The cast of Shrinking took the Main Stage for the first panel there of New York Comic Con 2024. Cast members Jason Segel (Jimmy Laird/co-creator), Christa Miller (Liz), Ted McGinley (Derek), Jessica Williams (Gaby), Luke Tenie (Sean), Lukita Maxwell (Alice), Michael Urie (Brian) and show co-creator Brett Goldstein.
Before the panel started, the audience was treated to previews of Apple TV+ returning and new series. When the cast took the stage, the last to enter was Brett Goldstein, which led to fan chat of “He’s here, he’s there, he’s every-fucking-where, Roy Kent! Roy Kent!”
Jason Siegel immediately announced at the start of the panel that Shrinking will be back for a season 3.
In describing the work environment on the show, Jason Segel said “Honest to god, it happened really fast. In season 1, we didn’t know what those office scenes would be like…Everyone was so present and so good. Honestly, it’s the best fucking cast. It’s also the best group of writers. No one took a long time to find their thing. They came in hot.”
Jessica was quick to add, “Talking to the writers, figuring out who Gabby was in the first season, the writers said they wanted the audience to feel like “this is a therapist I want to talk to.”
Ted McGinley sang the praises of Shrinking co-creator Bill Lawrence, who he credited with landing him this job. “I was a day player, really. Bill Lawrence very kindly had taken me to the network many times. He said “Hey I got something for you, and you can’t screw it up, come in.” When I got the script, I said this is the best half hour I ever read in my life. Derek is a product of good writing. “Eat a dick, Pam.” I’m sorry, that’s brilliant writing.” Fan can expect to see more Derek in season 2. McGinley is very happy on the show, adding, “This is the best job I’ve had. The fact that you get to get a little deeper with Derek is so exciting.”
Christa Miller had very few demands when joining the cast. “I want my husband to be handsome and cute. Oh my God, Ted McGinley, yes!” Ted responded to this saying “I love you, I love her.” Christa explained the evolution of her character on Shrinking, Liz. “It started that she was so nosy and in everyone’s business, but I saw that her instincts were good. She wanted to pick up the slack in taking care of Alice in a lovely way, because who else was going to?” “The writing is incredible on the show.” Michael Urie praised the writing too, emphasizing, “The writing. the writing. the writing.”
Michael Urie highlighted one scene in particular as his favorite on the show. “That episode when Jason is drunk and Harrison is stoned is the best drunk and best stoned acting I’ve ever seen. I assume it was acting.”
Luke Tenie explained the greatest challenge of being in the Shrinking cast. “I gotta sit across from this guy and not laugh. The real challenge isn’t carrying the weight and the heaviness; it’s to not laugh. What a great job where the greatest thing you need to worry about it to not laugh. It’s a front row seat to excellent performing.”
Jason Segel recounted the story of Lukita Maxwell being cast to play his daughter. “When lakita auditioned for the show, I said that is my daughter. We don’t need to see anyone else.” Brett Goldstein affirmed the story, with a simple, “That is true.” Jason added, “They said Jason that’s the first person we saw. That’s not how this works. But I said, you’ll see. She came as Alice and has been that was every since. I go on and on about her, but I’m in love with this girl’s acting, this woman’s acting.”
Jason said the show is really about Alice. “We all have to raise her as a collective.” Jessica then pointed out that she’s the one who told Jason that, which Jason readily admitted to.
Brett really loves Michael Urie’s acting. “Michael can do anything. We’re going to write him a monologue that is 4 pages long and he has to deliver it in under 60 seconds. And he fucking kills it”
Brett was asked what it’s like writing for Harrison Ford. He answered, “What’s it like writing grumpy profanity laced comedy for harrison ford. “I’m three years into working with Harrison Ford and there’s not a day that goes by where I’m not like fucking hell I’m working with Harrison Ford.”
Brett Goldstein will come out from behind the camera in season 2 of Shrinking. “We’d written this part and I wasn’t going to play this part. I was going to play a silly cameo at some point but I’ll have to lett Jason tell you or else I’ll sound like a dick” Jason added, “Brett was perfect for it. That guy had to be a reflection of Jimmy. I wanted someone formidable that I had a kinship with. Brett is the best actor. It’s amazing that you chanted Roy Kent when he came out because he’s amazing in that. I told him you will will kill this part and it’s different than anything you’ve done.” Brett then joked, “When I said Jason tell it, I didn’t mean for him to say how great I am.”
Jason explained Jimmy’s evolution in Shrinking. “Season 1 is like triage, get somebody to zerio. Starting somebody at rockbottom is a hopeful place to start becaus you can only go up. In season two, okay you’ve got back to zero, but you don’t have it yet. It’s trying to go off into life and realizing there is repair work to be done.”
The actors on the Shrinking are allowed and encouraged to improvise during takes. When asked for their favorite improvised scenes, the cast was stymied. Jessica said, “There was so much time between shooting season 1 and 2 that we don’t remember.” Luke added, “It’s kinda cool that we can’t think of anything, because it’s a testament to the great writing.” Ted McGinley did have a favorite improvisation, recounting “In season one, I had asked could I have a doggy bag. I thought it would be perfect for Derek to have a big bag of doodie. When I saw it I was so proud. My career in a bag.”
Jessica said she really wanted to make Jason Segel laugh during a scene. “Jason Segel does not break. We all try and he doesn’t. In our final scene together, I finally made Jason break.”
Damon Wayans Jr is joining the cast for season 2 of Shrinking. Jessica loved working with him, saying, “This season, we have Damon Wayans Jr on and he’s freaking amazing. We tried to outjoke each other. That dude is a maniac.”
Jessica went on to celebrate the work environment that Bill Lawrence has put together. “Bill has a great policy on set where you can laugh. They can cut around it, but me coming from a live comedy background, that’s really cozy. Bill’s said “People laugh, you can laugh”
Hinting at what we can expect in season 2, Jason said, “I got to have a collaboration with someone I previously worked with for a long time and I can’t wait for you all to see it.” Who can it be? Someone from How I Met Your Mother?
With so many actors contacting the show creators for parts on the show, Brett explained how it can be a problem of riches. “You end up like Springfield in the end. We have too many people who live in this town, what was we going to do? No spoilers but there’s a massacre at the end of the season.”
Everyone agreed Gaby is the best therapist. Jessica Williams explained it like this. “One is surly. One is a mess. I think she’s really good for them.”
Jason Segel was asked on what the writers give him and what he comes up with on his own. He answered, “I’m a weird dude sometimes. I do weird stuff. Sometimes it stays. Sometimes it goes. I think they’ve picked up on that I’m a weird dude.” The pec dance was not scripted. Jason Segel then pec danced for the audience and joked “We just got picked up for season four.”
Jessica Williams had this say about the budding romance plotline between Gaby and Jimmy. “I can only control what comes out of my mouth somewhat. I have a lot of thoughts on how interracial couples are portrayed on screen.” She added that Bill Lawrence told her, “If i’m doing my job right, then we write the characters and you become shepherds of the character.” She went on to tell the audience, “Their central issue is Gaby puts others before herself and jimmy is a walking disaster.”
In regards to Gaby, who was Jimmy’s dead wife’s best friend and Jimmy ending up together, Jessica explained, “I remember, I lost someone close to me and I was in a few grief groups for widows and unmarried widows, and so often the widow and the best friend of the deceased end up together. Because they have this gaping crater between them.”
Michael Urie praised therapy, saying “I started therapy because of this show. The show inspired me to because it felt so healthy to do.” Jason then joked, “”He was asked to.”
Shrinking returned for season 2 on Apple TV+ on Tuesday, October 15. New episodes comes out weekly.
Stay tuned for more NYCC ’24 coverage from The Beat.
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