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Firefly's Demise: An Interview with Sean Maher
September 07, 2006
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Your relationships seemed impossibly organic, to the point where it’s hard to know if you’re acting or improving. Were you allowed any improv?
There’s no improv so much with Joss. He’s actually quite, I don’t want to say strict, it’s just that you know that his language is his language. You can bring up suggestions but usually he’s right and you have to go back to the way he wrote it.
It’s interesting, in terms of his writing, he always says he wrote after watching the actors. As people. He watched us together, and watched our relationships and our interactions and kinda wrote from there. So it was organic in that sense, and came from us in that in that sense, but once it was on the page, and once we were on set -- we had a great script supervisor who wouldn’t let us change a comma.
So the unique language, the word choices like “shiny” and “Goram."
That’s all Joss. It’s a very western slang, and that was all Joss and Tim (Minear).
What were you told about how it got cancelled?
We were not told much. I think we were strung along for a little while, because they were on the fence about what to do with us.
So no idea why it was pulled?
From the beginning, after we shot the pilot, coming back to work, we really never felt like the network got it. We didn’t really feel a ton of support from the beginning. It was always a little confusing.
There’s a great story that Joss tells about after the network saw the pilot, someone who shall remain nameless goes, “But I don’t get it. There are horses.”And so Joss says, “Oh. Okay, well, that’s sort of the point.” And the guy says, “But horses in outer space?” That was a comment out of an executive mouth, and so I think that from the beginning, there were some things that they just didn’t take the time to understand.
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Comments
Denise wrote:
Thanks for posting the Maher interview. He's very candid about what happened with Fox, Firefly and Serenity. I have to say that it's a joy being a fan of this man. Hopefully, he'll get another tv project on another network, other than Fox.
posted at September 11, 2006 10:07 AM
Tammy wrote:
That was a lovely interview. I just got the Firefly visual companion and was a bit disapointed that there was no 'new' interview from Sean like there was for the other actors, just one that was re-used from the press tour of the film.
So it was nice to see something new from him. On the subject of his new A&E movie. Hmm, wonder what his roll was and why the interviewer didn't make a big deal of it like the press seemed to with 'Brokback Mountain'.
posted at September 11, 2006 10:59 AM
Ben wrote:
Thanks for the Sean interview! Why Firefly was ever cancelled is completely befuddling to me. It is simply the best TV series I have ever seen and in the grand scheme of all modern entertainment, it holds it's own with anything. The characters, plotlines and stories were exciting and emotional, yet realistic. I just wish I was paying attention when it debuted (along with other people), so it would have lasted longer. I am still hoping Joss can bring our beloved 'verse back.
posted at September 11, 2006 12:33 PM
Carrie wrote:
I love Firefly, I love Serenity, and I respect Sean Maher a good deal. Thanks so much for posting this; it had me laughing at some points, about ready to burst into tears at other. The comments about the fans really made my heart tingle with happiness. It takes one hell of an actor and show to get that response out of me.
posted at September 11, 2006 02:36 PM
Sean Collins-Smith wrote:
awesome guys, thanks for posting this great interview
posted at September 11, 2006 08:10 PM
di wrote:
Thanks for posting this. It's always good to hear something about Firefly/Serenity behind the scenes. And it's nice, as a fan, to be called part of the cast. :)
posted at September 12, 2006 02:19 AM
Katharine wrote:
Long-time reader, first-time poster. What a nice interview: very straightforward and pleasant. I really hadn't seen much from Sean Maher off-screen, so this was a good read. Thanks for bringing it to us.
posted at September 12, 2006 07:37 PM
Cheryl wrote:
Great interview, and thanks for posting it. Now a probably crazy idea: take the number of DVD sales and pitch the owner to each chip in $10, $20, or whatever to finance making straight-to-DVD episodes. Maybe the idiotic networks would get the idea and the series could be resurrected? I'll put my money up for that chance. How about the rest of you?
posted at September 17, 2006 08:42 AM
Nicki wrote:
Thanks for posting the interview. And thanks to Sean for his honesty. Browncoats all over will love this interview.
posted at September 17, 2006 02:52 PM
Mary Girven wrote:
I loved reading this interview with Sean Maher, as he is one of my nine favorite actors! I discovered Firefly/Serenity in February, 2006 and have been a huge fan ever since. I love everything about this story and, like everyone else I know, DEMAND more! It is SO easy to convert new fans; you just lend your DVDs to people you know who haven't seen Firefly/Serenity yet and let them do their magic. I'm so excited now with more showings of Firefly apperaing on other channels and with Serenity showing on HBO. Surely there are many more fans now than when Serenity was released just a year ago! Fans need to stay vocal and keep pushing for more of the best story ever written! People are hungry for a good story and it just doesn't get any better than this one.
posted at September 24, 2006 10:05 PM
PirateCat wrote:
Hey what a great show, Firefly is the best not to mention the best characters ever. Too bad Fox did not get it. Its like alias Smith and Jones meet Bladerunner. I believe it topps Star Trek and Babylon 5. Thanks Sean. Maybe Fox in Chineese means Blue Sun. Hmmmm
posted at October 2, 2006 10:16 PM
AnonymousBrowncoat wrote:
Firefly was, and still is, my favorite show of all time. As much as I love Serenity, it still pains me to think of how GREAT it would have been to watch these stories develop over seven+ seasons. At any rate, great interview! Keep Flying! Serenity Now!
posted at October 11, 2006 11:36 PM
Kendra wrote:
This show was brilliant. Too bad Fox has their head up their ass when it comes to programing. Thanks for posting this interview!
posted at October 12, 2006 01:47 PM
Jacki wrote:
How sad that the network execs at Fox couldn't trust a creative genius with two hits out of two attempts to bring a fan base to the new series and produce another megawinner.
The pain is eased somewhat by the knowledge that studio execs have an even shorter shelf life than new tv shows...and those idiots are likely long gone.
posted at October 12, 2006 05:35 PM
Christopher Woods wrote:
Ace interview, thanks for plopping it onto the interwebs.
posted at November 4, 2006 07:42 PM
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