True story; back in January, I had an idea to talk to insanely talented Broadway stars about the TV shows that they obsess over; after all they have to have as many guilty pleasures as the rest of us, right? Then, after they answered the questions, the Broadway star would suggest another Broadway star to receive the same ridiculous TV-related treatment. The first edition of the BWW TV 10, with BroadwayWorld's BACHELOR-expert extraorinaire Patti Murin, was fantastic, and Patti suggested that we get in touch with Brynn O'Malley.
In addition to six Broadway shows, Brynn has guest-starred on ROYAL PAINS, A GIFTED MAN, and as Derek's agent on SMASH; and she appeared in an episode of SAY YES TO THE DRESS in an effort to find a dance-friendly gown that she could wear in HONEYMOON IN VEGAS on Broadway. Check out the episode below:
1) You openly admit that you and your boyfriend (SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE's Bobby Moynihan) are obsessive LOST fans. So, other than LOST, what are your Top-5 favorite TV shows of all time?
Ugh...there are so many. I really have a television problem.
Ok, in no particular order: BIG BROTHER, THE COMEBACK, THE OFFICE (UK), SEINFELD, and ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS. That was brutal.
A photo posted by Brynn O'Malley (@brynnomalley) on Jun 25, 2015 at 9:15am PDT
2) You have said publicly that BIG BROTHER is "the greatest gameshow in the history of television." Defend yourself.
Well, putting aside the "game" aspect for a moment, as a reality TV fan, it is the realest reality show there is. These people are on 24/7 surveillance. They start forgetting they're on camera by the end of Day 1, and then there's about 99 more to go. As a person, let alone an actor, being able to watch other people on camera who have forgotten they are on TV is a breathtaking study in human behavior. It's impossible to hide your true personality on BIG BROTHER. People come into the house every year trying to present themselves a certain way to America, just like every other reality show. But on other shows, the cameras eventually shut off and you get to be yourself. There's no significant break on BIG BROTHER. The real "you" can and always will be revealed, quickly. These are real people in real circumstances.
NOW, incorporate the GAME into that environment. It's hermetically sealed. It's pure as the driven snow. And it is a metaphor for the human experience. It's a predominantly social game, but it also challenges the players' courage, strength, intelligence, memory, athleticism, etc. the list goes on and on. It is a game that exploits every single facet of a players' body, mind, and heart and those exploitations eventually lead to winners and losers.
Every season I learn something about myself and the people in my life. It affects the way I deal with people at work. If you go deep with a season of BIG BROTHER, you'll find yourself "playing" your life the way you would play BIG BROTHER. And you'll find that it works. Because BIG BROTHER....is LIFE!!!
(Also this season they had a set of identical twins lie to the house and switch in and out of the house as ONE PERSON! And this one season they tested the DNA of all the applicants and cast two people who didn't know each other existed, when in fact, THEY WERE ACTUALLY BROTHER AND SISTER AND THEY DISCOVERED IT TOGETHER WHILE THEY WERE LIVING IN THE BIG BROTHER HOUSE!! I'm sorry but CELEBRITY APPRENTICE is TELETUBBIES compared to this show.)
3) What is your favorite piece of LOST memorabilia that you own? Why?
Our collection is so ridiculous. Truly. It's so extravagant we actually don't feel comfortable putting pictures of it online because 10% of people who've seen it are blown away and jealous... and the rest are HORRIFIED. We would have to take a week to reeeeeally hash out the pros and cons of letting the public in on our sick obsession. But to give you an IDEA of how ridiculous it is, I will tell you this: we own the fish biscuit machine. The actual fish biscuit machine.
4) Bigger TV sleaze bag; SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE's Drunk Uncle or SMASH's Derrick Wells? Why?
DEREK WELLS!!!!!!!! He made girls sleep with him in exchange for work! This is a direct quote from Drunk Uncle, "If I want to see your boobs, I'll marry you!" Case closed.
5) On social media (@BrynnOMalley), you regularly make reference to a little known sitcom called SEINFELD. For those that have never heard of it, could you sum up its brilliance in one (or two) quotes from the show?
"Well, birthdays are merely symbolic of how another year's gone by and how little we've grown. No matter how desperate we are that someday a better self will emerge, with each flicker of the candles on the cake we know it's not to be. That for the rest of our sad, wretched, pathetic lives, this is who we are to the bitter end - inevitably, irrevocably. Happy birthday? No such thing."
"Jerry, just remember, it's not a lie if you believe it."
There are so many reasons why SEINFELD is the best: The realistic portrayal of New York City; every single choice Julia Louis-Dreyfus ever made. But my favorite reason? It's DARK. AS. F%CK. :)
A photo posted by Brynn O'Malley (@brynnomalley) on Jun 26, 2015 at 5:37pm PDT
6) If you could take over any role on any TV show, current or cancelled, what would it be, and why?
Well, the obvious answer is Elaine Benes. But, to be perfectly honest, I desperately want Don Wollman's job. He's the co-executive producer of Big Brother and has been with the show from the start. He's also the "voice" of "Big Brother" in the house. I would give up performing for the rest of my life to sit in the driver's seat of that show.
7) Would you rather have Tony Banta drive you in a taxi or Tony Micelli clean your house? Why?
Tony Micelli! I'm a slob. I could really use the help.
8) Other than yourself, who would play you in a TV movie of your life? Why?
Either Katy Perry, Rose Byrne, Jennifer Connelly, Emily Blunt, Taylor Schilling, Megan Boone, or Zooey Deschanel. Because if one of them did, people would no longer feel compelled to tell me how much I look like them, and that would shave two minutes off every conversation I have with a new person.
9) It's been almost five years, and I still haven't worked through all of my feelings, so could you tell me how I am supposed to feel about the LOST finale?
Listen, I can understand if the finale disappointed you in some way, but if you can't get over it enough to admit that it was still six of the most thrilling seasons of television you've ever seen, then, frankly, you just weren't worthy of them. Dude, you feel whatever you want to feel. It's your life. Make the most of it. Did you have a good experience watching the show? Did you enjoy it? What about your life? That's LOST, man, that's LOST.
(If anybody wants to actually get into this, you know where to find me.)
10) What theatre professional do you think should answer the next TV Ten?
Andrew Rannells is truly one of the funniest people I know, and a whore for good TV. There's no way he'll disappoint.
(Since it took so long to get this column together, Brynn and I thought a couple of bonus questions were in order)
Bonus 1) The weirdest thing that you saw at ComicCon this year was:
This girl dressed as "Slave Elsa". I am all for cosplay and live for a clever mash-up but......young lady.....
Bonus 2) Are there any TV shows that you are especially excited to see? Why?
THE. MUPPETS. Because THE MUPPETS.
Does it make you feel better to know that even super talented Broadway stars like Brynn O'Malley are as obsessed with TV as you are? Let me know in the comments below, or on Twitter @BWWMatt. If you want to follow along with my "366 in 366" articles, you can check out #BWW366in366 on Twitter. Also, don't forget to follow @BWWTVWorld on Twitter and Like us on Facebook for all of the latest TV news, reviews, and recaps.
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