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The fourth season of the Emmy
award-winning series Medium premiered today and with it a lot
of changes to the series, mostly notably the public outing of
the leads psychic abilities.
{sidebar id=1}Patricia Arquette, who plays the
clairvoyant Allison Dubois, sat down with Jack Weber, who plays her
husband on the series to discuss the shows run so far and where
they hope it can go this season and into the future.
Q: Its almost like its a new show
here in the fourth season with the new dynamics there Do you enjoy
it that way or you wish you had the same old show?
Arquette: I think its nice to change
things up a little bit. And the fact that theyre both out of work
at the beginning of this season, and that as a couple, you know, they
dont really have much of a nest egg to fall back on, is a
situation a lot of Americans find themselves in. And I think the
strength of our show is the marital relationship and the real reality
of that family - how much it echoes other Americans experience. So
we havent had it - that chance to sort of show the struggle of
when people are out of work, how that affects - how quickly that
affects you.
Q: Yeah. One of the things I always
marveled at in the old days when I was watching the episodes of
Colombo and he would catch a, you know, a major celebrity
almost every time - a powerful person. And yet he never became famous
as the detective who always caught all the stars I think that
Allisons secret would have gotten out earlier in fact. So its
almost like its very realistic that the truth would come out.
Dont you think?
Arquette: Well I think that people are
very good at keeping secrets when they - when its in their best
interests. I mean, otherwise, you know, people wouldnt be able to
have affairs for as long as they can. And I think, you know, people
were happy to use her information to their advantage. But its sort
of a dirty secret. I mean, I think it would have probably come out
earlier because she was so outward about it in a way. But I guess
that didnt make sense with the show.
Q: And correct me if I remember the
story wrong from way back when you all launched the show, but the
real Allison told you that the show was going to be a hit in the long
run. True?
Arquette: She did, yeah.
Q: And you had total faith in that -
that that was correct - that she would be right?
Arquette: Well, no.
Q: No? Not necessarily?
Arquette: I mean, at the beginning I
was always taking everything with a grain of salt, you know. And I am
that way by nature as a person. And I always just feel like things
reveal themselves as theyre supposed to.
Q: So Im just wondering how it was
working with Anjelica Huston?
Arquette: Oh, it was wonderful. Ive
always been such a big fan of hers and I was so grateful that she did
us this honor to come on our show. But I was kind of shy of her. Id
met her before, but I still was kind of shy and slightly embarrassed
because coming from the film world, the way television works is so
non-conducive to doing the best kind of work you can. So I felt sort
of like apologetic about how quickly you have to move and how little
time you have to explore things. I felt guilty in some way.
Q: Yeah. It was not your fault, though.
Arquette: No, it wasnt. But
Q: And then the dynamic - the marriage
dynamic seems so incredibly real on this show and its something
that Ive always enjoyed about it. And that actually seems
surprising to me, like there are not that many sort of real marriages
depicted on television. Is that sort of your impression as well?
Arquette: Why dont you take that one, Jake?
Weber: Yeah. I mean, I think there are
other marriages that are real. I mean, you certainly - The
Sopranos had a lot of the same kind of domestic elements that
-kind of thrown into their real life and how they all are
interconnected. But yeah, its - I think television has gotten a
lot better in that regard. But I think it is one of the stronger
suits of the show, is that it portrays a marriage that is full of all
the problems and challenges that real marriages have to face.
Q: Talk to me about how this
relationship - what happens to this relationship with the stress of -
as Allisons visions being public and - or her abilities being
public and you all not knowing about employment, and you have these
three kids? And thats the first question. The second question is -
Jake, do you practice being like the worlds greatest husband? In
real life are you the worlds greatest husband because last year,
Patricia - or year before last, Patricia told us that her husband was
the worlds greatest husband? So
Weber: I doubt you would get the same
answer from my wife because its - the abyss that exists between my
character and Joe is considerable.
Arquette: Oh please.
Q: Okay. Well tell me about what
happens in this relationship? How - what can you tell us about what
happens to this relationship?
Weber: Go ahead, Patricia.
Arquette: Well I dont think, you
know, like most families they dont really have much of a nest egg,
and suddenly they find themselves both out of work. I think its
difficult for Joes character because hes used to being the big
bread winner of our family - because hes a Mathematician and he
makes, you know, a fair living. And suddenly were in the
circumstances. I think as a man, hes done a good job supporting
his family. Thats very difficult to find yourself suddenly not
being able to provide. So it definitely brings a lot of stress into
the marriage. And theres a certain episode that we end up coming
to where things kind of come to a head between us where he wants to
make a decision that I disagree with. And he kind of puts me - my
back up against the wall and demands that I see it his way or at
least acquiesce.
Weber: Not a good place to put Allison DuBois.
Q: Do you have an idea season-long what
your character will end up doing? If youre no longer working for
the D.A. and your private secret is public, where can that character
go? How can you use your skills other than these six episodes where
youre helping Ameritips? Do you know long range?
Arquette: We have little inklings from
the show creator of some places that it may end up going. But, you
know, honestly with the strike who knows whats going to happen
exactly. And our writers write pretty close to shooting order, so you
can never tell exactly whats really going to show up in front of
you.
Q: As you go into the fourth season
with both of you, do you - are you approaching the characters any
differently than you did initially? Does that familiarity with the
characters at this point help you or is it like coming into something
new because of the break between seasons and the changes in the
situation?
Arquette: I just know when I come back
at the beginning of the season and probably after this break, if we
come back -- who knows whats going to happen -- I feel really
rusty. And then like any relationship, you sort of find yourself
encountering some of the same arguments or situations with each
other, within scenes. And for me, like life - it gets like
frustrating sometimes. And then a change will occur. So its kind
of this ebb and flow and then this waiting - and then change and
evolution, if that makes any sense.
Weber: Yeah. It really is kind of a -
like youve been away from a partner or something for awhile and
there are always some - theres always an adjustment period when
you kind of meet up again and start going through the routine that
youve established. Its not dissimilar to a marriage in that
sense.
Arquette: I - when I saw this first
episode put together, Jake is so strong in it. Hes - you were so
on point and like on fire. And I felt like I could see how rusty I
was - like a robot.
Weber: I got a friend in the editing room. (Laughs)
Arquette: No, its true though.
Weber: How sweet of you.
Q: I also just wanted to ask in the
first two episodes it looks like its - did the little girls
playing the youngest daughter get - suddenly go through a growth
spurt or is that a different little girl?
Arquette: No, its the same little
girl. They did go through a growth spurt though, yeah. I know. It was
kind of amazing and it always is amazing to come back and see the
kids over a break because theyll just shoot up, and mature. And
Sofias like a young woman now, and she was a little girl when we
started.
Weber: Yeah. Wild.
Q: Is your relationship with the girls
changing as they get older and learn more about acting?
Arquette: Yeah, I think so. I mean, I
feel close to them and I always have, so I dont know that in that
ways its changed. I mean, Sofias always been interested in
acting and talking about it, and even more so. And Marias starting
to talk about it more, now as well. At first it was sort of like
well see her and she was just showing up to say her lines. It just
seems like its going deeper for her - her interest. And shes
starting to explore it a little bit more and feel more comfortable
with it. Thats how I feel anyway.
Q: Ive been watching religiously
since episode one and I saw the first two of this season. It still
seems fresh and keeping up that medium thing of every episode is a
little bit different. But does it feel that way to you guys of the
episodes youve shot? Do they keep feeling fresh? Was there
anything that stuck out to you? Can you talk a little bit about the
arc of the season in that you were able to shoot before the strike?
Arquette: Jake?
Weber: You know, this show doesnt
write itself. Its not like you can, you know, wheel in a patient
or drag in a perp to the police station, so it really is writer
dependent. And I think that Glenn Caron has been a little bit
inspired by the radical change in circumstances that these two people
find themselves in. And so I think he got off to a really strong
start. The pace of television is such that its very hard to keep
innovating every week, every week and a half, which is what this was
scheduled - that these shows are shot at. So there is some
unevenness. But on the whole, on balance I think this show has more
stronger episodes than it has weaker ones.
Q: I was just wondering whats
unusual about the deal that you strike with Anjelica Hustons
character?
Arquette: Well, she comes along at a
time where I continue having these dreams. That doesnt stop just
because I no longer work for the District Attorney. However, whenever
I try to call people or tell them about a dream, Im such a persona
non grata that I cant really do anything with my information.
Were both out of work. Were both worried about how were
going to support our family and she steps in and sort of gives me a
way that I can take all this information - an outlet for it, a safe
place to put it and help solve crimes. But shes also sort of dark
of a character. Shes a little bit mercenary. Its one thing to
work for the District Attorney and you make money through this whole
network of crime-solving thats part of the state and the
government, and so on. Its a different thing maybe asking families
who have lost their children for reward money. And yet you have your
own family to support, you know.
Q: I was also wondering, off set - away
from work, do you continue to research this phenomenon, like on your
own time?
Arquette: Im interested in this
phenomenon, but I cant say that I spend a lot of time researching
it really. But I am interested in it. I was just in India and I heard
about this Indian astrologer. And so I wanted to check it out. I
didnt end up getting a chance to, but I am interested in it.
Q: For you Jake, what are you looking forward to the most story-wise?
Weber: Well, you know, from my
perspective the stuff that is interesting is the familial relations.
So the more conflict that exists in my relationship with Allison, the
more there is to do and the more there is to grow the relationship,
and to challenge the relationship. So thats what Im into.
Q: Jake, I wanted to ask you, maybe you
can talk a little bit more in detail about how Joe handles the stress
in the family, like specifically with the kids, with not all the kids
inheriting the power? So is there like sibling rivalry to deal with?
The stress of not having a job - does he continue to be a perfect
husband?
Weber: He handles it with long
sufferance as all men handle challenges in family life. You know,
hes a pretty cool cucumber. You know, he tends to ride the highs
low and the lows high, which is, you know, admirable. But he is
definitely challenged in this year. His identity as a man is
challenged, as a provider. His relationship with his wife is
challenged radically because there are practical considerations that
if you look at she is not being responsible about. And yeah, theres
a real hard time for him. He has to ask his parents for money. This
is a man who has always been successful and provided for his family.
So he has some cracks and those show up on screen, and they challenge
the relationships.
Q: Oh, that sounds good. Patricia, how
does Allison deal with two of the kids having the power?
Arquette: Well actually at one point,
one of the little ones - the little one also shows some aspects, but
just mildly. I think she feels like guilt about passing this on to
her children because it can be such a grizzly thing to live with and
on the other hand, I think she feels like she has to be custodian to
show them how to accept this within themselves, how to know that they
can find love like this. And that they can do good for the world with
this ability, and just to be there for her children and let them know
that she believes in them.
Q: Will we see like the evolving family aspect throughout the entire
season?
Arquette: Yeah. I mean, an important
part to us is that our children are sort of ever present. Even if
theyre not in the scene, their backpacks are everywhere. You hear
them or something like that. So the kids are growing and changing.
And their experiences of life and their own abilities are changing,
and the questions that they have. So yeah, the children will always
be the center sort of, of the family.
Q: I know Ariel - you know, the
character of Ariel has, you know, theres some episodes where she
not only deals with the public knowledge of her mothers abilities
- one situation. But then, you know, kind of starts capitalizing on
that to, you know, that little money-making scheme.
Arquette: Yeah. She becomes like a little fortune teller for kids at
school.
Q: Patricia, Im wondering if youre
going to go to the Golden Globes since youre nominated and how
youre feeling about the strike?
Arquette: Well my feeling about being
nominated is - it is such a great honor and it is like a pinnacle of
your career. And its a nice recognition from your own industry, so
I dont want to pooh-pooh that. I dont take that lightly. And of
course, selfishly thats a really nice thing, but its important
to have moral conviction even when its inconvenient to do so. So I
dont feel like I could show up unless theres some kind of
agreement made with the writers. So many families are suffering right
now and the sooner both sides come to the table and come to a
reasonable resolution, the better for everyone.
Q: How many episodes did you have done when you - when the strike
went into effect?
Arquette: We have nine.
Q: Were you right in the middle of filming when it happened?
Arquette: Yeah, we were. We were still
filming. Wed been talking about this strike for a year, so we had
- everyone sort of knew that one of these guilds was certainly going
to be going on strike. Not all of them.
Q: Otherwise, your feeling about the
Globes going on - they really shouldnt or do you have any sense if
theyre close or anything?
 Arquette: No. I mean, I feel very torn
because I know that the Golden Globe Committee and the Hollywood
Foreign Press is doing everything in their ability to try to come to
an agreement with the writers and the writers really dont want to
because of the impact of shutting down that - the production for the
night. So I feel for them because this is an important night for them
and they work very hard for this. And, you know, all of their
constituents all over the world are watching this and I just - I do
feel for them. You know, I dont know - I dont - just really
dont have any animosity towards them. And I dont know, its
very uncomfortable, awkward situation.
Q: Would you be on the picket line?
Patricia Arquette: No. I would not be on the picket line.
Q: I was wondering - Im not going to
suggest that the entire psychic world is nuts or anything like that.
But it probably does have its maybe increased percentage of said
nuts. And Im just wondering do - have you ever found yourself in a
situation where somebody on the street or somebody you meet has
approached you and theyre kind of getting your character mixed up
with your real person, and they kind of wont drop it? Im just
wondering if youve had any funny experiences in that regard of
somebody saying I need you to pass a message to my uncle or something
like that.
Arquette: Ive had a couple oddball
people. But usually its people that have their own gifts. And
theyve felt like theyve never had someone to talk to about it.
Or they just want to extend their appreciation that - to see that a
couple can have a relationship and you can have a normal life with
this. But I have had a few oddballs. But honestly, Ive had a few
oddballs anyway from other movies Ive done. And theres plenty
to go around. It doesnt seem any more than the usual.
Q: So its not consigned to the psychic world?
Arquette: Oh no.
Q: In the episodes that you have ready
to go, is there a complete arc or does it leave on a bit of a
cliffhanger?
Weber: Yeah. Were not quite sure
where its going to go. I dont think that Glenn Caron knows
exactly where hes going to take it. You know, he sort of writes in
blocks - in storyline blocks. And this storyline has just sort of
come to an end with Anjelica Hustons character. But he will -
chances are he will continue to explore the challenges that the
family faces with being unemployed, having financial insecurity -
real insecurity, like real challenge, and continuing to deal with the
challenges of raising three children in this unusual environment.
Q: So knowing that the strike was
coming, they didnt make an effort to make a complete sort of
season out of the nine episodes?
Weber: No.
Q: How do you feel about returning to the original timeslot on Monday
nights?
Arquette: I feel good about it. You
know, just from running into people on the street, just, you know,
people - fans of the show, they just seem to feel that that was a
better timeslot for their schedules, for putting their kids to bed
and for the beginning of their week, and after the weekend and so on.
So I think itll be good, as long as people know when were on -
as long as people get that information.
Q: I wanted to know if you - and this
is for both Patricia and Jake, are there any particular plots youd
really like to do in the future, any particular kinds of storylines
youre really interested in?
Arquette: I would like to be a mime in
one episode. No, Im just kidding. I would like Joe to be a mime.
No
Q: Do you have particular favorite episodes?
Arquette: No, I like little scenes that
pop out to me. But its strange because its sort of not like -
when I look back on it, its not like an episode. Its like a
long story. Theres no break between them because the consistency
is this family experience. For me its one life.
Q: How about you, Jake?
Weber: Yeah. Well first of all, this
show is hard to write, you know. And Im always surprised at what
they come up with and different scenarios for these characters. You
know, one of the things that they are exploring now is this sort of -
how Allison sort of assumes the characteristics of somebody that she
is channeling, whether it be somebody that has a hearing loss or -
so, you know, that could turn into a whole world of strangeness, you
know. We could have the whole sort of My Left Foot situation
going on there. But, you know, my favorite episode, I think it still
is this one episode from the first year. I think it was the first
year where they were all going to make a trip somewhere and Allison
kept having these dreams about a plane that was going down. And so
they end up driving and it was just one of the episodes in which they
really integrated her psychic visions with the practical thing that
was affecting the family. And thats when the show works at its
best, I believe, is when they integrate those two. And it was a very
simple storyline. It wasnt a very convoluted plot. It was
basically just finding a missing gal. But it was quite affecting
because of its simplicity and the way it was all integrated.
Arquette: I remember like a moment that
I really loved where our daughter, Bridgette is talking about her
friend at school and were just glad that she has a friend because
shes a bit of an outcast/oddball at that time - different kind of
kid. We love her, but were just glad that she seems to have found
a friend that also appreciates her. And then Joe shows up at school
and he realizes that shes talking to no one. Shes seeing a
ghost. And theres just a beautiful moment of him watching her and
her being in her own world, and how if he didnt believe this or
know this, that he would think his daughter was insane basically. And
we have some good scrap ups in the kitchen, too.
Weber: Yeah. Nothing like a good dust up in the kitchen, in the
DuBois kitchen.
Q: Youve talked a lot about working
with the kids and the family dynamic. And I want to extend what
everyone else has said about the marriage situation being one of the
most realistic on TV, and I think part of that extends to the kids as
well. They seem like real kids and your interactions with them seem
really genuine. And I was wondering if you could talk a little bit
about how working with these very young actresses changes your own
performances and how you have to work around, you know, their needs
as performers?
Weber: Thats a good question. Patricia, why dont you take a
whack at that?
Arquette: Okay. I think the kids have
changed a lot, but its always been great working with them because
they werent like professional actors in a way. I mean, Sofia had
done a couple of movies, but other than that they were just real kids
- real kids that were very funny and fascinating, and raw, and real,
and inquisitive. So they would just get bored of stuff and they
wouldnt say oh, youre going to say this again - why do we keep
saying this? Arent we done? When are we going to be finished? And
so you have to kind of go with whatever they happen to say and be
present in the moment. And I mean, theres been a big evolution in
their own craft. But theyre still kids at the end of the day and
so there is just an inherent reality in them. And I think it says a
lot about Glenn and his choice in casting. Theres certainly a lot
of kind of showboat Hollywood style acting kids through no fault of
their own who have been like over-trained in the wrong way. And he
didnt hire kids like that. So theyre authentic. They really are
authentic.
Q: Bridgette is absolutely hilarious.
Is she as funny when she is with you guys as she comes across on
screen?
Arquette: Oh, I think shes funnier.
She is - I dont even - I cant even explain her. Ive never
met anyone like her.
Q: She really seems like a unique little kid.
Arquette: Shes amazing.
Weber: She is a piece of work - not too tightly wrapped, that one.
Q: Now that Allison is famous and
well-known, how does that affect the visions? Are they aware of her
fame now because of this?
Arquette: Thats funny. No, we havent explored that. Thats a
good idea. Good thinking.
Q: Okay, so that aspect of the show is kind of business as usual?
Arquette: Yeah. No, she didnt go to
sleep and have like a fan club on the other side like yah - hey, I
heard you could see. There I am - theres not a clamoring of ghosts
on the other side, just sort of the same one every week. But thats
funny. To think about celebrity on the other side.
Q: Im just curious about what kind
of methods you employ as an actress to prepare when youre getting
ready to perform as Allison for the show?
Arquette: You
know - I mean, I did preparation early on when we first started to
sort of learning about this phenomenon and talking to people who had
this ability, and how it worked out for them. And then basically just
taking the material and trying to believe it, and being in the scene.
And Im lucky to work with people like Jake who are such solid
actors that I really can just believe the situation when Im
working with him, you know.
Warner: Now the show has, I guess you
could say a really kind of creepy vibe to it. Does that kind of
creepy vibe also come across on set as well or is the atmosphere
totally different?
Arquette: You know, Im not around a
lot when they shoot the actually grizzly scenes. But I do hear from
the crew that it does disturb them, sometimes even shooting it.
Q: Wow. And has anything paranormal happened on set before?
Arquette: No. Has anything happened, Jake?
Weber: Theres some weird shit going on over at the craft service
table.
Arquette: Please. Donuts are floating.
All right, we read TVs at lunchtime. No, nothing has happened and
I have to stay on Stigmata we had all kinds of weird things
happen. But on this we havent.
Q: What was your interest like before
you began this show on like psychic occurrences or the paranormal? Or
did you actually just get interested in that while working on the
show?
Arquette: I had a few readings from
people before and I remember a guy came up to me and said let me read
your palm when I was a teenager at McDonalds. And he was like
youre going to be an actress. Youre going to be a star. Go down
the street. I saw that theyre shooting something. Maybe you can
get a job. Youre going to be a star. And I was like oh, come on,
you know. I mean, I did dabble in being interested in that world. I
was always watching like Night Gallery and stuff like that
that dealt with, you know, kind of different subject matter. But I
never took it all that seriously. I just took everything with a grain
of salt. Just, you know - I mean, I feel like everything really is
revealed to you as its meant to be revealed to you.
Q: Now what about you, Jake? Did you
have any interest in the paranormal before you started the show?
Weber: Sadly Ive never had an
experience like Patricias or some of these fans that have pulled
me out of nowhere and told me that Im going to be a star which
explains a lot. I - god, you know, Im so sort of mired in Western
logic. Its very hard for me to get my head around this stuff. I
did date a gal from Malaysia for awhile and we went out there. And I
saw some kind of strange stuff there, but I always tried to explain
it rationally. But I think its more a testament to my limited
imagination and whether or not this stuff is actually out there.
Q: I know that you two have a really
good dynamic on screen as a married couple, as everyone has mentioned
during the call. Do you ever find yourselves acting like a married
couple when, you know, the cameras stop rolling - like just finishing
each others sentences or anything married like that?
Arquette: I think I do have that bad
habit of doing that. And Jake smacks me around every now and then.
No, Im just kidding.
Weber: I try not to listen to her.
Q: Hey folks. With all the upcoming
turmoil thats going to be going on, Jake I was wondering if Joe
actually gets a decent nights sleep or if [he keeps] being jolted
by Allisons gasping?
Weber: I think the only thing that is
truly consistent about this show, like from day one, season one to
day - episode nine, season four is that Joe will never get a solid
nights sleep.
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