Connie Britton on FNL movie, Kyle Chandler's Emmy win, American Horror Story
When we last saw Connie Britton on television, she was playing the role of admirably supportive wife, mother and guidance counselor Tami Taylor on “Friday Night Lights.” Starting tonight, however, she leaves behind the “I appreciate that, y’all”-ness of Tami - one half of one of the healthiest marriages ever depicted on television - to become Vivien Harmon, a woman in a frayed, semi-toxic relationship with a cheating husband (Dylan McDermott) on “American Horror Story.”
Britton recently took a few minutes to chat by phone about her new, decidedly freaky-deaky series, last month’s Emmy wins for “Friday Night Lights,” that much-discussed “Friday Night Lights” movie spin-off and how her attitude toward horror was shaped by some wise words from Rob Zombie. Yes. That’s right. Rob Zombie.
I can’t think of a more different TV show for you to do after “Friday Night Lights.”
Britton: Right? I know. Isn’t it crazy?
Just in terms of basic things. Like some of the words you get to say.
Britton: I know! Listen, I think I could not be speaking the obvious more loudly when I say that was a lot of what drew me to doing this show. Coming from “Friday Night Lights,” which was such an amazing experience and such a unique experience, I wanted to do something completely different. This filled the bill in every way. And also, in such a specific way because, as much as Tami Taylor was in this wonderful marriage and we were playing all the different facets of that - you know, this is being in probably the most devastating marriage and playing all the different facets of that. But also the same challenges for me, which is trying to find the reality in that and sort of go and play all kinds of the psychological rumblings of that.
My biggest fear is that people are going to be like (gasps) did Tami Taylor just do that? My hope is that we’ll be able to move away from that. I think the world of this will be different enough and the character will be different enough that people will really embrace it.
You had finished shooting “Friday Night Lights” a year before starting “American Horror Story.” Even with the break, was there still a bit of whiplash involved in shifting from that show to this one?
Britton: There actually was a little bit of whiplash, even though it was about a year - it was not quite a year since “Friday Night Lights” that we shot the pilot of the show. I did a couple movies in between, and they were both kind of comedic. So that was a really fun departure. But this show, it was challenging doing the pilot because I went into it and realized this is just such a completely different genre and I really had to consciously adjust myself from what I had become used to on “Friday Night Lights,” which was a very specific way of working. And realizing that I love that way of working, and this is also a legitimate way to do something that’s going to be appealing and wonderful to an audience.
Do you know what’s happening on the show in terms of the backstory? There are a number of things in the first two episodes that are purposely cryptic.
Britton: We sort of have been creating the backstory as we go. I sat down and had lots of great conversations with [“American Horror Story”] co-creators Ryan [Murphy] and Brad [Falchuk]. Way before we started doing the pilot we had a lot of great talks about how we wanted these characters to be. And then when Dylan [McDermott] came on board, it was fun to just sort of say, it’s kind of fun to figure out backstory a little as you go along.What is it that’s motivating these people to do the things that they do? And Brad and Ryan have been really open to both mine and Dylan’s interpretations of that. That is one thing that I love about working with them, and one thing that was important to me because that was a big, important thing on “Friday Night Lights,” too, was that they’re really collaborative in that way and really open to our ideas. Yet there really is a big mystery to it, too, and I think, to some degree, we’re all kind of coming up with it as we go.
I want to talk to you about the Emmy Awards - when Kyle Chandler won the Emmy for best actor, he did not seem to be expecting it. It looked like he was trying to say something to you and to his wife at the end of his speech but got cut off. What were your feelings when that happened? Do you know what he was trying to say - am I right that he was trying to address you?
Britton: Yeah, I think he was. I think he was really shell-shocked. He suddenly looked over at us and realized, oh my gosh, what did I just do? He came up to me later and he goes, “All right, this is your half and this is my half,” with the Emmy. Yeah, I think he was really surprised. I was just thrilled.
It was funny because the Charlie’s Angels [cast] presented him his award, and Minka Kelly being amongst them. I think Drew Barrymore was with them, so I think the four of them kind of said his name at the same time. I couldn’t understand what they had said. So I didn’t actually hear his name announced and only sort of realized it when I saw all these people looking our direction. I looked over at Kyle and he was like, his head was kind of down. It was like, wait a minute - what? It was really a thrilling moment and I was just so happy for him and for [“Friday Night Lights” showrunner and Emmy winner for writing] Jason Katims both.
It didn’t seem fair that you didn’t win, though.
Britton: I really never expected to win. So it was almost more - when they won ... I think that gave all of us in our little “Friday Night Lights” camp a little hope. Oh maybe, maybe, you know. I don’t think I would have ever even considered being disappointed, except then in those moments it was like, oh shoot, that would have been really fun, too, if I had gotten up there. But honestly, it was just so great being in the midst of it. It really felt like a victory for all of us that night.
There has been some talk from [“Friday Night Lights” executive producer] Peter Berg about a “Friday Night Lights” movie. Has there been any progress on that?
Britton: I actually was talking to him about it last week. I know he really wants to do it. I know he’s had conversations with Jason Katims about it. I do think everybody’s so busy. I know Jason is really excited to write but is very busy with “Parenthood.” But I really think they’re committed to getting around to it and I think it’s just about having everybody’s schedules aligned and having a good idea in place. Because nobody, least of which Pete Berg, would ever want to do it if it was not going to be a story that would do justice to what that show has been.
Do you know what that idea is?
Britton: No, I don’t. I don’t, and I don’t know how far they’ve gotten with it either. I know Jason has really wanted to talk to us and talk to some of the actors about it. I know that if they’re going to do it, they’re going to do it right. We’ll see. But it would be really great.
Only the FNL mentions, check the source for the full interview