We need never be ashamed of our tears. - Charles Dickens
These wise Dickensian words resonated with hundreds of "Parenthood" fans last Thursday night (3/7) at PaleyFest, where we were given individual Kleenex packets labeled with the quote. In this case, PR nailed the meaning of "public relations" with the fitting wink to a show known and adoringly teased for its ability to elicit tears every.single.episode. Happy? Sad? Concerned? Comforted? Feeling a feeling? Yeah, you're crying. Don't even try to deny it. Just let "Parenthood" happen to you. It's undeniable, and we're not ashamed.
Tissues at the ready, we engrossed ourselves in an incredibly smart, moving, and entertaining panel discussion featuring most of the near twenty-member regular cast.
Tissues at the ready, we engrossed ourselves in an incredibly smart, moving, and entertaining panel discussion featuring most of the near twenty-member regular cast.
First, meet Erika Christensen (Julia) and Sam Jaeger (Joel). It's as if he's saying, "I mean, just look at how handsome I am..."
The panel during audience Q&A. From left: Executive Producer Jason Katims, Peter Krause, Monica Potter, Jason Ritter, Lauren Graham, Craig T. Nelson, Dax Shepard, Joy Bryant, Erika Christensen, Sam Jaeger, Mae Whitman, Miles Heizer, and Max Burkholder
I am an obsessive TV watcher and a confessed hyperbolic superlative user (are there meetings for that?), but I happily go on record that "Parenthood" is the most excellent show currently on television. Considering my affection both for the show and talent, words can be hard to construct when all you find yourself using are a myriad of positive adjectives: awesome, amazing, incredible, wonderful, heart-warming, and other applicable Thesaurus entries.
Therefore, to prevent gushing, here are only some of my favorite observations of the night.
So This Happened:
It's necessary that I designate the first few mentions as a Monica Potter-only zone. She's just that fun.
Correction: *Future Emmy-Winner Monica Potter. (Crossing our fingers!) We couldn't imagine someone else portraying Kristina, am I right?
*Monica admitted to playing a drinking game while watching. Rule Numero Uno: You cry, you drown your sorrows. So "drinking game" / real life, whatever you call it, I want to be Monica's drinking buddy from now on.
*When she first sat down, she noticed two girls in the crowd who pulled a genius move and wore "I <3 Monica Potter" t-shirts. Her immediate reaction was to cry and freak out:
Therefore, to prevent gushing, here are only some of my favorite observations of the night.
So This Happened:
It's necessary that I designate the first few mentions as a Monica Potter-only zone. She's just that fun.
Correction: *Future Emmy-Winner Monica Potter. (Crossing our fingers!) We couldn't imagine someone else portraying Kristina, am I right?
*Monica admitted to playing a drinking game while watching. Rule Numero Uno: You cry, you drown your sorrows. So "drinking game" / real life, whatever you call it, I want to be Monica's drinking buddy from now on.
*When she first sat down, she noticed two girls in the crowd who pulled a genius move and wore "I <3 Monica Potter" t-shirts. Her immediate reaction was to cry and freak out:
Monica notices t-shirts in her honor worn by audience members, starting the waterworks even before the panel!
*After the panel, she told me her favorite and most fun experience of the year was her downright epic and hilarious "flash mob" bit with Anthony Anderson while presenting at this year's People's Choice Awards. Enjoy!
*Monica "Cooler than Harry" Potter was meeting-and-greeting fans long after the stage had been deserted - chatting, being present, relatable, generous, and all-around as wonderful as we could imagine. She's completely hysterical, as proven by these gems where she's seen modeling poses for fan photos:
*Monica "Cooler than Harry" Potter was meeting-and-greeting fans long after the stage had been deserted - chatting, being present, relatable, generous, and all-around as wonderful as we could imagine. She's completely hysterical, as proven by these gems where she's seen modeling poses for fan photos:
Monica entertaining all of us in the crowd
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Photo credit: Wallman PR
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*There was a small exchange between Jason Ritter (Mark) and Lauren Graham (Sarah) where they showed off their matching necklaces. When I met Lauren post-panel, she told me the necklaces are a champagne bucket charm from Tiffany & Co., which she originally gifted to "her kids" Mae Whitman (Amber) and Miles Heizer (Drew), and they all wore them for the panel. How sweet is that? Even though, Lauren says, the actual champagne icon has no meaning among them.
Jason and Lauren show off their matching Tiffany necklaces.
*Jason was cast in a new pilot as the love interest opposite Lauren's "Gilmore Girls" daughter, Alexis Bledel. Asked her initial reaction to this news, Lauren cheekily replied, "They always trade you in for someone younger, don't they?" Let's just say both Lauren and Alexis are two very lucky and um...connected ladies.
*Erika, Lauren, and Mae became emotional throughout the evening, tearing-up hearing fan stories of personal struggle and discussing impactful scenes from the show. Craig T. Nelson (Zeek) brought up the memorable scene where he tells Amber post-car crash, "You do not have my permission to mess with my dreams."
Mae reacts to the scene Craig described, saying, "I'm crying right now!"
*Max Burkholder (Max) is really funny! He didn't say much, but when he did, it often came in one-liner form. Similarly, Dax Shepard (Crosby) and Craig had their fun cracking everyone up.
Max brings the funny to the discussion.
Craig and Dax are quite the comedic pair.
Peter talking about his experience directing "Parenthood."
*Jason prints his name instead of a signature on autographs. Could he be more adorable? Why yes, yes, he can. Here he is signing someone's tissue packet. Apropos, no?
Jason autographs a "Parenthood" tissue packet for a fan.
I love this show. This show loves it's audience, and we all want a Season 5 more than ever. So "Parenthood" fans, go watch the full panel from the Paley Center's 30th Annual PaleyFest via premier sponsor Hulu Plus, and Go Team Braverman!
All of the beautiful Braverman photos in the PaleyFest gallery!
All of the beautiful Braverman photos in the PaleyFest gallery!
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