Abigail Spencer Talks Extended Family, Live Audiences, and Returning To Suits
In Extended Family, Jim (Jon Cryer) and Julia (Abigail Spencer) split in an amicable divorce. The ex-couple continues to raise their children at the family home, while the parents take turns staying with them. Navigating divorce and raising children gets more complicated when Trey (Donald Faison), the owner of the Boston Celtics, steals Julia’s heart. Pop Culture Planet’s Jordan Bohan spoke with Abigail Spencer about the new NBC sitcom.
Mike O’Malley’s masterful writing is the center point of the series which make it surprising to learn that the situation and characters are based on real people. “When I read the script, I didn't know it was inspired by a real family,” revealed Spencer. “I just wanted to see this kind of divorce on television. I'm auditioning — I do not have the part yet — but I'm like, I am Julia. Then Amelia, who the character is inspired by, gets on and we honestly could be sisters. It was crazy!”
Spencer was drawn to the fun and light energy in Extended Family. “A lot of the comedy comes from — instead of the three of us being antagonistic toward each other — a problem outside of us. Even though we may have certain feelings about it. How can we band together and work together to face the outside problem?” she shared. “I think we need it right now. I wanted to do a comedy because this is what I need personally. I need to laugh. I need to be a part of something like this and bring more joy and and delight. It goes down easy. I think that's really nice and what sitcoms are made for.”
While she’s no stranger to sitcoms or performing in front of audiences, Extended Family is a first for her. “This is my first live studio audience show where we rehearse all week and then on Friday nights we put on a show,” Spencer told me. “I grew up doing theater and got my start in the theater so it feels like returning home. I feel like I'm being shot out of a canon every single week. Sometimes I'm absolutely terrified but I have an incredible parachute in Donald, John, Jamie Widdoes, and Mike O’Malley so I'm pretty lucky.”
Another project of Spencer’s had a resurgence over the summer when it hit Netflix. Becoming the most streamed series worldwide, the legal drama Suits took over pop culture and continues to climb. ”It's wild! I'm glad it's happening when we all kind of still look the same. I'm so grateful that people have found the show because I believed it was a great show when we were making it,” she shared. “To know that people have found it now and are saying, ‘This is a great show.’ We finished shooting three years ago and my character came in and out. Aaron Korsh, the creator, was just very kind to invite me back again and again. I need to go back and watch it. I got to join this rewatch!'“
It was recently announced that the creator of the series Aaron Korsh is working on a Los Angeles based spinoff to feature a brand new cast. When asked about ever wanting to return to the Suits character Scotty, Spencer had no reservations. “Absolutely!” she enthused. “Last we saw Scotty she had gone to London and her and Harvey kept up their working relationship. Obviously now he's moving moved on with Donna, but I don't think they've really ever moved on in a work capacity. I'm so curious. We'll see what Aaron has in store for Suits: LA. It would be a delight if he wanted me to come back and play Scotty. It'll be a new cast, but I loved my scene partners from Suits. I love that cast so much and it was a joy to to shoot every scene with them. I mean, really and truly. The writing is so tremendous so I'm excited to see what Aaron does next and, if he calls me, even better!”
Catch new episodes of Extended Family airing Tuesdays on NBC and the next day on Peacock.
