In the vast metropolis that is New York City, the dating game can be especially difficult. In season two of the acclaimed comedy web series WALLFLOWERS, that reality is especially true for a group of adults who not only have to deal with the pressures of maintaining a steady job but also trying to find lasting romance. Yet, one thing is for certain, no matter if they’re struggling with love or career concerns, they experience those struggles together – in their weekly support group.
Created, written and directed by Kieran Turner, season two of WALLFLOWERS continues to bring viewers the funny, awkward and often emotional experiences of a diverse set of thirty somethings who just can’t seem to keep a firm grip on their love lives. Viewers can catch each episode, along with those from the previous season, on the new video network Stage 17 (more on that later).
The series’ talented cast is filled with veterans of the New York theatre scene. Christianne Tisdale plays Janice Ackerman, a longtime backup singer for several (mostly) forgotten rock singers – and recently divorced from her husband Fred (Robert Bogue from the long running CBS soap GUIDING LIGHT). Now, she leads a popular support group for Manhattan’s lovelorn and lonely hearted.
That group consists of Bryce Hunter (played in season two by Patch Darragh), a sarcastic, chain smoking, binge drinking ex-child star turned casting director whose outer mannerisms only serve to conceal his own emotional insecurity. Hunter’s best friend, partner in and co-owner of his casting business, Daisy Loeb (Sarah Saltzberg), tries to take a much more realistic view of the ups and downs of love while retaining her own romantic sensibilities but often finds herself clashing with Bryce.
Often stepping in to mediate their battles is Leslie (Marcia DeBonis), the agency’s office manager who does her best to retain order in an otherwise hectic working environment. Meanwhile, Bryce’s romantic life is active thanks to his new relationship with musician Alex (EASTSIDERS’ John Halbach), but at the same time he continues to struggle with staying in a committed relationship.
In contrast to Bryce’s often abrasive demeanor stands Martin Parrish (Gibson Frazier), who’s kind, gentle and hoping to spend the rest of his life with his one true love. However, finding that one true love and keeping her depends on whether or not he can keep his cool on his first date.
There’s also new character Jane Tavana (Jolly Abraham), a former member of the support group whose career, love life and overall view of love itself are turned upside down after getting fired from her law firm after she had an affair with her already married boss. The group also includes Rhonda (Susan Louise O’Connor), who despite getting used time and time again still manages to throw herself head first into the world of dating as she continues to pursue true love.
In season two of WALLFLOWERS, viewers can expect plenty of growth from the show’s characters as they continue to traverse the all too rough waters of dating and romance. “This season really starts to explore what happens with the characters when they do make a connection with someone else. Because you can be a wallflower by never talking to or connecting with another person, but you can also be one after you make that connection, because that’s the hardest part- sustaining that connection, seeing it through to a relationship? Terrifying. I think there are two things we have zero control over in this world- the actions of others and our ability to self-sabotage. So yeah, welcome to dating,” Turner says.
Along with characters whose struggles will continue to hit close to home with audiences, season two also presents a dramatically different form of storytelling from season one that further differentiates WALLFLOWERS from quite possibly any other series ever produced for TV or the web.
“I’m not sure there is any show that has jumped genres before, either on television or on the web. it took me by surprise when I was writing it, that the turn was so dramatic. But I think that, as these characters evolve, as they find love and try to hold onto it, as opposed to being out there looking for it, the natural progression would be to move towards drama because love is dark. It can be lovely and wonderful, but it can also be terrifying and soul shattering. WALLFLOWERS is not a Katherine Heigl romantic comedy, and that shift excites the hell out of me because it’s real and it’s honest.”
WALLFLOWERS developed from a TV pilot Turner first wrote and conceived over 12 years ago, but as time went on and technology changed, the show’s overall dramatic storyline evolved as well. “It’s now about a group of thirty-somethings who, for whatever reasons, have found themselves single well past their initial expectations, and by society’s view, likely past their sell-by dates,” he says.
“This group is among the last generation who were out there dating before the internet took hold and changed the way we make connections, socially, romantically, etc. They now have to go out there and navigate this new world and figure out how to make the impersonal personal. And as someone who has now been thrust out there into this particular universe, I can tell you – it is not a welcoming place. It was so much easier when you had to work for it.”
A key moment in the show’s development occurred in 2012, when Turner exhibited his critically acclaimed documentary JOBRIATH A.D. (focusing on the life and career of Jobriath, the first openly gay glam rock star) at a film festival in Dublin. As he recalls, it was there that he fully realized both the potential and improving quality of an emerging new entertainment medium.
“The programmer there was a big fan of THE OUTS, a web series I’d never heard of, and brought over their first four episodes. I was so impressed with the production value and the writing (and the fact that it was scripted and not horrid improv) and just everything about it. I had no idea web series had advanced to that level of professionalism. So I thought, hell, if people are watching stuff like this, then I want to do it,” he says.
Both seasons of WALLFLOWERS are now streaming on the new video platform Stage 17. The network’s mix of scripted and non-scripted original series is powered by some of the theatre community’s most creative and talented figures from both on and off stage. WALLFLOWERS joins that roster of programming, which entertains and enlightens fans and consumers of live theatre throughout the world.
Already having gained critical acclaim and a loyal fan following, WALLFLOWERS and Turner would soon be on the fledgling network’s radar.
”The team that was putting together Stage 17, David Stoller and Ondine Landa Abramson, had been keeping abreast of web series over the past year. I think they came across our first season of WALLFLOWERS, had emailed me that they liked the show and wanted to talk to me about it the next time I was in New York City. I honestly had no idea what the meeting was going to be about because I was going to the offices of SpotCo, which is a marketing company geared towards theatricals,” Turner remembers.
What happened next would be both a pleasant surprise for Turner and a great new opportunity for WALLFLOWERS to further increase its audience outreach. “We sat down at the table and they presented me with the concept of Stage 17 and that they were interested in having WALLFLOWERS be a large part of the platform. Totally unexpected, but of course completely welcome. And we kept in touch from there, they put things together on their end and we made the decision to have them executive produce season 2.”
For season 2 of WALLFLOWERS, there was significant turnover in the show’s ensemble cast with five actors who appeared in the show’s previous season having departed. Although most of the show’s core cast was already intact, the search for the right actor to fill one of the show’s most prominent roles proved to be tougher than expected. “Our biggest challenge has been the character of Bryce. We’ve had to recast the role twice for various reasons. I could have dropped the character, but I was very, very invested in him and knew I hadn’t gotten him to his full potential yet.”
In the end, Turner found the actor who would not only continue Bryce’s character, but who would also add exciting new dimensions to the role itself. “Not to take anything away from our first two Bryces, both wonderful actors and lovely people, but we struck gold with our new (and hopefully final) Bryce. Patch Darragh is amazing and I’m so excited to have him playing this role. We’re going to take this character to some pretty raw places and I know Patch will be able to take what I write and bring it to life perfectly,” Turner adds.
Further complicating Turner’s efforts to bring WALLFLOWERS to the screen was his bi-coastal commute from his Los Angeles home to New York City, where the series is filmed.
Yet thanks to the city’s bustling atmosphere and rich collection of acting talent, Turner felt right at home during the show’s production. From there, the task of filming each episode was a rewarding experience thanks to Turner’s dedicated and professional team – both in front of and behind the camera.
As a result, WALLFLOWERS is New York to its core, and it shows throughout each episode. “…I was adamant about not shooting in L.A., as I feel like this is a New York show, not an L.A. show. The timbre, the mood, the characters, they are all New York. Plus, I had such a great pool of theater actors from which to choose. I keep going back to this, but I cannot stress it enough – some of the best actors working today can be found on the stages of New York City, not just on Broadway, but small non-profit, east village, what have you. I felt like I had been let loose in Wonka’s factory,” Turner says.
While most shows feature characters and situations that often seem contrived and unrealistic, WALLFLOWERS takes a much different and more refreshing approach to its storytelling – one with characters and moments viewers can easily identify with in their own lives.
Adds Turner: “I think the show will appeal to anyone who’s ever put themselves out there, for whatever reason, and taken a risk, felt vulnerable, been hurt, been elated, been in love. And it doesn’t matter if the couples on the show are gay or straight, love and pain and all of that – it’s universal. You can look at Bryce and Alex’s struggle as a straight person and think, ‘Yup, I’ve been there. I recognize that.’ So I think we have a lot to offer a wide range of viewers.”
Because of those elements, plus great writing, acting and production values, WALLFLOWERS continues to distinguish itself as one of the best shows currently on the web. Turner sums up exactly why it’s become a success with critics and fans: “WALLFLOWERS is honest, (and) it’s genuine. These characters are real people going through real issues. They speak to the viewers. You can watch this show and feel like you want to hang out with the characters, but you also feel like maybe the characters would want to hang out with you. They aren’t too cool or slick. They’re painfully, beautifully human. And I don’t see that a lot.”
ON THE WEB: http://stage17.tv/series/wallflowers
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/WallflowersTV
TWITTER: @WallflowersTV