Interview: Katrina Bowden Discusses her Untrustworthy PUBLIC MORALS Character, Similarities to 30 ROCK

While it didn't receive quite the fanfare that some of the other new shows have this season, Steven Spielberg and Edward Burns have quietly brought one television one of its most unique and satisfying dramas in TNT's PUBLIC MORALS. The show has a decidedly cinematic look and feel with gorgeous 1960s' locations and a story that feels both sweeping and intimate.

Having been met with both critical and public praise, the series focuses on the intersection of the police and crime in early-60s New York, especially in the Irish parts of town. The NYPD's PUBLIC MORALS division is tasked with keeping vices like prostitution, gambling, and other "victimless crimes" off of the streets. However, with such a big task, the plain clothes officers know that they are fighting a losing battle, and decide to simply "manage" the crime so that it doesn't get too out of control.

The show, which airs at 10:00pm on Tuesday nights on TNT, was created, written, and directed by Burns, who also stars; and features a cast of both acclaimed and up-and-coming actors. In addition to the likes of Burns, the cast includes two-time Tony-winner Brian Dennehy, Oscar-winner Timothy Hutton, Neal McDonough, and Katrina Bowden, best known for playing Liz Lemon's sexy assistant Cerie Xerox for the entire run of the NBC comedy 30 ROCK.

After seven seasons as the naïve sexpot, Bowden is enjoying the opportunity to move into a deeper drama, even if it means that her character might not be safe week to week.

"It's a very good show, and I'm really proud to be a part of it," she said. "Ed (Burns) said from the very beginning, 'We have a big ensemble cast, some of you won't make it.' He's a big fan of GAME OF THRONES, where it's a danger every episode for every character. So, don't get attached, because he is willing to kill people off, as he has done already with a couple of really great characters."

The show has been in the works for nearly 20 years, as Burns has drawn inspiration from his father's time as a New York City police officer. "It's such a passion project for him," Bowden said, "as an actor you feel a little bit of extra pressure to get it right and make it perfect."

With Burns being intimately involved in every aspect of the series, Bowden said it allowed the actors an unusual opportunity to have access to the show's creative mind. "Normally when you are working on something, you don't have direct communication with the writer or the creator, so it's really great to have such an open line of communication with him," she said. "It's really easy to talk to him and find out more about our character, and come to conclusions about what we are doing in the scene."

While that type of direct connection is unusual on TV sets, working side-by-side with the series creator is something with which Bowden has quite a bit of experience.

"On 30 ROCK, we had Tina Fey and Robert Carlock on set all the time, so we had access to our big-time bosses (laughs)," she said. "It was really nice to be able to find out from them what they meant by a certain thing, or what they wanted the character to be exactly, and that's very similar to PUBLIC MORALS with Ed Burns."

On the show, Bowden plays Fortune, a high-end prostitute, whose innocent demeanor endears her to Officer Charlie Bullman, played by Michael Rapaport. Bullman feels sorry for her, and at first tries to get her to quit the business. However, there is an increasing sense that Fortune might be just as ambitious and manipulative as any of the show's mob figures.

"She's sweet, and you like her, but you don't really trust her," Bowden says of Fortune. "I think that's a really cool part of the character; that she's sweet on the outside, and you kind of are rooting for her, but (laughs) you just don't know if she's just going to end up screwing everyone over in the end."

While Bowden obviously couldn't get into details about the this year's remaining four episodes, she did say that audiences will find out more about what motivates Fortune in the back-half of the season.

"I think deep down she just craves a normal life," Bowden said, "but in the world that she lives in, she can't ever really have a normal life. There is definitely a struggle with that for her, especially towards the end of the season."

In the first six episodes, most of Bowden's scenes have been with Rappaport, but she knows first-hand how difficult it can be to juggle all of the stories of such a rich canvas of characters.

"What 30 ROCK did really well, and what I think PUBLIC MORALS does really well also, is that you have so many characters, and you don't want any of them to get lost in the shuffle," she said. "Of course in every episode every single character can't have a major storyline, but both shows do a really good job of balancing out different characters' stories from week to week."

In last week's episode, to shield her from having to work for a madam and to keep her safe, Bullman offers to manage Fortune's business, despite the fact that his captain (Robert Knepper) and his partner, played by Burns, urge him to cut all ties with her, before it gets too personal.

"You see how the business deal is kind of tricky to handle, because there are some emotions that get involved," Bowden says of upcoming episodes. "Of course, the relationship between Bullman and Fortune grows. There's definitely a culmination at the end of the season, but I can't tell you exactly what!"

To catch up with PUBLIC MORALS before we see where Fortune and Bullman's relationship is headed, you can stream all of the first season episodes on the show's official website. The next episode, "Collection Day," airs tonight at 10:00pm on TNT. Check out the teaser below:

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Do you think Fortune is going to end up being more sweet or manipulative? 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.

Photo Credit: TNT
Banner Image: Katrina Bowden and Michael Rappaport on PUBLIC MORALS

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