Envelope Emmy Week: Actors discuss the draw of their shows, and the odd families therein [video]

As part of the Envelope Emmy Week and Screening Series, we gathered a group of actors to participate in an Alternative Families panel earlier this week — Jennifer Carpenter of "Dexter," Peter Krause of "Parenthood," Cloris Leachman of "Raising Hope," Denis O'Hare of "True Blood," Emmy Rossum of "Shameless" and Katey Sagal of "Sons of Anarchy" — to talk about how each of their shows, in their own weird ways, involve the bonds of family, and the intimate relationships those bonds can bring.

In the hourlong conversation moderated by Times television critic Mary McNamara, the panel members, in the clip below, discuss what drew them to their roles, and the odd sort of families they contained, whether it be the lure of "being an outlaw," even one who has the normal everyday family concerns, or whether it's the ability to make your own family, if you happen to be among the vampires in "True Blood."

 

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-- Elena Howe

Envelope Emmy Week: Bringing personal experience to the role and not knowing what direction their character might go [video]

As part of the Envelope Emmy Week and Screening Series, we gathered a group of actors to participate in an Alternative Families panel earlier this week — Jennifer Carpenter of "Dexter," Peter Krause of "Parenthood," Cloris Leachman of "Raising Hope," Denis O'Hare of "True Blood," Emmy Rossum of "Shameless" and Katey Sagal of "Sons of Anarchy" — to talk about how each of their shows, in their own weird ways, involve the bonds of family, and the intimate relationships those bonds can bring.

In the hourlong conversation moderated by Times television critic Mary McNamara, the panel, in the clip below, discusses what they bring of their selves to their character, like Sagal's fierce maternal instinct, or how the cast and crew themselves become a sort of family and when someone is written off the show there's a weird emptiness, says O'Hare. Rossum and Carpenter agree that everyone has the experience they need; whether it's pain or happiness, there is something they can draw on. 

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— Elena Howe

Envelope Emmy Week: Alternative Family panel brings a wide mix of actors, shows [video]

As part of the Envelope Emmy Week and Screening Series, The Envelope gathered a group of actors to participate in an Alternative Families panel earlier this week — Jennifer Carpenter of "Dexter," Peter Krause of "Parenthood," Cloris Leachman of "Raising Hope," Denis O'Hare of "True Blood," Emmy Rossum of "Shameless" and Katey Sagal of "Sons of Anarchy" — to talk about how each of their shows, in their own weird way, involve the bonds of family, and the intimate relationships those bonds can bring.

In the hourlong conversation moderated by Times television critic Mary McNamara, the panel, in the clip below, discusses how actors must find a way to justify playing characters who sometimes do horrible things. Check back later for more clips.

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Envelope Emmy Week: 'Justified' exec Graham Yost talks about why the season finale was so, well, final [video]

Killing off Mags Bennett was a tough decision, says "Justified" executive producer Graham Yost at the Emmy Week screening and Q&A on Monday. But in adapting the books by Elmore Leonard for the series, he realized that's where the story had to go, despite how "fantastic" actress Margo Martindale was in the role. See what he had to say here.

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Envelope Emmy Week: 'Justified's' Margo Martindale is pretty chipper for being killed off [Video]

How would you like to show up to work one day and realize you're dead? That's what happened to Margo Martindale when she learned her much-loved Mags Bennett character was being killed off "Justified." Oops, forgot to make that call, executive producer Graham Yost said at Monday night's Emmy Week screening and Q&A with the cast. And, well, she did do some poisoning of her own.

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Envelope Emmy Week: 'Justified's' Walton Goggins on creating Boyd Crowder and the language of the South [Video]

For Walton Goggins, who plays Boyd Crowder on "Justified," the show's Southern setting and rich language from Elmore Leonard make him proud. The Alabama native says foremost in mind in joining the series was not to perpetuate any stereotypes of Southerners. And as for creating Crowder, well, Goggins says, the outlaw didn't have to be the smartest man in the room, he just needed to be on par with the smartest man in the room. Here's a clip from Monday night's Emmy Week conversation with the cast of "Justified." Check back later for more excerpts.

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Envelope Emmy Week: William H. Macy on his 'Shameless' dad's background [Video]

So what was 'Shameless' dad Frank like before he became a hard-core drunk, wonders L.A. Times television writer Scott Collins. The deep answer from star William H. Macy at the Envelope Screening Series last week? Huh, good question. The actor, only half-joking, says he's going to delve much deeper into the character as the show progresses, but he knows one thing: Behind the raging drunk, Frank is a very smart man. See the conversation below and check back later for other clips.

 

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Envelope Emmy Week: Emmy Rossum embraces the huge, dysfunctional 'Shameless' family [Video]

For only child Emmy Rossum, who plays eldest daughter Fiona on Showtime's "Shameless," the idea of being part of a large TV family was alluring. It's not all fun for the character though, as Rossum told Times television writer Scott Collins at the Envelope Screening Series last week. The character is a young woman who wants to enjoy her life, but finds she must help raise her brothers and sisters due to her alcoholic father's lapses. See what she has to say in the video below. And check back for further clips from the Q&A.

 

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Envelope Emmy Week: Are drunks funny? John Wells and William H. Macy of 'Shameless' discuss [Video]

In the Showtime comedy "Shameless," William H. Macy plays a drunken lout of a father who once, while on a bender, broke his son's nose. No doubt alcoholism isn't pretty, but is it funny? Macy thinks so. "Drunk is very funny," he said at the Envelope Screening Series panel last week. "It's also very sad," he clarified. The show's executive producer, John Wells, defended the series, saying the show in no way tries to glamorize people's struggles with alcohol but rather that it tries to present an exaggerated version of many people's reality. Watch the clip below for more on that conversation. And check back frequently for other excerpts.

 

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Envelope Emmy Week: Kiernan Shipka on playing 'Mad Men's' Sally Draper [video]

When you're watching "Mad Men," does it ever feel like Sally Draper is turning into a little Betty? It's not your imagination. Kiernan Shipka, the young actress who plays Don and Betty Draper's daughter, says sometimes she'll look at the script and think, "This is a very Betty moment." And she'll use that in her performance. See what else she has to say in the clip below about working on the show and what show creator Matthew Weiner had to say about her at Tuesday night's Envelope Screening Series.

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