{alltv} Characters come to PBS

Saturday, July 30, 2011

{alltv} Characters come to PBS

Come fall, PBS will examine what gives TV its character.

The four-part special, America in Primetime, is not -- producer Tom Yellin hastens to add -- a history of TV. Instead, it tries to explain the art of TV by focusing on four character archetypes: the Independent Woman, the Man of the House, the Crusader and the Misfit.

These archetypes, says Yellin, are a window into TV -- but are not meant to be definitive or limiting. "They provide the skeleton. But the skin and the muscle … needs to be provided by the writing and the acting."

"This is a snap shot of where we are right now," says Nurse Jackie co-creator Liz Brixius. "That we've naturally been telling stories and the stories evolve … It's a relatively new medium."

Jackie co-creator Linda Wallem sees the special as a Valentine to television -- one she hopes every TV executive watches so they can see that the creative process does not have to be frightening. "You're not just selling shows these days," she says. "You are talking to a room full of fear … It's not about writing. You're being a therapist."

"This is the best show about television I've ever seen on television," says Everybody Loves Raymond creator Phil Rosenthal. "It's gorgeous. And when I say gorgeous, I mean I look gorgeous ... No, really, it's fantastic."

One of the "independent women" the show looks at is Lynette Scavo, the Desperate Housewives character played by Felicity Huffman. Except that Huffman isn't sure Lynette is independent.

"I don't really even know what an independent woman means, to tell you the truth …I don't think that anyone acts completely independently."

OK, Huffman says -- that's not a very good answer. So she came back with this one: Lynette may count as independent because she's willing to tell the truth, and take action on it, no matter what may happen.

Which sounds like she has character.