6. Andrea Londo

Transcript

Hello, everybody, and welcome in to another episode of It's Not Only Football, Friday Night Lights and Beyond, today is not a rewatch podcast. No, no, no. Today we have the inimitable the one and only the legendary Aimee Teegarden, a.k.a. Julie Taylor herself, or perhaps Julie Saracen. Oh, spoiler alert. Well, I mean, you know, I always figure if someone's listening to this podcast, they watch the show. You know, it's interesting because a great number of people have, but there are some people who are like, I'm I bought the DVDs and I never got around to it. Now I'm watching it for the first time. The DVD go get Netflix people, a peac**k or whatever. No, give a DVD. Oh yeah, we get a royalty on that. You get the DVDs if you can find them anywhere, if any place still sells them, which is that box. How long has it been since we've seen each other? Like I, I feel like six, seven years. It's got to be a fair. Yeah. I feel like there was at the very beginning of 2020, there was some kind of zoom. Yes. And I'm racking my brain. I can't remember we did a pilot rewatch to help raise money for for PPE to make sure that people had that frontline workers had masks and everything they needed. And we did like, I guess, a rewatch of the pilot, but it was really just nine of us getting together and like shooting the s**t. But I would say one person, I think you are always fighting, always say, you know, no one wants me around. The last time I saw you is when we ran a Spartan race in Chicago and like, I kicked your butt. Yeah, you kicked my I don't remember. I think I helped you over a wall of some sort. I was like, I feel like that thing was so unexpected and really fun. It was a blast. It was so fun. I kind of think it should be an annual thing. I think we should get Scott involved and we should have a whole team. I want to do that. I will say this. I didn't know and it was you, me, Taylor and Minka. And it was kind of like and it was like ten years after the show been over or something. And I really was like, and I barely run into you at all. But it was like, Oh, now that I wasn't invited to, no, you weren't. It was just it was like, What the f**k, man? I can't get an invite to run this Spartan race. It was like, No, no, no, we wanted this quartet. We want one of the most solid couples in the show. And then we want most material, the most mercurial couple on the show and by Len Riggins. And that's what they got. And and you know, that's what a Spartan race is about, though, right? Be in there for each other, helping each other over. It's encouragement, right? You guys sound very competitive. I didn't realize we were. I think it's just like, it's a real like just an undercurrent of our relationship. Oh wow. We we get to have some therapy. Well, I know what this is. Speaking about competition, we usually like to dive right in at the beginning of these interview podcast to see how you won the role. Like what the audition process was like and where where were you before Friday Night Lights, you know, came across your desk and and what were you doing? And then what was the audition process? And the one spoiler I want to give is the one thing I remember, and I'm curious if I'm correct or not. There's an aspect of air guitar. Oh yeah. What? OK, give us the story. Yeah, OK. So when the break down our script and character description came across my desk? It's your high school desk. My My High School does the interview. It said for Julie Taylor, they were looking for somebody that was over 18. It was like 18 to 25. You know, red hair, blue eyes, double the law. And I was like, That's not. I was a minor like, I was like, I why am I even going in? They wanted Connie Britton photocopy. Oh, yeah, that's crazy. I'm sorry. That's why I make that connection, which is hilarious because Jason Street, it said in the breakdown, cannot be older than 21. Cannot be shorter than six two. They they didn't listen on that one, either. I was much older and much shorter. Go ahead. Sorry. I want to say that I went in. It was like four thirty. Unlike it was a Friday. I think it was like, I think you might be like Friday the 13th or something like that. I read and and I was like, OK, thanks, bye. Like, I got, you know, like, go to like, you know, me and my agent happy. I did the thing. I know you're not going to hire me. So I'm just going to, you know, see myself out. And you're saying, No, no, no. Wait, wait, come back. Hold on. Can you stay in and like, let me, Linda? And she came in and was like, OK, you know, you read again. And I was like, Yeah, sure. But like, I'm not 18 and like, clearly, I don't have blue eyes and my hair is not red. And then I ended up reading it again and they're like, That's great, da da da. Thank you so much for coming in. I was like, OK, you know, by leaving. And then I got a call to come in. I want to say it was like a week later for Pete and like you guys were talking earlier on the podcast about football. Oh, boy, with. And I'm like, I vaguely remember this is memorable, gas is not enough for anybody who doesn't know. I mean, Peter Berg is he's a wild one. And his style is so different from any other director creator that I've worked with. And going into the audition, you know, I had like two pages asides and I'm like reading my sides and whatever. And then, you know, I think even before we got into the audition and he was like sitting in his chair or whatever and was like, So what pisses you off? I was like, Excuse? Excuse me? Is that something I'm not? You know, that is not a typical question in an audition room, especially, you know, when you're like, Hi, I'm Amy. And the first thing that popped into my head was gas prices in two thousand four or five. Were you even driving at this? No, I wasn't even old enough to drive, but gas prices. No, I get it. It was like, why? Why five? Eighty nine? Why can't it just be six dollars? And it was like at a point in time. I mean, everything's gone out the window now, but where I'm from, L.A. born and raised and I am the only write in down here for this thing from a nap. Oh, baby, but I am still adoptable. So if anybody wants to adopt me and make me another baby, I'm very happy with that. I'm sorry. I don't know what any of that means. I know what adoption means option means. So my like, my dad was an engineer. My mom was a dental hygienist. It's called it what baby napo baby po nepo babe. Have you not heard of this? She's in the industry, but she's not an ep. A baby like she wasn't like her parents weren't a part of the industry. Oh, you're not an EP like nepotism. Be the whole thing. I must have spaced out at some point. OK? Yeah. Well, yeah. Anyway, three years ago. Well, you say you're from L.A. and everybody's like, Oh, so you must be like your dad was in the industry, your mom was in the industry. They did something. And right now it was like Middle America where I grew up. It's just it's so close to L.A. like entertainment stuff, but so far away. Yeah. And so I got into the industry just because it was something that I really loved. I love Lucy, like growing up watching it and Lucille Ball, and no concept of what any of this entailed. And my parents were helping my brother with his Eagle Scout project. There was this like random act class that I had like found in like like the penny saver or something, and I was like very active child. And so I was like in soccer and baseball and doing all these things. And my parents were like, OK, we're helping your brother out with this Eagle Scout project that obviously costs a lot of money and whatnot. So we'll like, you know, try to be fair, like, OK, we'll let you take these like acting classes and then you'll get over it and move on to the next thing. And then that kind of didn't happen. Did you? I mean, you did the acting classes and then boom. Not, not really. I mean, like, I had done some random things like I started like working professionally when I was 10. But, you know, my dad worked full time. My mom was a dental hygienist. So I think going back, the whole thing with gas prices is it was like there was there was there was a guy there. I got to tell you, you tell a good story. This is great. We're going full circle here because like my mom would have to take time off work if she was going to take me to an audition and like, you know, and part of it also is like, you know, she's not making money that day working. And, you know, we're not super close to wherever these auditions are. So it's like I would help pay for gas prices from like jobs that I would do like. I did a lot of like background work. And so you make like a hundred dollars a day doing background work. And that was kind of sort of when you're dropping like 20 bucks on gas. Yeah. And your parents are like, That was awesome. Great work, honey. We do need we do need you to kick in for gas. We need 15 bucks. I think it was sort of the thing of like, Hey, you know, we're teaching some life lessons and, you know, it was just kind of a thing where it's like, you have to, you know, be responsible. And if you want to do this and like, you have to realize it's not just a, you know, it's super easy, breezy plug and play kind of career. Yeah, my my mom is me when I turned 18 that like, you have to pay rent, but you were out of high school. I was. Yeah, so you should be. You should pay rent. Yeah, no. I agree. You're going to your audition. Someone's driving you around. You pay gas. I'm just I'm not. I'm like, That's amazing. And I also want to bring it back because I think that was the best story we've had in this podcast to the funniest thing that apparently gas prices annoy you when you're talking to people. We now know why. Back to your audition. Yes. And that's the end of the episode. Yeah. Oh, I love it. At some point there was like an air guitar situation. I can't remember exactly how, but I remember playing air guitar in the audition. I don't know if we even read sides, which is also so antithetical to Julie Taylor. Right. Why are you playing air guitar? No idea, no, no idea. I love though that. I mean, because what I'm getting right here is like, you were in an industry where you were just so much different than so many other kids that were in the industry that you were in and you were going in for a character that was just so much different from all the kids in the quote unquote industry of Dylan, which was football. And it's like, I as you're telling me the story, I'm like, Oh, for sure, that's right. Like, Pete saw that in a heartbeat was like, Oh, she's an actress, but not like any of these other actresses. She'll get this character right away, like. Being kind of the outsider and thinking a much different way than everybody else around you, and I'm seeing it as you're telling the story, and that's what people are so good at. It was like identifying those things. Yeah, I think I think there's definitely an element of what I really respect about peace process is like, I mean, we've all seen it like actors. You can you can give somebody some lines, tell them how to say them, and they can do a really good job of repeating lines. But like on our sets, I've never experienced anything like it where it's just like from one take to the next take. You're not reading through things, you're not rehearsing things, you're not doing. I think we did a script read through once. No, yes we did. We did a table read one and it was like snowing. We got like snowed in or something was like a whole thing. And I went to the production office and I was like, What is this? Yeah. And Jason was in town. Jason Katims was there. Yes. Yeah, we did. One time, I don't think I was, you know, it was. It was a frost. It was early fall. Oh, we had to get frost. I remember the process. I remember I remember being like because I grew up in Chicago and it was the whole town shut down because they're like, There's a frost. And I was like, What the f**k? Like, Oh, there's a frost war. And I was like, going to go see a movie. I was like, the movie theaters closed. I was like, All right, I'm gonna go send this thing through FedEx. And I was like, FedEx because I'm like, It's it's 35 degrees outside. We're fine. Yeah. Well, production was still like they were. Everything else is shut down, but you are coming in for a table read and it didn't. It didn't really land. They were like, We're never doing this again. No. Yeah, they're like these jokers. Yeah. Not going to work well because we'd already done like seven episodes at that point. Pete's way. Right? Don't look at me. I don't remember seeing happen. If I wasn't, if I wasn't invited. He never is like that guy. No, no. We wanted football guy. So. So the test, the day of the test like that was your first time seeing Pete or was that your test? Was that when we were all together that day because it was was originally with casting and then it was with Pete, which I guess producers coming back usually. And then we did like the studio network test, and it was during that time in the industry. Like, I remember people telling me like, Oh, you do like it once you get a single pilot like, you're going to have to do 10 or 15 before any of them will actually get picked up to a series. And like, I mean, ten or fifteen episodes, No. 10 or 15 different pilots before, oh, one would actually having done, you know, just keep going, hey, we're going to unofficially pick this up for 10 to 15 episodes. We might not air and see how you do, but. And it just like not having, you know, a family or really, I mean, growing up in L.A., ninety nine percent of my friends were like, you know, civilians, normies. So all this industry stuff and jargon and things like that, like, I had no concept of what it was or what the next process was or the steps were. And I mean, it's was wild to me, like that whole situation. I just was not prepared for it all. Like for how long we were there, the lack of food. Well, it's crazy because there was five roles all there on the same day. And so you're not only waiting through your competition's auditions, you're waiting through other roles and all of the multiple actors that are there and on the studio test for people out there who don't know usually have like about five actors at a studio test and then they trim it down five to like sometimes seven eight actors will be there at a studio test, and then the studio who's producing the show will make a decision and say, Hey, we don't really see these three or four actors being the role, and they'll cut them, and then they'll bring you back the next day for the network test where the final decision is made. So you're talking about studio test, there's probably like four or five Julies there, you know, and I could be completely wrong at this, but I feel like. There might have been one other person at the studio test for Julie, and maybe there was more, but oh, so you were football girl, you were the one Pete wanted and he was like, Fine, whatever brings the other person. But you thankfully weren't double booked on a Disney movie, and we got you. Yeah, yeah. Thankfully, I think because I think there was a lot of things, you know, working in my favor like so, so often in this industry, you know, you can absolutely love a role or a project or thing like it's there's so many different things that have to line up that are just so far out of your control. And I think because Julie was the youngest of the characters in the pilot, I think that worked to my advantage because also, you know, I wasn't 18. So the big thing with hiring somebody who's under 18 is like work hours, studio teachers. There's all these other things that you have to deal with with working with, you know, a minor on set. And, you know, obviously how we were shooting. I mean, there would be some days we weren't even there on set long enough to attend school hours. But I had actually graduated from high school the year before, I believe. Yeah. So you didn't have to do school. So I didn't have to do school, so I didn't need a studio teacher on set. But you know, he's one of those things that I think like had I not graduated at that point in my life, like I wouldn't have gotten hired. Oh, wow. Because, you know, think of all the other things. I don't know. I think I mean, I think the role still might have been yours, but I think there's just certain it could have been in my head. It could have been. Her version of the Disney movie school was her school school man. Yeah, no. Zach has talked about football boy. Quite a bit of a guy. You hope he doesn't miss an apartment scam has helped millions of renters find their perfect places, and the beauty is they're all different. None of us are the same. Newsflash. So why should our homes be? Someone may want hardwood floors. Someone else may say carpet all the way. It's a questionable call, but hey to each their own. Some may want a doorman. Others may say, I can open the door my dang self. But apartment scam has all the right tools to help you find the place that's uniquely perfect for you. Sort through and filter listings by amenities and make sure you never miss out with the instant alert option. With more than one million available units for rent, you are sure to find the place that's right for you. So whether you're looking for a place with a basement, a yard, a pool or anything in between apartments, AECOM has got you covered. Visit apartments dot com the place to find a place. There's one thing all great teams, coaches, players, even podcasters like us have in common, and that is preparation. Planning is key in everyday life too, and a great way to be prepared for the unexpected is to join Air Medicare Network, America's largest air ambulance membership network. Air Med Care Network providers operate state of the art helicopters capable of responding to critically ill or injured patients in need of emergency medical transport. But when you're an AMC and member, you won't see a bill for your flight only when flown by one of their providers. That's right. You pay nothing, so join Air Med Care Networks more than three million members. It's just $99 a year. And right now, our listeners get up to an $80 MasterCard or Amazon E gift card when they join and use offer code F and L. So make sure the Air Medicare Network team is protecting your family and your finances. Now visit Air Medicare Network dot com forward slash ethanol today. That's Air Med Care Network AECOM forward slash ethanol. So did you know, like did you get a call like right away after the network test that Hey, congrats rolls yours? I think it was a couple of days because I think was was the network test. Was it on a Friday? Yeah, it was on a Friday. I went after after the network auditions. I was here because I had flown in from New York. I didn't know anybody in L.A. and I went to Hamburger Hamlet and I got myself a bacon cheeseburger and a root beer float and onion rings. I'll never forget and I was sitting there and I go on brand and I called my agent and I said, Randy. I blew it, and she's like, what? And I was like, I blew it. I'm having a meal and I'm going to go to sleep and I'll get on the plane tomorrow and go back to New York and I'll go back to the off-Broadway musical on Monday. She's like, it just OK. Just give it a moment. And about 20 minutes later, she called back and was like, You didn't blow it. Congratulations. You're Jason Street. And I was like, So nice. What? Meanwhile, Zach waited six weeks, six a week that was about two weeks is two weeks. They extended my hold the waiting time. But so for you, did they? Did you like, go out that night or like just to just to shake off? Because was this your first test? Was this? Yes. So the first this was the first pilot I'd ever even gotten to a testing stage for. Yeah, it was all brand new to me going through the studio test and then the network test. And it was I just remember I remember exactly what I was wearing, and at one point in time, I was told that like when you go to an audition, you have to wear the same thing every time. Every time I did the same thing. I wore jeans, my boots, which became the Matt Saracen boots and a white T-shirt to every single audition, like just a Hanes, whatever. I just remember feeling so embarrassed and stupid. You no thing like time after time, after I was like, I swear I have other clothes, but like in going into the actual studio and network test, I just remember it was like this small little room. We had been waiting there for hours and, you know, putting a bunch of actors in a room who were all competing for the same job and it was just like there was. I don't feel like it was one of you, and I don't remember which one, but I feel like somebody had like a giant jug of water and they kept going in and out of the room. And I wonder, OK, because it was me because I was there. I think I remember just like sitting there with my mom and nobody else's parents, I'm sitting on my mom. I'm like, Oh God, you know, because at that time to like, you know, you guys were so cool and like, you know? And then I learned otherwise. But yeah, yeah, I just was like, Oh, I feel so silly and whatever. And I just I remember you like with the water going in and out, and I was like, I should be doing something I don't know. I think I had like an iPod on me. Maybe like, it's like it's like a nano or some shuffle. Oh, I don't even know if you've gotten to the point. I actually remember this. It was like pink. Yeah, no. I remember you had like a little like, you're like shuffling through your music. It wasn't a shovel. Yeah, it's a funny thing. And I just really like, what am I supposed to be doing? And like I had just like two little, you know, things of of of of dialogue. Like for maybe those two scenes I can't even remember, but I just remember being like, What are we waiting for? Because also like, this is before iPhones. Oh yeah. So like, you're not like, cool, I'll play word all year or, you know, scroll the Graham. No, you'd have to take an actual book. Yeah, I think I probably had a book. No, you were. You were just sleep. You were sleeping on a counter. I remember you very, very clearly sleeping on a counter, and I was like, This guy's not nervous at all. Like, why am I so nervous? I stress sleep. Did you have to have like, so when I was going in for Jason, I had to do chemistry reads with all the LYLA'S. Yeah. Did you have to do chemistry, reads with another character or was it just like you did your scenes? And that was it like outside of a bubble? Well, I mean, you got to do a series of you. Do you read scenes with the boy? I just I'm just pulling the thread through it. She's you're really playing with Zach's emotions. Well, it's just a little music. No. But I do remember walking into the room and expecting there to be like a few more people there, right? Right. It was just jam packed. I remember there were people like sitting in the windows, like there was just like a wave of people and I was like, Oh, what am I doing? What are you doing? I don't. I totally blacked out. Don't have any idea. Yeah, it's crazy because usually you go to an audition, it's just you in a casting director. And then when you get to a test, there's 30 studio executives just crammed into a room know like, who are all these people all of a sudden? Yeah. So you booked, Julie? Yes, it's time to move to right confirmed confirmed you being 16. You had such a different experience than the rest of us. You had to pick up and go. But also one of your parents had to come with you. Yeah. So yeah, because I was out of school, but I still was a minor. I wasn't emancipated. I still needed a a, you know, an adult, an adult with me. So my mom ended up having to quit her job and my dad stayed home with my brother and my grandmother. And then we ended up moving to Austin like finding an apartment. And like, it was sort of a situation where it's like when you get hired to do a job for a series, you know, you would think there would be like, Oh. OK, here's the apartment you can stay in here Saturday, it was just like, OK, well, good luck. We ended up moving into the same apartment complex as Jesse, who was also closer to my age under 21. So we hung out a lot during Friday Night Lights because you guys were so cool and you were in a college town and there were a lot of restaurants and shows and whatever that were all you know. And I remember there were times I go to a party and see as a nope, it's go time to go home secretly big brown eyes like I, Amy, I love you to death. And it's so funny. Like when our relationship was on the show because I thought of you. I mean, do you remember when we went to the strip, not the outlet malls? And I showed you how to drive. Yeah. Wow. Like, you were like my little sister. I like, I love you so deeply, and I just I would see you at a party because you're this college party that's essentially a graduate student and you were still in high school. You got to go. You to go. You got to go. There is definitely some moments like where I mean, it definitely felt like I had. These you know, this all of a sudden, this, like, you know, group of like older brothers and sisters, which was so lovely and you guys were so great of like trying to include me. Yeah, I feel like we did a bunch of like day hangs like, I'd hang with you and Jesse and like, go to the arboretum or like, go to the mall or like, go see a movie like. And then like, the nighttime would come. And it would be like, now it's nighttime hangs in. Like, I wouldn't really see you that much, except for we stumbled on these materials because also, you know, Scott and I both left partway through the evolution of the show and you were there the whole time. But you had, I mean, you know, a certain point your mom wasn't there anymore, right? Yeah, it was. It was interesting. I at a certain point, once I had turned 18, she didn't need to be there anymore. I could be on my own. And. We had kind of I think it was quite hard for her to to like having given up her life and her job and everything being out there with me and then kind of being like, OK, I'm going to, I'm going to leave, I'm going to go, Yeah, because she's legally required to be on set. So your mom was like a part of our on set family to like and like you were saying earlier, there's rules like you can only work a fraction of the hours that everyone else can. Yeah, because it's like like, like if you're in Canada, it's like there's like a pea. When it's a minor, it's like, what time do they turn into a pumpkin? Right? Yes. Yes. You those Canadians. But we never had pumpkin with you or we never had to worry about. And I don't know the legalities of all of it and how it shakes out. But yeah, I didn't didn't have any of that because there would be times. I definitely remember when we would be doing the football nights and the game nights where, you know, it would be Connie and myself. And like, you know, lou-ann, grandmas, grandmas, sarazen like sitting in the stands three four five in the morning. Really? Is the camera anywhere on know what are we doing? And it would be a game. Once you got wrapped to try to get home before the Sun came up, when you hit those like frat days? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Right, right? It's not only football Friday Night Lights and beyond is brought to you by progressive insurance. Let's face it, sometimes multitasking can be overwhelming, like when your favorite podcast is playing and the person next to you is talking to you and your air conditioning fan is blasting all while you're trying to find the perfect parking spot. But then again, sometimes multitasking is easy, like quoting with progressive insurance. They do the hard work of comparing rates so you can find a great rate that works for you, even if it's not with them. Give their nifty comparison tool a try, and you might just find getting the rate and coverage you deserve is easy. All you need to do is visit Progressive's website to get a quote with all the coverages you want, like comprehensive and collision coverage or personal injury protection. Then you'll see Progressive's direct rate, and their tool will provide options from other companies all lined up and ready to compare. So it's simple to choose the rate and coverages you like. Press play on comparing auto rates, quoted progressive.com to join the over 29 million drivers who trust progressive, progressive casualty insurance company and affiliates comparison rates not available in all states or situations. Prices vary based on how you buy. Well, that's a perfect segue actually into the reason I'm most jealous of your time on the show, and that's because you got to work with Kyle and Connie so much. The family dynamic is captured so perfectly, and it's not just Kyle and Connie, it's you as well. And all of those moments in these big conversations and these father daughter moments are these mother daughter moments I just watched last night the first episode of season two. And it's when you go to the bar with the Swede, and I'm glad I have a five and a half year old daughter and I. The scene of you and him in the car and then the car, there's been several of them, but that was that car scene. Yeah, I was like, I was I was a wreck, like I was crying and I'm looking forward to it, but also totally getting where coach quote unquote is coming from. And like I can see in my daughter, just and that's what I love about it and what you brought to it was just this honesty of like, I'm just figuring this out. Like, I don't know, I it was such a beautiful scene and it really tore me up. And I just I think every year I don't know, man, you brought so much to this character that like was not on the page. And that's why the show is special, because the writing was great. But then each actor was like, There's a whole nother part of the character that only I can put there. And I just it's been so fun rewatching encores, so I'm on a tangent. You and I had so much together. Yeah, and I loved working with you. I had so much fun and so many the scenes I've seen between you and I. I'm like, All right, I remember that like there was like the scene of you me on the porch in season one when my dad's leaving, or something like, I'll never forget that moment when you and I did that scene. But watching the scenes that I'm not in of you, I'm like, Oh, I'm so damn good. You know, it's and and this is like you were 16 and then 17 and 18, and I'm like, Oh, you know, I am so lucky. Like to be really honest, I am so grateful and so lucky that I spent my formative years like on that show in Austin, working with so many, so many talented actors. I mean, you guys included of just that was my first real experience of, you know, not being just like, Oh, the person that comes in and says one line and like pieces out and is, you know, that kind of thing like, I don't have that technical actor background training. I didn't go through any kind of programs or I didn't graduate from, you know, Tisch or whatever. I didn't. I didn't. Northwestern University. Exactly. So for me, like really my training ground that I got to play in was on set and, you know, and when you're working with, you know, actors like Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton and you just get to see them, you know, work through stuff beforehand, have these real honest conversations and seeing them. Be able to articulate what it means to have a real relationship and bring that to the audience. And there were certain times that just being able to watch it and take it in. And I mean, our writers were absolutely amazing and they think that what they did was give us such a gift like what Pete did like during the pilot. I remember him like we were brought to dinner or whatever kind of thing, and the thing that really sticks in my head is he's like, you know, you know, these characters better than anybody else. And I want you guys to, you know, do your thing and like, it's easier to beg for forgiveness than for permission and being given that as a gift, as an actor and and being able to bring that to the set and to, you know, to screen and like having such a high caliber of talent, not even just in front of the camera, but behind the camera and everybody on set, whether it was, you know, our DP or it was one of our camera ops or it was, you know, one of our craft service people like if somebody had a good idea for a scene or something, it would be like, Shout it out, let's do it, let's try it. Let's, you know, play with them. And I think that's what comes out and why it feels so authentic and so real. And it was just this image, just like this sort of like community of people, just like, let's all make the best piece of art we possibly can. Yeah. And so the transition from that environment to like, ain't no set. Whoa. It was you and I were talking about that, too. And I was like, what? Like anything from like, what's a mark o to I? The camera follows me. I don't care what your lens is like, you keep it on me to like, Yeah, how respected you are, too. Like, can we wrote this line? Say this line? And I'm nothing this insane line written, but also respect the fact that I feel like it's not feeling authentic because of X, Y and Z. And they're like, Yeah, but yeah, we wrote it to say it now, or it doesn't make sense because of X, Y and Z. What doesn't matter? Because this has gotten approved. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. OK. Or you missed an f or a but yeah. I mean, I went on to The Good Wife afterwards and they were letter perfect. Everything had to be and like on the on the Good Wife. They were like when somebody calls somebody else, they say, I will phone you later. And every single character on that show, if you ever watch The Good Wife, they all say, I will phone you later. And it was like one of the first mistakes I made was like, Call you in a bit. And they were like, it's phone, it's phone. And I was like, Well, yeah, no, exactly. They're cold walkers, not zombies. Yeah. And there's a couple of scenes in season one that really stood out to me. The ping pong scene with you and I on the garage. And the other thing I think that added so much, that was a real house. That is a real house. Like everything we shot with Friday Night Lights, it was like, it's a real, you know, a school we're at or it's a real, you know, Dairy Queen Alamo Freeze like it was. Oh, I've been trying not to out the D que o Nike's like the fast food chain that show that maybe you did it. That fast food chain that shall not be named is now the name, but which I mean, even just that kind of thing like talking about the world that I grew up in and then Texas and like football and like what it means if your town is big enough to have, you know, the the the ice cream place that shall not be named like there's there was such an education I got right being there, but backtracking back to Kyle and Connie like the way that they played really in scenes and like, you know, dropping lines and things like that. It was just such a thing and it was so quick. And we I remember at different times over the years we had actors that we would hire or some other individuals who would come on to set for an episode and whatnot and kind of have a total breakdown because they were like, You didn't see this and I don't know, wanted to say my line and I did it and I was like, Hey, you know, you just go with it. And it was interesting to sort of see if people could hang or not. And right, and I kind of because it was my first real thing. I just didn't really understand how bizarre it was like walking onto that set and it just being three cameras going all the time, shooting in a real location, being able to like, decide, like, OK, my character wants to go into the kitchen. I'm going to get a cereal bowl, and I know that, you know, I know where everything is in this house. And so, yeah, it was I mean, it it was such an experience that. Yeah, I I I don't know if there was any way I could have just taken it in more, but it was such a beautiful freeing thing to be able to work in that environment and just so supportive. And it really, I think what also adds so much to the scenes is because you don't know what is going to happen next, right? So you have to listen and you have to be in that moment to be able to react to what other actors are doing or the chaos that's been created or whatever it is. And I think that's why the audience responds to it so well is because it does feel real. I think. Julie is maybe the most like authentic character on the show, just as far as the things that, like Zach said earlier, like you are trying so desperately to figure things out at the age of 15 16. And and Julie is. Just, I think, the most honest picture of a teenager where you've got like Riggins is acting like he's acting like a 30 year old like, you know, and maybe that's a high school thing or whatever. Jason Street storyline takes him so like far away from being a teen, and he's facing something. And Saracen is is, you know, his relationship with his grandmother and his dad. It's it's he's not allowed to be a teen, you know? But the Taylor family is very tight and you have two parents who are there for you and very supportive. But then also that means, well, then where am I challenged? How do I face all these different things? How do I react to all these things? And Julie's quest to get out and get away from, like becoming her parents is just a recurring theme throughout the whole series. And you do such a marvelous job of like relaying such an authentic teen experience. As far as like, I'm concerned rewatching the show, like, what were you pulling from? Were you or was it just that you were kind of figuring things out because you were so young when you are on the show? Or had, you know, what were you pulling from? How how were you able to do it? I mean, I think there is the element of my, you know, being that age in real life and having things that were happening to me as I, you know, I grew up on the show like, I mean, you can see from the first episode to the final episode, I mean, just my life, like, you know, becoming my own person and finding my own voice. And there would be things that would happen, you know, in my own life. And then a couple episodes later, it would show up and I'm like, Not that it was, you know, planted or whatever, but just when you're in that age, like there's things that you are going through, like even whether it's moving away or, you know, the dynamic and the relationship you have with your parents and how that changes that scene in the car with Kyle, it was. So I'm thinking right now, I got I was so in it in a space with that and like having, you know, conversations with a parent like that that I remember we got in the car, I got in the car with Kyle, and I think Jeff was directing that episode. And I remember being like, I just I just want to do one take. I just want to do one take. I just want to like, leave it all and put it all out there. And like, I just I need to just like, just go with and he was like, All right, coming up, let's go. And I remember just like sort of just, you know, baring my soul in that in that scene and we did one take. Wait, here's the deal. Doing one take doesn't shock me that you could pull it off. What shocks me is the ovaries to be like, Hey, I know I'm 16, but we're just doing this in one take like I. Wow, wow. I mean, looking back, I'm like, Gosh, wow, that girl, man. She had some kahunas, but but you did. Like, I got out as a little like you were. You were such a cool. I don't even want to say cared, but you were just like, you seem so not like unintimidated by anyone or anything. And there are some teenagers I know who. It's very annoying and with you. I think that's why we're like, No, she's like, She just can't come to a bar with us, ladies, but she's our friend. She's our peer. We got to drop of the bag at home. She can bake some cookies out of this party. But no, you were just like, Yeah, you felt like you were one of us, and I'm blown away by that story. That's the thing about this show is that everybody was cast because as we've been talking to people about their story of being cast, everybody did something kind of off script outside the box, something that's not the norm, which we would be penalized for now. Having been in the industry as long as we have, if we did something like that in an audition, a lot of people would be like, You know, the game is played, don't do that, you know? All right, we're not working with you. But because it was so many of our first things like we were rewarded for it. That story is so cool. I love it. I have two questions, and you can answer them in whatever order you please. You're a. You know, you were one of the few characters who spanned the entirety of the series and. All the veins of that felt like from like the evolution of like how it did it change? Was it different? Was it better? It was probably worse. Or you mean after you left? Yeah, that kind of that experience and being one of the like soul survivors. But. And by thus being like, truly like. The heart of the show, too, also. What was it like working with Lois? Let's get to Lois is like mentioned so much in the show, but barely ever makes an appearance. And we were convinced at one point that did she show up. You were there a lot and we got caught. Or was it just a few times? OK, full disclosure. I've seen the pilot a couple of times, I rewatched it last night, actually. And I think I've seen. The first episode of a few seasons. I've never watched the show. Wow. Oh yeah, oh, I know. If we weren't doing this, I would probably have never watched it again. I definitely never watch again. I still haven't seen the last season. Yeah. And it's not. I mean, obviously it's difficult, right? Because I'm I feel so lucky and worked on such an amazing show. And I think it sort of happened in a way when we were shooting. And I feel like we tried to do like, Oh, we'll have a night where we could watch it, but we were also working at the same time. So then it just it didn't line up. And this was like, you know, like doing social media while people are watching it on the East Coast, on the West Coast and all those kind of things. Yeah. And DVR was like not even really a thing back then. So if you weren't able to watch it on Tuesday night at at 7:00 Central because we were in central time zone, like who's off of work at 7:00 on a film set, like to be able to get together everybody on a Wednesday, I guess. I yeah, just down here. I don't know what you're talking about, right? I didn't. I didn't have a DVR. How do you think I was watching last? All right. Yeah. I mean, so do you remember like, you've never watched the show back, but do you? I mean, obviously, you're asking more to like the experience of like because people came and went. Yeah. And you know, we were I mean, we were a family at times not even dysfunctional, but it's like, you know, it's like you kind of were like, I've been around this person a lot or whatever. But then people left and I remember for me, you know, my final like, real season on the show, like, you're the only person, I really, I guess Jesse. But that was even like minimally. And it just I started feeling and we've got I've talked about a little bit, but I started feeling just like more and more isolated. And I wonder for you, too, it was like, Oh, cool, like, I'm still like in the group. And now there's these new people and like, cool or what? Like, just it's such it's a unique experience in a show to have the cast evolve and be like one of the mainstays massively. Yeah. I think because Kyle and Connie, you know, we're through out the whole show and the majority of my scenes, especially at the start, you know, with Kyle and Connie, it was weird. Honestly, it was weird like, you know, as you guys would, you know, piece out or, you know, were, you know, moving on to other things. It definitely, I think there was an element weirdly of like kind of feeling a little guilt that I was still there. Oh, oh yeah, no, I was just my own, you know, self rejection. Whenever you know, I remember season three, when you and guys and I didn't even remember that Minka left. Weirdly, I like feeling guilty, like, Oh, what the heck? And it's like, it's no fault of my own. I just happened to have been a younger character, but it was like, Oh, it was us. You were better at that. That's what happened. The people that were the best stuck around the line now, the people who are the youngest. So sitting across from us today is the best. Yeah, that's that's crazy. That feeling of guilt that I can I could understand that. Did the did the process change or because you were still working so much with Kyle and Connie, did it feel like you had at least that stable through line? I think it was a mixed bag, really. It was definitely interesting having you know, new characters, but also actors who weren't there at the beginning and then we're kind of coming into this family and our weird quirks in the way we would shoot or just like how things would run. And I think that the original cast we had done such a good job of getting together and doing things together and things like that. So then sometimes we knew we would have newer cast members. Sometimes it just was like, Oh, they're doing their own thing. And, you know, and they're like, Oh, OK, cool, you can, you know, text me or something, whatever. But it definitely changed the dynamic a fair bit. You know, not for better, for worse, but just just changes and evolves. Yeah. One thing the show is really good at is is throwing like unexpected partnerships or unexpected storylines at you. Did you have any favorite like partnerships or storylines or people that you got to work with? And then, you know, in the later years as cast members were leaving, you were one of the only characters they kind of followed outside of town, like you went to college and they actually followed you there, and then you had an affair with a teacher's assistant. Like, like, was there any storyline that you were like, What is happening? Or did you have a favorite story or partnership? And how was it? How is it doing the stuff with with Tyra and and and Grandma Saracen? Because that's like some of my favorite stuff. Oh God. I mean, Annie, aging, plucky, like pleased IRA. She's she's so sweet and lovely and amazing and and working with her too. Like, you know, she she's definitely has this. I don't know, you know, physical stature about her. She's, you know, almost feels, 8:56am, she's like a real. She's a real life Barbie, and she's so cool and so sweet. And I just remember, like feeling just like such a nerd like, Oh Lord. But so she's a huge nerd to me all the time. You should have seen the comic book guys, though, when I'd walk in the door and walk behind me, baby, I just can't. I can't talk. That's so funny that that's like how you were kind of feeling in that moment, but felt like Julie came out of her shell like, did you feel like you got to kind of do the same thing? Like when that storyline was going on or you were looking at somebody new like, ha. And that's so funny, because so often in the show, because there's so many characters we had such a, you know, large cast. There would be times where I wouldn't work with characters or wouldn't see other actors for like a whole season and be like, Oh, right, you're still you're still here. Oh, cool. That's awesome. And then like and Luann Stevens, like some of the best advice I feel like it ever got because we would be sitting in these stands for the football games. For days, it felt like just sitting there, just sitting. I remember Connie would wear like cowboy boots, and she would be able to like shove her like BlackBerry and her cowboy boots and was like, s**t, I need some cowboy boots, so I need to put my phone somewhere. I need to do something. But Luanne would have a a little portable radio, and she would listen to her hockey to the Dallas Stars. And it's awesome. And and just like she was like, you know, you, you know, she was just so supportive and lovely and just had some great, just life advice. And one of the things I remember her saying was, you know, Amy, you just need to marry rich and then, you know, you don't have to worry about thing is also you can do all the acting, whatever, just like you marry rich. Oh my God. I remember I went through a breakup and she was like, Yeah, I knew she wasn't getting enough for you. Like, I knew that I was never going to as I was. I was like, Why didn't you say something like, that's not my business? I get to let you get to let you learn your lessons on your own. Was there any storyline that you were like, What? What are we doing? What's happening here? What or were they all just kind of exciting because they were new and something different and another learning experience? And, you know, trying to back there was, I mean, there were a lot of different kind of, you know, random storylines here and there. The whole suite situation was interesting. The crashing of the car that was like a whole. I don't know if I'm giving spoilers, but it doesn't know. Go ahead. That was that was a whole, you know, trying to figure out how to, you know, thread that storyline. If you crashed a car on purpose so you didn't have to go away to school or like face the stuff you were doing in college, is that right? You know, there was a little bit that. And that was season 5's murder. Well, sometimes you don't know what to do. All right. You write a story. You know you do it. Oh yeah. I'm trying to think I do remember it, but I really enjoyed working when we did. Like Julie on a job? Applebee's. Yeah, yeah, yeah, sponsored by Applebee's, by Applebee's, your neighbor had each a. Hey, baby, are you still a vegetarian? Yeah, well, I'm sorry. Yeah, just personal questions that popped into my head do it. So it was Julie. Was Julia Veggie before you got the part? Julie wasn't, but I was like. And shocking 16 year old and was like, I'm not eating meat and I'm not going to say that I'm endorsing animal products. That's awesome. There is nobody in this world that was going to be more perfect to play Julie Taylor than you hearing all of these stories. I only want to do this in one take. Like, Julie doesn't eat meat because I don't eat meat and I don't want to endorse that. The fact that we had writers that would go, You know what? That's awesome. That's interesting because I always thought it was so interesting. They're hosting all these barbecues, and Julie was always like, I hate that they're hosting these barbecues. Or they had like the pancake breakfast and you had to go get vegan sausage and vegan sausage. And to know that all came from from you as a as an individual, putting your mark on Julie, that is so cool to me. And it just, you know, I find that Sony. But I also think that like so much of that and like I appreciate, but it's is our is the show. We were on like the fact that the writers leaned into it, the fact that we were, you know, given permission and allowed to play and allowed to have a voice and allowed to like have our creative spin on things and that everybody was just working together. Wasn't this like hierarchy of, you know, well, you can't do this or you can't say that or or, you know, that's a dumb idea. I was just like, you know? Yes. And and that was such a beautiful thing to have been working on for five years. Were you happy with like where your storyline kind of like wrapped up and at the end of the series? And B again, this is a question I get asked all the time. Like, I don't know, all the people always ask me. What do you think? Like our Matt and Julie still together, like what do you think they're doing? And I'll take my answer after yours because I never I never thought about it. But like, this is what people who love the show, they're like. Are they married or are they doing whatever? So those are my two questions. This is your questions. So I think. The one thing I will say about like how the show. And dead overall, it was nice in some ways that we kind of knew the last two seasons that those were going to be the last two seasons. So it wasn't like a huge, you know, like shock in that way. And just like on a personal level, you kind of then know what your life is going to look like for the next, you know, year, six months or whatever it is. And I feel like the way that they. Left, Julie and Max. Future to the imagination. I like that. Oh, I love it. I think that's bigger. I just I don't need everything wrapped up in a little bow like I just, yeah, I think you got to give the audience that opportunity to like, you know, step out of it and, you know, have their own, you know, ending and kind of keep them thinking. But yeah, I I don't, I don't know. Yeah, I definitely sometimes we'll get the question of like, what are they doing? I'm like, I don't know. What do you think? There's so many possibilities? Well, the cynic in me says, Well, we got engaged in four 18. There's no way that was going to last. Oh my gosh. Oh my God. I mean, the show went on for five years, so actually technically. Julie's 21 now. Right? Right, know what. That's she's not 21 when she's graduating high school, she's six. Oh my God, the math isn't. No, you would been 28. Oh yeah. She went to college. I went to college. I had an affair. Come on. Yeah. Yeah, get with the program. Sorry. Probably in her 20s by the end of the show, buddy, although Riggins was always 16. So who knows? Yeah, I was just going to ask, you know? This relationship seemed to never be able to fully quit, and I think the fan base always wanted to see Julian Matt make it and be together, and I am amongst that number. And the beginning of season two was so jarring with the Swede, Carlotta and this guy. You guys really don't reconnect until season three. Matt goes through so much heartache in season three, and then you're apart again. I love that you are happy that they kind of reunited at the end, but leaving it up to the audience and whether or not they make it. But my last question was just, I mean, for the both of you. Like, I didn't have anybody on the show. Then I got to build that relationship with over the years. What was it like building this partnership? You're looking me here for me, I think the the thing with Matt and Julie is it's like young love. It's messy, it's troubled, you know, you ebb and flow who you are at 16 versus who you are at 17 and 18. Like, you change so much, hopefully as a person, as you grow and experience life that I think the thing with Matt and Julie's relationship. It does feel so honest because, you know, there's the good and the bad and the ugly, and it's still two people that through it all, like, have this love and respect for each other. Yeah, and you were you were in the midst of it being that age, but you were so much older. How did you access it? I feel like you were very afraid of me. Yeah, I loved you. Not like I thought of you, as you know. I mean, isn't like a patronizing way. Like, you were like a little sister to me. Like, I really deeply cared about you and like, appreciated you. And I had so much respect for you. You were to sound like lame, like such an amazing scene partner. I hate that term, but like, you're welcome. Yeah. I do remember this is my I told this story before of a era because I remember vividly when we were like we had to have our first kiss who were like, What do we do? Like, I've never because we were like brothers. Like, I've never kissed anyone on the screen before. Yes. Yeah, I feel like I feel like yours was like, I feel like I remember you talking somebody being like, This is legal. They can do, is this Oh yeah, no. I was curious about the legality of You need to sign something. Your mom's there. Awkward. OK, as long as you remember, it didn't make it over my head, I feel like you were like, Yeah, let's kiss. Just like this, stay far away from me. Like, save room for Jesus. Well, I got to say we're so happy that a member of our family was able to jump on with us today. Thank you so much for coming. You portrayed Julie in such an incredible and honest way and getting to know like or letting the audience know like where you came from, you know, I'm kind of like, you know, no conservatory, no college for acting. And it was just kind of learning on the fly and like relying on real life to kind of push us through. And I'm so impressed with you, and I know so many of the fans are as well with what you were able to do with Julie, the range of emotion you were able to show being that young and. You know, it's just so impressive to to me, and I just so many people, actually you like I, this is my favorite part ever got to do, and you were the other half of it. Oh my gosh. You know, and you were amazing and you're just like, You're awesome. And every time I get to see you run into whether it's the last time was that Whole Foods, Whole Foods in garland? Yeah. Yeah, was just like, I light up and I'm like, Oh my god, Amy. I mean, I mean, it goes both ways like, I am so lucky that you guys were so welcoming. It could have been so easy to be like, Oh, you know, the minor, the little girl, we're going to leave over there because we're so inclusive. And I do remember whenever you'd be in the makeup trailer like somebody which because you somebody would say a curse word and the hair and makeup team like Roxy would go minor. Like there was like rules like if a minor's around like no profanity, like no lewd conversation. And so it's like, you're just you're minor, like all the time. Everybody watch your mouth right now. But like you guys, you know, let me into your lives to like and you guys said such, you know, a good, welcoming, warm example. Just as human beings like our cast was great and just like the lives that you also had off off off screens like I remember you talking about, like you doing like backpacking with, like, you know, youth and things like that, I was like, That's cool. And like Scott, I mean, I'm sure you know, your audience heard a million times, but like, I mean, just your ability to like a beatbox and your passion for different things and like, you know, doing like Broadway stuff. And I was like, Wow, this isn't like, wow, like, what are you doing here? Like, this is like. But it just like, I think it really also helped inform who I am as a person. Like seeing all of you guys on, you know, on a daily basis and like having that family of just people from so many different walks of life and different skills and just different life experiences. And it really helped inform how I've chosen to live my life and the life experiences that I've had and helped me develop as an actor, too. Because how you approach a scene versus how you were purchasing it, it's so different and being able to take all of that in it was just such a gift. Yeah, it was impactful. I think that way for almost all of us, them, but there's no not kidding. And there's this thing, ever. If if you've heard the pod, then we always ask one question at the end. If it's not only football, what was Friday Night Lights for you? Friday Night Lights? What it was about for me was finding my voice and figuring out who I was and who I am. That's awesome. Well, thank you for sharing your voice and who you are with us today. This was incredible. Thank you so much for having me. For everybody out there listening, we will be back and next week with another rewatch episode. We are in season two now and it is time to buckle up. If anybody has any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out in the Apple Podcasts review section or in the comment section over on YouTube. We always like to do this at the end of an interview episode. We will see everybody out there next week, but until we do, we say clear eyes, full hearts can't lose. Thank you so much, Amy. I'm John Glover. Emmy award winning researcher John Glover, and I'm a recipients and critically unexplained TV writer Marisa Penson, and we're the host of the new podcast on Brand with John and Marissa. Join us every week for an exploration of the world's most interesting and iconic brands like Wal-Mart. Do they still have the old people who say welcome to Wal-Mart know they got rid of them? So you just want more old people in the store? I want every staff member to be over 90 and Hines paying high in ranks. I say German dictator. And while you learn about these legendary brands, you'll also learn a bit about us. Hey, John, do you still sleep in shoes? There's probably, I would say, probably three times a year I fell asleep in shoes. You told me the thing that you should never look under a Costco chicken? Well, I don't think you should ever look under a chicken. So tune in every Wednesday for a brand new episode of On Brand with John Morrison. Available May 24th wherever you get your podcasts via their.