Sometimes in this line of work, I get to do things that I never thought I would - like fly out to LA as a guest of Disney to walk the red carpet at The Good Dinosaur premiere...and visit the set of Fox's new hit TV show, Grandfathered! Angeline and I have been watching Grandfathered since it first aired last fall, and we just love it!
Grandfathered’s cast includes: John Stamos as Jimmy Martino, Paget Brewster as Sara, Josh Peck as Gerald, Christina Milian as Vanessa, Kelly Jenrette as Annelise, and Ravi Patel as Ravi. Now, of course I am a huge Stamos fan - what 30-something growing up watching Friday night TV isn't? - but Angeline is too! She also loves Josh Peck, so the show is just an all-around win for us. Oh, and it's FUNNY. Like, really funny!
If you haven't seen the show yet, here's the basics: Stamos plays a playboy-type restaurateur who suddenly finds that not only does he have an adult son that he never knew about (with the one that got away), but he's also a grandfather!
We visited the set of Grandfathered and right away met John Stamos himself. He was every bit as charismatic and handsome in person as you'd think by watching him on TV. Swoon...
We first sat with Josh Peck and Christina Milian, who play the parents of a toddler daughter, Edie. When asking Christina about her wide range of fans, she shares that she’s always believed in growing an audience. Adding [acting] has been her dream since she was little, and believes being a good example has got her to where she is today. Josh and Christina both mentioned the “brilliant” casting who selected this group of actors for the show, and how that plays a pivotal role in their audience base.
When asking about their characters, Josh shares that he aspires to be like Gerald “who doesn’t feel the need to bend or mold into social norms.” He’s very close to his mom, so the role wasn't that far of a stretch. I knew there was something I liked about that guy! Christina mentions that it takes work to juggle a career and parenting, just like most moms.
“I feel this is such a representation of what families look like now,” said Josh Peck when asked about the family dynamics represented on Grandfathered. “Singles parents, families where the parents aren’t together but they are co-parenting. I feel like this really represents many of the families I know and it shows how far from perfect that things can be. And that there can still be so much love and happiness and that it can still define your level of normalcy. The girls that play our daughter get an overdose of love every day on set ”
I also met with Kelly Jenrette and Ravi Patel, who are employees at Jimmy’s (John Stamos) restaurant on the show. Ravi was cracking jokes during our interview, and this guy really is funny! For instance, when we asked what attracted him to the show, he said that they offered him a role. I can appreciate when an actor keeps it real!
Ravi Patel has partnered with other celebrities on a project that helps fight hunger. This Bar Saves Lives is a healthy and nutritious snack and with the purchase of every bar a packet of live saving food is sent to a child in need. Visit www.thisbarsaveslives.com to learn more about this great cause!
We met with John Stamos and Paget Brewster as well, and they were such a delight! It's always interesting to get an inside look into how characters are chosen and I was really impressed with John Stamos's decision to have a female lead who was actually old enough to be a grandma...and so was Paget Brewster!
“A lot of actresses don’t want to play mothers or grandmothers,” says Brewster. “I don’t fault them for it because it is sexist and a typecast role in the industry and its ageist and there are some women once they play that part that they’re never going to be able to play another part. I haven’t found that. I’ve played a mother and then played an FBI agent.” Brewster was relieved that they cast the role realistically. “I thought they might put in a 30 year old model and pretend she’s old enough to be a grandmother.” I didn’t expect get it and then just had a great time on the audition.”
We had such a great time meeting the cast of Grandfathered and I can't wait to see how the story progresses on the show!
Make sure to tune in tonight, January 5th, at the show's new time, 8:30/7:30c, on FOX to see how Jimmy is tricked into going to the doctor!
After hearing that Jimmy hasn’t been to the doctor in over ten years, Sara and Gerald trick him into seeing their family doctor (Dr. Phil McGraw) for a routine physical, which results in an unsettling discovery. Meanwhile, Gerald and Vanessa stress over Edie’s upcoming surgery and Annelise and Ravi stumble upon Jimmy’s secret safe in the all-new “Perfect Physical Specimen” episode. Guest Starring Dr. Phil McGraw (“The Dr. Phil Show”)
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