From an interview with Craig Wright: “Peter Krause plays Nick George, the lawyer trying to keep his morals in the world of the Darling family.”

Wright goes on to say:

I'm curious to see how the creators/actor handle this and depict it, in terms of plotlines, characterization and outward appearance (wardrobe, etc). My sense is Nick is supposed to be the viewers' entry into the crazy world of the Darlings, so I hope TPTB don't let Nick get caught up in the trappings of the Darlings world too quickly (if at all). I'm more interested in seeing him try to hold on to what he values in his own world.

The full interview is here

(Didn't want to try to name this thread, since I haven't seen the pilot, and don't think I could come up with a clever phrase for Nick just yet)

Interestingly although the original series was Wright's concept, it was Berlanti (the other producer) who wanted to add the character of Nick, the outsider who would serve as contrast to the Darlings and give the audience a clear viewpoint. Then they both thought Krause would be perfect for it--and he turned them down. Four times.

Berlanti went on to say that it was his job to "stall an impatient ABC until Wright convinced Krause to say yes."

So far all the early reviews say that some of the best scenes in the first 2 or 3 episodes are Nick and Tripp (the Donald Sutherland character) together. I read one rumour that some of the fine tuning being done after episode 5 involved increasing Nick's screen time even more.

I can't be the only one who's watching this show basically just in order to see Peter Krause on my TV screen again. I just hope he has a character that's even half as good to work with as what he had on Six Feet Under.

I do wish he was rocking a different haircut for this show though. Not necessarily the Nate haircut (although that would be easy on the eyes), but the one he has in the clips I've seen makes him look...frumpy.

The official ABC site has some great short interview clips with Peter Krause talking about the show. Two things stand out.

1. He explains why he first turned down the part.

2. He is one of the kindest working actors I've seen in a long time. In one clip, the interviewer tosses him an open-ended question about the themes of the show, and he reframes it to make it specific to the young actor with him and gives it to her to answer. That's very rare behaviour.

Go the the ABC Dirty Sexy Money homepage and look for the videos of Themes of ABC's New Fall Show Dirty Sexy Money and Back to Work. He's in several of the other clips as well.

I'm going to respond to the hairstyle comment over in the hair and wardrobe topic, since I suspect it's part of an overall planned look for the show.

How many times is Peter Krause going to play a man married to a woman named Lisa? (Casey from SN, Nate on SFU and now this). Judging by this track record, unless they are already divorced and I haven't heard about it, I give the Georges' marriage 13 episodes or until February sweeps.

How many times is Peter Krause going to play the prodigal son brought into the family business because of the death of his father? Given the similarities between this show and Six Feet Under, I'm not surprised in the least that he turned down this show 4 times. He plays the role well, but I don't blame him for wanting something fresher than this. Still, I think I'll tune in because he cracks me up and I loved Six Feet Under.

Peter Krause interview from the Washington Post:



Edited to add

Sept. 23rd New York Magazine Feature Profile on Krause

ImNotLeesa linked to a great interview in the Media thread (thanks!). Reading about how much Peter loved Sports Night and he would only have made an exception for Arrested Development made me love him all the more. Also, very interesting that he was gunning for NBC's Journeyman before blowing his knee.

You're welcome, ainoarwen. I had the same reaction to that interview.

Personally, I'm glad Peter Krause landed in DSM instead of Journeyman. I think we'll get a chance to see his funnier, and funner, side in this show - a side I haven't seen since Sports Night (Plus, I saw a promo shot from Journeyman showing the lead actor in a grey t-shirt/dark grey shorts..looking like he had just gone running...it was a little too reminicient of Nate Fisher for me)

I'm happy to see PK play a character who isn't afraid to show a full range of emotions: when Nick is celebrating his new job and $10M charity fund with his wife, he seemed truly joyful; when he's ticked off at Brian, he doesn't hold it in, he tears after him and tackles him to the ground.

It's not that the character isn't complex, or has simplistic emotions/motivations. (just watch PK in the scene where Tripp offers Nick the job for evidence of his complexity - a dozen conflicting emotions are playing off his face/posture/voice at any one time) I guess it's just nice to see PK in a role that doesn't involve Nate's smothering blanket of misery on SFU, playing a character who allows himself to be happy, sad, angry, etc, not trying to repress his true emotions most of the time.

What I really loved about Nick--and about PK in the role--is that every single reaction of his was on point. There was never really a moment where you didn't know where this guy was coming from, which was really nice.

And it's also nice to see someone so rootable--the role of Nick is pretty much invaluable, I've noticed, without him the show's too off the wall to work.

In other words, I'm very excited to have this show and Peter Krause on my TV.

I thought Peter did an excellent job of making Nick feel real and believable. I was surprised at how much I loved the show. I checked in because of my love for Peter and Sports Night. I didn't ever see him on Six Feet Under so I don't know much about Nate except what you pick up around places like this. Welcome back, Peter! Nice job and good show.

I was a big fan of "Six Feet Under". Nate Fisher was one of the most poignant and infuriating characters on television. Peter Krause did such a wonderful job in that role, I had to watch Dirty Sexy Money. I wasn't disappointed in the pilot. It was riveting. And I cannot take my eyes off Krause.

I am so happy to see him on TV again, and it's nice to see the Nate-Shorts again as well....

I already can't see anyone else in this part. Peter is just so damn likable(IMO).

I'm just glad that we're finally starting to see improvements in the hair. Good grief, that hair from the original pilot...just painful.

The way he says "OH MY GOD" in next week's preview is just priceless and SO hilarious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkcLo26OLY0

I adore Peter Krause so I love Nick; hell, I even loved him as Nate at his worst. I'd watch him just for his hairy chest and his big biceps, but I'm totally unbiased. Heh. I find it wonderful that Elle Fanning is his daughter again. That chemistry in The Lost Room wasn't wasted at all.

ETA: Dammit! (about Elle)

She was in the pilot, but the part was recast for the rest of the series.

I agree that Elle Fanning and Peter Krause seem to have good chemistry as father and daughter; they were believable and had a spark together in The Lost Room. Not sure why the Kiki George role in DSM was recast...I'm waiting to see more from the character/new actress before I have a judgement on it.

And, I'm not sure if this belongs in the media thread or here...since it's PK specific, I linked it here.
Peter Krause is featured in a recent Details magazine article (link from Televisionista here, scroll down a bit. )

He's modeling styles from the last 6 decades, the '70's one just completely reminds me of Michael Douglas in the Streets of San Francisco days..not sure if it's the expression, the wide lapels, the shades, or the hair...but I'm having flashbacks to my pre-teen youth :-) Also, since in interviews PK comes across as really thoughtful, deep/non-superficial, the styling/posing by decade just cracks me up.

Okay Peter Krause's nekkid chest freaks me out.

I though he looked mighty fine tonight!

Oh, yeah, and his acting was really good, too.

Loved the scenes with Lisa - both the playful ones, and the serious one toward the end of the Italian trip. I'm happy that Nick (so far) seems totally committed to Lisa, and is not harboring any longing for Karen.

Oh man, I love seeing Peter Krause's body. I had an extreme fascination with his biceps when he was on SFU because they were so round like grapefruit (not so much now, I guess). Anyway, his chest is so hairy and for want of a better word, normal. I'm sure he grooms and all but it doesn't look manscaped -- which is what I like because some of these actors are so groomed and shaved sometimes (I'm looking at you, Jeremy Piven!), they kinda lose a little bit of their masculinity.

P.S. I thought Freddy called him Nate when they met in that restaurant.

Me too hypertwink! I was really confused for a moment. The character names keep confusing me about what PK show I'm watching.

hypertwink, given your post's comparison of Peter Krause's appearance to Jeremy Piven's, I thought you'd enjoy this:

In the NY Mag interview linked upthread, it includes this comment (the italics are mine):


I like them both, what can I say.

I want to like Nick, but I just can't forgive him for naming his daughter Kiki. Normally I have no problem with unusual names, but seriously, Kiki?Who does that to a child?

Maybe that is an example of flakiness that Lisa mentioned seeing in Nick's college days.

Plus neither he nor Lisa have noticed that their daughter seems to have aged 2 years and her appearance / demeanor have changed dramatically since Dutch's death. In the pilot, Nick was able to carry 'Kiki' while in the crowd at Dutch's funeral. I don't think he could do that with new Kiki. I know he's been distracted by Darling-palooza, but you'd think he'd notice that his daughter has been replaced by a pleated skirt wearing pod person. ;-)

Is Kiki a nickname? On The OC, Caleb always called Kirsten 'Kiki' and Julie Juju. Maybe her real name is Kirsten, Kimberly or something like that?

Though I hate to admit it, I recorded The View today to catch PK's appearance.

While I'd hoped he would talk a bit about what was going on with the show (with the strike, and with no full season pick-up), no such luck. (If he was appearing on Charlie Rose, that would have been a completely different story... )

He did share a story with Whoopi Goldberg about how she was one of the people who gave him inspiration when he was studying drama in college: he had created a group of funny characters and was struggling to combine them into one piece; a professor suggested he check out WG's work; he did, was impressed by her work and it helped him pull together his senior project successfully. A few of the interviewers seemed stuck on talking about Six Feet Under, but since they all interrupted each other, he really didn't get a chance to comment about it. Whoopi said she liked The Lost Room, and PK talked about how that series' themes examined people's relationship to material things and money - it seemed to me as if he was bringing the topic back around to DSM, but someone else jumped in and changed the subject. (reminding me, again, why I don't watch The View)

There was a funny bit when they were discussing the over-the-top excess of DSM and the Darlings, and guest-host Tori Spelling chimed in about how she had grown up with people like that. PK wanted her take on whether the show's portrayal was accurate. We never got a chance to hear Ms. Spelling's answer.

On a completely shallow note, he looked mighty fine - he seemed a little leaner than in the first few episodes of the show, and seems to have gotten a better haircut (and maybe even a little trim to the sideburns). On a not-so-shallow note, I'm wondering if the improvement in his haircut as the series has progressed is part of Nick's journey from hapless pro-bono lawyer to go-to-man for one of the world's richest families. I hope we get a chance to find out.

Oh, and Lyin Eyes, in case you missed it, he was wearing a flashy yellow tie, but none of the View-folk commented on it.

* also winks to all Sports Night fans *

(I wasn't sure whether this should go in the media thread, or this thread. If I should move it, just let me know. Thanks!)

I love him more than life itself. Wow.

Aw! Always great to see another Sports Night fan. In celebration, I think we should have something giant and blue for two dollars off.

I find this disappointing to a disproportionate degree. Someone could at least have dropped the word "gunmetal" into the conversation.

I bet if he was standing there hip deep in pie instead of wearing the yellow tie, they would have greatly increased the ratings.

Given that the next episode seems to include a Thanksgiving dinner with both Karen and Lisa present, I suspect Nick will get to spend at least some time 'hip deep in pie', at least with one of them, if not both. [ cue Crimson and Clover...oops, wrong episode, I think.]

Seriously, I'm not sure what to make of Nick in this episode. He seemed objectively supportive of Karen during her wedding confusion, just like a friend. That includes his 'almost tears' at the scene with Karen and Freddy after the wedding; he really seemed to be empathizing with both of them in a painful situation.

On the other hand, he hesitated a bit when Letitia ordered him to read the romantic riot act to Karen, like he was almost satisfied in a way that he'd still be a factor in Karen's emotions (even though Karen pulled the rug out from under him down a hour later). And, after the wedding and the annulment, when Karen kissed him, he seemed to almost consider reciprocating Karen's interest before skidattling off the rooftop.

Aside from Karen's ridiculous flirtation, and their confession about Nick's proposal, in previous episodes we haven't seen anything that would indicate there is anything between the two of them. And aside from her wealth and her beauty, there doesn't seem to be any particular draw for Nick to her. (That's not a knock on her, it's just that she mentioned in the pilot that he was the only man who really saw her for herself, not her money. We haven't seen him declare that Karen has that kind of singular insight into him..that she sees or understands the 'real Nick.') And Karen has been available, off and on, for years, so I can't believe that Nick wouldn't have already pursued her again if he was actually interested (before he committed to Lisa).

But Nick has only been emphatic about denying feelings for Karen when he's talking to Lisa. When he's with Karen, he kind of soft sells it. I can't really figure out why, unless he is still harboring some feelings for her. It's frustrating, though, as an audience member, to not have the backstory on that to provide some insight.

I'd almost rather that TBTB, if they wanted to push a 'Nick is tempted by Karen' plotline, not have Nick and Karen have a backstory, and instead had them connect in real time during the series. That way we would see the sparks fly, understand the attraction, and have it be something that made sense to us, instead of just being told about their wonderful teenage romance and having to assume that one (or both) of them is still carrying a torch.

I'd actually like to have it both ways--I'm convinced there's a really juicy backstory to Nick and Karen that explains Nick's attitude towards her, and see them connecting in real time, romantically or otherwise, so that we understand what Nick saw in Karen way back when. I think the show would be smart to have Karen pulled into the Simon Elder storyline, for example--she was the one who tipped Nick off in the pilot, and I can just see her wanting to 'help' Nick out, and to Nick's surprise, actually being helpful.

Regarding the backstory, the reason I think there's more than what we've been told is that we know that Nick has been happily committed to Lisa and his family for at least ten years, which hardly suggests that he's been secretly pining for Karen all this time. And yet there's something holding him back from shutting Karen down once and for all, even when she is admittedly (and I say this as someone who likes Karen) way out of line. Italy anyone? I don't think he's doing it for kicks or for an ego trip--and it wouldn't fit his role as the moral center of this bunch--which means there's something deeper going on there.

I freely admit my mind's working overtime on the possibilities--anything from an unplanned pregnancy when they were teenagers that ended in a miscarriage to Nick cheating on Karen when they were drunk in Italy--seems unlikely but it explains why he's always so nice to her--to, I don't know, Nick just generally acting like an ass when they were together, realizing it now, and feeling bad that she's still hung up on him when he knows he really doesn't deserve it. The possibilities are endless--and I have enough faith in the writers that whatever the backstory is, they'll be able to pull it off.

I'm not sure one can be faulted for 'wanting it both ways' for asking that TPTB show us, rather than tell us, that Nick still feels something for Karen. If we only get Karen's rather childish insistence that the 19-year-old Nick was the love of her life and that she's willing to work on breaking up his marriage for the sake of that conviction, and the show gives us nothing from Nick's side except an apparent unwillingness to refuse her categorically, it makes Karen's selfishness look increasingly deranged, and Nick look more and more like a clod. I agree that Nick's emphatic denials to Lisa are out of balance with his equivocating with Karen, and I am willing to assume that this is a deliberate choice by the show. I'm also willing to be convinced that Lisa knows something of the backstory (although that doesn't really fit with what happened in "La Chiavennasca") in order to give a foundation to her continuing jealousy. (I'd prefer it if Nick wasn't married to a paranoid loon. I'm funny that way.) I think it's possible to give a coherent backstory that informs the present, while still showing a growing connection between Nick and Karen in real time. I think this could be handled carefully enough that Nick's being tempted would be understandable, if not admirable. As it stands now, I can't get on board with Team Homewrecker, because (a) Karen wouldn't necessarily be any better at being in a relationship with Nick than with any of husbands 1 through 4 - Karen likes pining, I bet. And (b) Tish's brand of crazy is scarier than Karen's. Also, I don't really want to see Nick become That Guy.

Isn't it just that everyone knows Karen's hung up on Nick? Daisy asks him about it in passing in the pilot.

It could just be that - but I think if Lisa had more to go on than what everybody knows about Karen, her fears would seem more justified. What if there's something that gives her more reason not to take Nick's assurances at face value?

Such as his never mentioning having proposed to Karen?

Oh, yeah, that’s a big one.

And apparently, if I understand the promos correctly, Nick 'forgot' to mention to Lisa that Karen kissed him. Not that I blame him for that; I can’t imagine he could bring that up, gab some coffee and a Pop Tart, then casually head off to work at the Darlings’ house, where Karen lives. If Nick were my husband, all the “but I have to find out who killed my father!” pleading in the world would not let me condone his on-going return to a workplace where his boss (or boss’ daughter) made a move on him like that.

I can’t help but wonder why Nick never mentioned the proposal to Lisa, though. And we haven’t been given enough hints yet to really figure that out. (Lisa was perfectly justified in calling him on that, and he didn't really have any solid reason for it.)

I remember that, in some scenes I saw from the original pilot, Nick had a partner in his practice. Part of me wishes TPTB had kept that character just so that Nick could discuss the Karen situation with someone, allowing the audience to gain some insight on his thoughts and motivations. Daisy has served that purpose in the Nick/Dutch exposition (as has Lisa, to some extent); for obvious reasons they can’t serve that purpose with the Karen situation. Peter Krause may be talented, and he can convey incredibly complex emotions/motivations with his expressions, voice and posture, but right now it’s just leading me as a viewer to do a lot of guessing, which isn’t very emotionally satisfying.

Nick has come to be a bit of a sounding board for other characters, but there is no one who is a sounding board for him, and IMHO, the show suffers for it.

Okay, you've convinced me to take the job. Can we do it in bed?

I'mNotLeesa, I really like your idea of a confidant/sounding board for Nick. For a while there I thought Simon Elder would play that role for Nick, someone to whom he could talk about the craziness of the Darlings with, but now, given that Nick clearly (and rightfully) doesn't trust Elder at all, that's out.

However, if things really come to a head, I think in a pinch, Tripp could fill that role if need be. Obviously there are issues, not the least of which is that he's Karen's dad, and the uncomfortable parallels to Dutch and Letitia, but I do think the show's established enough Tripp's genuine love and affection for Nick to the point where he could counsel Nick if it became necessary. Plus, from Tripp's standpoint, it's a good idea to make sure Nick's not uncomfortable working for the family, which if Karen really does end up going all-out for Nick, will be a concern. Plus, it would be a good idea to round things out--as Couch Baron pointed out in a recap, we're seeing Tripp slowly becoming a second father to Nick, and it'd be nice to see a member of the Darling family giving something back to Nick emotionally, for a change.

My main feeling is that the writers have got to start explaining the Nick/Karen situation, and soon. However, given that we now apparently have an entire season to get to the bottom of this (yay!) I'm very excited to see where they go with it.

Depends on your feelings on fanfic, I suppose. Or there's TryingHarder's approach.

I agree with arc, too: that whole "Oops. Did I not mention the engagement? My bad," thing - that's a real lulu.

*cough* PlayedbyspecialgueststarJoshCharles *cough*

Come to think of it, he didn't really come clean about how Karen's latest marriage dissolved either. Not that Lisa knows about that. Yet.

You're absolutely right! Again.

Since he's a lawyer, he's probably used to walking a fine line, answering a question with facts without giving up facts he doesn't want to share.

When Nick first heard Karen had cold feet, Tisch told him it was because of him. When he confronted Karen on that, she denied it, saying it wasn't about him, it was about Freddy. And when Karen demanded a divorce, again she said it was about Freddy. It wasn't until after the annulment that Karen told Nick she loved him and kissed him.

Given that sequence of events, I can imagine, somewhere in his lawyerly brain, he could feel justified in saying the divorce wasn't about him. Of course, since he's known the Darlings all his life, positions himself as a man of integrity, and, last time I checked isn't in a coma or otherwise mentally incapacitated, I'd also have to imagine that that he was completely aware that he was misrepresenting the situation to Lisa (and not just to protect her feelings or avoid a fight at that moment, when all he wanted was a double shot of vodka)

It's interesting that Nick, who wasn't able to maintain a poker face to hide his "a Darling killed my father" suspicions from the Darlings for more than an episode and a half, is repeatedly deceiving Lisa - hiding details and mischaracterizing the nature of his interactions with Karen. Given the way Nick has been set up as the moral compass of the show, there had better be a very good reason.

Edited because: Freddy, Freddie, Freddey..even though he's out of the family, I should probably pick just one way to spell his name in a single post.

But as creator Craig Wright as envisioned the character, he's not the good guy full stop, he's the good guy who's increasingly tempted by the world of money. I find that vision pretty fascinating, or at least potentially so.

How that ties into his relationship with Karen, I don't know, because I do buy that his feelings for her are not tied to her wealth.

\

Oh, man, if this happens I will give the writers a free pass for ANYTHING. They could have Tripp literally jumping over a sharp in an homage to Fonzie and I would be completely fine with it if Josh Charles were cast in the show.

*cough* Sorry, my Sports Night roots are showing.

Showing your love for Sports Night is never, ever wrong.

Actually, I might give them a free pass for this. If anyone on the show could pull this off, it'd be Tripp.

That would be totally awesome!



If it is wrong, I don't ever want to be right. And in honor of the coming holiday, don't forget that it isn't a good idea to thaw out your Thanksgiving turkey on the light grid.

I have to just comment on what a great job Peter Krause has been doing on this show. He’s nailed the comedy: awkwardly trying to hide the journal from Maria, stomping on the sidewalk after getting slammed by Brian, rolling his eyes at Lisa and Jeremy’s bonding, and the drama: any scene with Tripp, and his roller-coaster ride in the latest episode in scenes with Tish, Dutch, Tripp and of course, Brian.

It’s been really fun to watch. Particularly, in the last episode - his scenes with Tish when he pushes her for the truth and then guesses Brian is his brother, and later in the church when he confronts Brian, and they come to some sort of unspoken, brotherly understanding; he's just got such emotional presence in all those scenes.

So how about this for a guest star scenario?

In my mind, Josh Charles does bear a bit of a resemblance to Jill Clayburgh and Natalie Zea, so he could show up as a nephew on Tish’s side of the family, maybe a lawyer who challenges Nick on how he’s been handling the Darling’s legal matters?. There’d be conflict, but ultimately, friendship as the two bond over the Darlings’ craziness. And JC’s character would be kind of family for Nick, since he’d be his half-brother’s cousin.

I’d personally love it if TPTB could bring some Sports Night alumni into the DSM fold, though I'd even be happy if, at some point, given the George’s new found wealth, someone comments on Nick’s clothing, and happens to mention how snappy he looks in his white dress shirt; I, for one, wouldn’t complain.

The last time I saw Josh Charles in a TV role, he was playing a billionaire in Six Degrees. I was actually quite disappointed when that character didn't turn up in the poker-playing episode of DSM, with or without a cry of 'Shoe money tonight!' Reality check, please.

How hot was Nick telling Simon that Karen was basically "Mine! Mine! Mine! Hands off!" I can't wait for him to hit that esp since it looks like Lisa and Jeremy are going to start hooking up pretty soon.