Image Credit: Eric McCandless/ABCAll that wine-guzzling is finally catching up to Brothers and Sisters‘ Walker clan: The entire family is about to lose a year of their lives! As I revealed in Ask Ausiello this week, the ABC drama will likely flash-forward 12 whole months between the May 16 finale and next season’s premiere. In this exclusive interview, executive producer David Marshall Grant reveals why a time jump is being considered and what the fallout would be for the Walkers.
What are the advantages to leaping forward?
DAVID MARSHALL GRANT: We all know that Rob [Lowe]‘s not coming back next year… [so Kitty] is going to be single next season. It’s going to be a little bit more of a nod to where we were in the first season with her dating. And when you add to that the possibility of jumping a year, it could be really good for us. Basically, by doing this all bets are off in terms of where everybody is.
Is there any chance you won’t do this?
GRANT: At this point the odds are strong that we will do [a jump] or something like that that would shake us up in some way.
A couple years ago this would be considered groundbreaking. But now that it’s been done on Desperate Housewives, Battlestar Galactica, and Lost, it feels like it’s becoming a bit of a gimmick. Is that a concern?
GRANT: That’s a problem with television in general in the sense that it’s very hard to come up with something new. So much has been done over the years — and done well. You always battle that “it’s been done before” notion. It’s all about the execution. An idea can be interpreted as a gimmick but if it’s executed in a way that creates new and exciting stories then it becomes worth it and people forget it was done a thousand times before.
With Gilles Marini returning as a series regular, is it safe to say Sarah would be more settled in her relationship with Luc after the jump?
GRANT: Yes. We’ll be exploring Kitty as a single woman and Sarah and Luc as a couple.
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yes! i love that show!
))
I am watching B&S right now and cannot believe how lame and boring it is. I have been a faithful watcher since the beginning, but cannot believe how we have to sit here and watch every mundane conversation. Agghhhhh…..please let this show die so I can stop watching this train wreck!
or you could just quit watching it…
I don’t mind their doing the “jump,” but there’s no need to split up Kitty and Robert just because Rob Blow is leaving the show. This show sometimes has a problem with being too repetitive (such as Justin worrying about enlisting again).
I’m not usually a spoiler-phobe, but I couldn’t believe that line in this week’s EW stating that Kitty would be single next year! That’s a HUGE spoiler! We all knew that Rob Lowe was leaving the show, and the time jump has been rumored for awhile, but it’s a pretty crappy spoiler to shout in print “Kitty will be single next year.” Lowe could have left the show and the time jump could have occurred without splitting up Kitty and Robert immediately. IMO.
Zoe, if you already knew that Rob Lowe was leaving, as many of us did, then how could it be a HUGE spoiler that Kitty would be single? Knowing that Lowe is not coming back, I don’t think that you could classify this as even a minor spoiler. It only makes sense that Kitty would be single if her husband is no longer going to be on the show.
Um, what other options are there? She should be in a relationship with someone we NEVER see? I think this was the only solution to the problem of Lowe’s departure.
While I usually hate people yelling about spoiler, I agree here. Just because Rob is not on the show doesn’t mean Kitty is single. Grissom is off CSI and he is still marries to Sara who is still on a majority of the episodes.
Besides I though KF was asked to cut back her time or something which would play into keeping them together.
Same here I was a little surprised that he would reveal that. Because at this point no one is supposed to knows how Robert is being written off but clearly it’s either dying or a divorce. He could have easily just been living somewhere else because Calista is cutting back her hours so it would have worked out fine.
He didn’t spoil how, exactly, Kitty will become single. I don’t know why you people bitch about spoilers while you are on a spoiler site.
single and dating implies Rob is either dead or divorced..that is a HUGE spoiler. With all Robert’s covert new job stuff, he could have just been away and maybe she talks to him on the phone, plus it could have been a guest spot opportunity.
Tego Livi, how exactly could they NOT split up Kitty and Robert if Rob Lowe is leaving the series? Would you rather they just say every week that he is out of town on business? Or did you mean that they should just kill the character off? I agree with you about the Justin thing, though. It does seem as if we’ve seen this before.
You’re missing the point, SirLizard (nice name btw). We all knew Rob was leaving, but they could be separated (not divorced) or doing a long-distance marriage. There were other options for the story and it was a spoiler that Kitty will be single.
Justin better Not re-enlist!
I have a feeling that when he told Rebecca this week that he might not act on his feelings, they were setting him up to become a paramedic as many speculated would happen all along. That way he’ll be part of a “team” again.
I am so not excited to see Kitty start dating again… there’s never going to be another match for her like Robert.
Agreed. And I feel like the single mom dating thing has been done to death with Sarah already. I’m not really looking forward to repeating all those storylines with Kitty.
I don’t know… I love Rob, but when Kitty was flirting with Alec, I kinda liked them together. OK, I really liked them together.
would love to see him brought back
Um One Tree Hill was the first recent show I can think of that did a time jump. Why is that never mentioned?
Alias was the first.
Indeed it was. Still can’t figure out why they needed to do it, but whatever. Certainly made things, um, interesting…
Ooh I loved the Alias time jump though. It was so good except for that whole Vaughn married that skank thing.
Because no one cares about One Tree Hill.
Desperate Hosewives also did a jump a couple of years ago
oops I meant Housewives
Battlestar Galactica did a time jump a year and a half before One Tree Hill’s first jump. Lots of shows have done them, including Alias, which people have mentioned.
One Tree Hill’s time jump was four years. It was more drastic. It was also a good choice because they missed those dreaded college years.
Ok, I know Ausiello hates OTH and everything but back when Desperate Housewives did the time jump I sighed and said “Uggh OTH was there first.” So why not even acknowledge that. Plus, I for one, hate time jumps because it creates instant character development that I find out of character. And then every new episode is going to have a character starting a sentence with “I’ve spent the last year…” as if it has any real emotional weight considering it’s all off camera. Garbage.
No one’s acknowledging it because as the poster said above, no one cares about One Tree Hill AND it, in fact, was not the first. Despite what the show’s fans choose to believe.
Well nothing can ever be the first in this day and age but it is clear that time jumps became a trend around One Tree Hill’s jump. Actually though, I find OTH terrible and am not a fan. I can still give them credit though.
I have always loved Brothers & Sisters from the start. That said, I’m surprised to see how much coverage it gets and that ABC keeps renewing it. I’m very glad they are I’m just suprised given ABC’s history of moving shows around and killing them, I figured they would want to kill this one too. Thank god they keep supporting it. They need to just keep their Sunday night lineup in tact for as long as possible!
Nov02 MayankHey thats a nice minimalist shot. Just elndad up here and am liking a lot of your work. keep it up and keep shooting.Reply
So were not going to see Kevin and Scotty’s baby’s birth?
To me, that will be the biggest disappointment!
I haven’t minded the idea of a time jump on the show because I’d rather not have Kitty mourning Robert’s death, the death of her marriage, or any other mopey type behaviour for the better part of the season. I’d rather just see her having fun – after this season, she deserves it and it will be a welcome change. And hello, if she can hook back up with Alec (is that the Park Dad’s name?), all the better – loved him.
But it suddenly occurred to me that we’ll miss the birth of Scotty and Kevin’s baby, and like you guys, I find that really sad. It’s a huge moment for them, and they are to of the most loved characters on the show. Could you imagine if they did Jim and Pam’s wedding during the summer on The Office?? I hope that if we do skip ahead, at least we’ll get “video camera footage” that shows the big day so we can cry along with the new dads.
Seriously – when are they going to spin off the Scotty & Kevin Show already?
I’m just so angry and sad! I don’t want to miss the birth of Scotty and Kevin’s baby. At this point I’m done with the show.
I agree, that’s the only thing that makes me sad about this time jump, which I normally don’t mind. I want to see them deal with the whole pregnancy and especially the birth
I’m just so sad and angry. I don’t want to miss Scotty and Kevin’s baby birth. I’m done with the show!
ITA. This is so frustrating!! I was looking forward to the birth of Kevin and Scotty’s baby. I could care less about Luc/Sarah or Kitty dating again. Please focus more on the show’s most popular couple – SCOTTY/KEVIN!
I’m so sad…… I want to see Kevin and Scotty’s baby’s birth!!!
Who’s to say there won’t be a flashback to the birth?
People keep talking about flashforwards, but just because a show jumps forward a year, 5 years, or whatever…it doesn’t mean they can’t flash back to show something important.
Yeah, great. A flashback. Every other birth on the show got 1-2 episodes devoted to it, but Kevin and Scotty’s baby would get a flashback. That’s really a satisfying conclusion to a story they spent an entire year developing. And for what? To get Kitty dating again and to establish Sarah and Luc? That’s such a great trade-off. No, thanks.
I am for kiv. and Scottie’s love and baby.
But, God !,, I hate to see them kiss!..They kiss more each week..:(
The jump would make their kid walking and talking when the show returns. I hate to miss them and the new born baby also.
Sarah ‘s son will be a problem kid by then..
This show has never shied away from using flashbacks and there are bound to be many if a whole year is skipped…they will show S and K’s baby being born.
This is the big problem with a lot of TV shows these days, the endless merry-go-round of new couplings.. I for one will not like Kitty with anyone other than Robert, and am so annoyed that they are going to go the route of splitting them up..
I’m not sure why everyone is so surprised that Kitty & Robert are going to split. Rob Lowe won’t be on the show. Yes, he can be in DC or just not seen, but that just seems like Calista Flockhart won’t have anything to do. Face it – a love life of some sort that is featured on the show is vital to a character
But…what you’re forgetting (or don’t know about) AJ is that Calista Flockhart will only be in a “recurring” role next year. That is why Rob Lowe decided to leave. He realized he’d be transitioned to a very minor character. IMO, since Kitty will only be on sporadic episodes, it would’ve been very plausible to have Kitty/Robert move to DC and have Robert be mentioned occasionally and have his character off-screen. That would’ve been a better way to deal with this than killing him off or having them get divorced.
I was not aware that Calista was becoming a minor character! That makes me feel a little better about Rob leaving. Still not too happy about either one of them leaving though! I feel like they never had a chance for a decent relationship, always throwing them into drama: Finally getting together, the heart attack, the conceiving issues, her flirtation with the other man, the cancer, him not running, her running now his big secret job! lol Whew!
It has been widely stated that the report about Calista’s reduced work schedule next season is not true. She will still be a full time member of the cast.
PS EW, why isn’t there a weekly recap for this show?
No, no, no. Calista asked for less screen time but they turned her down.
I’m way behind on this show… Don’t know why but it seems that suddenly I completely lost interest earlier this season…
Me too. This used to be a can’t miss — but this year I just got tired of it about half way through. This was the first ‘news’ about the show I read in a few months. I don’t think I missed much.
I’ll tell you why you lost interest – you’ve seen it all before, and on THIS show. Look at the stories – Justin and Rebecca fighting, Justing getting mixed up in Iraq, Robert doing something sneaky politically, Kevin wondering about his professional life – all done before, maybe a little differently , but been there, done that.
Seriously? I was kind of hoping Robert would just have to move away or something and they’d keep them married considering the almost-divorce and heart attack recovery they’ve already covered. Pissed that he’s leaving for the reason he is, too. What a shame.
I used to watch “Bros and Hoes” all the time, but grew tired of the constant self-involved whining: “Oh, I am so rich and beautiful, and my house is so big, why isn’t anyone concerned about ME for once?”
If fast-forwarding a year makes the characters care about anyone other than themselves (“My friend is dead. I feel so bad for myself” and “My boyfriend is opening a restaurant with my uncle, but why aren’t they looking at me?”) then maybe I will watch more than the usual weekly five minutes it takes before I get disgusted.
This show needs a mini-reboot. All the characters have become whiney and unlikeable.
I agree. I think they should stick with more comedy. They do that better than drama.
I agree. It has been a very whiney season. TOo much drama on issues that simply seemed to drop out of sight. Hand wringing where not necessary. Nora is the most oppressive mother, smothering woman I have ever seen. And she has passed it all to her kids. Wished ABC had kept Ugly Betty vs Bros/Sis.
This season has been a big drag. Jumping into the future won’t help what’s wrong with this show.
Please just recast Rob Lowe’s character!!! I hate the idea of him dying or of him leaving his baby for a job, no matter how important it is. No one will be as perfect as Rob Lowe for the role, but I am sure someone else could be very good.
ALIAS WAS THE FIRST SHOW TO DO THE JUMP IN 2003, WHICH MAKES SINCE THAT THIS SHOW WILL BE DOING SOMETHING SIMILAR SINCE MOST 2/3 OF THE ALIAS CREW NOW WORKS ON B&S.
I THINK IT COULD BE A GOOD CHANGE. I LIKE THAT THEY WOULD BE GOING BACK TO THE ROOTS OF SEASON ONE, SINCE SEASON FOUR ISN’T MY FAVORITE SO FAR…
I guess you feel that your comment is SO important that it warrants being written in all capital letters. I can assure you, it isn’t.