[This story contains major spoilers from the series finale of Somebody Somewhere.]
The final episode of Somebody Somewhere goes out on a literal high note. As the HBO comedy’s supporting cast (Jeff Hiller, Mary Catherine Garrison, Murray Hill, Tim Bagley) looks on, Bridget Everett‘s Sam offers a toast and performs a stirring rendition of Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb.” It’s a fitting end for a series whose greatest strength was often its ability to be sentimental without being saccharine, and it’s easy to view the scene as a symbolic farewell for its stars. “We didn’t know that would be the series finale, but we really have been writing like any moment could be the last moment of the show,” says co-creator Hannah Bos. “We also shot that during our first week of production on this season due to cast availability, so we really were just like, ‘I hope this works.’”
Bos and her longtime collaborator Paul Thureen first pitched the idea that would become Somebody Somewhere in October 2018, and though this weekend’s series finale marks the end of that particular six-year-long process, they — along with star Everett — are adamant that they’ll return to these characters at some point. Below, the creative trio joined THR to reflect back on the show’s growth and to discuss the (still rather hazy) future.
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I suppose we should start by talking about “The Climb” and how you came to the idea of that song …
BRIDGET EVERETT I’ve been covering that song for a long time. I know it’s a little on the nose, but it’s also just such an uplifting power ballad, and I love singing it, so it felt like the right song for the moment. There’s a little bit of Bridget in that performance, but I also feel like there are Sams all over the country singing in karaoke bars just like that. So I used a little bit of all those moments.
When you started working on the idea for this show back in 2018, did you think about how you wanted the series arc to go, or envision the ending at all? How did this finale fit in with those early thoughts?
PAUL THUREEN One theme we looked at early on was the “Bridgetization” of Sam, and how far that would go. I think at one point there was an idea that at the end of season one we’d see Sam singing at a big event — so I just love that the end of the series involves her singing to her family and friends. But also, you can have all these plans at the beginning, but once you start shooting and editing and learn what it is you love about this world, they all go out the window.
HANNAH BOS So much of this show is about small growth, but now looking back on the three seasons it feels like gigantic growth — look at Tricia, from her very first scene, to the way she ends this season at Friendsgiving. I do think that Sam in that last karaoke scene parallels the end of the first season; first, she’s invited onstage, but now she’s the one in charge and I think that’s a nice example of Sam’s expansion of self-love. This isn’t a show that’s going to see her go on the road performing and become a superstar, it’s about being happy in your own hometown and finding yourself and your people.
EVERETT At the beginning, we didn’t even know if we’d get past the pilot. But also, I don’t think of this as the end of the Somebody Somewhere world. I think of it as a time stamp of where they all are at this moment.
It seems like everyone feels really good about the way the show ended — for now — from a narrative and creative standpoint. But how do you all feel about the way the decision was made by HBO to end the show after season three?
EVERETT I think this is the first time I can ever just [come] out and say how proud I am of something I did. I truly feel like HBO is the only place that would do this kind of show, and that they were added value, creatively. Working with them was a 12 out of 10, and I don’t know if I’ll ever experience something this wonderful again. I don’t know if that fully answers your question, but that’s what number one on the call sheet has to say. (Laughs.)
THUREEN I think there’s stuff that happens that we don’t see, but our interaction with the executives and the press team and the marketing people — it felt like they articulated their love for the show and they brought so much talent to the way the show is presented. I don’t think we could have asked for anything more.
Something about the fact that this show lived for audiences entirely sandwiched in between two Trump administrations feels almost … poetic? Do you think you would have changed anything about your approach to the show if you were continuing on during these upcoming presumably Dark Times?
EVERETT If we did another season, or a movie, during the Trump administration — I’m trying to think of the right word to describe it. It’s not resistance, but there’s something about showing people of all walks of life, wanting the same things that everybody else does. They want to be happy and healthy and safe. There’s nothing wrong with kindness and there’s nothing wrong with trying to understand each other. If we ever did more of the show, we would just stay the course. It’s a terrifying time and I’m glad that people are finding this show now. If it makes people feel better, I’m behind that 100 percent.
What do you turn on TV when you need comfort?
EVERETT I’ve been watching slowly paced home renovation shows. I sort of just let that wash over me, and look at my dog laying against my leg. She used to sleep on the floor, but I think she knows something’s not right so now she lounges right on the couch. It’s a big price to pay for tenderness, but I’ll take what I can get.
Has your dog seen her own scenes in this season of Somebody Somewhere?
EVERETT No, but I have a friend whose dog jumps in his owner’s house whenever my dog, Lulu, comes over to their house. He’s terrified of her for some reason. They were watching the show and she came on and he ran and jumped into [his owner’s] arms.
Can you talk about this season’s romantic storyline, and what you wanted to achieve? Especially since the absolute last image we see is Sam and Iceland together.
EVERETT First of all, we wrote the part for Darri [Ólafsson] because he’s so incredible and I’d always thought of him for any kind of love interest for Sam. I always thought it would have to be him. And then we brought him up in the writers room and we were all excited about the idea. This is about showing a different side of Sam, about her trying to push through issues with self-worth and confidence and going outside the bubble of her relationship with Joel. It’s about taking a big swing. It’s not “girl meets boy, girl feels better about herself.” It’s about what it took to get her in the room with him in the first place.
THUREEN We also didn’t want to undercut the idea that this is a show about somebody whose primary romantic relationship is a friendship. We feel good about the fact that we’re also able to show that conversation between Sam and Joel, where they articulate that they’re each other’s people.
EVERETT The great romance of the show is the platonic romance between Sam and Joel.
Do you have any hopes for the show’s legacy within the industry? Is there anything you want to see come out of this show’s success?
EVERETT I feel like every time you step away from what makes art art, and push it toward commerce, you lose. We need stuff that feels genuine and real. I think people that are in positions of authority need to keep that in mind. The conversations that I’m having with people on the streets are about how this show feels necessary. I hope people aren’t always thinking about the bottom line. I have this thing I used to say to my niece and nephew when they were little and we played Pass the Pigs: “greed kills.” If it’s always about the money, you’re going to lose.
BOS When they greenlit this, a lot of people took a chance on us. We don’t have any famous people. We don’t have any special effects. We aren’t even a coastal show. This is about real people and made by real people. If more people took chances on things, I think it would inspire more people to write their stories.
It feels, to me, worth noting that this wasn’t a charitable endeavor by HBO, either. They got a lot out of it.
EVERETT Agreed. We had favorable reviews, we had a Peabody and AFI Award. They also did see something in us that I didn’t always see. I remember when I saw season one, I was like, “God is this show not cool?” And they were like, “No!” I’ve loved every second of being at HBO, honestly, and I just love that they’re willing to do stuff like this. They have stuff like The Penguin, that’s a huge hit, but I think we were a great bang for our buck.
Has this show, and the fact that it was unexpected for you all, changed the trajectory of your careers?
EVERETT Well, I am presently looking for a job, so not in that way. But personally, it’s given me a belief in myself and a confidence that I can do stuff like this. I never dreamt I could do a TV show. I will always carry this with me and that’s a huge gift.
THUREEN Hannah and I have been writing together, and been best friends, for 25 years. But getting to spend the last six years with this group of people has been life-changing. It makes me want to double down on trying to live up to this in the future, and on doing things that I really care about.
BOS I’m tearing up, but there’s been a lot of grief on this show, and a lot of grief in our lives while we wrote it. We come from the live performance world, so to make something that will be permanent feels really special. Also, as Midwesterners, it’s fun to share the show with our family and friends.
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Somebody Somewhere is streaming all episodes on Max.
Source: Hollywoodreporter
