Fringe: Paley Center Live Panel with JH Wyman and Lance Reddick
Wednesday, January 9th, 2013Panel: Lance Reddick and Exec Prod. JH Wyman
JH: Every viewer we’ve ever had is here!
JH discusses how sad it was shooting the very last scene in Walter’s lab. A show like this is not likely to happen again.
Lance: I had the same experience as when The Wire ended. I didn’t expect to get emotional. (He starts tearing up)…
Lance: It always takes me a couple hours to get thru wardrobe & makeup. And when I said goodbye to my wardrobe person, I lost it.
JH: I wanted viewers 2 go thru everything these characters went through @ ground level, and feeling ‘I know these people & I’ll never forget them’
Lance: I always thought that Fringe lived best in its serialized form, so I was glad that’s how the last season played out.
JH: I always thought if the show didn’t get picked up for the last season, I would write a series of 4 or 5 graphic novels 4 the fans.
JH: …but we were also tasked with trying to bring in more viewers. What would do that best?
Jeff: How much of the series was written from a master plan?
JH: …We would stray a little along the way, and find new things, but we would always return to the plan.
JH: The show evolved from the 1st season because we were finding what worked. The network & studio were incredibly supportive…JH: …but we were also tasked with trying to bring in more viewers. What would do that best?
JH: X Files was great, but they would do a bunch of really weird episodes, then suddenly go 2 the mythology, ‘Hey, aliens took my sister.’
Audience member w/scientist dad: Where did Walter come from? There’s so much about him that is completely genuine!
JH: Walter has seen behind the curtain and once you have, you can’t go back.
Audience question: Were the seeds of evil w/in the Observers always there, or did that come into plot at a later time?
JH: That was always an imp0rtant pt of the story we wanted to tell. ‘But I love September.’ I’m sure there are nice alligators, too
JH: FOX has always been transparent about their love for this show. They told us every move and were instrumental in making it work.
Jeff: What have the fans meant to you, in terms of keeping the show alive?
Lance: I feel like the fans of this show have become part of the show like I’ve never experienced before. All I can say is ‘Thank You!’
JH: I know there are people at the network who have said, ‘Wait a minute. These fans are so passionate, there is value in keeping this on.’
From: Paley Center
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