SIGNIFICANT MOTHER: Jonathan Silverman Previews the New Risqué CW Comedy

The CW is trying its hand at a half-hour scripted comedy.

SIGNIFICANT MOTHER — which was originally developed for The CW’s digital platform, CW Seed, before being picked up to the network — certainly is different from the shows that populate the network’s landscape during the traditional television season. Th show follows a young man, Nate (Josh Zuckerman) discovers his mother, Lydia (Krista Allen), and his best friend Jimmy (Nathaniel Buzolic) have been hooking up, it sends his world into a tailspin. But if you give the pilot a chance, it’s actually surprisingly charming.

“It’s a very unique and special little comedy…it’s a bit risqué,” SIGNIFICANT MOTHER star Jonathan Silverman (who plays Harrison, Lydia’s estranged husband/Nate’s father) allowed. “It’s adult themed. And it’s a comedy. It’s some new territories for that CW Monday night landscape.”

I spoke with Silverman about the show’s move to television, his stint behind the camera, how Harrison is handling his wife’s new relationship, and more…
As an actor, how did it change things for you to have SIGNIFICANT MOTHER shift from a CW Seed series to airing on The CW Network?
Jonathan Silverman: It was a fascinating process. I’ve done many, many pilots over the last 20-25 years. Enjoyed all of them, but I suppose I’m accustomed to the old-fashioned format: jumping on to a network pilot during pilot season, going through the motions, and then waiting for the network to decide in the spring if they’re going to go forward; and then the show will premiere in either the September/fall launch, or midseason, and you get a couple of shots, and if it does well, you stick around, and if it doesn’t, you’re gone.

This was different. I got a phone call from a friend of mine, John Putch, who directed the pilot. He said, “Hey, Johnny, we’re shooting this fun little project; it’s a pilot for The CW, but we’re shooting it as a possible web series, with the hopes CW will like it enough to turn it into a pilot. But it’s quite possible no one will ever see this.” And I said, “That sounds really tempting.” And he said, “I promise you, you’ll have so much fun, it’s such a great role — you’re the only on who’s on this list, so at least read it.”

And I read it, and I loved it so much. I absolutely adored it, and was excited about jumping on-board and bringing this Harrison character to life. I had the best time making the pilot last summer in Portland, really not thinking it would turn into an actual series to be seen on network television. I was just enjoying the process, an the journey of making it.

And lo and behold, a couple of months later, the network and Warner Bros. said, “We’re going forward with this.” And it was just a matter of working things out, because it is such a unique situation — they had to start over and renegotiate with everyone and make things work…they allowed me to direct an episode, which was phenomenal, and I leaped at that opportunity. I had a great time, so I hope people dig it.

Which episode did you direct?
JS: We made nine all together, and I directed [episode] six, which is the only one I’m not appearing in. That was an incredibly kind gift they gave me, so I could just focus on directing instead of trying to do both.

Episode 6 was a good amount of time into the run of the first season — enough time to know how your costars worked, for you to have your footing on set, etc. How was it to direct your costars?
JS: It was just fantastic. I just adore this cast and crew so much. When it became my turn to step up to the plate, everyone stepped up their game, too. They wanted to make it as enjoyable and as much fun for me as opposed to coming at it from an actor’s point of view — perhaps they felt an extra bolt of confidence knowing that a fellow actor is going to be giving them encouragement and making sure they have everything they need, and as many takes as they want, and getting to play around as much as humanly possible.

I’m really proud — we just finished editing the episode I was directed, and I’m so proud of everyone’s performances. I think it’s some of the best work they did all season. I’m beyond excited how it turned out. I’m jealous I wasn’t in it, because it’s such a fun episode. It’s like, “Oh man, I could have had fun in this, too!” [But] I’m glad it worked out this way.

When we first see Harrison in the pilot, he and his wife, Lydia, have split, and he’s been seeing other people…and she has just started to date, too. How does the fact that Lydia is dating someone his son’s age impact him?
JS: I think Harrison is in shock. He knew the marriage was not going well, and he was very responsible for it not going well, and he owns up to the fact that he’s not doing enough — or, perhaps, doing too much of the bad stuff — but he assumed this was just a moment, a blip, a phase. And when he finds out she is dating again, he’s hellbent on finding out who, and when he finds out it’s the kid who basically grew up in their house, [spending time] with his own kid, he’s just devastated. [Laughs.] And he’s going to do everything in his power to try and sabotage that relationship and win her back. He wants back in the marriage more than ever.

As we see him this season, will he be attempting to move on? Or is he just trying to woo Lydia back?
JS: Harrison has put all other relationships not even aside — I think he’s completely tossed them out. His only goal, his only focus, is to win back his wife. It involves a little plotting, a little scheming, a lot of wooing and romance…he’s a very wealthy man.

How is the entire situation impacting his relationship with his son?
JS: Their poor son. This young man is not only dealing with his parents’ separation and impending divorce after a 25, 26-year marriage, but he’s also losing his best friend. [Laughs.] [Since Jimmy]’s involved with his mom, it’s just too much for him to handle. So he and his dad have developed a much tighter bond than they ever had. He’s just stuck in this tough place of wanting to make his mom happy, and wanting to allow his best friend and roommate to be happy. And trying to keep his dad from going crazy, and to try and keep himself from going crazy. It’s a family in need of a lot of therapy, but it’s also a family that makes for a really great comedy. I’m very excited to see how people respond to all of the insanity.

Season 1 has a lot of fun guest stars lined up. What familiar faces can you preview?
JS: We do! We got a lot of friends to come out and play with us. Jerry O’Connell comes on board. I’ve known Jerry for years: he and my wife, Jennifer Finnigan, used to do the NBC drama CROSSING JORDAN together. So I’ve probably known him for 11 or 12 years. And Jerry’s wife, Rebecca Romijn, is in Portland where we were shooting [for her show, THE LIBRARIANS], so I called him and went, “What are you doing on Wednesday and Thursday? Come and play with us!” And he did.

Terry Kiser who played Bernie in the WEEKEND AT BERNIE’S movies joined us for episode four, which is a WEEKEND AT BERNIE’S homage episode. [Ed. note: Silverman was also in WEEKEND AT BERNIE’S.] So to have the actual Bernie there was a thrill.

Linda Gray joins us as my mother-in-law…Denise Richards comes and joins us as Krista Allen’s former best friend, now arch-enemy, who is trying to date our son. It’s two cougars going at it. It’s a lovely group, not to mention our core regulars, who I think people are really going to enjoy.

To go back to Linda Gray’s character, what is her relationship with Harrison like?
JS: She believes in marriage, and only one of them; not a big believer in divorce. She’s on Harrison’s side. She wants the couple back together, which is great for Harrison.

–

SIGNIFICANT MOTHER airs Mondays at 9:30 PM on The CW.

Follow @GiveMeMyRemote and @marisaroffman on Twitter for the latest TV news. Connect with other TV fans on GIVE ME MY REMOTE’s official Facebook page.

And to be the first to see our exclusive videos by subscribing to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/givememyremotetv