Mexico, new music, Mary-Kate Olsen and the loss of original cast members. Weeds creator Jenji Kohan and I talked about it all today. With the fourth season premiere just a week and a half away, we're both geeked about the show's reincarnation and maybe even a possible spin off. Read on...

Last we saw Nancy Botwin (Mary-Louise Parker, pictured left), she was lighting her Agrestic house on fire and heading out of town. That act is going to be a real game changer for Weeds, no?
Absolutely. It is in a lot of ways. What we found when we started writing [this season] is that it still very much feels like Weeds, but we have changed up a lot of stuff and it’s been really reinvigorating for everyone. It’s a fourth year show and you have to keep it interesting for your audience and for yourself. If you start to lose steam, you’re not going to do good work, but I’m really excited about this season. It’s been fun to have that energy back.

I hear the Botwins are moving South of the border, or at least close to it?
Yeah, they're moving to a beach town near the border called Ren Mar. It’s a whole new look, with all new sets that are unbelievable and gorgeous. Everyone feels like it’s a brand new thing. Our first day of shooting, it was like, we’re not in Santa Clarita anymore. It's bright and fresh and the ocean is right there.

Does this mean a new theme song is in order because they won’t be in little boxes on the hillside anymore?
Yes. "Little Boxes" is gone because Nancy is out of her little box. We looked into a lot of theme songs that we fell in love with, but in the end, we didn’t feel like we were going to beat "Little Boxes" because it was so good and just perfect for our show, so we’re moving in a different direction. We made an artistic choice to do title cards that are moving and are thematic to each, individual episode. It's almost like a "Where’s Waldo?" thing for the audience. You’ll see the title card and try to figure out how it relates to the rest of the episode. It gets us in [to the week's story] a lot faster.

Wow. Changing such a recognizable show opening is kind of a big deal. I assume "Little Boxes" isn't the only casualty of the new Weeds.
Well, the core [of the series] won't change. It's still all about our family and our extended family, but we wanted everything to happen in an organic manner. It's not like everyone picks up and moves together, so it’s definitely going to be different. But you’ve got Nancy, you’ve got Andy, you’ve got the kids, and then there's the whole subplot of getting Celia (Elizabeth Perkins, pictured left) down there and getting Doug down there. And we’ll see other faces from the past, because in the wake of the disaster they’ve experienced, everyone is displaced. So they’re going to congregate where they can be together.

So we’ll see Conrad (Romany Malco, pictured right) and Heylia (Tonye Patano, pictured below left) as well?
No, you won’t see Conrad and Heylia. I think that, in terms of the show, the relationship with Heylia just ran its course. They’ve been through too much, they’ve done too much to each other and, as in life, people drift in and out of your world. And with Conrad, [he and Nancy] weren't going to be the love story of the century. They burned each other and it was time to move on. I don’t think they’re forgetting about each other, but there was obviously no future for them.

That's huge.
Between you and me, though I’m happy to say it out loud, I’d love to do a spin off with them and set it in a pot club as a faux-reality type of show.

I love that. Is that something you actually have time to do?
Yeah, you know, we just had our hump day last week. [Weeds is] done shooting about mid-July, so I'd like to [look into that].

But Celia and Doug (Kevin Nealon, pictured right) are back. Will there be more lunatic romance between those two?
I don’t know yet. Certainly not in the beginning. He’s still mourning his wife and trying to figure out where his life is.

How about Isabelle? Please tell me she'll be around.
Isabelle is definitely back. She’s just amazing.

The relationship between her and Celia kills me (in an awesome way).
They’re so good playing off each other.

What's up with insane Andy (Justin Kirk, pictured left) these days?
Oh, he may become a benevolent coyote [who shuttles immigrants from Mexico to the U.S.]. A kinder, gentler coyote.

And Shane?
Shane’s complicated. He’s a little nuts. I think he bears the brunt of the family's insanity. He internalizes it the most and it affects him, but in a fun and interesting way. No more talking to his dead father.

So no more Jeffrey Dean Morgan (pictured right)?
Um, well, maybe. In my mind, he’s staying at the grandmother’s house, so the ghost still looms. We’ll see.

Yes, and we're meeting the grandfather this season, Nancy's dad-in-law?
Yes, Albert Brooks was amazing. Besides the fact that he’s a God and an icon, he’s a really great actor and really respectful of the work. His performances are always surprising and interesting and so good.

Is Mary-Kate Olsen (pictured left) out of the picture?
No, actually, we’re looking for a spot for Mary-Kate because she does get the old gang together at a certain point, but we’ve still got to work it out.

It would be a short arc or a one-episode type thing?
Yeah, if we are able to do it. But I’m certainly not going to promise that.

I'm told Silas has a new lady in his life, an older woman?
Yes, played by Julie Bowen (pictured right). She’s been fabulous, just awesome in everything she does. She’s really fun and here to play. We love that.

How long is she sticking around for?
For as long as we can keep her. It’s a really interesting relationship.

And Silas (Hunter Parrish, pictured left) is still underage, right?
For another few weeks. Believe me, it comes up.

I look forward to hearing what Nancy has to say about it. And she's got a new relationship this year too, right? The mayor of Tijuana?
Yeah, she's going to go for a little South of the border action. This season, she really finds someone who is real that she connects with. It’s significant. It’s different from what she’s had before. He’s quite a character. He gives her a run for her money and dominates in a lot of ways. He has so much control over her life and the people around her. To be able to relinquish that [control] and feel safe is probably a good feeling for her. 

Comments

Not sure I can still watch this without Romany Malco. He was my favourite character

cobra commander | Jun 5, 2008 12:43:29 AM | #

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I get the reasoning behind dropping the theme song, but damn, it's so good! Not sure how I feel about Conrad not being around. How is Julie Bowen's character going to be introduced if they're in Mexico. Forgive me my ignorance, but I've never pictured soccer moms (which is a character description I've read for this part) in Mexico.

Dee | Jun 5, 2008 9:53:36 AM | #

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It's gonna feel like a whole new show. Should be interesting.

rock | Jun 5, 2008 10:13:15 AM | #

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Great interview!!!

mattie | Jun 5, 2008 10:29:03 AM | #

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I believe it's a US border town, not Mexico. Nonetheless, soccer is bigger down there than here, so why wouldn't they have futbol mama's?

JBJ | Jun 5, 2008 11:35:10 AM | #

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Clearly I wasn't reading well. OK, so border town. I guess what I meant is that Julie Bowen seems more like someone we'd see in Agrestic, and not in a border town. Unless she wants to whip out a strong Southern accent. Not saying she can't do it, just that she's not the first person I'd picture to play a soccer mom in a border town. And I won't even get into the social, political and economic reasons behind a lack of futbol mamas.

Dee | Jun 5, 2008 8:21:47 PM | #

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I freaking LOVE this show; but this does sound like an almost entirely new show... Conrad was a probably my favorite character - calming, mostly sane, smart... I hope it all works!
And I hope they can do a spin-off, because both Romany Malco and Tonye Patano are great in their roles.

Varris | Jun 6, 2008 9:37:44 AM | #

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I love this show, but this change makes me worried. Agrestic was a really specific setting and a huge part of the mood and feel of the show, like an additional character. It all had a really great sense of place, and we have never seen a show set in that area outside of Los Angeles where everything is manufactured. Buffy would not be the same if it took place in Detroit, and the sex and the city girls would operate differently had they lived outside the big apple...I don't know. Hoping for the best, but this may be a bad move....

Andre | Jun 6, 2008 5:08:34 PM | #

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I have faith in Jenji Kohan and the writers. They created it, they can do it again...!!!

I really hope they make it!!! I would sure miss this show... =)

KEEP TARA!!! Come'on!!! ;o)

Alex | Jun 11, 2008 9:52:53 PM | #

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This really sucks. I cannot imagine the show without Conrad. His chemistry with Nancy was one of the juiciest parts of the show. And moving the whole setting really does feel like a brand new show. I want Weeds back.

angie | Jun 13, 2008 3:24:39 PM | #

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I love this show too and change can be difficult to deal with, but I agree with the producers' thoughts that Agrestic was starting to run its course. I think the border town idea offers a tremendous amount of comedic opportunities, especially with Nancy dating the mayor of Tiajuana.

I don't get the reference to Hunter Parrish being under age. Are certain types of scenes not permitted for underage actors?

Mark | Jun 14, 2008 9:07:59 AM | #

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The real border town is just South of San Diego and North of the Tijuana Estuary/River (http://www.parks.ca.gov/)

It was a more affordable place to live a few years ago: large houses, right on the ocean and a huge drug community.

I can see Nancy living there. I think Conrad would stay in LA, but its only a few hours away...

Heather | Jun 17, 2008 12:40:26 AM | #

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BRING CONRAD BACK....HEYLEA BACK EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE MOVING ON I THINK CONRAD AND FAM NEED TO SHOW UP SOMEHOW PERHAPS TO SAVE HER FROM THE BORDER POLICE .......THEY ARE SUCH A UNIQUE BLEND ITS JUST WRONG TO LEAVE HIM BEHIND!!!
SHAME! NOT TO MENTION HES A HOTTIE!!!!!

julie | Jun 19, 2008 6:55:07 PM | #

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BRING CONRAD BACK....HEYLEA BACK EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE MOVING ON I THINK CONRAD AND FAM NEED TO SHOW UP SOMEHOW PERHAPS TO SAVE HER FROM THE BORDER POLICE .......THEY ARE SUCH A UNIQUE BLEND ITS JUST WRONG TO LEAVE HIM BEHIND!!!
SHAME! NOT TO MENTION HES A HOTTIE!!!!!

julie | Jun 19, 2008 6:55:08 PM | #

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WTF?! No Conrad No Heylia, Not for nothing but thats a huge chunk of character development just to bump them off like that. Honestly I am a very big fan of the show... but I would say season 4 is shaping up to be a flop and everyone will wished it had ended in season 3. I think if they did make a spin off it would take off and be a greater success then season 4. I mean seriously... its going to be an entirely different show.... that looks like it shaping up to go no where interesting at all. You cant just have 3 seasons of a show developing characters and then wipe the favorites out! It will be like watching a new show... they might as well not call it weeds anymore. Its like "I love Lucy" Getting rid of Fred and Ethel. Like WTF! How can you recover from wiping out all the supporting actors. The only show I have ever seen get away with that is OZ (from HBO) and that was because it was set in a prison and some characters were bound to die.

Carlos | Jun 19, 2008 9:13:45 PM | #

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If it's not broke, don't fix it! Hope they can pull off all these changes.

Jenny | Jun 23, 2008 8:19:36 PM | #

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wut the f**k no Conrad are you kidding me there is a reason I havent watched this season of Weeds are there you have it Conrad and Nancy could have went there ways but still keep Conrad around he was the only reason I watched the freaking show so done not watching this show anymore there is a saying if its dont broke dont try to fix it Losers

candii | Jun 25, 2008 11:49:38 AM | #

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how to heck could u get rid of Conrad and Heylia they were the best part of the show. I done with this show Bring Conrad back

Kevin | Jun 25, 2008 11:51:51 AM | #

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man Nancy and Conrad had so much chemistry with each other the writers just keeping messing the show up U-turn was shaping up to be a great addition to the show but u killed him off and now this no Conrad man you guys suck i'm so done

steven | Jun 25, 2008 11:54:50 AM | #

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I am a HUGE Weeds fan... and I am also very upset about all the changes being made in season 4, especially the lack of Conrad and "Little Boxes". I cheered when Nancy and Conrad finally hooked up! I can't believe he's gone; he was my favorite part of the show. As for "Little Boxes", why not keep it around? At least as a reminder that Nancy has escaped from her little box in the suburbs. I just don't think I will be as into the show this season.

alissa | Jun 27, 2008 12:37:18 AM | #

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This show stinks now!
Pull the plug!!!

bobaganoush | Jun 30, 2008 10:38:57 PM | #

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What? I can't believe Conrad is off the show! I will miss the chemistry between he and Nancy...it's like a death. Speaking of death, wouldn't it be interesting if Jeffrey Dean Morgan hadn't really died at all and shows up in the season finale of season 4?
Maybe Conrad and Juda could show up together. After all, Nancy knew Conrad through Juda (check it out in season 1). Could Juda be involved in the "business" and Nancy doesn't know it?

Kathy | Jul 1, 2008 7:47:11 PM | #

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WTF!! I AGREE w/EVERYONE! I HAD 2 READ THIS INTERVIEW TWICE IN ORDER 2 REALLY UNDERSTAND WAT I WAS READING! I'M SO ANGRY!! IT DOES SOUND LIKE A NEW SHOW! HOW CAN DEY GET RID OF CONRAD & HELIA? GEEZ! I'M REALLY PISSED-OFF! I TRULY LUV DIS SHOW! IT'S SO WELL DONE! WHY SUCH DRASTIC CHANGES? IT DOES FEEL LIKE A DEATH! THIS IS WAT MADE THE SHOW SO UNIQUE...THE RELATIONSHIP DAT THIS SOCCER MOM HAD w/THESE PPL IN DA HOOD! WAT'S WRONG w/DA WRITERS? Sooooooo MADDDDD!!!!

HATE CHANGES!!! | Jul 4, 2008 6:50:11 PM | #

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Wow, people, give it a chance. Change can be good. I'll miss Conrad too but the show has such good writers that I think they will pull this off. I jumped up and down and cried tears of joy when Nancy and Conrad finally made love and that will always be my absolute favorite moment of this show but I'm not going to stop watching because he is gone. I'm addicted.

Samantha | Jul 8, 2008 1:54:15 AM | #

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Weeds needs Conrad. That was just too abrupt an ending for them. Can Nancy really dump people that quickly and cleanly? It doesn't feel right. She's not that cold.
He would look for her too.

I am already missing the other characters too! I hate the dead grandmother and I don't like Guiermo much either.

Bonnie J. | Jul 8, 2008 3:32:51 AM | #

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