Dear Scully,
I just read your interview in the London Telegraph, the one where the interviewer asked you if you’d ever return to series television, and you gave an answer that made my blood pressure spike and my hands go a little clammy. If you need your memory refreshed, you spat up some insufferable comment along the lines of, "Oh, shut the [bleep] up! Are you kidding me? My God, I don’t even watch television. I don’t like television. I never have liked it. The whole concept of sitting down in front of a TV feels like one of the things that’s destroying society, as far as I’m concerned."
Now, I could go on a verbose rant about how you made a name for yourself (and plenty of money) helping to destroy the society you’re now so staunchly defending while you spent nine seasons starring on The X-Files. (Also, there was that very fine version of Dickens’ Bleak House you made for the BBC and Masterpiece Theater two years ago. What was that, chopped liver?) But instead, I actually want to help you, Gillian, because I’m a fan of your work — in everything from your addictive Fox drama to your recent turn in The Last King of Scotland. Actually, if I’m being honest, I want to help you but also point out how very, very, very wrong and foolish you are.
So here goes. I challenge you to tune in to Ugly Betty on Thursday and tell me it doesn’t fill you with all the tingly joy you’d get at the end of a good Broadway musical. On the same night, I double-dog-dare you to DVR (don’t front — you know what that stands for) 30 Rock and tell me it doesn’t pack more laughs into 30 minutes than the average big-screen comedy does into 120. Also, for a study in how TV is often more thrilling and chilling than any big-screen blockbuster, take an hour to watch Lost on Wednesday. And finally, tonight, I insist you catch The Bachelor: Officer and a Gentleman tonight, because sometimes, your brain needs a bag of Cheetos as badly as your taste buds.
Also, you kiss your kids with that filthy mouth? Booo!
Love,
Slezak
p.s. BTW, Sculls, I’m not gonna even mention Idol, ’cause I know you’re already on Team Jordin. Psych!
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Its true. The best writing in America is not happening in film or the New York/London/Chicago/regional stage. Its on television. No contest.
I agree with Owen wholeheartedly! I used to be a movie addict but I’ve converted to a TV addict because that’s where the quality is. I read that interview with Gillian Anderson, she is a potty-mouth!
I hate when people bash television as if there are no bad books, movies, songs, plays or operas. Why is one form of entertainment automatically better then any other
I use to be a movie snob as well. You’d never catch me watching somethin as mundane as television. But I saw the light, and actually, the early days of the X-files helped me see that TV could be the most creative and most satisfying venues for storytelling and character development. Until the shows go on a couple years longer than they should.
I remember Sharon Stone dissing Gillian Anderson when they worked on the movie “The Mighty,” saying that she deigned to work with people who were from TV. Glad to know that Gillian and Sharon now share the same hubris. Gillian, here’s a tip from a fan: Do not forget the rock from which you were cut. The people who put you on top weren’t theatre critics, but tv fans like me who enjoy quality writing from folks like Chris Carter, Joss Whedon, David Chase, Greg Daniels et al. Owen is right about some of the best writing being on TV. You’d be lucky to have a role on the Sopranos. Why do you think people like Glenn Close and Forrest Whitaker do TV? And you never know. If your people don’t manage your money well, you might end up back on tv, so show a little gratefulness and respect.
X-Files made a name for Ms Anderson but that doesn’t mean that she is forever indebted to Television. Granted, her comment could have been less hostile but she is as entitled to her opinion as you are yours. Not everyone has to love Television. Isn’t that a novel concept?
Poor Gillian,
she has indeed lost her way. But maybe it was that last season of the X-Files that turned her off. The way the show was extended forever so they could still make money from it, that would turn anyone bitter and she must have felt used. But today’s best stories are often on Television. I cite “LOST” which is a novel for the television audience. Today’s tv surpasses in creativity and quality a lot of the movies in the market. As a matter of fact looking at the top ten movies of this week, I would have to say, i’d rather watch some television. In moderation of course. All good things in moderation.
Bravo Slezak! I challenge any person who looks down his noise on tv to watch Heroes tonight. It’s sharper, more exciting and better written than 75% of movies being made today.
Gillian who?
That’s right, she’s living in England amongst the “serious” actors. And five years from now, she will be begging for an acting job on TV; don’t they all?
Ms. Anderson and Ms. Stone should give back their Emmys!
Gillian Anderson often makes a fool of herself in interviews. I’ve marveled at what and idiot she seems to be whenever she appears on Leno or Letterman. She’s an excellent actress, but maybe she shouldn’t speak unless someone else writes the words for her.
what an ungreatful ass
GT-
Totally agree with you. Sometimes I hear people say “TV rots your brain,” but then they go on to name movies they love. Makes no sense to me. I’ve seen some pretty bad TV shows, but I’ve also seen the same amount of bad movies.
This is why I have to fight my urge to know the people behind the characters they portray. Not all actors are likable outside of their craft, but I will give them props on their art.
Well, the obvious question is, what does Mulder think?!?!? That’s the stereotype; you ‘graduate’ from TV to movies/Broadway etc…..I guess we shouldn’t count on Scully to participate in an X-Files reunion, huh? Gillian, may Jack Bauer have mercy on your soul…..
She’ll probably do an X-files reunion if it’s in movie form. In fact, I think that’s what they have planned.
Gillian Anderson has always been something of a snob so I’m not surprised to hear this from her. I agree with the person that said that she’s entitled to her opinion but she doesn’t have to be so rude and dismissive.
I think that someone already said this, but movies can be as mind-rotting as television. Bleak House was on PBS last night. It’s fabulous and she’s fabulous in it and not in the least bit mind-rotting. Television is the only place something like Bleak House would be done. I think it’s about 12 hours long in total. To condense it to make a 2 hour movie would do great diservice to the plot and the original novel. So I guess television isn’t so bad after all.
Hear, hear, Slezak! And I agree with Lucy–TV brought Bleak House to a huge audience, and it is the only format that could sustain it at that length. I’m pretty bored with all those American celebs who move to London and start bashing the U.S. I bet Gillian has developed quite the faux British accent, just like her fellow expatriates Madonna and Gwynyth Paltrow.
Out of context! Completely out of context. The interview that came from was a crappy piece of journalism. Gillian Anderson has said, since the Pilot, that she doesn’t like or watch TV, but she has always been quick to say that she’s grateful for the opportunity X-Files gave her, in terms of financial freedom and experience.
Before people go harping, read all of those interviews, not the out of context exerpt from a really bad piece of journalism.
Daang, Gillian Anderson dissed TV? Totally not cool. Just because Sci Fi TV’s gotten a ton better since the days she was on doesn’t mean she should be dissing the entire medium.
Plus, TV allows talented actors and actresses to get famous WITHOUT getting naked in front of the cameras (Gillian, we are totally looking in your direction, little miss nudie scenes before the X Files).
Finally, it’s not as if the movies have been particularly kind to Ms. Anderson. Other than Last King of Scotland, she hasn’t exactly been in Earth Shattering fare…
Dude, Slezak-You Rock! Personally, I never understood all the hype about her to begin with. Wasn’t a fan then, definately won’t be now.
Gillian was raised in the UK and didn’t return to the US until her late teens. She has had a British accent since her teens and speaks with it on talk shows.
Well I have to say, Gillian is of an age when, in her youth, TV was truly a mess, with maybe 5% of shows worth watching. Better to read, go outside and play, or god forbid, make something of your life.
And have you lived in England? Wow – when I was there, 2 channels filled with Benny Hill, and all TV ended at midnight. It could turn you off forever. So maybe understand her context.
But now, there are truly brilliant shows on (when they don’t get cancelled). The Wire comes to mind as the central masterpiece. BG, AD, etc.
But there is still a ton of junk.
ugh- she is the gwyneth paltrow of television. insufferable doesn’t begin to describe them both.
Ms. Anderson has never made a secret of the fact that she saw The X-Files as a stepping stone to starring in movies and the theatre. She’s right about most TV: it’s brainless junk, albeit sometimes entertaining brainless junk. And EW: give up the pimping of 30 Rock. It isn’t funny and almost no one watches it.
I read the original interview and the interviewer was a complete jerk and pretty much set the tone of the entire interview.. So she said she hates TV … big deal. I’m sure she didn’t expect that one comment to get any notice much less get circulated around the globe. Is it really fair to take someone’s comment out of context and then make all these assumptions about their thinking behind it? I’m on Gillian’s side. I’m sick of the media trying to make a big deal out of nothing!
I would guess that deep down inside, she is very proud of her work as Dana Scully, but she obviously had to put up with a lot of stuff over the years.
I believe that she and David Duchovny got along, but there was always a rivalry between them, too. For instance, it probably hurt that she won an Emmy, but he always made more money than she.
Maybe all of her frustrations just finally boiled to the surface. Or perhaps it was post-partum depression since she recently gave birth to her second child.
I, for one, am looking forward to another “X-Files” movie!
Just one viewing each of ‘House’ and ‘The Office’ completely negates any derogatory sentiments Gillian Anderson has towards TV. Enough said.
If Gillian lived in the UK, she’s got LESS reason to hate on tv. The UK gets many of the “better” american shows. They also get to watch BBC shows on their first run.
TV sucks compared to what? The movies? Even the owners of the movie studios complain that quality of writing in flicks has gone downhill. Seriously, is Battlestar Galactica doing more harm to society than “Pathfinder”?
Gillian Anderson isn’t happy (or in the news, for that matter) unless she’s complaining about something. Her last bit of fame was when she beefed that Duchovny was making a lot more money than her.
Everyone from Glenn Close to Jeff Goldblum is doing cameos or trying to set up their own series. Ms. Anderson’s rant sounds more like sour grapes than a real complaint, so maybe Gillian’s upset no one has invited her back to tv?
To be fair, if you read the entire interview she does point out that she’s talking about how she won’t do any long-running series’, not TV in general (the excellent “Bleak House” ran- as intended- only 15 episodes).
From the whole interview it seems obvious that she is very driven and determined to do only quality work. As far as the “potty mouth” comment about her, I don’t think it’s any more than other interviews I’ve read, and she certainly uses her language to emphasize real ideas rather than cussing for the sake of it. She seems to be a very strong, admirable woman.