that if they invited us back for a Season Three, we would gladly sign up for it. But obviously, it’s too early to talk about that because we haven’t even watched Season Two on TV yet. Eventually, they will get tired of us, then we’ll be their past, but we would love to stay with this particular show as long as they would like to have us. Otherwise, we love our lives, so it’s not like we’re needy and looking for something to come our way. We really enjoy life a lot, and we’re very blessed with beautiful lives.

Suzanne: Last question. Why should fans tune in to this season of your show?

Bill: Brie, you want to take that one?

Brie: [stammers] I’ll let you get it.

Bill: Okay. Well, I’ll say why. Because, in addition to five new couples — and it’s always fun to learn who the new couples are and what’s the peculiarity in their relationships — the fact that season two has two couples coming back from the first season is really special because the fans have already gotten to know us. So, Season One ended on cliffhangers. The other couple, he got stood up when they were about to walk down the aisle. So, we were about to watch the wedding, and then all of a sudden, she called it off. So, that’s a cliffhanger for me. I can’t wait to watch Season Two just to understand and learn what happened to the other couple that had been invited back for Season Two. As far as our relationship, people are watching us going through the trials and tribulations of our age difference, the wealth gap between her family and me, the fact that I’m older than both of Brie’s parents. It’s an unusual relationship, and yet we’re trying to make it work even though I spend a lot of time listening to the wisdom of my ex-wife, Kathleen, who is very opposed to our relationship — but I want her to accept me. I want her to be happy with this decision of mine — and yet, I can’t seem to get her to sign up for this relationship, even though she thinks Brie is a nice girl. So, us bringing these struggles and these issues to Season Two, I think will be very interesting and exciting for people to watch — and that’s why they are going to want to tune in to Season Two and see what happens to me and Brie.

Suzanne: Well, great. And I do think that as your relationship progresses, if you guys get to stay married, whatever, for a while, they’ll come around — that’s what happens — so eventually, they have to accept you, right?

Bill: That’s some good wisdom from you, and I appreciate you telling us that, because we do want to keep both of our extended families united and loving us, and we don’t want to hurt anybody. We never have wanted to hurt anybody. So, where this relationship has really gone against the grain for people in both of our families, our goals have been to win people over by watching us, watching our love for each other, and realizing that this isn’t fake and it’s real and it’s meaningful and it’s deep to both of us. So, we really do want to win over family members and understand each other better. Our relationship is not perfect. As you witnessed in Season One, we got in a fight over Brie’s desire to be a twenty-two-year-old and go out and do shots and be dumb.

Brie: Hey, it wasn’t “dumb.” What did you do at 22 years old? [laughter] I don’t want to hear it.

Suzanne: [laughter]

Bill: Well, honey, I learned a long time ago not to do shots.

Brie: But it’s definitely, what he said is right because we are two completely different people that come from different paths. He’s lived a whole life before I was even born, and it’s beautiful to really understand each other, and when you come to these problems, actually being able to work it out or talk to someone that you trust, I think it’s important, and we want people to see that.

Suzanne: Well, great. And I think, too, what comes over in your relationship is that Brie, even though you’re young, you’re kind of what they call an “old soul” — you’re very mature, and you know what is what, and he’s open to that. He’s not some guy stuck in the past, so I think that’s what works.

Bill: [laughter] I agree with that. Brie is like an old soul, even though that’s a cliché, but you know what itis? I’m still like a young man. I call myself a golden retriever. I mean well, I’m friendly, and yet I sort of bumble around and knock things over and upset people when I’m not meaning to, and so we sort of meet in the middle.

Suzanne: That’s right.

Bill: …in a very nice way.

Suzanne: I appreciate–

Tracy: I think we have got to wrap it up.

Suzanne: That’s fine. I appreciate it, and thank you guys so much.

Bill: It was great talking with you.

Suzanne: Yeah, you too.

Bill: Thanks for the interview.

Brie: Thank you.

Suzanne: Alright, good luck.

Bill: Thank you, Tracy!

Suzanne: Bye.

Bill: Okay, bye-bye.

Brie: Thanks, bye-bye.

[END]

Transcribed by TranscriptionPuppy

MORE INFO:

LIFETIME’S PROVOCATIVE DOCUSERIES MARRYING MILLIONS, RETURNS WITH SEVEN COUPLES, PREMIERING AUGUST 5

Catch Up Special Marrying Millions: Couples Journey So Far Debuts July 29

Facebook Live Extensions of the Premiere and Finale To Be Hosted by Glamour’s West Coast Editor, Jessica Radloff

Trailer

LOS ANGELES, CA (June 29, 2020) – Lifetime’s hit series Marrying Millions returns for a second season with seven couples and more relationships under the microscope than ever before, premiering Wednesday, August 5, at 10 pm ET/PT.  Five new couples join the series with returning favorites Bill and Brianna from Dallas and Gentille and Brian from Las Vegas.  From the creators of 90 Day Fiancé, Marrying Millions follows relationships where one partner is incredibly wealthy and the other is definitively not, leading the couple to face intense scrutiny from family and friends and questions about whether it’s true love…or true love of the money and lavish lifestyles. While these love stories may sound like modern-day fairytales, they are not without major challenges as the couples must try to bridge their vast differences and fit into each other worlds.

Marrying Millions: Couples Journey So Far premieres the week prior on Wednesday, July 29, at 10 pm ET/PT to provide a look at what’s life’s been like for Bill and Brianna and Gentille and Brian since season one.

“Marrying Millions continues to expand our unique relationship content,“ said Gena McCarthy, EVP Development and Programming Lifetime Unscripted.  “We’re excited to introduce five outrageously relatable new couples as they all navigate clashes of class, culture and background in pursuit of love and the American Dream.”

Following the premiere on August 5th, at 11pm ET/8pm PT, Glamour’s West Coast Editor, Jessica Radloff, will be joined LIVE for a social aftershow with some of the Marrying Millions couples to chat about the premiere on Lifetime’s Facebook Page.  The aftershow will also be available on IGTV and YouTube.  A second social LIVE aftershow is also slated for September 23, at 11pm ET/8pm PT to discuss the finale of the first half of the season.

MARRYING MILLIONS SEASON 2 COUPLES:
 
Bill and Brianna (RETURNING COUPLE) – Dallas, TX

Bill, who describes himself as 61 years young, founded and currently runs a commercial real estate company with investments in the billions.  Twice divorced, Bill met Brianna, 22, at a popular restaurant in Dallas where Brianna was a hostess and the two began dating.  Despite an almost 40-year age gap, these two couldn’t be more in love with one another.  Now that Brianna has become more accustomed to the tribulations of fitting in with Dallas high society, Bill must decide whether or not he’s finally ready to settle down and propose.

Gentille and Brian (RETURNING COUPLE) – Las Vegas, NV

Gentille is a real estate investor who buys and sells extravagant homes, and in doing so, lives an extraordinarily lavish lifestyle.  On the other hand, Brian works construction and lives at home with his parents.  Much to Brian’s dismay, Gentille called off their engagement at the altar. Brian isn’t ready to let go yet and holds out hope that the pair can get back together, but the question remains whether or not Gentille is willing to rekindle things.

Rodney and Desiry 
Washington, DC & Los Angeles, CA

Multi-millionaire Rodney and his girlfriend Desiry are head over heels for each other, despite living separately on opposite coasts. Rodney made his fortune in the wine industry, which has given him the ability to take care of Desiry, who works for a non-profit. But with Rodney living outside Washington, DC, and Desiry residing in Los Angeles, their relationship has its share of challenges, including the fact that they have kept their relationship a secret.

Dani and Donovan – McKinney, TX

After a missed connection while attending the same high school, it was fate that brought these two back together down the line. From humble beginnings and raised by a single mother, Donovan now runs a highly successful multi-million dollar real estate company where he employs his girlfriend, Dani. Now that he has found success, he enjoys spoiling his girlfriend with lavish gifts and trips around the world.  But issues simmer just below the surface, as Dani resents being a low-paid employee of Donovan.

Rick and Erica – Miami Beach, FL

Erica is a 23-year old small town girl from Springfield, Illinois, while 68-year old Rick lives aboard his yacht in Miami Beach.  The shock factor of their 45 year age gap hasn’t worn off on family and friends, including most notably Erica’s 5th degree black belt father, who doesn’t understand their relationship. Rick met Erica through social media, and after liking some of her photos, moved quickly to ask her to live with him on his yacht.

Kevin and Kattie – San Diego, CA

Kevin (30) is a self-made multi-millionaire who first met Kattie (23) when she traveled to one of Kevin’s speaking events in Mexico. Despite a net worth approaching $50M, Kevin is frugal with his money when it comes to spending on his girlfriend. This draws the ire of several of Kattie’s friends, who don’t understand why she is in a relationship with Kevin, despite her assurances that their love is pure.

Nonie and Reese – Seattle, WA

Nonie made a name for herself in the London fashion scene as a nail tech, working her way up to eventually launch several successful international beauty brands. She met her polar opposite, Reese, 17 years her junior, after swiping right on Tinder and the pair have been inseparable ever since. Nonie has a fierce work ethic which has led her to obtain properties in New York, London and Seattle. Reese, on the other hand, occasionally works as an arborist and lives at a skate house with several buddies.

Marrying Millions is produced by Sharp Entertainment for Lifetime and executive produced by Matt Sharp, Dan Adler, Jason Hollis and Kate Bernstein. Gena McCarthy and Cat Rodriguez executive produce and Juliet Barrack is supervising producer for Lifetime.

About Sharp Entertainment
SHARP Entertainment is a New York-based television production house with a record of creating and producing groundbreaking unscripted television. Founded by producer Matt Sharp in 2003, Sharp has flourished to become one of the industry’s leading production enterprises, delivering thousands of hours of programming and achieving an unmatched track record of ratings success across multiple networks.

About Lifetime

Celebrating over 35 years of entertaining audiences, Lifetime is a premier entertainment destination for women dedicated to offering the highest quality original programming spanning award-winning movies, high-quality scripted series and breakout non-fiction series.  Lifetime has an impressive legacy in public affairs, bringing attention to social issues that women care about with initiatives such as the long-running Stop Breast Cancer for Life, Stop Violence Against Women, and Broader Focus, a major global initiative dedicated to supporting and hiring female directors, writers and producers, including women of color, to make its content.  Lifetime Television®, LMN®, Lifetime Real Women® and Lifetime Digital™ are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, LLC, a subsidiary of A+E Networks. A+E Networks is a joint venture of the Disney-ABC Television Group and Hearst Corporation.

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TV Interview!

Interview with John Savage of “SEAL Team” on Lifetime by Suzanne 7/1/20

This was quite a fun interview.  John is being considered for an Emmy nomination for his recurring role as  Emmet Quinn (Sonny’s father) on SEALTeam.  He is quite a character and very interesting to chat with. He’s had a long and amazing career that started in “The Deer Hunter” with Robert DeNiro and Meryl Streep.  He went on to many great movies, such as “Hair,” “The Onion Field,” “Godfather III,” “Do the Right Thing” and a lot more, including many TV roles. My favorite was his role in “Dark Angel” as Lydecker.  I hope he gets the nomination and wins!  We had an amusing chat.

Here is the audio version of it.

John: I’m glad I reached you.

Suzanne: Yes.

John: I’m kind of excited about coming to be able to just express my feelings. What an honor it is being considered for an Emmy, as a guest [performer].

Suzanne: Yeah, that is awesome. That is wonderful.

John: Yes.  The show has meant a lot to me. They are one of the things I have kept looking for was just to see some contact with their home life. When somebody goes back man or a woman he has officers back to Camp. There are leaders and experience back at this camp in the middle of, I forget, Pakistan. I have got a lot of my friends have been sitting service in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, and Vietnam and second world war. Some of them are up there in age and get they have gotten that supply for years. They have been acting with others in recovery for veteran activity and also in their community and Korean War. Let us not forget the Invisible War.

Suzanne: That is right.

John: A lot of people and that is what this show has done. It has got people, it has put people in the service, home.

Suzanne: Right.

John: And I just see the interplay on this camp between a team that has been around, the middle of these people have not hit the age of 30, yet. And they have been there for ten to fifteen years or at least in the back of duty-

Suzanne: Okay.

John: And you see their interplay with newcomers, like my son and I show, AJ Buckley here was shiny coin and understand that every coin. He gets ticked off where … some new guy starts laughing at the situation like, “You guys. Hey. How you been you little one out. Do not worry about it. You got to be always some smack”. You know, you are talking down to me because you cannot predict the future. You have got to stay prepared. I mean, somebody comes along and offers a back rub or another way for him to make a lot of money by doing his old trade. It is going to be a tough decision for him, you know, and human beings have a lot of trouble in a lot of our lives just being. And the difficulties we are facing in our country today. Demand what this team shows, is working together, working through the differences

Suzanne: Right.

John: When somebody comes back from active duty away from the team and away from camp and it has been difficult. Maybe he lost his partner, a sniper, what is these issues even with others and he wants to stay by himself and sit in the corner is he has got a team around them. I got to shake it up either I shake him up, they are going to talk to him, they are going to hold him, they are going to let him stick his swing at them, you know, they are going to move through this because they can not isolate, they have got to keep working together.

Suzanne: Right.

John: And the people around them understand that, you know, the people who have been in act of duty, the going through the issue of dealing with outside directions coming in and like, and the feeling like, I had as a little tiny boy about my dad’s experience in recovery and you know, he went through losing a squad as a tough six-footed gunner in the Marine Corps in the court Guadalcanal and anything wrong with guys he did not know who  … one service in Europe and at that point, my life, it was his young men to all of being at home to me, the next four or five years old. Dealing with recovery after service in North Korea, you know, I know women who had dealt with the first world war as children and this excitement of success. They were going to the two extremes. The government was absolutely helping, these people are broke, they were broke for a long time. My family, the community still we are living. If you could, If you could have get somebody find a kid. My dad’s life is a number of all moments who had a basketball, you know, if the key was not to share it you still think, you know, you play, you play with that ball,

Suzanne: Right.

John: And you are going to places where people like to play. Baby, they were different color, baby you argue, baby you fought over a rough play, Maybe you do it, but you played basketball. My dad was a freaky with like six feet tall at one thirteen or fourteen. But you know, I see a lot of more-

Suzanne: Right.

John: -kids on a street corner hanging out at one kid who is sixty, sixty-five and he is thirteen, fourteen years old.

Suzanne: Yes,

John: My dad commemorated here walking into when we finally got to have a house and live it. Which was government-

Suzanne: Sure.

John: -Do not make it sound a major cooperative, corporation getting a tax break.

Suzanne: Right.

John: And he had GI bill, so even though no work was available and he, but he would get up and see to the people in the community, men who serve them. He physically brought me to visiting the kind restaurant. It has only two tables in that place. I only thought decorations but it was a man who served in American forces and he was Italian and had family in Italy and I learned all this as I was growing up.

Suzanne: Okay.

John: You know, he introduced himself to manhood, served and they were willing to talk and share their experiences and these guys would get in the corner, usually in town, at our house went high. With the leather cut, Blacksmith Road, and I could not figure out what they would never hear any dialogue. You know, what are you talking about? They’ll kind of crunch together but they were supporting each other.

Suzanne: Right.

John: With a drink in their hand, you know, drinking was the thing, they were quiet and usually peaceful, strong men. Unless, they were dreaming nightmares at night like my dad. And again, you know, Rhythm women respect him, but they would not want to usually went to college. And that whole idea of opening schools up to men who lived close to Adelphi University or that gratitude and my daddy got the plan of basketball team.

Suzanne: Yes.

John: To do not fly-.

Suzanne: That is great.

John: We could all of the basketball games in Adelphi. As he grew up, he got a car, you know, there’s a GI Bill, you made it clear.

Suzanne: Wow.

John: You know, you can brag about new brand new Studebaker, you know, that car was four hundred dollars, you know,

Suzanne: Oh, you will not back down. Yes.

John: That car is four hundred dollars and they see my mama told me years later while that house we bought in Levittown with the help of the GI bill was five thousand dollars. And it might have even been less but those houses were tiny little boxes, right? No songs and my generation from Pete Seeger and other brilliant, not now, I am listening more to those songs on the radio.

Suzanne: Yes.

John: Called the Graham Station, you know, wow! these guys still some of them are still around. I know women and the songs are beautiful like they were then and you know, the idea that we look at those places that were you know, as a kid, I loved it for me, it was heaven. But can I start hearing, you know, the criticism of these areas, you know, too close together. Looking there now and I know those trees that grew that we planted, covering the houses. You can not see the houses for the amount of growth that –

Suzanne: Right.

John: There is few and I have not been there a long time but I was. Twenty, thirty years ago, I went through to go to the hospital I was born in, better Brooke hospital, to just do some kind of a meeting with others in my programs and oh my God, it is still a shame that hospital. Guys are not  …

Suzanne: Yes.

John: Guys have been more maybe ten bucks. Wanted to, you know, rejuvenating something on new machine, you know, but it is still the same and for me. I remember eating being born here, you know, for some storage, my mom told me.

Suzanne: All right.

John: An isolation, isolated because I had, you know, weak lungs. I was very premature. My twin died, sister.  … Tough. Name is John when he would be paid but then the issue having polio in there.

Suzanne: Oh right.

John: That came around the fifties, I was weak. Everybody have one look like a fool. But I was paralyzed. What is it had the flu my buddies all my age had the flu. No, it was not a flu.

Suzanne: Yes.

John: I did not even make they called it the flu at that time. I remember the words right, but I ended up being paralyzed and I could not breathe. And my joy, I found happiness because I had to. Being stuck in that iron lung. I could read-

Suzanne: Does today, sir, does today’s pandemic remind you a bit of that time? Yes.

John: Deeply, deeply, deeply, fear is a false evidence appearing real. We have fear in many things today. Where is the reality?

Suzzane: Yes.

John: How we adapt, how do we accept certain things? How do we accept the danger of others or of children being in communities or rooms or other areas that they may not even get sick, but they do and they do, they do get very sick. I mean, I have family members who are in COVID hospitals-

Suzanne: Really?

John: -to working as nurses or service. They are there holding the hands of dying people. They have been with other activities and these children that are sick. The courage because they have no energy-

Suzanne: Sure.

John: -but I feel like I am burning up from the inside out. I barely can get those words out-

Suzanne: Yes,

John: -that night they died.

Suzanne: Well, let us hope they get the vaccine like they did with polio.

John: Well, with the fathers of a lot of my buddy who got polio, one man was a psychiatrist, a wonderful man is helping me and my mom with the therapy because I was a premature kid and had issues with things and physically, mostly. But the, he had crippled and he had to wear the braces on his legs.

Suzanne: Right.

John: What will it sound, doc [?]. Well he has not called me or you will be all right, you had a different form of childhood polio you will get to, you will be okay. I didn’t, I didn’t, I didn’t really believe that-

Suzanne: Right.

John: -and then you know, within a year or two, he died, sort of the other father. What is this disease? We do not know.

Suzanne: Yes.

John: You can not tell me there is no more different diseases out there waiting, you know-

Suzanne: Right.

John: -we are living in a changing world. We are so gifted for so many things in this country. How do we help people in India? How do we help people in Africa? How do we do this? How do we do that? Well, if you can not go there go to a different community here.

Suzanne: Right.

John: Pick some friends. Do not try to do things by yourself, but catch some friends that think to say, well, I want buddies do not think the same way as me. All right, even women are going to sell out, “Zip it, John.”, you know, with the idea, we get together because these other ways to go. These wrecks, they put this area to this movie about this experience and what their lives were for years after service in Iraq and Iran, in or in Vietnam. It has brings us to now what they went through. It would be government relationship with friends, with family, with community, and it’s uplifting it, moving it, heartbreaking because the courage is there. The beauty of this effort among each other and these guys have the political opinion. We do not discuss whatever.

Suzanne: That is good.

John: You know, because I can get off the track. Really. Why do not we maybe do this and they have those little podcast, like I share with them and they get out of it about people’s activities and maybe this was a good well that was appropriate why could not have done this. Why do not we go help those people that cut their shocks, destroyed. Let us see what we can do. This guys can not, most of them don’t have that much money. Or tools I am actually help to move again refining the last four measures. But when I see this show, feel pain, I see what they are doing now.

Suzanne: Yes.

John: I see their activity after coming home, after we united, after dealing with each other’s issues, whatever they might be, actions, emotional, physical. Let us get things going, now. Let us look at it, now. What can we do now and a lot of that reactionary stuff, you know, it is going on internationally.

Suzanne: Sure.

John: Let us get groups together that actually, you know, fight all those people of different color or kill those people from that country. That is whatever, communism. Do this, do that. Give me a break. You know, give me a break. What can we do?

Suzanne: Right.

John: We can do what we are doing, taking one step at a time.

Suzanne: So, had you watched your team before you were on the show. I mean, did you watch them regularly as a fan?

John: Yes, as best as I could. We have had issues, my girlfriend and I. I wanted that too much, not between us but just these area of a place burned down.

Suzanne: Oh no. Oh no, no. Let me have the fires.

John: How we have to keep hiding places, work, etcetera, issue with that and I have been blessed, you know, with this show.

Suzanne: That is good.

John: And feel things for me. It made me feel like, If I die tomorrow it is worth it. You know-

Suzanne: Right.

John. -I mean what I have been doing.

Suzanne: Well, you have had a long great career anyway, but yes, this is a great capper on that, regardless, right?

John: Are you trying to tell me I’m getting old-

Suzanne: No, no. No. I was just reading through all the movies and things you have been on are so many.

John: We have to talk more sometimes. All right.

Suzanne: Okay.

John: I admire your position in this activity.

Suzanne: Well, thank you.

John: Journalism.

Suzanne: Yes.

John: Journallism. It is for me, it is a part of journalism

Suzanne: It is. Yes.

John: It is gorgeous. It is great.

Suzanne: Well, thank you.

John: My grandson who is mix race, South American. He is twenty six years old, who is very young, he has written for three of the major papers.

Suzanne: Wow.

John: He is an athlete. He is a great, fun-loving guy, most of the time. He was on the Boston Globe in northeastern, a great school.

Suzanne: He is doing better than me.

John: Huh?

Suzanne: He is doing better than me.

John: He is gonna look up to you. He has got to. You know, and now, and then he, now he is to the Wall Street Journal. He was always interested in the community with other buddies.

Suzanne: That is great.

John: They are still up together, still till now, some issues they face is part of what our world is having to deal with today about unity of people who came here from Muslim countries.

Suzanne: Yes.

John: Oh my God.

Suzanne: They go through a lot here. Yes.

John: And again, I mean, it is difficult for, are they going to be against the forest with me or against me, you know, and it is hard. It is hard for them. It is hard for us, languages different people have different dressing could be different and there was one kid in the family who was late and only behind and came over Lake from Uzbekistan in their original chechnya background forced out by Russian. They did not have any more food in those countries. After that fall wall, the Iron Curtain, I mean. They kind of, the connection to Moscow fell apart.

Suzanne: Oh, Yes.

John: And the area and effort for trying to work more maybe with connection to the Western World. Well, ninety-nine percent of those people, had no way to make connection to Western World.

Suzanne: Sure.

John: Christian Jewish and other Muslim groups coming into those areas to help with service. They bring a little food, a little medicine, a little and you know what difference that makes to their survival, you know, I have stories with people who were kidnapped. In Afghanistan I can not, and men and women and the people kidnapped and more young voice, but they were part of the Taliban.

Suzanne: All right. Yes.

John: And yet, were not connected at that time with a major leadership. They put the women on cots, they had rifles and they will make him commit for them to make connection with the Americans. Marines. Army. Who will kill them and yet, at the same time they do not want to let go of those weapons. We kept praying that Americans come quickly. And they did, they wanted their family to get more help who had no, I am not man in that area, the roads are destroyed. They need help with food. They need help with medicine.

Suzanne: Right.

John: And that is what this crew was there to do for.

Suzanne: That is good. Yes.

John: And the people as best they could. Hey, America. All over the world people may be aggravated about it. I got yelled at after a couple years working with young people in South Africa with the development of a new Union and finally one of my friends who was a native of the community there because he is always talking and he stood up and said “Mr. Savage, doing on a South African we going to handle this now.”, you know, and that was it, it was like, okay, I got you. The ups and downs is still going on but we were a team.

Suzanne: That’s good. So, you do a lot of this. So you do a lot of this outreach and helping communities and that kind of thing?

John: Well, right now, but I still have the telephone, I still have the Zoom. And my feelings, you know, I am an actor. I’m a dreamer I live with hope, I have to the opposite end of that for me finding a middle is difficult for me, you know, I get very emotional. And you know, I have to take a breath once in a while.

Suzanne: I understand.

John: I love a good script. Yeah, God.

Suzanne: So, can I ask you, do you were in four episodes of sales team, right? And do you know which one you know, which one that they are considering you for an Emmy or is it all for?

John: Well, I believe it is the last one. It is a gentle scene, over solution. I believe that no. I don’t know. I think they gave me your for to suggest which I thought and I thought it was the gentle one of reconciliation.

Suzanne: At the great, at the mother’s, at the mother’s grave site you try about that one?
John: Yes.

Suzanne: Oh, Okay. And do you know it, sorry, go ahead.

John: No, I can keep talking with the fact that I did getting attention because of this show. Even with the dialogue with these men and women. I mean the leader of the Seal team, David Boreneaz. That is always important. He is losing his sense of purpose, men died that he is trying to get to do these things. His people, his family, his guys. The commitment and service is really tough, you know. My dad had a bunch of guys from the shop. Crack. Crack Rifleman in the Marines do a much tinier than him, but they are all in their mind. They were they were white. They were very strong appreciations of Southern dialogue, some of it as gentlemen very nice, very beautiful issues of home and only black it will ever become president, the dialogue went away. They want to ignore it, some bad. You kept him okay, but that did not participate in that-

Suzanne: Right.

John: But he was the toughest kid in the group and he did not fight with them. You just brought them to the presence. And we are here and if they felt they knew that they were trained for it and believe me when a man gets that is nice someone cut his throat at night. From having called in from the army. I will name it but the you know, nobody knew when they are trained Marines. How did we know? Why is not somebody awake? You know, I do not know what they want to I am imagining that and they were a team they had to. One you people are keeping me alive because I’m keeping you alive. And that’s why we’ are here. That is it.

Suzanne: Right.

John: And he lost them and he had dreams about not making it. Not saving the people, he cared about them. But believe me, as soon as he got home his whole idea with my mom was active civil rights duty.

Suzanne: That is great.

John: Two wars. They wanted depression, have all gone through depression. Who does he go to find the best basketball players? So, you know tell me about it and the idea that when we got older and people were dating different races, but one who continue to have us her relationship and some of those women who came to help us at the house with my mom or she put you in there in her shop, these women had children. They call me now. They are still alive in North Carolina, have a shop, which my mom, they thank my mom for helping him put that together. They are working with church groups for kids and they have lost their houses in a second flood. Yeah, you know today that I can not tell you. it is just when you see these stories on TV it brings stuff back.

Suzanne: Yes.

John: Suddenly, here are in their life. She said say to me, I do not know. I do not know which goes to, they from different races and they are married. What are those children going to deal, how they got to deal with this. How are those children? She was scared. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea. You know, what are those kids are eight more? All right. How are you dealing with us?

Suzanne: Yes. it’s always something huh.

John: Maybe it is better.

Suzanne: There is always something to do with her. Right?

John: Yes. Really. It is again. I don’t know what how do work and it’s come up a few times in my profession and other areas of mental health, the areas of narcissism. It is not like an accusation if it is like a lot of work. Like mental health, “Get away from me.”, witchcraft. Okay. Yeah. All right. Well, you know why people get together and play games maybe, go for a book club about poker game, sure, whatever. Why? because we need each other.

Suzanne: Yes, it is tough. It is tough right now. It is tough right now because so many people are isolated and they cannot get together.

John: There are many more, there is a list of the people have not committed suicide for military service. My last couple months is very high in the air force.

Suzanne: Yes.

John: Why? Pick a number. Mental health, frustration, no money, no job, whatever.

Suzanne: Yes. It is got to be probably pretty high in Hmong civilians right now to in the last few months people not used to being unsociable.

John: I think it is one of the coolest coolest places we have lived so far and it has got, it is an apartment building but we have got this much more area here, there is more space, more spacious and it is cheaper.

Suzanne: Good.

John: It has got a swimming pool.

Suzanne: Oh, that is nice.

John: People who are giving space.

Suzanne: That is good.

John: A lot of the apartments. They have to move out because they can not sleep at night and their ritual of screaming at each other all night long. Oh, God. Yeah, you know my girlfriend. She is right. What are they going to do to each other. “Maybe we should call the police”. I said “Well, in my experience with police activity when a couple is together like that. They actually love each other and they kill the police officers. I’m trying to help.”, you know, maybe we should just you know, both of us need to take a walk, living in a small place together. Maybe space between each other is helpful.

Suzanne: Yeah, definitely.

John: You know older cultures do not shake hands, you know, they do not go and run and hug each other right away. Out of respect, they bow from a distance because in the old days, maybe somebody hold a weapon in the other hand, you know, but that is like New York, so I am familiar with that. This is our chance we have a lot of gratitude is necessary. Thank you.

Suzanne: Right.

John: We could be we could have been dead by now. We got another chance. Give us a break.

Suzanne: For now.

John: So, I do not know. I love your laugh.

Suzanne: Thank you. Well, I appreciate it. And I appreciate your making me laugh.

John: Good, good. Well, this show might have some little rough humor to look at me. Sometimes, the craziness that we do between semi train each other and then the next up it is like a lot with men they need that senior officer, a woman now saying, you guys you two guys say one more word. I will put you both down in a break for a week or two. Whatever. Like I am going to hit the ground for a thousand push-ups. You can not leave till you finish. However, whatever the demand is they have to answer to a higher power.

Suzanne: Right.

John: They have to let go of the thinking they may still have emotions. Just gotta walk with it for a while. Let go, you know God blesses. We need, we need help a lot today.

Suzanne: Yes.

John: Yes to that. I think you do not mind being liked. Appreciate it.

Suzanne: Oh, yes. Well, thanks so much for calling me. I really do appreciate, I have watched so many of your movies and things over the years and I am only about 13 years younger than you. So I am not some young reporter in case you did not know I saw I sound yeah.

John: You know, the youth is there. That means there is something going, you know, sometimes the excited, excited juvenile behavior, right, is appropriate but when you can feel the sense of a heart, that is young and yet the consciousness of wisdom in the background.

Suzanne: Yeah. That is a good thing.

John: You have got that. You are a professional.

Suzanne: Thank you.

John: You are handling. What I consider, well, it is not a difficult role, but it is.

Suzanne: It can be.

John: Work is different.

Suzanne: Yes.

John: You know, what is it like when you get home to the failure you the same?

Suzanne: Well, luckily. Luckily for me I get to work at home. So, that is good.

John: Now you are here, we are getting to work at home. Okay?

Suzanne: Yes, I always worked at home.

John: You live alone?

Suzanne: No, I have my husband and my dog and, but I get to work at home. So, I have my own website.

John: How much does a dog help in a relationship?

Suzanne: It does help. Yes. She is goofy. And she makes us laugh and you can not stay mad.

John: I could hear every once in a while, you could schedule like a private meeting, either he goes or you go.  … your dog, you know, whatever. Exactly, I had that one bunny rabbit, I would not have gotten it but I blame her, the two of us. We saw this wonderful Latina woman, my girlfriend speaks Spanish and I get to listen to the beautiful language. Maybe, I have learned. but there are words that I forget and the woman had two baby bunnies and her little thing and she is talking to her about. Yes, and I do not know what is going on. But she is there to take two little, one little tiny bunny out and hold it, you know, we are both looking at it both are looking at each other like, you know, no, no, no, no ,no, no, no, no, yes. We bought, we bought it for a few dollars. And now that this little baby girl. Oh God, it is our baby. It is our child. Yeah, let us look into the eyes of the soul. And we know her, she knows us, and understands some of us, she will thump her foot when she hears my loud voice. And she will go under the couch. That is a violence that I watched on TV. Sometimes, same thing. Powder [?] the room and tighten another room.

Suzanne: Yes. Our last dog did that whenever he heard loud sounds whether it was us arguing or the TV or the thunder, whatever it was. He would go run in the other room.

John: All right, right, right. Yeah. Find a place, find a safe place quick. Or they want to share in the conversation, and my, little bunny, does have a small voice.

Suzanne: Really?

John: If you went to her up there when she is concentrating on something in her cage, and does not want to be bothered and I want a pair of this or move something inside, she will bite it, pull it back and growl like a lion, very straight.

Suzanne: That is strange.

John: I did not know that about bunnies.

Suzanne: I did not either.

John: Well, we gave that tiny bunny a whole head of lettuce. I gave her a whole head of lettuce, just to sit and see how, she picked it up and threw it, up in the air, this thing was two inches long, and I know you got to be careful, but not you sweetheart, very gentle.

Suzanne: That’s funny.

John: I hope I’m not pushing you to follow this.

Suzanne: What’s that?

John: I am really appreciating, you know, my chance to talk about my team that I had a time. I think it is great. And your child has called.

Suzanne: Yes. She barks whenever anyone walks by the house, so it is okay.

John: Yes. She wants to share in the community.

Suzanne: She wants to protect them. So yeah. I appreciate it. Go ahead.

John: It is my pleasure. If you have anything you would like to discuss, please call or contact my email.

Suzanne: Okay.

John: I think you have that or not. We have yours.

Suzanne: Yes.

John: And my girlfriend has been trying to just make sure that we stay in touch with all the folks that we contact on this.

Suzanne: Okay.

John: Wonderful effort.

Suzanne: Well, thanks.

John: Because we have nobody else to talk to. God bless and-

Suzanne: Thank you.

John: -in your work.

Suzanne: All right. Thanks. Good luck on your nomination.

John: I appreciate that a lot. All right, I am praying for everybody in the seal team and the real ones, too. Have a good day.

Suzanne: Thank you.

John: You are part of the team.

Suzanne: All right.

John: Take care.

Transcribed by Transcription Puppy

MORE INFO:

It’s rare for an actor the caliber of JOHN SAVAGE, primarily known for exquisite turns in iconic films like Deer Hunter, The Thin Red Line and Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thin  to transition to television for a standout role.  But when it is a recurring role on a top-rated, critically lauded series like Seal Team (CBS, Wednesdays, 9pm). Savage jumped at the opportunity.  And now his portrayal of ‘Emmet Quinn,’ the father of devoted Seal Team character, ‘Sonny Quinn’ (A.J. Buckley), is a leading Emmy contender as Guest Actor in a Drama Series, for Savage’s emotional performance as patriarch of the family legacy and the father-son relationship is put to the test before America’s eyes.

Savage, whose career was launched in the motion picture, Milos Forman’s Hair, is credited for standout roles in numerous landmark films.  As he assumes the role of stoic and proud patriarch in a multi-arc special guest star appearance, Savage brings a gravitasse to ‘Emmet Quinn’ who was raised to love two things: his land and his wife with equal commitment.  “When my on screen’s persona’s wife tragically passed away before her time, I poured my grief for her into the land — to the detriment and disillusionment of our young children,” says John of his Seal Team character.  Now, decades later, Savage’s ‘Emmet’ is forced to confront the push-pull relationship he has had with son, AJ Buckley’s ‘Sonny,’ for so very many years it takes the crisis of literally nearly losing the family farm to discover what truly is important in life. The military top-rated primetime drama that follows the professional and personal lives of the most elite unit of Navy SEALs as they train, plan, and execute the most dangerous, high-stakes missions the country can ask of them stars David Boreanaz, Max Thieriot, Jessica Pare, Neil Brown Jr. and Toni Trucks.

Savage’s all new episodes aired as Seal Team was wrapping its third season in April and are re-airing all summer on CBS: https://www.cbs.com/shows/seal-team/

The shows are also available on CBS All Access.

Savage’s intense focus on the subtleties of this Emmy contending role is something you truly will want to spotlight in an interview that will be one long remembered. High res series stills, background material and selected scenes (from Seal Team as well as his current critically lauded feature, The Last Full Measure with Sebastian Stan, Samuel Jackson, Ed Harris and more) are available upon request. This past week, John was cast in the starring role of the hard-nosed judge presiding over the case in a new feature film, domestic abuse drama Finding Nicole, based on the Chris Cuomo-fronted CNN doc, Inside Evil – Until Death Do Us Part which will be shooting in Michigan later this year.

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TV Interview!

Interview with Lyndsy Fonseca of “You Can’t Take My Daughter” on Lifetime by Suzanne 6/30/20

This was a wonderful interview! Lyndsy is such a great actress. She was so nice on this call, and we had a fun chat. Make sure you watch her movie on Sunday, 6pm July 7! More info below the interview.

Here is the audio version of it.

Lyndsy: Hi Suzanne.

Suzanne: Hi Lindsay. How are you?

Lyndsy: I’m doing good. How are you?

Suzanne: Pretty good. Can’t complain.

Lyndsy: Good.

Suzanne: So I’ll get right to it because I know you’re running late.

Lyndsy: Okay. Thank you.

Suzanne: You’ve been acting professionally since you were 13, correct?

Lyndsy: That’s right. Yeah.

Suzanne: And did your parents support you on this pretty much?

Lyndsy: Oh my gosh. The only reason I was able to do it. We lived in Northern California around Oakland area, and I wanted to do it so badly that they would fly me back and forth for auditions. It was really when I got the three year contract on The Young and The Restless, my parents decided to move for me. They sold their house, quit their jobs, and we all moved to Los Angeles.

Suzanne: Wow.

Lyndsy: We started a whole new life here. So they have made all of this possible. Yeah.

Suzanne: Yeah. That’s quite a commitment.

Lyndsy: It is. Yes.

Suzanne: Yeah. I used to watch you as Colleen on Young and The Restless.

Lyndsy: Oh my gosh.

Suzanne: Yeah. Yeah. I’ve been watching that show off and on since 1986 when I was in college. So before you were born.

Lyndsy: And a lot of people are still there. Yeah.

Suzanne: Some of them, yeah. So what was the best thing about working on that show?

Lyndsy: Oh gosh. It was like a bootcamp. It was so… It was the only job I ever knew, so I didn’t have anything to compare it to. We were shooting like 30 pages a day. The pace of it was so fast that anything since then has been pretty easy compared to how much lines I have to learn, or the fast paced schedule of television. I think doing a soap opera was a really great training ground.

Suzanne: Right? Yeah. I’ve heard that. I’ve heard their work even faster now. I don’t know how they do that.

Lyndsy: I don’t even know how either.

Suzanne: Do you ever still watch Young and The Restless or keep up with the people that you knew from it?

Lyndsy: I do talk to Crystal quite a lot. We keep in contact, but gosh, no. I don’t watch the show just because I have a two year old, and I don’t really get to watch much.

Suzanne: That keeps you busy.

Lyndsy: Are you there?

Suzanne: Yeah. I’m here.

Lyndsy: I’m sorry. You just cut out for a second.

Suzanne: Oh, sorry. I said that keeps you busy having a two year old.

Lyndsy: Oh, yes. Yes it does.

Suzanne: So is it the terrible twos yet? Or just…

Lyndsy: You know, I get why they say terrible twos for sure. We had… I think right when she turned two, she’s two now and four months and it ebbs and flows. They want more individualism, but they’re not quite ready to do things, and they get frustrated, and it’s just been an amazing learning experience to be a parent. I loved every… Even the challenging moments are fascinating from a psychology point of view. I love diving into a parenting book and figuring it out and understanding it. It’s so fun.

Suzanne: Okay, great. I saw that you were married to your former Costar, Noah.

Lyndsy: Yes.

Suzanne: Yes, he’s great. I love him.

Lyndsy: I love him too.

Suzanne: Yes, I know you do. He’s always good too. So I…

Lyndsy: He’s a great actor and a great father, and a great husband.

Suzanne: I used to watch your show, so I like that.

Lyndsy: Oh, good.

Suzanne: Yeah. Your other show. You’ve been on so many, it’s hard to keep track. So you’ve done so many TV shows and movies since The Younger and The Restless. What made you want to do this particular Lifetime movie?

Lyndsy: Well, I think mostly because I was impressed that they didn’t shy away from some pretty explicit and difficult things to talk about and to portray. I was impressed how they were telling a true story, and I thought it would be a great honor to play a woman who has been through so much and prevail through. Not only is a great mom and a great person, but she dedicated her life to changing the policies that were not in place to protect her. So I just was really impressed that Lifetime cared about a story like this. Tori, the director, she was so committed to telling this truthfully that I felt like I was in good hands. My experience with Lifetime after doing five films many years ago, was such a great experience as well. So I knew that it would be a good partnership.

Suzanne: Yeah. I watched it this morning. It was very intense, especially at the beginning, but it was good.

Lyndsy: Thank you. Yeah, it is intense.

Suzanne: It’s a little hard to watch in that sense. Yeah. It’s just in the wow. They did that.

Lyndsy: I know. The great thing is, is that to portray her and to shoot, it was probably only a fraction of what it was like for her to live it. So it was the least… I felt like telling the story was really important.

Suzanne: Right. Now, it first aired back in February? And have you gotten a lot of feedback about it?

Lyndsy: Yeah, I have. I think a lot of women who have been through similar situations have responded to it, and I know that Lifetime has had really good, positive feedback about people being aware that this isn’t actually a Countrywide law. Still, there’s a couple of States that don’t protect women from this situation. So I think overall, just politically and getting the word out, it’s been really a great… I think it’s been very important.

Suzanne: Yeah. I’m sure it must’ve opened a lot of people’s eyes about the laws regarding rape. Did it surprise you when you-

Lyndsy: Oh, my Gosh, totally surprised me. I couldn’t believe what she’d been through, and the fact that there were so many women that have gone through it and are going through it. It just blew my mind. It just seems like a story I wanted to tell.

Suzanne: Right. And what was the toughest part about filming the movie for you?

Lyndsy: I probably just the balance of shooting all day with such heavy material, and making sure I had time to spend with my baby. My real family at home and that balance, but it was only a month shoot, so it was something I knew I needed to fully dive into and commit to because it was going to be important. The thing that was amazing, that surprised me was Analynn, the woman I played, she was so concerned about my emotional wellbeing. She said, “I just I want to make sure that you are okay doing the subject matter.” And I just was in awe of the fact that after everything she’s actually been through, she was worried about me pretending to go through some of this stuff. I was just… It just goes to show what kind of a person and loving human she is.

Suzanne: And what did you enjoy most about making the film?

Lyndsy: I really enjoyed working with a female director, especially with the subject matter and the collective. I think just as a crew, the crew knew that this was a story that was real, and the respect that we all needed to have for one another, and have each other’s back. I think when you’re doing something that the story like this people are just there for the greater good. They’re not just fooling around and stuff. So it felt really important. I just really wanted to make her proud, and other women that have been through this, I just wanted them to feel like it was authentic and that they could relate to it.

Suzanne: And when it came to the physical scenes, did you have a stunt double or was that all you?

Lyndsy: Yeah. I did have a stunt double, and coming from Nikita and my fighting days. I did all my own fighting on Nikita. It was really not that… It was very easy as far as stunt wise, but because it wasn’t an action show, everybody was like the producers, the director, and the writers, everyone was like, no, no, no Lyndsy, don’t’ do that. I’m like, guys, I can’t do this, I swear. I’ve done plenty of stunt scenes, but they were so worried that I’d hurt myself. So I had to let the [inaudible 00:09:06]. She as great, but it’s just part of… I like to get physically involved in all of it because I just think it helps the other performance aspects of it if it’s all together. But yeah, it was emotionally draining and tricky for those certain things.

Suzanne: And had you worked with Kirstie Alley before?

Lyndsy: No, I had not. I had not met her before or worked with her, but she was lovely. She was great. She came in, she’s a ball of energy. She’s funny. She’s spiky. She’s [inaudible 00:09:43]. It was great. I was just telling the story that she was a great breath of fresh air because we were doing some pretty dark, heavy subject matter. And Kirstie, as a person, is always cracking jokes.

Suzanne: Oh, that’s good.

Lyndsy: So it was really fun to have her around.

Suzanne: I’ll bet. Did you know that she got her start on a Star Trek movie?

Lyndsy: Oh really? No, I didn’t.

Suzanne: The second Start Trek movie.

Lyndsy: I watched her on Cheers, and [crosstalk 00:10:12] plenty of her work.

Suzanne: I don’t remember if this was… Now that I think about it, it might’ve been… My memory is terrible, but it was either her first movie or right before Cheers, I don’t remember which, but it was Star Trek, The Wrath of Kanya. She played a Vulcan. Imagine being that funny, and cracking jokes, and having to keep a straight face as a Vulcan.

Lyndsy: I’m sure the crew loves it. She is fun.

Suzanne: That’s good. Now so did you have any… With that comedy in mind, did you have any funny or interesting stories about the filming? I know it was quick.

Lyndsy: Gosh, I think just being on location in Atlanta was really fun, and the whole cast was incredible. I was just saying that the girl who played my daughter was this incredible prodigy. She was so… I’ve worked with lots of kids, and she was the most normal kid, but loved her performing. She was such a joy to work with, and I was so lucky to be able to play her mom. And yeah, it was just overall… And actually Dimitri, the actor who played the rapist was one of the most kind, loving, generous people. And he made the experience really great because after every taste would be like, “Are you okay?” He was just always checking in on me. And I was just amazed by how well he would be able to play this person, and then how kind good he was real life. He was amazing.

Suzanne: Oh, that’s nice.

Lyndsy: Yeah.

Suzanne: So it’s great that Lifetime is showing the movie again during their 30th Anniversary. Independence Day Marathon. Were you happy to hear about this?

Lyndsy: Yes, I was so honored that it would be a part of a marathon. Its so great. I’m so glad more people will get to see it while we’re all celebrating all the great films that Lifetime has done.

Suzanne: Mm-hmm (affirmative). Do you have anything else coming out that was filmed pre COVID-19? If anything?

Lyndsy: No. I’m actually waiting. I’m about to go shoot a Disney Plus show called Turner and Hooch. So we’re just waiting on all the new side regulations and travel precautions and all the things we have to worry about in today’s time. So I’m just preparing and getting ready for that. Getting our cast rounded out, and I’m really excited and looking forward to it. It’ll be… Hopefully it will start shooting in another month or two.

Suzanne: Cool. Do you know who your costars are on that? Anybody I’ve heard of?

Lyndsy: Yeah. Josh Peck. Josh Peck is the lead, I play his sister. We’ve got a few other people that are about to. I don’t want to mention anything that is finalized, so I’ll just leave it with Josh. He’s great. I’m so excited. We worked together on Grandfathered and have known each other since we were a little kids in the acting world. So we’re both parents now and playing brother and sister and it’s like, I’m so excited, and he’s so funny and yeah. There’s going to be lots of slobbery dogs running around the set. It’s going to be fun.

Suzanne: Good, good. I’ll have to check that out. And so what have you been doing while you’re staying at home?

Lyndsy: So my husband was shooting in New York, and so as were as a family out there, and then everything shut down. So we have basically been quarantined with his mom on the East coast for like four months, and just living in a small town in Connecticut, and out in country, and just trying to stay out of busy cities. We finally decided we need to come home, and get our dog. I’s just been a tricky transition back into the LA life.

Suzanne: Wow.

Lyndsy: Yeah. We’re just trying to navigate. We just been back only a week now, so it’s been tricky with a two year old trying to figure out things to do, and go be with her, and keep her busy. So we’re just trying to stay safe, and use the time to just appreciate one another and be home. We’re lucky to just be able to be home. So that’s what we’re doing.

Suzanne: You flew on an airplane home?

Lyndsy: Yes, we did. We survived, and we got tested, and we’re free and clear. So we’re feeling like we got through that hurdle.

Suzanne: Yeah. I don’t know anyone at anyone flying right now, but yeah, that’s good. It’s pretty… You probably didn’t want to drive country with a two year old.

Lyndsy: It was definitely not an option. We probably would have, if we didn’t have her, but she was great. The flight was only half full, and she was so good, and everyone wore their masks. We just tried to be healthy as possible. And then luckily it worked.

Suzanne: That’s good. That’s good.

Lyndsy: Yeah.

Suzanne: All right. Well, when you’re talking about being in a small town in Connecticut, it reminded me of one of those cable movies. Christmas movie or something.

Lyndsy: No, totally. It was, it was like that. And we were just trying to survive this pandemic in our own little bubble and try and get through it. But we had to come back to reality soon enough, get ready for my next show and stuff. So, yeah, but it was great. I’m grateful for the time and it’s just, everyone’s doing the best that they can right now.

Suzanne: Right. And I’m glad you’re all staying safe and I hope you all get to go back to production soon. I know it’s up in the air still.

Lyndsy: Yeah. Thank you. I know. Every day we’re just getting more and more information, and it’ll happen.

Suzanne: Yeah. Well the soap operas are just now starting back to film again. I think everybody… Maybe the other industry is waiting to see what happens with them.

Lyndsy: Yeah. I know. I know we’ll be one of the first shows too, to go back, and I think we’re all just trying to… We know we’re the little Guinea pigs of big production. So I think we’re just trying to… I know the producers are working hard to get all the protocols and just do it safely as possible.

Suzanne: Right. Well, at least being a kid show, you won’t have to worry as much about things like kissing and stuff like that. Like they do in the store.

Lyndsy: No, I feel I’m so grateful. I [inaudible 00:16:33] just that. There’s no kissing, no sex scenes. No nothing. It’s just a family comedy. So I’m like, thank goodness.

Suzanne: Yeah. That’s good. Yeah. All right. Well, so thanks so much for talking to us today.

Lyndsy: Oh my gosh. It was a pleasure. Thank you so much.

Suzanne: All right. See you later.

Lyndsy: Bye.

Transcribed by Rev.com

MORE INFO:

Independence Day Marathon Info –

Lifetime continues to celebrate the 30^th Anniversary of Lifetime Original Movies this summer with a special Independence Day weekend marathon, featuring 10 popular throwback titles from Lifetime’s movie vault and two new film premieres.

SATURDAY, 7/4

11a: Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story (2003) Thora Birch

12:30p: Steel Magnolias (2012) Alfre Woodard & Queen Latifah

2p: Abducted: The Carlina White Story (2012) Aunjanue Ellis & Keke Palmer

4p: Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleading Scandal (2008) Jenna Dewan & Ashley Benson

6p: Bad Seed (2018) Rob Lowe

8p: The Twisted Nanny (New to Lifetime Premiere – previously aired on LMN)

SUNDAY, 7/5

10a: We Were the Mulvaneys (2002) Blythe Danner & Beau Bridges

12p: The Pregnancy Pact (2010) Thora Birch & Nancy Travis

2p: Taken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story (2011) Taraji P Henson & Terry O’Quinn

4p: Lizzie Borden Took an Ax (2014) Christina Ricci

6p: You Can’t Take My Daughter (2020) Kirstie Alley & Lyndsy Fonseca

8p: Driven to the Edge (New Premiere)

Saturday, July 4^th

All Times ET/PT

Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story – 11am PT/ET

Thora Birch and Kelly Lynch (2003)
Based on the true story of Liz Murray (Birch), Homeless to Harvard tells the moving story of a young woman, raised in poverty by loving yet drug-addicted parents, who is determined to rise above her station in life and into the Ivy League.

Steel Magnolias –12:30pm PT/ET

Queen Latifah, Phylicia Rashad, Jill Scott and Alfre Woodard  (2012)
Six women congregate at Truvy’s beauty shop to ponder life’s mysteries and support each other over the years through all of their personal triumphs and tragedies. The television adaptation is based on the iconic play and 1989 film of the same name.

Abducted: The Carlina White Story – 2pm

Aunjanue Ellis, Keke Palmer and Sherri Shepherd (2012) 
A young woman who was abducted as an infant from a New York hospital works to solve her own kidnapping and find her biological parents. Based on a true story.

Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleading Scandal – 4pm

Jenna Dewan, Ashley Benson, and Tatum O’Neal (2008) 

A gutsy teacher fights to end the reign of misbehavior enjoyed by five beautiful, well-connected cheerleaders given carte blanche to do as they please at school. Based on a true story

The Bad Seed – 6pm

Rob Lowe and Mckenna Grace (2018)
Executive producer, director and star Rob Lowe re-imagines the iconic 1956 psychological horror film, The Bad Seed. Lowe stars as a single father who seems to have everything under control. But when a terrible tragedy takes place at his daughter Emma’s (Grace) school, he is forced to question everything he thought he knew about his beloved child.

NEW TO LIFETIME THRILLER PREMIERE (previously premiered on LMN)

The Twisted Nanny – 8pm

Tara Erickson, Annika Foster, Joey Rae Blair and Brey Chandet

When single mother Julia (Erickson) realizes night nanny Olivia (Foster) is turning her children against her, Julia must fight to prove that Olivia is not who she says she is before she gets custody of the kids for good.

Sunday, July 5^th

All Times ET/PT

We Were the Mulvaneys – 10am

Beau Bridges, Blythe Danner, and Tammy Blanchard (2002) 

A close-knit rural family is shattered by the emotional toll of shame and rage in the aftermath of a rape.

The Pregnancy Pact – 12pm

Thora Birch, Nancy Travis and Camryn Manheim (2010)
The Pregnancy Pact explores the cost of teen pregnancy with a fictional story set against the backdrop of actual news reports from June 2008. A blogger investigating a sudden spike in teenage pregnancies in her hometown finds herself at the center of media firestorm surrounding the teens’ “pregnancy pact.”

Taken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story – 2pm  

Taraji P Henson & Terry O’Quinn (2011)

When her young son is abducted by his biological father, Tiffany flies to Korea to execute a high-stakes plan to bring her boy home. Based on a true story.

Lizzie Borden Took an Ax – 4pm

Christina Ricci, Billy Campbell and Clea DuVall (2014)
One of the most legendary figures in American history, Lizzie Borden (Ricci) was one of the first women to whet the public’s voracious interest in scandalous crimes with her own gruesome story involving the brutal murder of her parents.

You Can’t Take My Daughter – 6pm

Kirstie Alley & Lyndsy Fonseca (2020)

Amy Thompson (Fonseca) is a vibrant law student in Charlotte who is attacked and raped by Demetri a friend of a friend she met once. Discovering that she is pregnant, Amy makes the difficult decision to keep her baby, despite the fact that Demetri continues to harass her as she waits for the long-delayed trial. She gives birth and decides to start over in Atlanta. Six years later, Demetri finds her and, to her horror, sues her for custody of her daughter.

NEW THRILLER PREMIERE

Driven to the Edge – 8pm

Taylor Spreitler and Danielle Burgess 

Fashion designer Tess (Spreitler) is a true millennial obsessed with using rideshare apps to get wherever she needs to go. When she meets a new friend, Jaye (Burgess), during a car ride as a fellow passenger, they immediately form a strong bond. But as Tess’s friends start to question Jaye’s odd behavior and even recognize Jaye as one of their past rideshare drivers, Tess slowly realizes the new friend she’s made is harboring a disturbingly dark secret with an agenda to ensure Tess never leaves her.

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