Meet The New Normal

It’s going to be a tough season for the comedy department atNBC, with two of its most beloved (if not highly-rated) hits, bowing out.  After 30Rock calls it quits after 13 episodes this fall, and The Office at the end of the year, the network once known as thehome of “Must-See” comedy will need to find some laughs, fast.

The cast of The New Normal, left to right:
Justin Bartha, Andrew Rannells, Georgia King,
Bebe Wood, Ellen Barkin, Nene Leakes

NBC does seem to be pinning its hopes on one new comedy.  From Ryan Murphy, the out gay creator of Glee and American Horror Story, and out lesbian writer Ali Adler, The New Normal is a politicallyincorrect yet warm look at a gay male couple and the (literally) surrogatefamily they build in an attempt to have a baby.

Just this week, it seemed like another sign of NBC’s faithin The New Normal when the networkannounced a special preview of the show’s pilot this coming Monday, September10 at 10 PM/9 PM Central; they’re hoping to get the show sampled by the viewersof its lead-in that night, the season premiere of The Voice.  The very next night,September 11, The New Normal willsettle into its regular timeslot, of Tuesdays at 9:30/8:30 Central.
(Of course, you don’thave to wait until Monday to see the NewNormal pilot:  you can watch it righthere.)





Back in July, at the semi-annual convention for TV criticsin Beverly Hills, I sat down with the show’s male leads, The Hangover’s Justin Barthaand Andrew Rannells, who made a hugesplash with Broadway’s Book of Mormonand recently appeared on HBO’s Girls,to talk all about what it means to be Normal.

Q:  As we head into apresidential election where one of the divisive issues is gay rights, whatattracted you to this show, with its unavoidable gay storyline and themes?
Justin Bartha:  Themain thing was quality.  The quality ofthe script, and the quality of the people involved.  The show is relevant.  It seems timely and seems necessary, and itis hilarious.  Everything attracted me tothis show.
Andrew Rannells:  I definitelyecho that sentiment.  Also, I think thatRyan Murphy’s brand of comedy, the way that he handles topical material – in thiscase, this homosexual couple, that was very appealing to me.  As a homosexual, that I get to be a part ofsomething like that is very exciting.  Sothere was a long list of reasons why this seemed to be a great thing to getinvolved in. And the show has definitely held up to all of those expectationsas we’ve developed it.

with The New Normal's Andrew Rannells and Justin Bartha
at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, CA
July 2012

Q:  You both havetheater backgrounds – Andrew in Book ofMormon, and Justin, I saw you in 2010 in Lend Me a Tenor.  When youtest for a TV pilot, you have to agree to sign away 7 years of your life if itgets picked up, which might not leave much time for Broadway.  This must have been some helluva script –enough to make you want to do TV?
JB:  It’s a similaranswer to the first question – it’s all about quality.  For me, everything I was reading just wasn’tthat interesting.  And it didn’t seem tomatter.  This show seems to matter, andit’s something to be proud of.  And if I couldbe proud of something for seven years, I’m down with that.
AR:  Absolutely.  I think that television offers an interestingopportunity.  If you’re lucky enough tohave some longevity, you get to cover a multitude of issues.  I think that Ryan and Ali Adler definitelyare the people to do that.  To bring topicalhumor to a half-hour format is very exciting.

Q:  It’s amazing thatwe still have to talk about this in 2012, but is there ever any concern foreither of you as an actor about playing a gay character?
JB:  Andrew and I bothcome at this question from very interesting perspectives.  Because I’m a straight man and he’s a gayman.  Both have a little bit of a stigmaplaying gay characters, or being “out” in a sense.  You, Andrew, obviously have more at stake,because it’s your personal life attached.

Q:  But you do, too,Justin, because people might be eager to nitpick the way a straight actorchooses to “play gay.”  Or maybe theythink the actor himself must be secretly gay.
JB:  For mepersonally, I thrive off of those things. I don’t give a shit what people think about me.  I think if everyone thinks I’m gay, I’mflattered.  And if people are sosmall-minded that they can’t see past sexuality in creativity, then I don’twant to work for them anyway.
So it’s as simple as that. It is unfortunate that there hasn’t been portrayal of a homosexualcouple in a realistic sense – and when I say that, I mean showing affection,and showing what real couples go through. And I think Andrew and I, Ryan Murphy and Ali Adler, always wanted toshow that.  Because there are some greatshows that have been groundbreaking with gay characters, but I’ve never really seena realistic portrayal of what goes on behind closed doors with interestingtopics.

Q:  Like Will on Will & Grace had to be timid atfirst about kissing.  Will you guys?
JB:  I put my tonguein his mouth, and I will continue to put my tongue in his mouth, and I don’tcare.

Q:  Andrew, anyconcern about playing a gay character?
AR:  No.  I'm excited to play a gaycharacter who was this fully developed and fleshed out.  I think I would be a fool to not jump at the chance.  And then particularly as a homosexual… itspeaks a lot to Will & Grace andI just mentioned Jim J. Bullock to someone before –
JB:  Oh, Jim J.Bullock.  I’m a big fan!
AR:  All of thathappened on the rocky path to where we are right now.  And I’m very fortunate that I get to benefitfrom all of that hard work, personally and professionally.  That I get to be out and not penalized in anyway, and to be offered this role, is amazing.
The New Normal
Tuesdays at 9:30/8:30 Central
Beginning September 11
NBC