WEEDS –SEASON THREE–PRESS BOOK
COVER:
WEEDS
SEASON THREE
SHO
INSIDE COVER:
WEEDS
Season 3
MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 10 PM (ET/PT)
followed by the new comedy series
CALIFORNICATION
SHOWTIME®
MEDIA GUIDE
PRODUCTION NOTES 4
EPISODE SYNOPSES 6
CAST CREDITS & BIOS 7
THE QUEEN OF GREEN BARES ALL 9
PRODUCTION CREDITS & BIOS 15
PAGES 4 & 5
PRODUCTION NOTES
In its first two seasons, the SHOWTIME series WEEDS has emerged as a critical sensation for its cutting-edge, unapologetic and daring portrayal of complex characters whose choices are not always sympathetic and never stereotypical. Produced by Lionsgate in association with Tilted Productions, the show and its acclaimed cast have earned multiple Golden Globe®, Emmy® and SAG® Award nominations, a Golden Globe® Award for MARY-LOUISE PARKER for ‘Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy,’ and a Writers Guild Award for creator/executive producer JENJI KOHAN. The third season of WEEDS premieres Monday, August 13th at 10pm ET/PT on SHOWTIME.
This season, with everything finally out in the open, “Nancy” (MARY-LOUISE PARKER) will begin to embrace her chosen occupation. But as one shackle loosens, another tightens to the point of suffocation – the shake-up with “U-Turn” (PAGE KENNEDY) and the Armenians in last season’s finale will leave her more tethered than ever as she goes from free bird to caged canary in the blink of an eye. Not only is she indebted to U-Turn for the missing money, his ever-changing line about the financial interest she owes for that debt keeps moving, so the zeroes –and the danger level –just keep adding up.
But all hope is not lost – a new customer base is opening up right in her own backyard…
MAJESTIC VS. AGRESTIC
In Season Three, the biggest development on WEEDS is an actual development. Popping up just next to Agrestic is a new, sprawling mega-church neighborhood called Majestic, which will introduce a host of new characters and take a toll on the dwellers of Agrestic. Kohan explains that the idea of creating Majestic came from an article in ‘The New Yorker’ about a similar community in Arizona that inspired her and the WEEDS writers, “One sprawl eats up another, and what was new yesterday is old. Right around the corner is something shinier and better and greener and more spiritual and more enlightened and more expensive. And, just when you thought you had bought the dream, it’s shifted across the street.”
One of the new characters is an unscrupulous real estate developer named “Sullivan Groff,” played by Golden Globe® winner MATTHEW MODINE, who guest stars in at least 10 of the season’s 15 episodes. Groff quickly becomes central in Nancy’s quest for a legal moneymaking job; she ends up working for him. Kohan describes him as, “a big personality, someone who’s invested in the business part and not necessarily the people, and not necessarily the spirituality – although that’s what he’s selling. He’s a creature of corporate culture.”
And then there’s another Majestic denizen, “Tara Lindman,” the good Christian girl-next-door, played by MARY-KATE OLSEN (guest starring in 10 episodes), who immediately strikes up a romance with “Silas” (HUNTER PARRISH). Although Tara is a do-gooder from the church-loving town, WEEDS executive producer ROBERTO BENABIB asks, “Is anyone ever just one thing?” Like the people of Agrestic –it’s not likely. But this season will reveal that the residents of both communities have more in common (for better or worse) than not –and regardless of the neighborhood or faith, it’s all about family and those things that threaten to destroy it.
“THIS SEASON IS A RETURN TO FAMILY. AND NANCY IS EMBRACING HER CRIMINAL LIFE, AND IT’S NO LONGER, ‘I’M A HOUSEWIFE WHO’S DABBLING IN POT,’ IT’S HER SAYING ‘I’M A DRUG DEALER, AND WHAT DO I DO TO EMBRACE THIS NEW IDENTITY THAT I’VE CHOSEN?’”
JENJI KOHAN, WEEDS Creator & Executive Producer
THE BOTWINS
While Nancy’s secret is revealed and she can finally stop hiding, the fact that she owes U-Turn for the missing pot tightens the noose. How she goes about securing that money while still keeping dinner on the Botwin table and growing her business in spite of this massive setback (without Conrad, no less) is the crux of her journey this season.
And it will be even harder for her to maintain her home without the help of brother-in-law “Andy” (JUSTIN KIRK) who, in spite of spending much of Season Two trying to avoid the draft, finds that his eight toes are finally called to duty. “Andy likes his uncle role,” says Kohan. “He’s invested in these children, and he’s now part of this family –and not the free spirit he thought he was.”
While their mother is distracted with business, and until Andy returns, the kids are left to fend for themselves. Silas who has always wanted a piece of the action, now becomes an integral part of the family business. Still recovering from the sting of the harsh break-up and all the whirlwinds of last season, he’s matured considerably and will earn his mother’s respect in ways she couldn’t imagine. “She’s realizing that, by shutting him out of the business, she’s actually causing him to misbehave more than if she let him in,” says Benabib. “Her being honest with him is actually helping him.”
The youngest Botwin, “Shane” (ALEXANDER GOULD), will still provide the sole voice of reason. “Shane is still the moral compass of the show,” reveals Kohan. “Knowing what he knows now, he’s going to wrestle with being part of this family, as opposed to being part of the dream family he wants.”
THE HODESES
When we left off with the ever-dysfunctional Hodes clan, “Dean” (ANDY MILDER) had learned about the torrid affair between “Celia” (ELIZABETH PERKINS) and “Doug” (KEVIN NEALON) and subsequently booted her from the family home. She is relegated to a seedy motel while Dean and “Isabelle” (ALLIE GRANT) relish their Celia-free abode. But the couple’s heated divorce battle gets nasty when Celia enlists the aide of barracuda lawyer “Arlene Cutter” (CARRIE FISHER).
This season, Celia is on the brink of a nervous breakdown and sinking deeper into recreational alcoholism to ease her pain when her chance encounter and quick thinking with Sullivan Groff earns her a coveted spot in Majestic and the attention of Groff. As a city council person with a finger on the pulse of what’s happening in Agrestic, her special skills as liaison between the two communities (and her secret intel on the residents) are a huge asset to him. Most importantly, formerly by-the-book Celia will begin to explore her own dark side. “Celia is always someone who followed the rules,” says Kohan. “For the first time, she may throw that away because it hasn’t been working for her – and if everyone else is benefiting from breaking the rules, why not her too?”
As for her relationship with Nancy and her continual struggle to have the upper hand in their so-called friendship, Celia’s luck may change. Kohan hints that, “Maybe, for the first time, they actually will be able to be friends on a new playing field.”
THE JAMESES/SHEPARDS
Still reeling from the fall-out of “Conrad” (ROMANY MALCO) and Nancy’s betrayal last season, “Heylia” (TONYE PATANO) must pick up the pieces of her shattered business and begin anew. Most importantly, she’ll have to learn to forgive herself for being asleep at the wheel during her brief love affair last season. “Heylia is really starting over,” declares Kohan. “She’s not comfortable in that position and has to reassess her whole life, because everything she knew is gone.”
Well, not quite everything. Nephew and former employee Conrad is back in the fold. From his experience running the grow house last season, he’s become quite the horticulturist. He brings his expertise, some new ideas and gives Heylia a much-needed lesson in the fine art of grow house engineering. With Nancy off in indentured servitude to U-Turn, Conrad and Heylia will embark on a new business venture that will impact the whole grow house team. For the Jameses/Shepards, in spite of everything, blood will always be thicker than smoke. But what will happen between Heylia and Nancy remains to be seen. “Heylia’s in a vulnerable place and Nancy is finding strength now that will change the tenor of their relationship,” says Kohan. “But their lives are so intertwined that they’re sort of stuck.”
THE WILSONS
Doug’s romp with Celia last season will have long-term repercussions as his wife decides she’s had enough, and the two split – but for how long is anybody’s guess. However, Doug will be happily distracted after he stages a coup of sorts and is reinstated on the city council – much to Celia’s constant ire. “Doug is going through a huge transition,” reveals Kohan. “The divorce and the life he had are now very different.”
In this season, as the previous two, the many branches of the WEEDS family tree are being thrashed about in life’s hurricane. But as the leaves drift about, growth at the roots is certain. “I think, ultimately, family wins out,” says Benabib. “By blowing these families apart, they come back together again stronger than before, which is fun.” Kohan echoes that sentiment, “It’s a return to family this season because those are the people you can trust, and so families will insulate more and identify who’s in and who’s out.”
PAGE 6
EPISODE SYNOPSES
Episode #3001 DOING THE BACKSTROKE
Written by JENJI KOHAN
Directed by CRAIG ZISK
Special Guest Star: ZOOEY DESCHANEL
Guest Star: PAGE KENNEDY
After being threatened by U-Turn (PAGE KENNEDY) and The Armenians, Nancy (MARY-LOUISE PARKER) goes in search of Silas and her hijacked pot.
Meanwhile, Celia (ELIZABETH PERKINS) has Silas (HUNTER PARRISH) arrested for stealing her “Drug Free Zone” signs. Nancy visits him in jail only to discover that the pot is still in his car – the one that Celia has just driven away in.
After Kat (ZOOEY DESCHANEL) runs away with Shane (ALEXANDER GOULD), Andy (JUSTIN KIRK) puts out an Amber Alert and joins Abumchuck (ROBERT MUKES), the bounty hunter in search of them.
Doug (KEVIN NEALON) and Dean (ANDY MILDER) get reacquainted in a bathroom.
Episode #3002 A POOL AND HIS MONEY
Written by JENJI KOHAN
Directed by CRAIG ZISK
Guest Star: PAGE KENNEDY
After fishing out the pot left floating in her swimming pool, Nancy frantically tries to return it to working condition. Failing, she goes to Heylia’s (TONYE PATANO) to inform her of the situation. After some disagreement, they all return to the grow house where some interesting deals are made.
While waiting for Nancy to return, U-Turn holds Conrad (ROMANY MALCO) hostage at the grow house and discovers Sanjay (MAULIK PANCHOLY) hiding in the closet.
Celia celebrates her “good deed” at Nancy’s a bit too much and stumbles home drunk. Dean and Isabelle (ALLIE GRANT) find her and kick her out of the house once again. Returning to her hotel, Celia finds an equally drunk Doug waiting, ready for reconciliation.
Meanwhile, Andy’s Amber Alert has paid off – the police have located Shane and are holding him at the police station with Silas. But Andy soon discovers the unintended consequences of his alert.
Episode #3003 THE BRICK DANCE
Written by ROBERTO BENABIB
Directed by LEV L. SPIRO
Special Guest Star: CARRIE FISHER
Guest Star: PAGE KENNEDY
Nancy gathers Silas, Shane, Andy and Lupita (RENÉE VICTOR) to brainstorm ways to come up with the money to pay off her debt to U-Turn.
Celia meets with her divorce lawyer Arlene Cutter (CARRIE FISHER), who recommends she start spending more quality time with daughter and cash cow Isabelle if she wants custody. Celia tries to bond with Isabelle in her motel room, but the girl calls in Child Protective Services.
In spite of his eight toes, Andy gets called up to the Army Reserves and is sent to boot camp. He later learns his unit is bound for Iraq.
While Nancy meets with Doug about putting her house on the market, Heylia and Conrad locate a downtown warehouse to start their pot-growing operation.
Meanwhile, Nancy runs errands for U-Turn, who sends her to pick up a brick of heroin from a Mexican gang. Later, a DEA agent shows up at her door inquiring about Peter’s whereabouts.
PAGES 7-8
MARY-LOUISE PARKER
Nancy Botwin
MARY-LOUISE PARKER is a multi-award-winning actress with a diverse career in film, television, and theater. Her work in WEEDS has garnered a Golden Globe® Award and a ‘Lead Actress’ SAG® nomination. Parker is also the winner of a Golden Globe® for ‘Best Supporting Actress,’ a Tony®, an Emmy®, two Obies, as well as numerous other nominations.
On the small screen, Parker’s portrayal in Mike Nichols’s highly acclaimed Angels In America garnered her Emmy® and Golden Globe® wins and a SAG® nomination. She received yet another Emmy® nomination for her performance on The West Wing. Parker also starred in Sugartime, opposite John Turturro,A Place For Annie, Saint Maybe, Cupid & Cate, The Simple Truth Of Noah Dearborne,Miracle Run and Vinegar Hill. Parker was also recently in the Oxygen Channel original film Robber Bride, based on Margaret Atwood’s book of the same name.
Parker’s impressive film oeuvre includes the dark Christian comedy Saved!, opposite Mandy Moore, and Romance & Cigarettes, written and directed by Turturro and produced by the Coen Brothers. Parker is known widely for her starring roles in Fried Green Tomatoes, Grand Canyon, Reckless, Boys On The Side, The Client, Naked In New York, Bullets Over Broadway, The Best Thief In The World, Longtime Companion, Pipe Dream, Red Dragon and The Five Senses, for which she was nominated for a Genie Award for ‘Best Actress.’