The talented and Melanie Lynskey sits on the TV Topics couch for a fun conversation that really allows her to dive into her character Shauna on 'Yellowjackets'. Season three has shifted the needle about what drives her and is the fan treatment of her fair. That's just the tip of the iceberg. I found it fascinating.
Sadly due to a scheduling issue the conversation was cut short by several minutes which sped up the conversation and forced me to skip a few questions I was dying to ask. We could have used an additional 30 minutes.
With that said, she was amazing, sweet, and made the most of our time. She is welcome back ANYTIME to continue the conversation, dive back into her work, and to answer more TV Topics.
Melanie provided some original answers to the TV Topics questions including one of my favorites to date when she reference a 'Yellowjackets' co-star and an iconic series she starred on.
We also have a surprise guest, one who is also welcome as a guest when he is not shooting 'Matlock' and some four-legged friends.
To keep up with all things TV follow on Instagram for guest updates, polls, TV reviews, and other TV Topics. You can also find Steven's work on IG and at awardsradar.com.
#Yellowjackets #TheLastofUs #Togetherness #TV #Television #SixFeetUnder #TheTraitors #Showtime #FYC #MelanieLynskey #LaurenAmbrose #JasonRitter
(TV Topics Theme by Emilia Yu, • Voice Over by Kari Loya, www.KariLoyaVO.com)
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:03):
Hey, where's the remote? It's time for TV Topics, where
those who love television discuss the series and
performances that should be on your radar.
Hello everyone, and welcome to TV TOPICS.
I'm your host, Stephen Pusakowski.
Today's guest is an actress who I first discovered shortly after
she was discovered in her first film, Heavenly Creatures, where
(00:25):
she starred alongside another familiar name, Kate Winslet.
Since then, she has gone on to make over 100 films and TV shows
including Togetherness, 2 1/2, Men, The Last of Us, and Yellow
Jackets to name a few. Of course I'm talking about the
great Melanie Linsky. Hi, this is Melanie Linsky, and
today I'm hanging out with Stephen Prozykowski on TV
(00:46):
Topics. Hey, welcome to this show.
It's great to speak to you again.
We'll get into your work on Yellow Jackets in just a few,
but first we'll start with some TV topics.
There's no pressure, no right orwrong answers, just a bit of
fun. OK, here we go.
Looking back over the years, what was your relationship with
TV? Were you ATV junkie?
You watched everything, very selective.
(01:06):
Do you have go to shows? Well, I mean, growing up in New
Zealand, we had Channel 1 and Channel 2, so there were not a
lot of options. You just kind of watched
whatever was on and I liked likeas a child, I remember my
favorite show was 30 something. I was really into 30 something.
(01:27):
I was really into LA law children's shows.
I didn't really watch that much.And then over the years, like,
yeah, I'm a bit, I'm not like one of those people who watches
everything. And now I do have a six year old
child, so the hours I get to watch anything are pretty
limited. But I but I'm a big TV fan.
(01:50):
Yeah, children definitely changethe TV viewing landscape.
It's narrows your windows down and what you can watch when you
watch for my one of my daughter's was born.
I started watching Boardwalk Empire and then always a few
years in, but then she started walking around and being more
alert and I'm like, OK, this is definitely a a nighttime show
(02:11):
now. Yeah, exactly.
I know when my daughter was a baby my husband and I like just
was what we would do. Like I remember watching Russian
Doll and like, breastfeeding herand she was so drawn to the
sound of Natasha's voice. She would just like pull off and
turn around. And I just have fond memories of
(02:34):
watching Natasha and Russian Doll and just trying to keep my
child together. So it's the first prime time
show that you remember loving, no matter if it's good or bad,
just the show that you felt was your show.
I mean, I think it would be 30 something.
That's the first show that I remember being like, I cannot
wait for this to come on. I just, I, I loved it so much.
(02:59):
And my parents were kind of like, what is it about?
Like, I think, I mean, they werein their early 30s.
I, I was about like 10 or 11 or something.
And there was just something, I just believed it.
I think there was something about really like losing myself
in the world and the actors wereso good.
And I just, I felt like I was inpeople's homes and I, I was
(03:23):
always like a child who would rather be an observer.
I wasn't a very boisterous, outgoing kid.
And so it just felt like observing life.
And I just, I loved it. I could have watched 50 hours of
it. Yeah, it may have been a little
mature for your age, but I guessyou turned out fine.
Yeah, I was. I was an old, old soul.
(03:46):
We didn't really have rules in our House of like when what we
were allowed to watch or yeah, cute cat in the background.
Oh, she's there somewhere. Yeah, well, that works for me.
Not on my lap or shoulder. So that's a good, a good
placement right now. Yeah.
Just visual background noise. So what about shows that make
(04:07):
you laugh? Is there one that you put on
when you for a good laugh or pick me up?
I if I just need to like have a have a good laugh.
I watched Abbott Elementary. It's so consistently funny.
It's kind of amazing to me how they have kept the quality up.
Yeah, it's incredible. It's just every episode is so
(04:27):
good. I'm just always like, OK,
there's another great episode. It's what I always watch.
Like on the plane. I'm always like, oh, I should
try to watch a movie. And then I just end up watching
episodes I've already seen. I also like.
I think you should leave. Yeah, it's so good.
And kind of wacky, wacky things like that.
Yeah, that one's so out there. Yeah, so.
(04:48):
You never know what you're goingto get and when you get it.
Like even when you expect something the unexpected it
throws you for a loop. Yeah, exactly.
And what about ATV character from any era that you would have
liked to have played? Oh gosh, what a great question
that is TV character. I remember like being super into
(05:11):
like Susan Bay's character on LALaw, like just being like, Oh my
God, she's so smart and cool. And that was, that was really
fun. And also watching 6 Feet Under
like as a young actor and just seeing everything that Lauren
Ambrose got to do, I don't want anyone else to have played that
(05:32):
part because she was absolutely sublime and perfect and it was
where I just fell in love with her.
But I just remember watching that show and being like, oh
God, that would be fun to be on a show that's this good and have
a character that's that rich anddeep, like just just a dream.
Yeah, and the finale, you reallycan't beat the finale.
(05:52):
It's one of the best ever. Yeah, with Claire driving away
and you're seeing the passing ofall the family members.
Yeah, God, that was a good show.I completely agree.
Yeah, Yeah. And it's amazing because it
starts off more about the deathsand that's what you're focused
on. But then it really becomes it's
more about, you know, it's a family and it's, it's a show
(06:12):
about dying, that's about living, which is quite unique.
Yeah, and the just like those actors, like what a group of
actors? Like, it's kind of insane.
I got to work with Francis Conroy on Castle Rock and I
never got over it. I never was normal.
Like I just was so freaked out to be near her the whole time.
(06:37):
I can understand why. Yeah, she's amazing.
Oh, she is. And The Who played the father?
Richard Jenkins. Yes, Richard Jenkins.
Richard Jenkins, Rachel Griffiths, Peter.
Krauser, Michael C Hall, Lauren.Oh wow.
Kathy Bates was on the show sometimes.
Like it's crazy crazy. What an amazing cast from top to
(07:00):
bottom, and with such great chemistry too.
You know, to be able to capture that family dynamic while
exploring grief and death and romance.
I I really wonder if we'll ever see anything like it again.
Yeah, I wonder. Yeah.
What about ATV show that you watch that you think would
surprise your fans? So I wonder if I, I don't know
if it would surprise anybody, but Jason and I watch a lot of
(07:24):
reality TV like all the lovers blind, the ultimatum, the
ultimatum, Queer edition, the Bachelor, like all of that.
So we watch any like reality dating romance show we're super
into. Do you make your picks early
(07:45):
like the bachelor? I usually when I my my wife
watches it and I'll be like that's your winner.
I've never been correct but. You're just.
No. Yeah, like sometimes you can
tell a little bit by the edit. Someone's getting that there,
you know, someone to watch kind of thing.
Like, you know, some people get,like the wife edit.
(08:06):
I think they called it on Unreal, the show that was kind
of about the making of The Bachelor, which was also a great
show. But yeah, we, you know, we
always have favourites. And then occasionally your
favorite, like goes on to the end.
Like we loved Gabby and the her season of The Bachelor.
And then she went on to be The Bachelorette and then she was on
(08:27):
The Traitors. The Traitors is like a reality
show. Oh, I know it.
We watch it religiously. Yeah, I think, well, the
spoilers. But didn't she?
I think she shared part of the money right this season.
She did, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I didn't know what was going to happen with that one.
I it seems like it's, it's leansin the favor of the traders, but
they, they weeded them out. I think they're, they're turning
(08:50):
against each other this season. Cost of the prize.
Yeah, it annoys me. I feel like that's the thing
that's been happening. It happened in England as well,
where I was just like, you don'thave to do that.
Like you're the numbers are stronger you.
Don't have to live up to your title.
Yeah, you should only like, betray A traitor when you
absolutely have to. I just think it's a it's a bad
(09:11):
move. It weakens their game, but.
I think Boston Rob attacked the other traders too early and that
just disrupted everything and unbalanced it.
Yeah, it caused the disruption that led to the demise of the
traders. Well.
He had such a lust for vengeancethat he was blinded by it was
crazy. I think he he just is an ultra
competitor and wants to win and show that he's the boss.
(09:33):
And then by doing so, he he he split his own throat.
All right, we'll move on from that.
So, so fun. I love it.
How about a show that you watch,that you really enjoy, that you
don't feel enough people are watching?
A. Show that I really enjoy that
Umm, I can't think of anything. I don't know if I'm watching
(09:55):
enough like hidden gems. I I do feel like it's, it's a
bit silly because like a lot it's very acclaimed, but I do
still kind of feel like not enough people have appreciated
Happy Valley. I just think Sara Lancashire is
just one of the greatest actors.And then there was also a show a
(10:20):
couple of years ago in New Zealand called After the Party
that a friend of mine was a Co creator of and starred and her
name's Robin Malcolm. And it was just nominated for
best international show at the Bafta's, which is like such a
huge deal for like a little New Zealand show.
And it's such an incredible show.
It when it was on in England, itjust got massive acclaim.
(10:43):
Like the reviews were incredible, the BAFTA
nomination. And so I don't think it's aired
over here. And I'm just hopeful it finds a
good home and people watch it because she is incredible and
it's her and Peter Mullen. They're both amazing in it and
it's a really good show. I'll.
(11:03):
Have to look for that one, but Rob Delaney was on the show and
he mentioned Happy Valley and convinced me to watch it.
So really, yes, I'm I have it inmy queue.
I've yet to to start it. But he was all, you know, he
loved it. And he said the same thing about
the the lead actress and just said how just incredible and she
deserves more praise so. It deserves more not alone.
(11:23):
You can just go and watch Julia and see her do something, see
her play Julia Child and it is insane.
Like I have chills thinking about it like her range it it
just I don't know. She's she's really magnificent.
I. Definitely have to put that on
the fast track. So let's move on to yellow
(11:43):
jackets. Do some more TV topics in a few
minutes, but let's first discussyour incredible work on Yellow
Jackets. I really love this season.
The 1st 5 episodes I was like, Ididn't know where it was going.
I was like, I thought it lost its way.
Honestly, I'm not sure what to expect or where they're taking
us. And then the last five episodes
took all the loose parts and thread it together so tight and
(12:05):
really I think just connected the whole series in a way that
even talking about it like the finale or the last few 3 or 4
episodes. But for me, the turning point
was the what the fuck moment when the frog scientist, the the
bearded one, I can't, I'm terrible with names.
But he looked over, he saw a coach's head and he realized
what he had walked into. And, and for me, that was one of
(12:27):
the best moments of television ever.
Suddenly the whole world shifted.
This moment that could have beentheir salvation suddenly becomes
total chaos. And any fear that the writers
didn't have a plan totally disappeared right then.
Yeah, I at the beginning of the season, I got an overview that
was there was basically my ACT, like I didn't get told.
(12:50):
So we were all, you know, we all, after our conversation with
the writers are trying to put pieces together.
And I remember Lauren Ambrose saying to me, did you hear about
the frog scientists? And I was like the frog
scientists. And she was like, yeah, they,
you know, a group of frog scientists, like come upon them.
(13:11):
And I just, I was like, oh, I can't wait to read that.
Like what's? And then it was it was really a
great moment. I I love that.
I loved all those episodes and the fact that it just went so
crazy so quickly. Yeah.
It really does. It just, it's like someone lit a
(13:33):
fuse and everything just startedblowing up.
And right at the very end when he turns his head, you don't
want him to discover what's going on.
You don't want him to figure outwhat these girls are up to.
I was like, please don't turn your head.
Don't look over there. And then he does and you're
like, oh, no, this crazy world is just coming to an end.
(13:53):
Couldn't wait, couldn't get the next episode fast enough.
And then from there, it's just, you know, just total madness.
So As for your character, now we're see three seasons in.
How is your understanding of Shawna changed?
I feel like this season has brought me closer to my initial
understanding of Shawna, if thatmakes sense.
(14:15):
Like I felt very much in the beginning that she was doing her
very best to stay in this confined sort of narrow little
world that she's created becauseshe was afraid of what she might
do, who she actually naturally is.
And I've been excited for her tokind of burst out of it.
(14:38):
There have been a few moments where she has, she has shown a
very dangerous side, but you know, her investment and keeping
her family together, keeping hershit together.
It's it's been fun to play the push pull of that, but it was
really fun to just go the kind of go off the deep end.
(15:01):
Yeah, I mean, there's that moment at the end of season, at
the end of the season where she has she rejects the
reconciliation. She rejects the opportunity to
kind of kind of make peace with the past, I guess, and she
starts embracing her, her wilderness openly.
So what does that shift, you know, Can you tell me what your
feelings about that mental shiftgoing forward and that kind of
(15:24):
willingness to embrace that partof her means for the character?
Yeah. I mean, I think that she's been
kind of existing in the space oflike, I don't think I'll ever be
OK again. And just so afraid of what that
means for the rest of her life of carrying around this trauma
and guilt. And and then I think that's just
(15:48):
become so painful that she just,out of necessity, has shifted to
what if I don't need to be OK? What if I don't need to heal
from it and get better? What if that was actually the
greatest version of myself because I was definitely
surviving a lot better than thanI am now.
And so it felt like a, you know,in playing her, even though, you
(16:13):
know, she comes into the house and she sees her husband's gone,
her child's gone, which is like,kind of her worst nightmare.
There's a freedom. Like, I felt a tremendous
freedom in her body when I was doing that scene.
Like a weight was lifted, like she was just able to kind of
walk around her house and just be sort of looser and happier.
(16:34):
And I, I mean, I hope we get another season for many reasons,
you know, most of all because I love doing the show, but I'm
also just so curious to see whathappens and where it goes from
here. Yeah, it's I mean, at that
moment you realize that she likethis whole time, she she knows
she's broken and kind of trying to trying to hide that and
(16:57):
trying to keep patching over the, you know, the the things
that expose that she has these issues.
But then she just kind of says, OK, maybe broken is who I am.
And you're like. Yeah.
Or maybe like the broken thing is trying to like come back from
that. Maybe trying to like, remember
who I was before all of that happened and trying to be that
(17:19):
person, but I'll never be that person.
Like she would have been a completely different person if
they'd never had the plane crash.
So she's tried to approximate like a normal life.
And then she's just like, I think, you know, she sees it in
that scene with Melissa where she's like you, you don't get to
have a normal life, but she literally doesn't understand
(17:42):
that somebody can just change their name and walk away and
just be like, well, there's to be now.
And my wife is great. She's just like, are you joking?
Like, no, it's with you forever.You're you're a disaster.
And she's filled with like a kind of rage.
Like I think in that moment, Melissa seems so entitled to her
(18:02):
and she's just she cannot believe what she's hearing.
Well. Then that's that I was going to
bring up that scene. That's where she you take a bite
of her flesh. So one of the, you know, one of
these shocking scenes of this season, you know, it's on the
the definitely on the top five list because this scene this
season is a lot of them. And you know, even no matter
I've watched it several times and I have to turn my head
(18:25):
because it turns my stomach to watch you do that.
But you're like wondering what is it that's driven her to this
point, you know, and and so can you get into filming that a
little bit? Because I'm sure people are
curious what that was like. But also where Shauna is when
she takes that extreme fight outof her her friendship.
I think that she's always been aperson who acts impulsively,
(18:49):
like she never makes sure she has all the information before
she acts. She gets some pieces of
information. She's incredibly paranoid.
She pieces things together in her brain.
She jumps to the worst conclusion and then she acts on
that. This is who she has established
herself to be. It's very unpredictable.
It's very dangerous. And then I think when she's
(19:12):
triggered it just, she becomes kind of feral.
And I think in that moment there's it's like a little bit
sexual. It's like very, you know,
needing Melissa to know that she's dominant and then a little
bit of it's just because she fucking wants to like something
(19:32):
in her brain says like do this right now and then she's like,
I'm going to do that. It's very, it's a very
interesting person to play like she really does like it comes
from like her, her gut and then sort of her heart is feeling
what's happening and then way later her brain's like, oh, hang
on, I have a question. It just is.
(19:55):
It's a she's a very weird person.
Yeah, we're really starting to see the the young Shauna and the
adult Shauna starting to see those connections more because
earlier on I'm like, you know, where does she become her like,
and you saw hints, but now you're starting to just really
see the parallels and we're OK. That evolution's in full form.
(20:19):
It's really interesting to watchthat because, you know, also
getting to have to see like kindof the the seeds of that anger
or that, you know, these very bizarre decision she makes.
Yeah, 'cause it's still living within her.
The anger is always going to be there.
And I think, you know, before the plane crash, she was sort of
(20:42):
a meek. Well, she wasn't truly, but she
was presenting herself as kind of like a meek, shy, like, oh,
don't worry about me kind of person.
And then went through this incredible terrible thing and
became, you know, like she says in the voiceover at the end of
the season, the warrior queen. And she can't really go back to
(21:06):
that, but she tries. So it's a, it's kind of like
putting on a costume. It's like an I'll fitting
costume where she's just sort oflike, oh, I'm not here to cause
any trouble. Don't worry, I'm fine.
And also people are gossiping. I there's what I've always
imagined. Like everywhere she goes, people
are like, Oh my God, she's crazy.
She hate people. And so she really feels like she
(21:28):
has to appear like, Oh no, everything's fine.
That plane crash kind of opened the door that was somewhat
locked and then and and just letit let that part of her escape.
I was wondering, did you ever consider who she would have been
if they there never was a crash?I do.
(21:48):
And I feel like she probably would have, you know, Well, she
definitely would have gone to college.
She would have carved out her own path.
She probably wouldn't have been an especially nice, easy going
person. She probably would have been a
bit, you know, she probably would have been like a professor
who's like a little bit of an asshole where the kids are like
(22:09):
she sucks like she's so and she's like, well, I'm doing the
right thing. Like she probably would never
have had kids. And I, I don't know, like I
think so much happened in the wilderness and I think finding
out she was pregnant, not getting to make the choice about
that pregnancy. And then the hormones and the
(22:33):
emotions and the connection thatcame when she was about to have
a baby. I think that physically altered
something in her too, where thenit opened up a, a need that was
never going to be satisfied unless she came home and she did
have a kid, even though that's there's so much trauma to that
(22:55):
as well. And it's the scariest thing in
the world to her. And then it happened.
And then she's like, oh, well, that didn't heal me or cure me.
I'm just freaked out that something bad is going to happen
to this one. So it's just like a, a jumble
of, you know, reactivity that's just been kind of heartbreaking.
I like that idea of that becomeslike the nasty teacher because
(23:17):
you always wonder if you go intoa profession and you're supposed
to be helping kids and yet you're just a jerk.
Why? Why did you choose this?
She could have been anything. I know, but she probably feels
like she knows what's best. She's like, they deserve it.
Yeah, well, she definitely has that in her.
She she knows what's best in every situation.
And then she's like, oh, I was wrong.
(23:39):
No apologies. Exactly.
Never apologize. Yeah, is is at this point, is
there anything that surprises you about Shawna?
I mean, I was surprised that shewas taking a bite out of Hilary
Swank. That was surprising.
My cat's in here now. Hi Donut.
Well, my cat's above me watchingnow.
(23:59):
Yeah, cute. I'm always surprised.
I mean, she's been pretty consistent, I do have to say.
And the surprises are just that she just really is refusing to
get better. Like, it's fun.
It's fun to play, but I'm just really like, oh, wow.
There's, I'm interested to see if there's any path towards like
(24:24):
figuring it out and becoming a person who like deals with other
people a little bit better with the cat.
Yeah, the fans have kind of turned on her and it used it's
kind of it's more of AI think we're people were expecting or
hoping for redemption and finding this moment that you go
OK, I I get where she's coming from and she's going to change
(24:45):
this, but it seems to be going the other direction.
And do you still like her? Do you still find a way to and?
I also feel like it's she's like, I have not seen a
character like this before. And I really appreciate getting
to play somebody who's just kindof unapologetic.
And I think as a woman, there's a lot of expectation that comes
(25:10):
along. And also the fact that she's a
mother. People are very judgmental,
like, oh, she's a bad mom. Yeah, there are some bad moms in
the world. A lot of people had kids who
probably should not have had kids.
A lot of people had kids before they had healed their own past
traumas. Like, it's a thing that happens.
And I don't know, there's a strange thing where people seem
(25:32):
to want their television characters to be palatable or
softer or somebody that you can root for, like morally good.
And it's like, I've seen a lot of men like this on television.
I haven't really seen a woman like this.
And isn't that fun? Like, isn't that kind of
(25:52):
exciting to just also the turn? I think like she's presented as
the person that you relate to. And then there's been this sort
of thing and it's like, oh, surprise, she's actually like, I
don't think she's a villain, butlike kind of, and I think that's
a really fun sort of shift. And I don't know, I I love
(26:13):
playing her. Yeah, I mean, it's funny because
men will get a pass typically ifthey play this character, but
for some reason, women are are judged for it.
Yeah. So everyone should have the
opportunity to be the good person, the bad person, the
somewhere in between the the unpredictable.
And I think it's bizarre when people go and they they kind of
(26:36):
pile on her and they're like, ifthis was the Tony Soprano's a
jerk. No one, no one's condemning him.
And even my husband was talking about he did this show called
Raising Dion where he played like like a straight up villain,
like he was, he ended up being like a really bad guy.
And he was like trying to get this woman to date him who
(26:56):
wasn't interested. And then he was like trying to
kill a child. Like it was very bad.
And he said that he remembered reading online people being
like, oh, but it's so hard because he was rejected or this
is so sad. I feel bad for him.
He's still so sweet. And he was like, he's like a
terrible person. He's just objectively a terrible
person. And he was talking about the
(27:18):
difference. But like, he sees when he's
reads how people are talking about Shauna where they're just
like, kill her. He's just like, yeah, there's
really. And the show has shown you how
she got there. Like, a lot of awful things have
happened to her. But they're pretty intense.
The reactions. I'm like, so some of the names,
(27:38):
I don't know if you've heard them, but the Shaun of a Lecter,
bisexual Stalin, Oshawa bin Laden.
And I was like a lot of time andeffort put into tearing down
this character. I know it's so funny.
It's so interesting to me. I mean, it's also fun that
people are engaged, you know, I.Was going to say that the fact
that they're they care enough tocome up with these names and
(28:01):
post them online and stuff does say something.
You're doing something right. It's just, you know, a little
mercy, a little a little understanding or compassion
would be would be nice. You know, just in general though
in the world. Oh yeah, for sure.
People are really unwilling to like look outside of their
bubble. You know, it's it's, I mean,
(28:23):
she's definitely done terrible things.
Like I'm not saying she hasn't done terrible things, but it's
also I think when I see how adorable, like people are so
upset with Shawna for cheating with Jeff, like back when they
were teenagers, that like she was a terrible person because
she did this. But then people are like, well,
Jeff is so adorable. Jeff can do no wrong.
(28:45):
That's like, well, he was the other person who was cheating,
so yeah, why is it a problem he gets?
A free pass. He gets a free pass.
It's just interesting. All right, I got a couple quick
questions to wrap up some TV topics questions and then we'll
get you on your way. First one you grab your remote
control, a genie pops out, givesyou ATV based wish.
(29:07):
What TV show do you want one more season of?
It can be a prequel. It could be an extra season out
in the middle, or it could be 1 tag down to the end of his run.
Same crew, everything. It's all magic.
So it's as if as if the show wasproduced imitating.
Selfishly, togetherness. Selfishly, because I wish we had
(29:28):
gotten to do one more season, even just one more season of
that. I would have been so happy.
Would it be a final season like the the season at the end?
I mean, I would do the 17 more seasons of it, but yeah, if
there was one to like, wrap it up, I think that would be really
fun. Sounds great otherwise.
Gosh, I'm trying to think there,there have been so many shows
(29:49):
that have like gone, gone too soon.
What would you say? What's your answer to that?
It's such a great question. Probably Sopranos or I recall
Saul. I really love that.
I thought that was incredible what they did with that service.
Yeah, yeah. I wonder.
(30:09):
I don't know. But I can also go back all the
way to like 3's company, you know, go give me another season
of that maybe. You know, that's what I grew up
watching all that 80s television.
Yeah, I never watched that untilwe had our daughter and then we
watched a little bit of it. Yeah, I don't know if it holds
up. Oh, actually.
Well, I forgot your your husband's father was on there.
(30:31):
Yeah, he was a a comedic hero ofmine.
Yeah, 1. Of the greats, yeah.
Huge fan. How about a theme song that you
can't skip? It's a little controversial.
The first two seasons of The White Lotus, we will, We had to
watch the credits because we loved that song.
And then this most recent season, we also very much like
(30:53):
the song. But the the song, that first one
was just so incredible, so fun. People had issues with the
recent season, said it didn't. It wasn't a it didn't hold up.
We're halfway through it seems. It's very fun so far.
Yeah, I mean the song. The song.
Oh, the. Song Oh yeah, yeah, it's good.
(31:15):
It's still great but just that first one and then also my
sister love my sister. What am I talking about?
My daughter loves the show Big City Greens and she loves the
theme song to Big City Greens. So we always have to listen to
that theme song. So that's in my head like 24
hours a day all. Right, last two questions.
Who wins the battle royal between Shawna and Kathleen from
(31:37):
The Last of Us? No weapons, no holds barred.
They both have issues. Shauna's very impulsive.
Kathleen is very single minded. I think probably Shauna.
I think she's just, she's just crazier.
There's a little less, yeah, a little less stopping her.
Yeah. You don't know what she'll tap
(31:59):
into. Yeah.
And what about the greatest moment in television history
according to Melanie Linski? Greatest moment in TV history.
Simple question. Yeah, it's a real simple
question. I don't know about I I cannot
say what the greatest moment in TV history.
(32:20):
The Season 1 finale of Severancefor me in recent memory is one
of the great episodes of television.
When she heard any sees who likesees who she is and watch it
like Brit Lauer's performance. The the writing, the direction,
(32:43):
I it was so good. I just was like, this is a
masterpiece. This is so good.
The editing of that final momentwas some of the best on TV.
So great, so great. And then in this recent season,
Adam Scott talking to himself, essentially like playing those
two characters and the subtle differences.
(33:04):
It was so beautiful. It was incredible.
Such a great moment. Beautiful.
It's amazing how much great television we have right now.
All right, final question. If you had a magic door, one
that allowed you to access to live in one TV show anytime you
want, popping in and out so you're not giving up your real
life, real life pauses, you cop in, you get to live in that
world, not this set, but the actual world.
(33:26):
Which show would it be and why? See, I'm tempted to say the
White Lotus because they're always in a nice location and
you'd be in a luxury place. At least you'd be somewhere
really fancy and lovely. But then there's a lot of
assholes around. Here's my hi, Matlock.
Oh, he's telling me to say Matlock.
(33:46):
No, I just can't. That's a good choice.
I wouldn't mind hanging out, hanging out with Maddie a little
bit. No, I know.
Yeah, it would be. It would be fun.
I love you too. But someone always dies in the
White Lotus. You're kind of, you know, it's
like Russian roulette. And there's like a lot of
(34:07):
unpleasant people around. Like in terms of like the people
and just getting to jump in and be with like good fun people.
Gosh, is it? I wish I was more prepared.
I wish someone had like emailed me ahead of time and been like,
these are the questions and they're really good.
(34:29):
I appreciate that, but I I tried.
I don't like to give them ahead because I think then people are
too prepared. I know, I know.
But then I know I'm gonna like later on.
I'm gonna be like a great answerfor that.
Well, you're always welcome back.
Umm, Natwalk is not a bad answeractually.
There's a lot of fun people on that show all.
Right, we'll take that one and you get to hang out with the TV
(34:52):
version of your husband. Not.
The real version, which would bereally interesting to see.
No. What that relationship's like
the? TV version of my husband is
terrible. I'm so mad at him.
So maybe you can change him. Yeah, well, we'll see.
So, well, thank you so much for your time and your work on the
series. And we everyone's, everyone like
(35:13):
you is hoping for Season 4. It it better happen because we
can't end where we did. Although it wasn't, it was
another amazing moment to close on with Aerosmith.
Oh, God, and Sophie, in that moment, it was like, so
incredible, so fun. Oh.
It really was. But yeah, that can't be the end.
No, we need, we want more. We really do.
(35:33):
We all. We'll see.
Well, we're out of time, so thanks for joining me on TV
topics. Maybe we can have you back
again. It was a lot of fun.
You too. Have a great day.
Bye. Thank you so much to Melanie for
being my guest. Be sure to check out her work on
Yellow Jackets, The Last of Us, Candy, Togetherness, and so much
more. She's amazing.
(35:55):
Keep tuning into TV topics and be sure to subscribe on Spotify
or Apple Podcast or wherever youfind your podcast.
And if you really enjoy the show, please give it a five star
rating. It really helps.
You can also follow TV topics onInstagram at TV under score
Topics. Thanks for listening and stay
tuned for more TV topics. TV Topics is produced by Stephen
(36:19):
Przykowski, ZAP.
Hey, where's the remote? It's time for TV Topics, where
those who love television discuss the series and
performances that should be on your radar.
Hello everyone, and welcome to TV TOPICS.
I'm your host, Stephen Pusakowski.
Today's guest is an actress who I first discovered shortly after
she was discovered in her first film, Heavenly Creatures, where
(00:25):
she starred alongside another familiar name, Kate Winslet.
Since then, she has gone on to make over 100 films and TV shows
including Togetherness, 2 1/2, Men, The Last of Us, and Yellow
Jackets to name a few. Of course I'm talking about the
great Melanie Linsky. Hi, this is Melanie Linsky, and
today I'm hanging out with Stephen Prozykowski on TV
(00:46):
Topics. Hey, welcome to this show.
It's great to speak to you again.
We'll get into your work on Yellow Jackets in just a few,
but first we'll start with some TV topics.
There's no pressure, no right orwrong answers, just a bit of
fun. OK, here we go.
Looking back over the years, what was your relationship with
TV? Were you ATV junkie?
You watched everything, very selective.
(01:06):
Do you have go to shows? Well, I mean, growing up in New
Zealand, we had Channel 1 and Channel 2, so there were not a
lot of options. You just kind of watched
whatever was on and I liked likeas a child, I remember my
favorite show was 30 something. I was really into 30 something.
(01:27):
I was really into LA law children's shows.
I didn't really watch that much.And then over the years, like,
yeah, I'm a bit, I'm not like one of those people who watches
everything. And now I do have a six year old
child, so the hours I get to watch anything are pretty
limited. But I but I'm a big TV fan.
(01:50):
Yeah, children definitely changethe TV viewing landscape.
It's narrows your windows down and what you can watch when you
watch for my one of my daughter's was born.
I started watching Boardwalk Empire and then always a few
years in, but then she started walking around and being more
alert and I'm like, OK, this is definitely a a nighttime show
(02:11):
now. Yeah, exactly.
I know when my daughter was a baby my husband and I like just
was what we would do. Like I remember watching Russian
Doll and like, breastfeeding herand she was so drawn to the
sound of Natasha's voice. She would just like pull off and
turn around. And I just have fond memories of
(02:34):
watching Natasha and Russian Doll and just trying to keep my
child together. So it's the first prime time
show that you remember loving, no matter if it's good or bad,
just the show that you felt was your show.
I mean, I think it would be 30 something.
That's the first show that I remember being like, I cannot
wait for this to come on. I just, I, I loved it so much.
(02:59):
And my parents were kind of like, what is it about?
Like, I think, I mean, they werein their early 30s.
I, I was about like 10 or 11 or something.
And there was just something, I just believed it.
I think there was something about really like losing myself
in the world and the actors wereso good.
And I just, I felt like I was inpeople's homes and I, I was
(03:23):
always like a child who would rather be an observer.
I wasn't a very boisterous, outgoing kid.
And so it just felt like observing life.
And I just, I loved it. I could have watched 50 hours of
it. Yeah, it may have been a little
mature for your age, but I guessyou turned out fine.
Yeah, I was. I was an old, old soul.
(03:46):
We didn't really have rules in our House of like when what we
were allowed to watch or yeah, cute cat in the background.
Oh, she's there somewhere. Yeah, well, that works for me.
Not on my lap or shoulder. So that's a good, a good
placement right now. Yeah.
Just visual background noise. So what about shows that make
(04:07):
you laugh? Is there one that you put on
when you for a good laugh or pick me up?
I if I just need to like have a have a good laugh.
I watched Abbott Elementary. It's so consistently funny.
It's kind of amazing to me how they have kept the quality up.
Yeah, it's incredible. It's just every episode is so
(04:27):
good. I'm just always like, OK,
there's another great episode. It's what I always watch.
Like on the plane. I'm always like, oh, I should
try to watch a movie. And then I just end up watching
episodes I've already seen. I also like.
I think you should leave. Yeah, it's so good.
And kind of wacky, wacky things like that.
Yeah, that one's so out there. Yeah, so.
(04:48):
You never know what you're goingto get and when you get it.
Like even when you expect something the unexpected it
throws you for a loop. Yeah, exactly.
And what about ATV character from any era that you would have
liked to have played? Oh gosh, what a great question
that is TV character. I remember like being super into
(05:11):
like Susan Bay's character on LALaw, like just being like, Oh my
God, she's so smart and cool. And that was, that was really
fun. And also watching 6 Feet Under
like as a young actor and just seeing everything that Lauren
Ambrose got to do, I don't want anyone else to have played that
(05:32):
part because she was absolutely sublime and perfect and it was
where I just fell in love with her.
But I just remember watching that show and being like, oh
God, that would be fun to be on a show that's this good and have
a character that's that rich anddeep, like just just a dream.
Yeah, and the finale, you reallycan't beat the finale.
(05:52):
It's one of the best ever. Yeah, with Claire driving away
and you're seeing the passing ofall the family members.
Yeah, God, that was a good show.I completely agree.
Yeah, Yeah. And it's amazing because it
starts off more about the deathsand that's what you're focused
on. But then it really becomes it's
more about, you know, it's a family and it's, it's a show
(06:12):
about dying, that's about living, which is quite unique.
Yeah, and the just like those actors, like what a group of
actors? Like, it's kind of insane.
I got to work with Francis Conroy on Castle Rock and I
never got over it. I never was normal.
Like I just was so freaked out to be near her the whole time.
(06:37):
I can understand why. Yeah, she's amazing.
Oh, she is. And The Who played the father?
Richard Jenkins. Yes, Richard Jenkins.
Richard Jenkins, Rachel Griffiths, Peter.
Krauser, Michael C Hall, Lauren.Oh wow.
Kathy Bates was on the show sometimes.
Like it's crazy crazy. What an amazing cast from top to
(07:00):
bottom, and with such great chemistry too.
You know, to be able to capture that family dynamic while
exploring grief and death and romance.
I I really wonder if we'll ever see anything like it again.
Yeah, I wonder. Yeah.
What about ATV show that you watch that you think would
surprise your fans? So I wonder if I, I don't know
if it would surprise anybody, but Jason and I watch a lot of
(07:24):
reality TV like all the lovers blind, the ultimatum, the
ultimatum, Queer edition, the Bachelor, like all of that.
So we watch any like reality dating romance show we're super
into. Do you make your picks early
(07:45):
like the bachelor? I usually when I my my wife
watches it and I'll be like that's your winner.
I've never been correct but. You're just.
No. Yeah, like sometimes you can
tell a little bit by the edit. Someone's getting that there,
you know, someone to watch kind of thing.
Like, you know, some people get,like the wife edit.
(08:06):
I think they called it on Unreal, the show that was kind
of about the making of The Bachelor, which was also a great
show. But yeah, we, you know, we
always have favourites. And then occasionally your
favorite, like goes on to the end.
Like we loved Gabby and the her season of The Bachelor.
And then she went on to be The Bachelorette and then she was on
(08:27):
The Traitors. The Traitors is like a reality
show. Oh, I know it.
We watch it religiously. Yeah, I think, well, the
spoilers. But didn't she?
I think she shared part of the money right this season.
She did, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I didn't know what was going to happen with that one.
I it seems like it's, it's leansin the favor of the traders, but
they, they weeded them out. I think they're, they're turning
(08:50):
against each other this season. Cost of the prize.
Yeah, it annoys me. I feel like that's the thing
that's been happening. It happened in England as well,
where I was just like, you don'thave to do that.
Like you're the numbers are stronger you.
Don't have to live up to your title.
Yeah, you should only like, betray A traitor when you
absolutely have to. I just think it's a it's a bad
(09:11):
move. It weakens their game, but.
I think Boston Rob attacked the other traders too early and that
just disrupted everything and unbalanced it.
Yeah, it caused the disruption that led to the demise of the
traders. Well.
He had such a lust for vengeancethat he was blinded by it was
crazy. I think he he just is an ultra
competitor and wants to win and show that he's the boss.
(09:33):
And then by doing so, he he he split his own throat.
All right, we'll move on from that.
So, so fun. I love it.
How about a show that you watch,that you really enjoy, that you
don't feel enough people are watching?
A. Show that I really enjoy that
Umm, I can't think of anything. I don't know if I'm watching
(09:55):
enough like hidden gems. I I do feel like it's, it's a
bit silly because like a lot it's very acclaimed, but I do
still kind of feel like not enough people have appreciated
Happy Valley. I just think Sara Lancashire is
just one of the greatest actors.And then there was also a show a
(10:20):
couple of years ago in New Zealand called After the Party
that a friend of mine was a Co creator of and starred and her
name's Robin Malcolm. And it was just nominated for
best international show at the Bafta's, which is like such a
huge deal for like a little New Zealand show.
And it's such an incredible show.
It when it was on in England, itjust got massive acclaim.
(10:43):
Like the reviews were incredible, the BAFTA
nomination. And so I don't think it's aired
over here. And I'm just hopeful it finds a
good home and people watch it because she is incredible and
it's her and Peter Mullen. They're both amazing in it and
it's a really good show. I'll.
(11:03):
Have to look for that one, but Rob Delaney was on the show and
he mentioned Happy Valley and convinced me to watch it.
So really, yes, I'm I have it inmy queue.
I've yet to to start it. But he was all, you know, he
loved it. And he said the same thing about
the the lead actress and just said how just incredible and she
deserves more praise so. It deserves more not alone.
(11:23):
You can just go and watch Julia and see her do something, see
her play Julia Child and it is insane.
Like I have chills thinking about it like her range it it
just I don't know. She's she's really magnificent.
I. Definitely have to put that on
the fast track. So let's move on to yellow
(11:43):
jackets. Do some more TV topics in a few
minutes, but let's first discussyour incredible work on Yellow
Jackets. I really love this season.
The 1st 5 episodes I was like, Ididn't know where it was going.
I was like, I thought it lost its way.
Honestly, I'm not sure what to expect or where they're taking
us. And then the last five episodes
took all the loose parts and thread it together so tight and
(12:05):
really I think just connected the whole series in a way that
even talking about it like the finale or the last few 3 or 4
episodes. But for me, the turning point
was the what the fuck moment when the frog scientist, the the
bearded one, I can't, I'm terrible with names.
But he looked over, he saw a coach's head and he realized
what he had walked into. And, and for me, that was one of
(12:27):
the best moments of television ever.
Suddenly the whole world shifted.
This moment that could have beentheir salvation suddenly becomes
total chaos. And any fear that the writers
didn't have a plan totally disappeared right then.
Yeah, I at the beginning of the season, I got an overview that
was there was basically my ACT, like I didn't get told.
(12:50):
So we were all, you know, we all, after our conversation with
the writers are trying to put pieces together.
And I remember Lauren Ambrose saying to me, did you hear about
the frog scientists? And I was like the frog
scientists. And she was like, yeah, they,
you know, a group of frog scientists, like come upon them.
(13:11):
And I just, I was like, oh, I can't wait to read that.
Like what's? And then it was it was really a
great moment. I I love that.
I loved all those episodes and the fact that it just went so
crazy so quickly. Yeah.
It really does. It just, it's like someone lit a
(13:33):
fuse and everything just startedblowing up.
And right at the very end when he turns his head, you don't
want him to discover what's going on.
You don't want him to figure outwhat these girls are up to.
I was like, please don't turn your head.
Don't look over there. And then he does and you're
like, oh, no, this crazy world is just coming to an end.
(13:53):
Couldn't wait, couldn't get the next episode fast enough.
And then from there, it's just, you know, just total madness.
So As for your character, now we're see three seasons in.
How is your understanding of Shawna changed?
I feel like this season has brought me closer to my initial
understanding of Shawna, if thatmakes sense.
(14:15):
Like I felt very much in the beginning that she was doing her
very best to stay in this confined sort of narrow little
world that she's created becauseshe was afraid of what she might
do, who she actually naturally is.
And I've been excited for her tokind of burst out of it.
(14:38):
There have been a few moments where she has, she has shown a
very dangerous side, but you know, her investment and keeping
her family together, keeping hershit together.
It's it's been fun to play the push pull of that, but it was
really fun to just go the kind of go off the deep end.
(15:01):
Yeah, I mean, there's that moment at the end of season, at
the end of the season where she has she rejects the
reconciliation. She rejects the opportunity to
kind of kind of make peace with the past, I guess, and she
starts embracing her, her wilderness openly.
So what does that shift, you know, Can you tell me what your
feelings about that mental shiftgoing forward and that kind of
(15:24):
willingness to embrace that partof her means for the character?
Yeah. I mean, I think that she's been
kind of existing in the space oflike, I don't think I'll ever be
OK again. And just so afraid of what that
means for the rest of her life of carrying around this trauma
and guilt. And and then I think that's just
(15:48):
become so painful that she just,out of necessity, has shifted to
what if I don't need to be OK? What if I don't need to heal
from it and get better? What if that was actually the
greatest version of myself because I was definitely
surviving a lot better than thanI am now.
And so it felt like a, you know,in playing her, even though, you
(16:13):
know, she comes into the house and she sees her husband's gone,
her child's gone, which is like,kind of her worst nightmare.
There's a freedom. Like, I felt a tremendous
freedom in her body when I was doing that scene.
Like a weight was lifted, like she was just able to kind of
walk around her house and just be sort of looser and happier.
(16:34):
And I, I mean, I hope we get another season for many reasons,
you know, most of all because I love doing the show, but I'm
also just so curious to see whathappens and where it goes from
here. Yeah, it's I mean, at that
moment you realize that she likethis whole time, she she knows
she's broken and kind of trying to trying to hide that and
(16:57):
trying to keep patching over the, you know, the the things
that expose that she has these issues.
But then she just kind of says, OK, maybe broken is who I am.
And you're like. Yeah.
Or maybe like the broken thing is trying to like come back from
that. Maybe trying to like, remember
who I was before all of that happened and trying to be that
(17:19):
person, but I'll never be that person.
Like she would have been a completely different person if
they'd never had the plane crash.
So she's tried to approximate like a normal life.
And then she's just like, I think, you know, she sees it in
that scene with Melissa where she's like you, you don't get to
have a normal life, but she literally doesn't understand
(17:42):
that somebody can just change their name and walk away and
just be like, well, there's to be now.
And my wife is great. She's just like, are you joking?
Like, no, it's with you forever.You're you're a disaster.
And she's filled with like a kind of rage.
Like I think in that moment, Melissa seems so entitled to her
(18:02):
and she's just she cannot believe what she's hearing.
Well. Then that's that I was going to
bring up that scene. That's where she you take a bite
of her flesh. So one of the, you know, one of
these shocking scenes of this season, you know, it's on the
the definitely on the top five list because this scene this
season is a lot of them. And you know, even no matter
I've watched it several times and I have to turn my head
(18:25):
because it turns my stomach to watch you do that.
But you're like wondering what is it that's driven her to this
point, you know, and and so can you get into filming that a
little bit? Because I'm sure people are
curious what that was like. But also where Shauna is when
she takes that extreme fight outof her her friendship.
I think that she's always been aperson who acts impulsively,
(18:49):
like she never makes sure she has all the information before
she acts. She gets some pieces of
information. She's incredibly paranoid.
She pieces things together in her brain.
She jumps to the worst conclusion and then she acts on
that. This is who she has established
herself to be. It's very unpredictable.
It's very dangerous. And then I think when she's
(19:12):
triggered it just, she becomes kind of feral.
And I think in that moment there's it's like a little bit
sexual. It's like very, you know,
needing Melissa to know that she's dominant and then a little
bit of it's just because she fucking wants to like something
(19:32):
in her brain says like do this right now and then she's like,
I'm going to do that. It's very, it's a very
interesting person to play like she really does like it comes
from like her, her gut and then sort of her heart is feeling
what's happening and then way later her brain's like, oh, hang
on, I have a question. It just is.
(19:55):
It's a she's a very weird person.
Yeah, we're really starting to see the the young Shauna and the
adult Shauna starting to see those connections more because
earlier on I'm like, you know, where does she become her like,
and you saw hints, but now you're starting to just really
see the parallels and we're OK. That evolution's in full form.
(20:19):
It's really interesting to watchthat because, you know, also
getting to have to see like kindof the the seeds of that anger
or that, you know, these very bizarre decision she makes.
Yeah, 'cause it's still living within her.
The anger is always going to be there.
And I think, you know, before the plane crash, she was sort of
(20:42):
a meek. Well, she wasn't truly, but she
was presenting herself as kind of like a meek, shy, like, oh,
don't worry about me kind of person.
And then went through this incredible terrible thing and
became, you know, like she says in the voiceover at the end of
the season, the warrior queen. And she can't really go back to
(21:06):
that, but she tries. So it's a, it's kind of like
putting on a costume. It's like an I'll fitting
costume where she's just sort oflike, oh, I'm not here to cause
any trouble. Don't worry, I'm fine.
And also people are gossiping. I there's what I've always
imagined. Like everywhere she goes, people
are like, Oh my God, she's crazy.
She hate people. And so she really feels like she
(21:28):
has to appear like, Oh no, everything's fine.
That plane crash kind of opened the door that was somewhat
locked and then and and just letit let that part of her escape.
I was wondering, did you ever consider who she would have been
if they there never was a crash?I do.
(21:48):
And I feel like she probably would have, you know, Well, she
definitely would have gone to college.
She would have carved out her own path.
She probably wouldn't have been an especially nice, easy going
person. She probably would have been a
bit, you know, she probably would have been like a professor
who's like a little bit of an asshole where the kids are like
(22:09):
she sucks like she's so and she's like, well, I'm doing the
right thing. Like she probably would never
have had kids. And I, I don't know, like I
think so much happened in the wilderness and I think finding
out she was pregnant, not getting to make the choice about
that pregnancy. And then the hormones and the
(22:33):
emotions and the connection thatcame when she was about to have
a baby. I think that physically altered
something in her too, where thenit opened up a, a need that was
never going to be satisfied unless she came home and she did
have a kid, even though that's there's so much trauma to that
(22:55):
as well. And it's the scariest thing in
the world to her. And then it happened.
And then she's like, oh, well, that didn't heal me or cure me.
I'm just freaked out that something bad is going to happen
to this one. So it's just like a, a jumble
of, you know, reactivity that's just been kind of heartbreaking.
I like that idea of that becomeslike the nasty teacher because
(23:17):
you always wonder if you go intoa profession and you're supposed
to be helping kids and yet you're just a jerk.
Why? Why did you choose this?
She could have been anything. I know, but she probably feels
like she knows what's best. She's like, they deserve it.
Yeah, well, she definitely has that in her.
She she knows what's best in every situation.
And then she's like, oh, I was wrong.
(23:39):
No apologies. Exactly.
Never apologize. Yeah, is is at this point, is
there anything that surprises you about Shawna?
I mean, I was surprised that shewas taking a bite out of Hilary
Swank. That was surprising.
My cat's in here now. Hi Donut.
Well, my cat's above me watchingnow.
(23:59):
Yeah, cute. I'm always surprised.
I mean, she's been pretty consistent, I do have to say.
And the surprises are just that she just really is refusing to
get better. Like, it's fun.
It's fun to play, but I'm just really like, oh, wow.
There's, I'm interested to see if there's any path towards like
(24:24):
figuring it out and becoming a person who like deals with other
people a little bit better with the cat.
Yeah, the fans have kind of turned on her and it used it's
kind of it's more of AI think we're people were expecting or
hoping for redemption and finding this moment that you go
OK, I I get where she's coming from and she's going to change
(24:45):
this, but it seems to be going the other direction.
And do you still like her? Do you still find a way to and?
I also feel like it's she's like, I have not seen a
character like this before. And I really appreciate getting
to play somebody who's just kindof unapologetic.
And I think as a woman, there's a lot of expectation that comes
(25:10):
along. And also the fact that she's a
mother. People are very judgmental,
like, oh, she's a bad mom. Yeah, there are some bad moms in
the world. A lot of people had kids who
probably should not have had kids.
A lot of people had kids before they had healed their own past
traumas. Like, it's a thing that happens.
And I don't know, there's a strange thing where people seem
(25:32):
to want their television characters to be palatable or
softer or somebody that you can root for, like morally good.
And it's like, I've seen a lot of men like this on television.
I haven't really seen a woman like this.
And isn't that fun? Like, isn't that kind of
(25:52):
exciting to just also the turn? I think like she's presented as
the person that you relate to. And then there's been this sort
of thing and it's like, oh, surprise, she's actually like, I
don't think she's a villain, butlike kind of, and I think that's
a really fun sort of shift. And I don't know, I I love
(26:13):
playing her. Yeah, I mean, it's funny because
men will get a pass typically ifthey play this character, but
for some reason, women are are judged for it.
Yeah. So everyone should have the
opportunity to be the good person, the bad person, the
somewhere in between the the unpredictable.
And I think it's bizarre when people go and they they kind of
(26:36):
pile on her and they're like, ifthis was the Tony Soprano's a
jerk. No one, no one's condemning him.
And even my husband was talking about he did this show called
Raising Dion where he played like like a straight up villain,
like he was, he ended up being like a really bad guy.
And he was like trying to get this woman to date him who
(26:56):
wasn't interested. And then he was like trying to
kill a child. Like it was very bad.
And he said that he remembered reading online people being
like, oh, but it's so hard because he was rejected or this
is so sad. I feel bad for him.
He's still so sweet. And he was like, he's like a
terrible person. He's just objectively a terrible
person. And he was talking about the
(27:18):
difference. But like, he sees when he's
reads how people are talking about Shauna where they're just
like, kill her. He's just like, yeah, there's
really. And the show has shown you how
she got there. Like, a lot of awful things have
happened to her. But they're pretty intense.
The reactions. I'm like, so some of the names,
(27:38):
I don't know if you've heard them, but the Shaun of a Lecter,
bisexual Stalin, Oshawa bin Laden.
And I was like a lot of time andeffort put into tearing down
this character. I know it's so funny.
It's so interesting to me. I mean, it's also fun that
people are engaged, you know, I.Was going to say that the fact
that they're they care enough tocome up with these names and
(28:01):
post them online and stuff does say something.
You're doing something right. It's just, you know, a little
mercy, a little a little understanding or compassion
would be would be nice. You know, just in general though
in the world. Oh yeah, for sure.
People are really unwilling to like look outside of their
bubble. You know, it's it's, I mean,
(28:23):
she's definitely done terrible things.
Like I'm not saying she hasn't done terrible things, but it's
also I think when I see how adorable, like people are so
upset with Shawna for cheating with Jeff, like back when they
were teenagers, that like she was a terrible person because
she did this. But then people are like, well,
Jeff is so adorable. Jeff can do no wrong.
(28:45):
That's like, well, he was the other person who was cheating,
so yeah, why is it a problem he gets?
A free pass. He gets a free pass.
It's just interesting. All right, I got a couple quick
questions to wrap up some TV topics questions and then we'll
get you on your way. First one you grab your remote
control, a genie pops out, givesyou ATV based wish.
(29:07):
What TV show do you want one more season of?
It can be a prequel. It could be an extra season out
in the middle, or it could be 1 tag down to the end of his run.
Same crew, everything. It's all magic.
So it's as if as if the show wasproduced imitating.
Selfishly, togetherness. Selfishly, because I wish we had
(29:28):
gotten to do one more season, even just one more season of
that. I would have been so happy.
Would it be a final season like the the season at the end?
I mean, I would do the 17 more seasons of it, but yeah, if
there was one to like, wrap it up, I think that would be really
fun. Sounds great otherwise.
Gosh, I'm trying to think there,there have been so many shows
(29:49):
that have like gone, gone too soon.
What would you say? What's your answer to that?
It's such a great question. Probably Sopranos or I recall
Saul. I really love that.
I thought that was incredible what they did with that service.
Yeah, yeah. I wonder.
(30:09):
I don't know. But I can also go back all the
way to like 3's company, you know, go give me another season
of that maybe. You know, that's what I grew up
watching all that 80s television.
Yeah, I never watched that untilwe had our daughter and then we
watched a little bit of it. Yeah, I don't know if it holds
up. Oh, actually.
Well, I forgot your your husband's father was on there.
(30:31):
Yeah, he was a a comedic hero ofmine.
Yeah, 1. Of the greats, yeah.
Huge fan. How about a theme song that you
can't skip? It's a little controversial.
The first two seasons of The White Lotus, we will, We had to
watch the credits because we loved that song.
And then this most recent season, we also very much like
(30:53):
the song. But the the song, that first one
was just so incredible, so fun. People had issues with the
recent season, said it didn't. It wasn't a it didn't hold up.
We're halfway through it seems. It's very fun so far.
Yeah, I mean the song. The song.
Oh, the. Song Oh yeah, yeah, it's good.
(31:15):
It's still great but just that first one and then also my
sister love my sister. What am I talking about?
My daughter loves the show Big City Greens and she loves the
theme song to Big City Greens. So we always have to listen to
that theme song. So that's in my head like 24
hours a day all. Right, last two questions.
Who wins the battle royal between Shawna and Kathleen from
(31:37):
The Last of Us? No weapons, no holds barred.
They both have issues. Shauna's very impulsive.
Kathleen is very single minded. I think probably Shauna.
I think she's just, she's just crazier.
There's a little less, yeah, a little less stopping her.
Yeah. You don't know what she'll tap
(31:59):
into. Yeah.
And what about the greatest moment in television history
according to Melanie Linski? Greatest moment in TV history.
Simple question. Yeah, it's a real simple
question. I don't know about I I cannot
say what the greatest moment in TV history.
(32:20):
The Season 1 finale of Severancefor me in recent memory is one
of the great episodes of television.
When she heard any sees who likesees who she is and watch it
like Brit Lauer's performance. The the writing, the direction,
(32:43):
I it was so good. I just was like, this is a
masterpiece. This is so good.
The editing of that final momentwas some of the best on TV.
So great, so great. And then in this recent season,
Adam Scott talking to himself, essentially like playing those
two characters and the subtle differences.
(33:04):
It was so beautiful. It was incredible.
Such a great moment. Beautiful.
It's amazing how much great television we have right now.
All right, final question. If you had a magic door, one
that allowed you to access to live in one TV show anytime you
want, popping in and out so you're not giving up your real
life, real life pauses, you cop in, you get to live in that
world, not this set, but the actual world.
(33:26):
Which show would it be and why? See, I'm tempted to say the
White Lotus because they're always in a nice location and
you'd be in a luxury place. At least you'd be somewhere
really fancy and lovely. But then there's a lot of
assholes around. Here's my hi, Matlock.
Oh, he's telling me to say Matlock.
(33:46):
No, I just can't. That's a good choice.
I wouldn't mind hanging out, hanging out with Maddie a little
bit. No, I know.
Yeah, it would be. It would be fun.
I love you too. But someone always dies in the
White Lotus. You're kind of, you know, it's
like Russian roulette. And there's like a lot of
(34:07):
unpleasant people around. Like in terms of like the people
and just getting to jump in and be with like good fun people.
Gosh, is it? I wish I was more prepared.
I wish someone had like emailed me ahead of time and been like,
these are the questions and they're really good.
(34:29):
I appreciate that, but I I tried.
I don't like to give them ahead because I think then people are
too prepared. I know, I know.
But then I know I'm gonna like later on.
I'm gonna be like a great answerfor that.
Well, you're always welcome back.
Umm, Natwalk is not a bad answeractually.
There's a lot of fun people on that show all.
Right, we'll take that one and you get to hang out with the TV
(34:52):
version of your husband. Not.
The real version, which would bereally interesting to see.
No. What that relationship's like
the? TV version of my husband is
terrible. I'm so mad at him.
So maybe you can change him. Yeah, well, we'll see.
So, well, thank you so much for your time and your work on the
series. And we everyone's, everyone like
(35:13):
you is hoping for Season 4. It it better happen because we
can't end where we did. Although it wasn't, it was
another amazing moment to close on with Aerosmith.
Oh, God, and Sophie, in that moment, it was like, so
incredible, so fun. Oh.
It really was. But yeah, that can't be the end.
No, we need, we want more. We really do.
(35:33):
We all. We'll see.
Well, we're out of time, so thanks for joining me on TV
topics. Maybe we can have you back
again. It was a lot of fun.
You too. Have a great day.
Bye. Thank you so much to Melanie for
being my guest. Be sure to check out her work on
Yellow Jackets, The Last of Us, Candy, Togetherness, and so much
more. She's amazing.
(35:55):
Keep tuning into TV topics and be sure to subscribe on Spotify
or Apple Podcast or wherever youfind your podcast.
And if you really enjoy the show, please give it a five star
rating. It really helps.
You can also follow TV topics onInstagram at TV under score
Topics. Thanks for listening and stay
tuned for more TV topics. TV Topics is produced by Stephen
(36:19):
Przykowski, ZAP.
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