Brothers & Sisters: 10 motivi che la rendono ancora attuale

24/09/2016

Dieci anni fa debuttava il family drama sulla ABC, ecco perché le cinque stagioni hanno lasciato il segno nel cuore degli spettatori.

Brothers & Sisters

2006 – 2011 – Drammatico

Sono passati dieci anni da quando, il 24 settembre 2006, la ABC ha mandato in onda il primo episodio di Brothers & Sisters, la serie televisiva ideata da Jon Robin Baitz dedicata alla storia della famiglia Walker.

Gli eventi, come spesso accade nei family drama, prendono il via con la morte del patriarca, William Walker; a sopravvivergli sono la moglie Nora (Sally Field) e i cinque figli. Kitty (Calista Flockhart) deve scegliere tra il matrimonio e una vita a New York o una carriera in televisione a Los Angeles. Tommy (Balthazar Getty) è diviso tra la famiglia e i tentativi di aiutare la sorella Sarah (Rachel Griffiths) a occuparsi dell’azienda ereditata dal padre. La donna, inoltre, ha molti problemi nella sua vita privata e un matrimonio forse irrimediabilmente in pezzi. Kevin (Matthew Rhys) lavora invece in uno studio legale ed è alla ricerca di un compagno di vita. Il più piccolo della famiglia, Justin (Dave Annable) è infine reduce dalla guerra in Afghanistan e convive ogni giorno con le ferite che il conflitto ha lasciato nella sua anima.

Sally Field e gli altri membri del cast in una scena dell'episodio 'Going Once...Going Twice' della serie tv Brothers & Sisters

Nel corso di cinque stagioni sullo schermo si è assistito a segreti in grado di cambiare per sempre la vita, tradimenti, dibattiti politici e morali, e ovviamente intrighi sentimentali di ogni tipo. La sceneggiatura ha sicuramente perso un po’ di spessore e originalità mentre ci si avvicinava all’epilogo della storia, tuttavia lo show è riuscito a conquistare un posto nel cuore degli spettatori che hanno trovato nella vita dei Walker elementi in grado di emozionarli, commuovere e alle volte ridere.
Brothers & Sisters è arrivato sugli schermi televisivi sulla scia di altri progetti di successo, come ad esempio Settimo cielo, e ha anticipato serie dalle basi simili, tra cui Parenthood o Modern Family e la sua atmosfera più leggera.
In occasione del suo decimo anniversario ecco i 10 motivi per cui ancora oggi merita una visione.

1. Il cast

Una cena in famiglia nell'episodio 'Going Once...Going Twice' della serie tv Brothers & Sisters

Una storia così ricca di svolte e rivelazioni, alle volte un po’ troppo forzate, avrebbe rischiato in più momenti di scivolare nel surreale se a sostenerla non ci fosse stato un cast di altissimo livello. La sempre intensa e brillante Sally Field è stata infatti affiancata da Calista Flockhart, all’epoca reduce da Ally McBeal, Ron Rifkin, Rob Lowe, Matthew Rhys già in grado di dimostrare il proprio talento prima di The Americans, Balthazar Getty, Dave Annable, Rachel Griffiths e l’allora quasi emergente Emily VanCamp, star di Everwood. Gli interpreti hanno saputo costruire un feeling evidente e, nonostante alcune iniziali difficoltà, sono riusciti a rendere i personaggi multidimensionali e credibili, evitando stereotipi e semplificazioni.

Brothers & Sisters - Il cast della serie

2. Tanti personaggi con il giusto spazio

I nostri protagonisti a cena insieme nell'episodio Scandalized di Brothers & Sisters

Molti family drama faticano a trovare un equilibrio nello spazio e nell’importanza da dare ai vari protagonisti della storia. Gli sceneggiatori di Brothers & Sisters, invece, hanno permesso a ogni singola presenza di vivere un’evoluzione personale coerente e naturale. La quarta e quinta stagione, tuttavia, hanno avuto più problemi rispetto al previsto nell’assecondare questa necessità, lasciando poi in sospeso alcune situazioni, come quelle di Kitty e Justin, a causa della prematura cancellazione. L’uscita di scena di alcuni personaggi chiave, come Robert e Rebecca, inoltre, non è stata del tutto colmata dall’arrivo di nuovi personaggi.

3. Un personaggio omosessuale lontano dagli stereotipi

Brothers & Sisters - Il matrimonio di Kevin e Scotty

Attualmente la presenza di un protagonista apertamente gay non suscita alcuna sorpresa ma dieci anni fa non era così scontato che un network generalista come la ABC desse spazio a questioni sociali come quelle riguardanti Kevin Walker. La costruzione del personaggio interpretato con bravura da Matthew Rhys rifletteva i dubbi e le discussioni politiche allora in corso negli Stati Uniti, mostrati anche attraverso il rapporto tra Kevin e sua sorella Kitty, contraria ai matrimoni gay ma non alle unioni civili. Nel corso delle stagioni la situazione di Kevin è cambiata, fino ad arrivare a fargli compiere l’importante dichiarazione a Scotty che ha portato al loro matrimonio e alla scelta di diventare genitori insieme.

4. Lo stress post-traumatico di Justin

Brothers & Sisters - Una foto di Justin in crisi

Il membro più giovane della famiglia Walker, Justin, ha contributo a portare sul piccolo schermo questioni e tematiche legate al post-11 settembre. Il personaggio affidato a Dave Annable è entrato infatti a far parte dell’esercito dopo i tragici eventi avvenuti a New York e al suo ritorno in patria ha iniziato a fare uso di droga a causa delle conseguenze dello stress post traumatico. La possibilità di essere inviato di nuovo al fronte, questa volta in Iraq, ha dato vita a sequenze in cui il ragazzo ricadeva nelle sue dipendenze, rischiando persino di morire. La storia di Justin è stata poi complicata dal rapporto con quella che inizialmente pensava essere la sua sorellastra, Rebecca, ma gli aspetti più interessanti del personaggio risiedono proprio nella sua capacità di rappresentare un’importante percentuale di cittadini americani, spesso appartenenti alle generazioni più giovani, che hanno vissuto in prima persona gli orrori della guerra e hanno dovuto trovare la forza di continuare a vivere.

5. Le cene in famiglia

Brothers & Sisters - Una cena in casa Walker

La casa di Nora, tranne nell’ultima stagione, ha ospitato moltissime riunioni e cene di famiglia. I Walker sono infatti famosi per le loro discussioni e accesi scambi di opinione; che si tratti di questioni politiche, contrasti o problemi sentimentali, ogni reunion tra le mura di casa era un indizio certo che qualcosa di importante stava per accadere. Il cambiamento di location, pur giustificato dalle modifiche avvenute nelle vite dei protagonisti, ha fatto perdere un po’ di incisività alle interazioni dei Walker nelle ultime puntate e il calore rappresentato dalle scene ambientate nella casa di Nora, a volte fin troppo acceso, ha rappresentato una delle grande assenze degli ultimi capitoli della storia.

6. Amori molto complicati

Brothers & Sisters - Un'immagine di Kitty e Robert

Basta pensare alla perfezione solo apparente del legame tra William e Nora o al matrimonio in crisi di Sarah ed è evidente che le vite dei Walker hanno portato sugli schermi le varie sfumature dell’amore: appena nati o giunti al capolinea, senza dimenticare decisioni difficili di accettare e perdonare tradimenti o, al contrario, chiudere per sempre la porta a chi ha dimostrato di non meritare fiducia. Brothers & Sisters ha proposto diversi aspetti dell’amore, rendendo più realistici gli eventi raccontati nelle cinque stagioni e declinando con efficacia il sentimento in base alle varie età dei personaggi.

7. Gli ostacoli per diventare genitori

Brothers & Sisters - Sarah insieme a sua figlia

Tra gli argomenti ancora attuali e presenti nelle pagine della cronaca, è la scelta di diventare genitori e gli ostacoli da superare che questa comporta. Tra figli illegittimi, donazioni di sperma, uteri in affitto, adozioni e gravidanze da portare avanti in situazioni mediche difficili, gli episodi hanno esplorato i vari lati della maternità e della paternità, senza mai giudicare i personaggi ma, al contrario, mostrando spesso anche le critiche e le difficoltà incontrate sul loro cammino.

8. La produzione

Un primo piano di David Marshall Grant

Brothers & Sisters ha potuto contare su una produzione di alto livello fin dalla prima stagione. A sostenere il progetto non c’era infatti solo Jon Robin Baitz, acclamato autore di Broadway, ma anche Ken Olin che era reduce da Alias. Nel team della produzione, nella prima stagione, era presente inoltre Greg Berlanti, destinato a essere il capo degli adattamenti per il piccolo schermo dei fumetti della DC realizzati da The CW. L’arrivo di David Marshall Grant al ruolo di showrunner, avvenuto nella quarta stagione per sostituire Monica Owusu-Breen e Alison Schapker, ha contribuito a un cambiamento narrativo che, purtroppo, ha portato alla cancellazione dello show.

9. Sogni destinati a non realizzarsi

Odette Yustman, Gilles Marini e Rachel Griffiths nell'episodio Safe at Home di Brothers & Sisters

La famiglia Walker, fin dalle prime puntate, porta in scena la difficoltà di dover fare i conti con una realtà in cui i propri sogni sembrano allontanarsi sempre di più con il passare del tempo. Nessuno dei protagonisti ha vita facile nel realizzare gli scopi che si è prefissato, dal successo professionale a una carriera medica, fino ovviamente alla serenità nella vita privata. Il buon equilibrio tra drammi e momenti più leggeri ha permesso alla serie di non diventare mai stucchevole o eccessivamente tragica.

10. Le battute taglienti

Brothers & Sisters - Un divertente momento della serie

Se non ci fosse stato spazio per momenti divertenti e battute esilaranti, tra così tanti drammi e momenti cupi lo show avrebbe faticato a mantenere vivo l’interesse e l’affetto degli spettatori. Dalla scoperta di Kitty che Nora ha trascorso la notte con un uomo agli scontri fisici tra fratelli, dai disastri culinari alle serate karaoke, senza dimenticare l’ironia e il sarcasmo di Sarah o le discussioni con figlie ormai adolescenti o adulte che non rispondono esattamente alle proprie aspettative di genitore. La leggerezza non è mancata sullo schermo e ha reso ancora più indimenticabili le cinque stagioni.

Source: Movie Player

Side Dish: pics & posts #1

button_enHi. I’ve just added several photos and posts from “Side Dish” the cooking blog written by Luke during  “Brothers & Sisters”. You can find the posts here and the photos in the Photo Gallery.
button_spHola. Acabo de añadir muchas fotos y posts desde “Side Dish”, el blog escrito por Luke durante “Brothers & Sisters” (“Cinco Hermanos”). Puedes encontrar los posts aquí y las fotos en la Galería de Fotos (Photo Gallery).
button_itCiao. Ho appena inserito varie foto e posts da “Side Dish” il blog scritto da Luke durante “Brothers & Sisters”. Potete trovare i posts cliccando qui e le foto nella Galleria Fotografica (Photo Gallery).
button_frSalut. Je viens d’ajouter diverses photos et posts de “Side Dish” le blog écrit par Luke lors de Brothers & Sisters. Vous pouvez trouver les messages ici et les photos dans la Galerie de photos (Photo Gallery).

Photo Gallery > >Brothers & Sisters > Side Dish

Matthew Rhys glad his ‘Brothers & Sisters’ character of Kevin Walker didn’t struggle with being gay

22/03/2016

Matthew Rhys’ current role as an undercover Russian spy on The Americans couldn’t be any more different from his previous TV gig on Brothers & Sisters.

For four seasons he played Kevin Walker on the ABC family drama, a gay attorney who endured romantic ups and downs and infidelity and surrogacy issues with his husband.

One storyline Kevin never had was coming out or struggling with being gay.

For that, Rhys is thankful.

‘There was no coming out story. There was no challenge,’ he tells HuffPost Live. ‘He wasn’t defined by it or identified by it. He was one of the siblings who happened to be gay and he was so clear about that. And in reading that, I just thought “Oh, how refreshing. That’s how it should be.”‘

Kevin always had a robust romantic life and sex life as his journey included relationships with a closeted Hollywood actor (Jason Lewis) and a preacher (Eric Winter).

But his true love was a chef named Scotty (Luke Macfarlane) who he meets early in the show’s run and ends up marrying in a later season.

The show, which also starred Sally Field, Calista Flockhart, Dave Annable and Rachel Griffiths, ended in 2011 – a full five years before marriage equality was to take place across the US.

Some credit the show with helping to change hearts and minds on the issue.

‘We owe that to the writers and that they handled that fantastically and they were very conscious of that and strident in trying to achieve that,’ he says. ‘If I’m a small cog in that, which I am, I’m very happy.’

[PHOTO GALLERY] Added promo stills from “Brothers & Sisters” Season 2

button_enHi. I’ve just added promo pics from “Brothers & Sisters” Season 2 in the Photo Gallery.
button_spHola. Acabo de añadir fotos promocionales de la temporada 2 de “Brothers & Sisters” (“Cinco Hermanos”) en la Galería de Fotos (Photo Gallery).
button_itCiao. Ho appena inserito foto promozionali della stagione 2 di “Brothers & Sisters” nella Galleria Fotografica (Photo Gallery).
button_frSalut. Je viens d’ajouter photos promotionelles de la saison 2 de “Brothers & Sisters” dans la Galerie de photos (Photo Gallery).

Photo Gallery > Tv Series > Brothers & Sisters > Season 2 > Promotional Stills > 2×03 “History Repeating”
Photo Gallery > Tv Series > Brothers & Sisters > Season 2 > Promotional Stills > 2×12 “Compromises”
Photo Gallery > Tv Series > Brothers & Sisters > Season 2 > Promotional Stills > 2×14 “Double Negative”
Photo Gallery > Tv Series > Brothers & Sisters > Season 2 > Promotional Stills > 2×16 “Prior Commitments”

[PHOTO GALLERY] Added Candids from 2008 to 2011

button_enHi. I’ve just added candids of Luke from 2008 to 2011 in the Photo Gallery.
button_spHola. Acabo de añadir fotos espontáneas de Luke desde el 2008 hasta el 2011 en la Galería de Fotos (Photo Gallery).
button_itCiao. Ho appena inserito paparazzate di Luke dal 2008 al 2011 nella Galleria Fotografica (Photo Gallery).
button_frSalut. Je viens d’ajouter candids de Luke de 2008-2011 dans la Galerie de photos (Photo Gallery).

Photo Gallery > Candids > 2008 > A his cousin’s wedding, 2008
Photo Gallery > Candids > 2010 > Luke at St. David’s Day Party hosted by Matthew Rhys at Palihouse Hotel, L.A., 27 February 2010
Photo Gallery > Candids > 2010 > Luke at Mahiki club in London, U.K., 13 June 2010
Photo Gallery > Candids > 2010 > Luke at Luke at sister Rebecca’s Wedding in Ontario, Canada, 21 August 2010
Photo Gallery > Candids > 2010 > Luke at HRC Gala in Chicago 06 October 2010
Photo Gallery > Candids > 2010 > Luke at A Club Called Rhonda in Los Angeles, 27 November 2010
Photo Gallery > Candids > 2011 > Luke leaving a cafe in Hollywood, L.A., 18 November 2011

[PHOTO GALLERY] Added promo stills from “Brothers & Sisters” 1×03, 1×06, 1×07, 1×14

button_enHi. I’ve just added various promo pics from “Brothers & Sisters” episodes 1×03, 1×06, 1×07, 1×14 in the Photo Gallery.
button_spHola. Acabo de añadir fotos promocionales de los episodios 1×03, 1×06, 1×07, 1×14 de “Brothers & Sisters” (“Cinco Hermanos”) en la Galería de Fotos (Photo Gallery).
button_itCiao. Ho appena inserito varie foto promozionali dagli episodi 1×03, 1×06, 1×07, 1×14 di “Brothers & Sisters” nella Galleria Fotografica (Photo Gallery).
button_frSalut. Je viens d’ajouter diverses photos promotionelles des episodés 1×03, 1×06, 1×07, 1×14 de “Brothers & Sisters” dans la Galerie de photos (Photo Gallery).

Photo Gallery > Tv Series > Brothers & Sisters > Season 1 > Promotional Stills > 1×03 “Affairs of State”
Photo Gallery > Tv Series > Brothers & Sisters > Season 1 > Promotional Stills > 1×05 “For the Children”
Photo Gallery > Tv Series > Brothers & Sisters > Season 1 > Promotional Stills > 1×07 “Northern Exposure”
Photo Gallery > Tv Series > Brothers & Sisters > Season 1 > Promotional Stills > 1×14 “Valentine’s Day Massacre”

[PRESS] Updated with translation

button_enHi. I’ve just updated the press section with the Italian translation of the French article Luke Macfarlane: “Une série peut aider à changer les mentalités”. Thanks to Alessandra.
button_spHola. Acabo de añadir en la sección de prensa (Press) la traducción en italiano del artículo francés  Luke Macfarlane: “Une série peut aider à changer les mentalités”. Gracias Alessandra.
button_itCiao. Ho appena aggiornato la sezione stampa (Press) con la traduzione in italiano dell’articolo francese  Luke Macfarlane: “Une série peut aider à changer les mentalités”. Grazie ad Alessandra.
button_frSalut. Je l’ai juste mis à jour la section de presse (Press) avec la traduction italienne de l’article français Luke Macfarlane: “Une série peut aider à changer les mentalités”. Merci à Alessandra.

Beam Me Up, Scotty: Luke Macfarlane

25/10/2010

When it comes to gay characters and storylines, Brothers and Sisters is among the select few that gives them prominence on mainstream television. And this is thanks, in large part, to out actor Luke Macfarlane.

The relationship between Kevin Walker and Scotty Wandell on Brothers and Sisters, one of the best-rating dramas on American television, has arguably been a watershed for gay rights. Their courtship, intimacies and eventual wedding have played out in millions of lounge rooms around the world. As Kevin and Scotty prepare to have a baby, Canadian actor Luke MacFarlane, who plays Scotty, talks about his character, the politics of the show, and craft of acting.

It’s been a pretty interesting year for Brothers and Sisters. Talk about what stands out to you with regards to the storyline.

I guess this year was a big storyline for us with this, kind of, ‘How do two men have a baby?’ story, which I think is an important area. And they’ve been taking their time with it and addressing the details really carefully so [I’m] really, really impressed with that story line and the boldness of [US network] ABC going out there and telling their story.

Certainly something big was playing out back in the US with regards to the politics and everything too.

Yes, absolutely. Totally. Well, there seems to always something terrible happening to the gays in the media, so … there’s always some big story about it. Actually, I remember hearing this controversy when Adam Lambert who was refused an interview or something like that. Do you remember the story too?

Yeah. I remember the season of American Idol and also following up, yes.

Right. And I remember listening to some talk radio program and they were saying the “ABC and the news media coverage, they’re not letting Adam Lambert go on and it is just a shame, it’s awful”. And I felt like calling him in and saying, “ABC has these incredible gay story lines that are being represented in both Brothers and Sisters and Modern Family”.

Do you guys feel like a certain sense of responsibility because you are on the front lines with that particular kind of topical theme that’s happening?

Sure. I mean, everybody takes their storylines really seriously, so yeah, in some sense I think we’re doing good things. I was actually friendly with one of the lawyers that was responsible for this new federal case which is trying to overturn some of the legislation at federal level of proposition 8. And he said that quite often, Brothers and Sisters was used as a conversation pointer, that it was a sort of good representation of a gay healthy couple to others. That was encouraging.

How long do you think that it will be for gays who want to ever really be something accepted by everyone?

Who knows? You know, all you can continue to do is look forward and generally, politically speaking, all political movements kind of move towards inclusion, so we’ll see it one day.

Has it restricted you in terms of your career?

Sure, absolutely. I mean, one never knows. I’ve been fortunate enough to be on a show that’s lasted for more than three episodes, which is not often the case in television. So, there’s certainly concern about what life will bring after, but, you know, life’s short. Then you die.

Are there any other projects looming that you’d like to work on?

I began in the theatre and that’s always been my passion. I went to Juilliard and started in New York, so actually, right before we go back to work, I’m going to New York to work on a musical which is new for me. And it’s actually a one-man musical.

A one-man musical? Excellent. Singing and dancing?

No, no dancing. I cannot dance. I wish I could. So, this is something that a good friend of mine has written and he’s a fantastic writer and I’ve done his plays before and hopefully this will have a life of its own, and I can go right from Brothers and Sisters to my touring one-man show.

This is quite a different thing.

It is, yes.

What kind of emotion you have in one side and then the other one?

Well, the theatre is great. I mean it is really the actor’s medium. Television is the producer’s medium and film is the director’s medium. So, I think actors love going back to the theatre so they can kind of get back to a little bit of the control.

And do you know Scotty very well?

I’m getting to know him better. It took me a little bit of a while to get to know him, but I think I started off in a very different place than I ended up now. But that’s part of the joy of getting to figure a character out over a long period of time.

Source: SX Australia

Brother in arms

03/10/2010

TV’s sexy taboo-buster, Luke Macfarlane

Luke Macfarlane is the sexiest gay on TV — an out actor playing a well-rounded gay character on network television. The 30-year-old Canadian plays Scotty Wandel on the ABC serial drama Brothers and Sisters (now in its fifth season on Global), a character who has smashed taboos south of the border.

The commitment ceremony between him and his partner Kevin Walker (played by Matthew Rhys) was the first-ever gay marriage by continuing characters on a US network (broadcast the same year as California’s notorious Prop 8 banning same-sex marriage). Last season, Kevin and Scotty began planning for a child through surrogacy. And the two men’s relationship is portrayed as physically passionate; no missing nor chaste kisses on this show.

Macfarlane is humble in the face of such controversial fare.

“I think the writers are doing something controversial. I’m just saying the words on the page,” he says. “I do feel a part of it, though; it’s wonderful.

“I’m quite proud of the fact that we told the story of how two people meet, how they fall in love, how they break up, how they fall in love again and how, ultimately, they build a life together, including kids, and integrate it into a wild family.”

Last season ended with a bang, a bloody car crash that will impact greatly the sprawling Walker family headed by matriarch Nora (Sally Field). Leads Rob Lowe and Emily VanCamp are gone and this season picks up one year later. “It’s been a year of tragedy for the family,” says Macfarlane. “A lot has happened since the car accident. In a strange sort of way it sets a tone that’s different for the show, it’s a little bit darker.”

MacFarlane is looking forward to taking his character into new territory. Given the Walker family’s penchant for drama, in many ways, Scotty and Kevin’s relationship is the most normal on the series. “Scotty is kind of the perfect guy, and Kevin and Scotty have almost the perfect relationship. But we’re actually in the middle of taping an episode that calls all that into question, which I’m pretty thrilled about. I’ve always thought that Scotty lets Kevin get away with way too much shit.”

Macfarlane was born and raised in London, Ontario. After high school, the LB Pearson School of the Arts, he bypassed Toronto and headed straight to New York to attend Juilliard to study drama. He graduated in 2003. LA soon beckoned. “So I’ve never did the whole Canadian thing.”

He did nab a leading role in the 2008 CBC miniseries Iron Road. “I had a great experience. I had always wanted to go to China. And we had an excellent cast, who I’ll never get to work with again: Peter O’Toole, Tony Leung and Sam Neill.

“I remember from my childhood these epic CBC miniseries… so it felt like I am a part of it, now.”

Notwithstanding Canadian progress on gay rights, Macfarlane is continually struck by how different the US and Canada are. “They do really feel like two different places,” he says. “The stereotype is true — Canadians are nicer.”

Is he worried about American reaction to that observation? “Oddly, I think Americans sort of pride themselves on not being nice,” he says, laughing. “I don’t think they’re going, ‘Ah, gee. I wish we were nicer.’”

Kevin, are you listening?

Macfarlane came out to the media in 2008. “It’s odd being put in the situation where you feel you have to talk about it, that it’s the right thing to do to talk about it.

I certainly never regret it, but

I guess I was a little bit naïve to think that once you come out, you are done. I think it’s something that’s been said before, but coming out is almost a lifelong process. It’s been very strange for me.

“Not that I don’t want to talk about my sexuality, I guess I’ve just run out of things to say.”

Despite his leading man good looks, Macfarlane may have narrowed his career options by coming out. He remains hopeful, however. “The only thing I can say is that I don’t know…. Society tends towards inclusion — in my lifetime it certainly has. So I’ll be part of that movement towards [gay actors] being leading men, because that’s the direction everyone wants to go.”

Source: InToronto

The Bro Code

27/09/2010

The boys of Brothers & Sisters on the joys of siblinghood

I HAVEN’T got any brothers, but after meeting some of the guys from Brothers & Sisters, who were a barrel of irreverent laughs, I almost wished I did.

I say “almost” because Dave Annable, Matthew Rhys and Luke Macfarlane reminded me that large families are almost inevitably full of conflicts and squabbles. In other words: “God gave us our family; thank God we can choose our friends.”

In fact, in Annable’s dressing room, where a video game system was prominently set up, the 30-year-old, who is getting married to actress Odette Yustman this autumn, joked that he was trying to get co-star Calista Flockhart and her husband, Harrison Ford to adopt him.

For TV’s Walker family, the drama will never die down, especially not as Brothers & Sisters goes into its fifth season.

The new season fast-forwards to a year after the last season’s climatic car-accident ending. Rob Lowe’s character Robert McCallister is dead, which means wife Kitty (Calista Flockhart) is single again; Sarah (Rachel Griffiths) is in a steady relationship with Giles (Luc Laurent); Justin (Annable) comes back from Afghanistan a changed man; Kevin (Rhys) has a new career as a defense attorney and hubby Scotty (Macfarlane) is running his new restaurant together with Saul (Ron Rifkin); and, to top it all off, matriarch Nora (Sally Field) is acting strangely. And you thought your family life was complicated.

If you guys had your way, where would you like the show to go?

Dave Annable: Well, besides (Justin) living in a sorority house … (Laughs) Well, I think what they’re doing with Justin is really great. I’m curious to see where we’ll go next when he’s alone and single.

Matthew Rhys: I think the Walkers should trace their roots back to Wales. There should be a trip. Walkerrrnen was their original Welsh name before they came to Ellis Island.

Matthew, you’re Welsh – what are families like in Wales?

Matthew: They like drinking. They like singing. In that order. They’re pretty much matriarch-led in Wales – like, the world over, really. As much as we (men) like to think we rule the roost, we don’t.

I was just wondering if all families were as complicated as the Walkers.

Luke: (Laughs) Not all families have to turn out a television show every week.

Matthew: And keep it interesting. There is dysfunction, I think, in every family – it’s just varying levels of it. We just seem to have it in abundance. And, you know, having the high number of siblings, you’re sort of guaranteed that someone’s having a problem anywhere at one point, at one time.

But dysfunction’s fashionable now, anyway.

Matthew: It is. I think society’s evolved in some certain way – people are less frightened to talk about the dysfunction. As people become more emotionally articulate, it sort of aired a lot more.

Have the characters become part of you? Have you found yourself taking on any of the quirks?

Matthew: I’ve started taking home a lot of the clothes!

Luke: I borrowed suits for my sister’s wedding.

Fancy dress?

Matthew: “I went as a chef”!

Luke: I’m wearing, actually, Nora Walker’s dress to my sister’s wedding.

Is your mom like Nora?

Matthew: Oh, yeah. And that’s the one thing you hear all the time from people who like the show: (Puts on a squeaky, high-pitched voice) “Oh, my mother’s exactly like Nora. I know exactly how she feels. Why are you so rude to her? Why are you so rude to Sally Field???”

What’s the great Sally Field like in person?

Dave: Uh, she’s terrible! No, don’t write that! She’s the best! It’s a lot of work to wrangle us actors to get ready for a scene and Sally’s the one running the show – and she has been from day one.

Matthew: And it’s no irony that this sort of family’s led by the matriarch, and in our show, it’s sort of the same. She’s a consummate professional and really does lead by example.

So she bosses you around off the set as well?

Dave: Oh, totally. Actually, I have to go get her a coffee right now.

What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from her?

Dave: I think it’s “be prepared”. She always knows her lines when she comes into work and knows what she’s doing. Clearly she goes home and works. It’s easy to be young and get caught up in the fun nightlife and come to work going, “Woo, whatever, I got lines”, you know. It sort of works a lot easier if you do your homework and go home and study your lines and all that fun stuff, and not play too many video games (looks sheepishly at his console).

Matthew: She comes in early, she’s on time, she’s prepared, she’s thought about what she’s going to do. She never holds anyone up. Sits by the camera while they light, doesn’t go off and drink coffee and chit chat and get on the Internet. Old school.

Luke: No matter where you are in your career, you still have to work hard. Because she really has kind of done it all, but she doesn’t rest on her laurels.

Source: Today Online