Seems it became a hit last fall when we posted little known facts and trivia following each new episode. Since you were all so fond of our first three, Sarah-centric, episodes back, we’ll start with a little combo version of interesting tidbits and facts about The Good Wound, Desert Cantos, and Some Must Watch, While Some Must Sleep.
As you may have researched, the title Desert Cantos is also the title of a Richard Misrach photography book. If you were a loyal follower of our video podcast, you may have even noticed the Misrach photo hanging on the wall in Josh’s office — a dead cow in the desert! (Oh, and of course you saw the actual dead cow model he’s gotten “living” in there too). Some Must Watch, While Some Must Sleep, meanwhile, was borrowed from the text of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Props to those that identified that beforehand.
Longtime CSI: Miami helmer, Scott Launtanen, made his Sarah Connor directing debut with last week’s Some Must Watch…, in an episode co-written by Natalie Chaidez and Denise The. Unfortunately for Launtanen, he was cursed with the additional challenging of shooting the entire episode with laringytus and couldn’t speak above a whisper!
Speaking of the Some Must Watch… cast, the very talented Julie Ann Emery (who played “Nurse Hobson”) was previously a serious contender for the role of “Catherine Weaver” at the beginning of the season. When it came time to casting the role of this sort-of-Terminator nurse, her name came was one of the first mentioned! Likewise, Brit comedic actress Michelle Arthur (Sarah’s fun-loving roommate, “Dana”) originally read for the role of “Diana Winston” in Desert Cantos before thinking ahead and realizing how perfect she was for “Dana.” They brought her in and the rest was history! Michelle is also a series regular on Starz’s comedy Head Case and previously starred in Lena’s directorial debut film, The Sophisticates.
Some of you pointed out that the empty house Sarah investigates in Desert Cantos was the Connor’s home last season (and the location Thomas toured in the video podcast) — but that is incorrect! However, that location has been seen on the series before. It is actually a practical house that sits on the Warner Bros. Ranch (a secondary lot down the street) and was used as little Marty Bedell’s home in Goodbye to All That. It was also Danny Glover’s house in the Lethal Weapon film series. We then moved to shoot the secret underground tunnel and surveillance room basement Sarah finds on one of our sound stages.
The Good Wound gives us good perspective on John Henry’s mental maturation, as he explains to Ellison about his Bionicle toys. Bionicles are made by Lego (our second, free promotion for that company in the series!) and are the favorite of quite a few of the writers’ young children.
As we’ve previously mentioned, our writers often pen notes in the scripts that may or may not translate to the screen. In The Good Wound script, the return of Kyle is introduced with “Just as we remember him from The Terminator” but then Ash/Zack continued on even further in their descriptions to note, “Oh… and we forgot to mention it… Sarah Connor? The one who drove into the desert? Not the one who drove out of it. This is T2 Sarah. Dangerous Sarah. Crazy Sarah.” Clearly both of these are callbacks to the original films. But did you notice Kyle’s wardrobe was precisely what Sarah would have remembered him in from The Terminator? Right down to the shoes. Big props to our talented wardrobe designer, Amanda Friedland, for putting in the good work and small details. Oh, and while we’re on the small details — many of you have complained about Sarah’s scar on her shoulder. Thought most of you believed it was a mistaken reference to the T-1000 wound from the second film (but on the wrong shoulder), it actually wasn’t. Sarah’s referenced wound was actually from the gunshot in the series pilot.
With two storylines taking place in medical facilities in the episode, production was forced to “create” the look of two very different hospitals in one practical location. As opposed to the Sarah/Kacy scenes in Allison from Palmdale (which were shot on the ER set at Warner Bros), both sets of these medical scenes were shot at the in-use St. Mary’s Hospital in Long Beach, CA. Even the morgue is a real, working morgue. Gross!
GREAT NEWS!!!
DVR numbers are huge for Terminator. The show gained 36% viewers through DVR. Dollhouse gained 30% and went from a 2.0 to a 2.6 in the demo, thanks to the DVR numbers. No word yet on T:SCC demo when you factor in DVR numbers. But, don’t be fooled these numbers are huge!
http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/03/dollhouse-dvr.html#comment-6a00d83451d69069e2011279198e3428a4
The “Terminator” and “Dollhouse” gains are considered very high increases for time-shifted viewing, even for a Friday night. The week’s biggest DVR gainer was the CW’s “Privileged,” followed by NBC’s “Life,” with “Terminator” placing third.”
THIRD, as in third for the entire week of televised programming!!!!
Saweeeett, Veran - thanks for the update on the DVR numbers! All my multiple viewings in the first three days have to count for something!
Ooh, lovely, lovely Easter eggs! Thanks Hadley and company. Eww, if I were Lena, I would have been grossed out by shooting in a real morgue! Props to the awesome Miss Headey again! As I mentioned, I, for one, loved the last three eps!
Thanks for all the info, Hadley. You know how to keep us going!
I also thought the 3 Sarah-centric episodes were great! Thanks for the extra tidbits. Lena continues to amaze me with her performance and the things she does to be more Sarah Connor. Like working out and toning her arms. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, Lena really doesn’t get enough credit for her efforts and talent.
Thanks for all the cool tidbits. That was really cool how you guys paid so much attention to the details of Kyle’s clothes–when I was watching the episode, I was like, “Hey, they even got the shoes right!.”
I know lots of people didn’t like the Sarah-psyche episodes, but I personally like them. Because, come on, the show is really about Sarah and her interactions with everyone around her. Also,I was watching the first four episodes of season one, and I realized that what I most miss about the show is really the action and playfulness–not just between John and Cameron, but also between Sarah and Cameron. It had just the right combo of the two to get me addicted to the show. I know its a drama, but the show has to lighten up a bit. Bring back the action and comedy, Please!
Veran–thanks for the info! God, I hope that’s enough to get us another season! I was really worried about the Friday night move. That usually where shows go to die!
“Oh, and while we’re on the small details — many of you have complained about Sarah’s scar on her shoulder. Thought most of you believed it was a mistaken reference to the T-1000 wound from the second film (but on the wrong shoulder), it actually wasn’t. Sarah’s referenced wound was actually from the gunshot in the series pilot.”
————————————–
Um… Well… No
Kyle Reese asked Sarah “God Sarah, what did it do to you?”
Sarah replies, “Stabbed me. Trying to hurt me. Make me scream. To get to our son.”
If she was referencing the wound from the pilot, she would have said she got shot, not stabbed. And Cromartie was shooting at them while they were driving away from the Dyson house. He wasn’t trying to make Sarah scream. He was trying to kill John Connor. Making Sarah scream in the vehicle would not help him get John.
In T2, She DID get stabbed, and the T-1000 WAS trying to make Sarah “call to John”. Clearly, this is what she was referring to.
Oh yes… One more thing… THE WOUND FROM THE PILOT WAS ALSO ON SARAH’S RIGHT SIDE, so that wouldn’t explain it anyway.
Here is proof…
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/playloud/Terminator/Sarahsotherwound.jpg
Honestly, just admit you goofed on that one. The wound Sarah was referencing was from T2, and even if she was referring to the wound from the pilot, it was STILL on the wrong side.
Thanks!! I love the “behind” the scenes stuff… It adds so much to the show.
The Dana character was great… She was so “hip”. “Hey Tiger!”….LOL.
That is so funny, and thanks for all of that. I’m one of those who loves the extra information you guys make available for us, and the things you point out which I may not notice while watching.
I want you to know we appreciate it.
Thanks for taking the time to post this hadley, very interesting read =).
I loved these three episode, even though they were light on the ‘blowing stuff up’ ratio. Lena sells the intensity really well and the dialogue was fantastic.
Plus, kudos to the writers and actor Ned Bellamy for making Ed Winston a much more complex and interesting character. I loved his conversations with Sarah in the van.
Seems you’re right, Jim! My mistake!
The shoulder wound was on the right side, the wrong side, etc. - who cares? I know it was a continuity error, but drop it, folks!
I’d rather be more concerned about watching the show, some kick ass action/acting/story lines and keeping up the ratings so we still have a show to discuss!
“many of you have complained about Sarah’s scar on her shoulder. Thought most of you believed it was a mistaken reference to the T-1000 wound from the second film (but on the wrong shoulder), it actually wasn’t. Sarah’s referenced wound was actually from the gunshot in the series pilot.”
Sarah was shot in her right shoulder during the pilot.
Somebody screwed up.
Thanks for the acknowledgment hadley.
I can’t wait to see “Ourselves Alone” next week!
I’m really excited about this next episode!
So many details hard to keep up with, but this is a great refresher course. Also this is what I love about this blog, extra info on behind the scene. Thanks for the update.
Very interesting read.
I really liked the character of Dana! ‘hey Tiger’ LOL!!!!
Question: is the character of Kacy gone or will she pop back up again? I would have loved to see her use some babysitters. LOL.
Thank you for posting. Is it Friday yet?
Nice DVR number. Sounds a bit suprising to me.
Love the show, hope for S3.
I swear they used the diner set from Gilmore Girls in one of the episodes. I’d really like to know about that.
What’s with Cameron walking around in the P and B? Are we angling for John and Cameron’s child to save the world?