The Tamesis
We never hear about the actual joke that led to Mark’s firing, but has one ever been written?
Yeah, that’s one of the only jokes I remember. Kate Benton told this story on Groundlings in the 80s. I don’t think it’s suitable for printing, especially Fashion. Valerie initially just said, “He told a joke when the joke was illegal, what’s the big deal!” We’re not going to go into detail about the incident, but we think it’s unfair to be so vague. He needs to acknowledge this because we want to show that men have gone through transformations that ultimately make them better people and partners.
Did you and Michael ever consider taking a more cynical tone in the finale and having Valerie fully embrace AI?
Never, because Valerie is not cynical. We’re considering how she and others in the industry might respond. That’s how we get to Valerie’s meeting with the “Big Three” TV writers. They told her, “Listen, you have to say something because this is an extinction event for us,” which felt reasonable. Now you see so many actors, athletes, and other public figures investing in them, but how do you know which one is legit? I wonder if anyone talked to Ben Affleck when he started his AI company.
Having played this character for twenty years, does it feel any different this time compared to previous seasons?
The way young people are embracing this show.
What do you think it is about Valerie that resonates with them?
I don’t know, I never asked. Now That Will feel cringe. imagine telling me you love comeback I said, “Why thank you, can you explain why you like it?”
Can you tell me about the final moments in the finale between you and Jane, specifically that line, “I thought you had to consent to being humiliated, and I never did.” It reframed the entire show for me.
Michael says this about once a week so we can really make sure this is how we want to end the show. At one point, when Jane said she didn’t know how Valerie endured the humiliation, Valerie responded: “I’m sorry…you feel insulted I? Well, I’ve never done that! Michael and I agreed that her tone was too angry, and Valerie’s response made more sense, like this was a completely new concept to her. It also felt like a nice, complete moment from Season 1 when she said, “I know people are mean, but it doesn’t do me any good.” ” This has always been Valerie’s go-to treatment: not me, but them!
