Mary-Louise Parker on the Joy of Weeds

If you run through all of the crimes she's committed, the danger she's exposed her children to, and the continually dubious decisions she continues to make, it would be easy to damn Nancy Botwin, the lead character on Showtime's hit comedy Weeds. That's why it's all the more impressive that as played by Mary-Louise Parker, we still like Nancy and can enjoy watching her actions, even as we think, "I can't believe she's doing this…"

IGN TV: The show really reinvented itself this year. What did you think when you heard the plan to completely change the location and dynamic?

Mary-Louise Parker: I thought it was kind of brilliant. [Weeds creator] Jenji Kohan came to me and she was like, "How would you feel if we burnt down Agrestic?" I said, "I think that's awesome! Burn it down!" I think that's her genius. I think that's characteristic about what's brilliant about her and what's perverse and awesome about her, is that she's willing to take that kind of chance, you know? And I was just like, "Burn it down!" [Laughs] I love that she did that. I love that about her. And I think it changed everything and gave us our best season yet.

IGN: When she told you that idea, did she have in mind yet where she wanted to take this season?

Parker: Kind of. She knew some of it. But I didn't think it was going to be our best season!

IGN: The audience for the show has gotten bigger each season. How do you think it's been able to keep drawing a larger audience?

Parker: I don't know! I guess they watched it on DVD or something. What do you think?IGN: Well, I was one of those people who discovered it on DVD after Season 1 and watched them all very quickly, so I definitely think that helps. What's been interesting is watching your character start out just dealing pot, but then her criminal activities have kept growing.Parker: It gets uglier and uglier.

IGN: When you began the show, did you know that's where it would go?

Parker: No, but I love it, the darker and crazier it gets. I just want it to get uglier and uglier and weirder and nastier.

IGN: Do you think Nancy thinks her actions are justified?

Parker: Oh yeah. I think she justifies all day long and I think everything makes sense in her head, you know?




SOURCE: IGN.COM

Kevin Nealon

Funnyman Kevin Nealon believes with the changes made in the new season of "Weeds," the show could have an even longer life than the troupe expected. "I think it could keep going for a while. Eventually we'll see the smoke at the end of the tunnel, but I think it's a very long tunnel," claims Nealon of the Showtime series in its fourth season.

"I think the show has upped the ante in its risk factor. It's in a new location. It's in the fictitious town of Ren Mar, which is north of the Mexican border. We kind of extend our illegal activities by smuggling in illegal immigrants into the United States. It's been a nice change.

"So far he tells us the response has been positive. "People seem to like it. It's amazing the demographics of the show, too. It's so varied. I'll have an 18-year-old say he is a fan of it, and then I'll go around the corner and some 78-year-old woman will tell me how much she enjoys it."

Some good stuff!

Season Three now available on iTunes (kinda old news, I know.)

You can also download:

About Inside Media at the Paley Center

The producers, director, and cast of Weeds discuss how the show came to be, its social relevance, and marijuana’s place in popular culture. The Hollywood Reporter's Cynthia Littleton moderates the panelists, including creator Jenji Kohan, director Lev Spiro, and cast members Mary-Louise Parker (Nancy Botwin), Justin Kirk (Andy Botwin), Romany Malco (Conrad Shepard), Tonye Patano (Heylia James), and Elizabeth Perkins (Celia Hodes). The discussion delves into how the show came about, how it was pitched, how it was cast, what parts of the show ring true to Kohan's personal background, the show’s typical audience member, plotlines for season two, the show’s social relevance, and marijuana's place in current popular culture....

Season four premiere sets record!

Weeds started its fourth season off on a real high, becoming the network’s most-watched telecast on record. It’s said that on Monday night weeds averaged 1.3 million total viewers which broke the record held by a Season 2 episode of “Dexter” 1.2 million that aired in 2007.

It’s reported that Weeds has seen its season premieres grow from the start. The series bow pulled in 488,000 viewers, while Season 2’s debut averaged 578,000 and Season 3 started out with 824,000.

In other Weeds news Mary-Louise Parker is back for more sex drugs and rock and roll in the new season. Last season, widowed pot-dealing mom Nancy Botwin (Mary-Louise Parker) was last seen helping set her California town ablaze. So the question we all want to know is where will she relocate her family in season four?

Weeds star Elizabeth Perkins has also spoke out about what it’s like to work on “Weeds,” possibly the most drug-addled show on TV.

Elizabeth tells Fancast the inside TV the truth about smoking “stunt weed,” and why she thinks marijuana should be legalized and why she loved spiking her daughter’s food with laxatives, shaving her husband’s head, and taking Quaaludes to PTA meetings. Stunt weed is sort of what you would smoke if you went out and bought rose-flavoured cigarettes or cinnamon cigarettes or clove. It is a combination of herbs that don’t get you stoned.

When she was asked about what her views are on the whole pot thing she said that “I think it is crazy that it is illegal, and I think it is crazy that people are in jail once they get busted with small amounts of marijuana. I am so pro-legalized marijuana because I just don’t see it as that dangerous of a narcotic. I don’t think that means high school students should be able to do bong hits whenever they want to. I do think (adults) should be able to do what they want in the privacy of their own home with an herb that grows in the backyard.”

Elizabeth Perkins on 'Stunt Weed'

Elizabeth Perkins talks about what it's like to work on "Weeds," possibly the most drug-addled show on TV.

The Emmy-, Golden Globe- and SAG-nominated actress tells Fancast: Inside TV the truth about smoking "stunt weed," why she thinks marijuana should be legalized and why she loved spiking her daughter's food with laxatives, shaving her husband's head, and taking Quaaludes to PTA meetings.

On the show, people! On the show!

Here's an excerpt:

Snoop Dogg, who guested on the show, said you guys use "stunt weed"; what is stunt weed?

EP: "If we smoked real weed, we wouldn't get anything done over here. Stunt weed is sort of what you would smoke if you went out and bought rose-flavored cigarettes, or cinnamon cigarettes or clove. It is a combination of herbs that don't get you stoned. Although if you shoot all day with it you do get sort of lightheaded."

Does it smell authentic?

EP: "Oh, yeah, it actually smells like marijuana, which is kind of fun. Which kind of it sets up the whole feeling around here that we're all stoned. Although we really are not stoned."

What are your views on the whole pot thing?

EP: "I think it is crazy that it is illegal, and I think it is crazy that people are in jail once they get busted with small amounts of marijuana. I am so pro-legalized marijuana because I just don't see it as that dangerous of a narcotic. I don't think that means high school students should be able to do bong hits whenever they want to. I do think (adults) should be able to do what they want in the privacy of their own home with an herb that grows in the backyard."

You've said Celia Rhodes is certifiably insane. What are the key moments where you went "How am I going to play this?"

EP: "Putting laxatives in your daughter's food. Walking into the PTA meeting with Quaaludes in your pocket, uhm, becoming so shit-faced you fall asleep on the atrium of your floor. Shaving your husband's head, pulling your best friend's hair. Celia says the most outrageous things. She is the racist, bigot, white woman who is clearly unaware of the effect she is having on other people. She is jealous, envious, greedy, mean -- she is a certifiable insane witch. I love playing her."

And we love watching her.

Weeds star injured shooting sex scene

Mary-Louise Parker, lead star of the Showtime TV series Weeds, sported an unusual accessory during Sunday's Tony Awards.  The 43-year-old actress, who plays widowed housewife and marijuana dealer Nancy Botwin, reportedly wore a cast after breaking a toe while filming on the set of Weeds.

But Parker's injury doesn't involve just any ordinary scene.  In fact, Peoplereports that she broke her toe during a sex scene for Showtime's addictive comedy. 

"I smashed it on the bed frame," she told People at the after party, where she remained seated in her Alberta Ferretti gown.  "Good for me, right?"

"How's that for commitment?" she mused.  "Fantastic!"

The unfortunate incident was obviously captured on film and the director decided to include the footage on the show.  Fans will just have to stay tuned for the upcoming episodes of Weeds season 4.

"They kind of had to," Parker explained.  "It was the first take!"

Last season, viewers saw Nancy Botwin's transition from hesitant but determined toe-dipper in the unpredictable waters of drug dealing to full-fledged queen-pin entrepreneur.  But with each promotion on the crime ladder, the danger and threat to her family has increased exponentially, especially with her son Silas now in the family business.

Weeds has returned for a fourth season with its dark blend of humor and social commentary, following Nancy as she trades her gated community Agrestic for a beach town just miles from Mexico.  The focus shifts from bourgeois hypocrisy to larger social issues such as immigration, free trade, and the larger effects of drug trafficking. 

Mary-Kate & Emmy possibility

Showtime has officially entered Mary-Kate Olsen in the Emmy race for best guest actress in the dark comedy series Weeds for her role as Tara Lindman.  This potentially puts her against Lindsay Lohan, who is set to play an old schoolmate of America Ferrera's character Betty Suarez on Ugly Betty's May 22 season ender, and Britney Spears, who guest starred as a receptionist on the sitcom How I Met Your Mother. 

Submitting an Emmy entry costs several hundred dollars, which means Showtime is quite serious about backing up Olsen in the race.  There is no word yet on whether CBS is officially entering the Britney Spears episodes or whether ABC will put up cash on Lindsay, though many speculations have already been circulating. 
As for Olsen, this doesn't mean a nomination is in the bag for her as well.  Following the initial nominations, there are still two rounds of voting.  The first round involves a popular vote by actors who are members in the academy.  If she makes the top ten, she then must submit a sample episode for a judging panel.

For those who are not familiar, Olsen played a bible-loving pot-smoking gal who was the love interest of Nancy's (Mary-Louise Parker's) son Silas (Hunter Parrish) on Weeds.  She appeared in 10 of the 15 episodes of the third season.

Casting Olsen on Weeds created quite a buzz considering the notorious Manhattan club-hopper, who has suffered from an eating disorder, was featured puffing a common drug renowned for inducing an appetite.  Nevertheless, she garnered decent reviews from some TV critics and fans. 

Olen's appearance on Weeds marked her first major solo gig without twin sister Ashley, with whom she last appeared on TV in 2002.  That year, Mary-Kate was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for best performance in the children's series So Little Time.  Prior to that, she appeared on Full House and Two of a Kind.

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