Mercy Interview With Taylor Schilling and Michelle Trachtenberg Plus Preview Clips And More

If you aren’t watching NBC‘s Mercy, you might be missing more than you know. The show has received quite the mix of reviews, and in the overall weighing, things are leaning toward the less positive. However, I’m not so sure that the general tone of critique provides a fair picture in this case, and I think a lot of people are letting this show slip past who shouldn’t.

The complete “pulse” of criticism for a show is obviously just a balancing of the short-form results, the star ratings, the thumbs-ups, etc., but all those results come (let’s pretend) from the reviews that supposedly get us there. In Mercy‘s case, the reasoning behind the results (based on the many… many reviews I’ve read) seems a bit more off than normal. Many reviews seem to be critiquing the theory of the show and/or are penned from the perspective of a general hospital show burnout.

More than one critic listed off a few negatives and then in rather accusatory tones put forward that the whole affair was “as though it were trying to be the next Grey’s,” which for my money is a lot like saying a show is trying to be the next Shot at Love with Tila Tequila (which is to say, a show that is mostly calling people who watch it stupid, but a lot of them do anyway). Worse, review after review simply left me feeling that the critic didn’t really need to watch the show at all to come up with what they had to say about it. You get those reviews all the time, but it seemed a lot more common with this one.

At any rate, I’m not sure the show is getting a fair shot by the viewers who might enjoy it, and possibly in large part to what appears to me to be a good deal of skewed criticism. I will tell you right now that it isn’t the next greatest show ever, and it isn’t even particularly my kind of show either. I’m not a rabid fan. I don’t love it. But, I can see a lot of good things in it, and whether I love it, or am going to make sure I never miss it isn’t the point. It isn’t trying to be the next Grey’s Anatomy (much to the good for me, perhaps telling for you), and I’m pretty sure there are a lot of people out there who will be pleasantly surprised if they give this one a shot.

That out of the way, there’s a sneak of the next episode in the box at right, some cool clips below, and following is an interview with two of the show’s stars, Taylor Schilling and Michelle Trachtenberg. At the very end I’m including a Hulu player, but you’ve got to hurry on the first episode.

Have fun.

Extended Sneak Peek
Stiller and Meara guest star as a couple celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary in the hospital.

Behind-the-Scenes
The show biz vets talk about their guest starring roles on the upcoming Mercy episode–and their 56 years of marriage.

Actor James Tupper on the show’s authenticity, working with Jerry Stiller, and where it’s going with Veronica.

Interview with Jaime Lee Kirchner

Interview with Taylor Schilling and Michelle Trachtenberg

Lisa Steinberg:      Hi, it’s Starry Constellation Magazine. I appreciate your time.

Taylor Schilling:    Hi, thank you.

Michelle Trachtenberg:           Hello.

Lisa Steinberg:      I was wondering, Michelle, what you find challenging about your role?

Michelle Trachtenberg:           I play Nurse Chloe Payne. She is basically a new nurse at Mercy. She’s fresh out of school. I think its probably more challenging to make sure that all of our medical situations are 100% accurate. We do have medical experts on set which is very helpful. Making sure that combining the medical challenges with the emotion is probably the biggest challenge and making sure it’s all on par and that we’re honoring real life nurses.

Lisa Steinberg:      Taylor, how has the chemistry grown between the characters since the show began and now?

Taylor Schilling:    I think the more that we all get to know each other, the easier it is to work together and the more kind of fun it is. I think that that’s probably reflected in the characters’ relationships as well. You know, time is always a good thing; it’s always nice to have more time with the people you’re working with.

Lisa Steinberg:      Michelle, we remember you as a Buffy alumni; how do you feel about the film being remade?

Michelle Trachtenberg:           I haven’t heard too much about it but I think it’s great. I mean, there was a Buffy film already so I’m sure they’ll meet some challenges finding new things.

Lisa Steinberg:      Do you think they’ll do one for (Joss)’s version and would you want to be in it?

Michelle Trachtenberg:           I have absolutely no idea what they’re planning but, you know, I feel like there was already a movie and the TV show is such a classic and such a staple in the hearts of real fans that, you know, it’s best to leave something that was great as it is so it’s probably not something I’d be involved with.

Coordinator:          Troy Rogers, the deadbolt.com.

Troy Rogers:         Now Michelle, how has it been filming both Gossip Girl and Mercy?

Michelle Trachtenberg:           It’s great.  You know, it’s challenging in the sense that there are time constraints. But I definitely don’t get the characters confused as they’re night and day. I love Gossip Girl more than anything I’ve ever done.  It’s a great, fun job and I have so much fun with all my friends. And Mercy is a great new experience, so I’m pretty lucky to be able to master both.

Troy Rogers:         Excellent. Now how do you think Georgina would treat Chloe?

Michelle Trachtenberg:           I don’t think Chloe would even come close to being in Georgina’s world so I don’t think it’d be something that we’d have to worry about unless Georgina was heading to the hospital.  She’d probably find Chloe much too attentive and much too heartfelt.

Troy Rogers:         Okay fair enough. Now Taylor, Veronica has a really interesting back story; I just wanted to know what’s the best part of playing her for you?

Taylor Schilling:    Oh that’s a great question. I think the most enjoyable part as an actor is how deeply I can go into Veronica’s world and her story because the writers have provided me with such a rich history for her. So there’s never a dull moment; even the most kind of banal scene has a lot going on.

Troy Rogers:         Okay. And one more quick thing, I just wanted to know what was it like working with Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara?

Michelle Trachtenberg:           Oh they’re great. It was amazing. They’re legends and it was really just an honor to be acting in scenes with them.

Troy Rogers:         Were they funny off camera?

Michelle Trachtenberg:           Hilarious.

Coordinator:          Jessica Rae, Small Screen Scoop.

Jessica Rae:           Hey guys. This question is for both of you, what character on the show would you like each of yours to interact with more?

Taylor Schilling:    Oh that’s a great question.

Michelle Trachtenberg:           You know, for me, I love the three women together. I think that’s really, really great and it’s the core of the show. It’s fun to have our doctors come in and here and there and I absolutely adore working with James Tupper and James LeGros.

But at the core of the show it’s really the three women and I think we’ve been doing that well. And there’s definitely going to be more of that.

Taylor Schilling:    I’d actually have to agree with Michelle. I think that that dynamic between the three of us is really kind of the heart of the show. And I think it’s great that we can go off and have our sort of adventures and live our lives outside.

But it’s so important to stay grounded in the relationship; the relationship that these three women have and how they believe in each other and sort of process their lives together. I love that. I think we have a fantastic cast. Margo Martindale is remarkable and James LeGros and James Tupper and Diego Klattenhoff it’s a great group of people.

Jessica Rae:           Well we love that dynamic. Taylor, I know this is your first leading role on a TV show; are you comfortable watching yourself on screen with other people? I mean when you’re with other people?

Taylor Schilling:    Like do I like to watch it in a group of people?

Jessica Rae:           Does it make you uncomfortable or is it okay for you?

Taylor Schilling:    That’s a good question, that’s something I’m still trying to figure out. I don’t know. I can kind of watch it in bits and pieces. Michelle and I watched an episode like they showed it at lunch one day at work and…

Michelle Trachtenberg:           Yes.

Taylor Schilling:    …it was easier to watch it with her there.

Michelle Trachtenberg:           It’s the only episode I’ve seen actually. I don’t like to watch myself.

Jessica Rae:           Really?

Taylor Schilling:    Yes, I can’t. I don’t do it often.

Michelle Trachtenberg:           I’m too critical.

Taylor Schilling:    Yes.

Jessica Rae:           Oh you shouldn’t be. Michelle, Chloe is so new to everything; do you hope that as the season goes on she becomes tougher or do you enjoy the innocence and the reality of her insecurities now?

Michelle Trachtenberg:           Chloe is a interesting dynamic because she is a 25 year old woman who did graduate top of her class so inherently I believe she is incredibly intelligent and I do believe she has a lot of experience in her life but sometimes she’s just a little cautious or scared to really go forth on things.

It’s definitely something that we are working on with Chloe. She is going to grow more confident as life – as you do in life. I mean, human beings experience things for the first time and they learn and then they move on. And Chloe will grow, you know, just as if anyone in real life would.

Coordinator:          Kendra White, Side Reel.

Kendra White:      Hi. For Taylor – I was wondering if you think Veronica’s relationship with Dr. Harris will be changing a lot or if after you’ve bonded over his wife’s death things will kind of go back to normal?

Taylor Schilling:    You know, I think that Veronica and Dr. Harris actually have a lot in common even – and I think that sometimes those are the people you clash with the most, the ones that you sort of see yourself in but you don’t quite want to acknowledge that; it might not be the best parts of yourself.

But I actually think that they’re quite a team. I think that there’s a really rich dynamic to explore because they are so opposite and so incredibly similar. So I think that that may have bonded them into a deeper relationship.

Kendra White:      Definitely. And also for the upcoming episode with Elisabeth Moss guest starring they noted that it sounds like her character inspires Veronica to talk to Mike about her affair. I was just wondering what little bit you could tell us about that without any spoilers.

Taylor Schilling:    Well I think it’s going to be pretty explosive. It’s going to be interesting to see – and it certainly is going to have an effect on everybody’s life.

Kendra White:      Definitely, great thank you.

Taylor Schilling:    Thanks.

Kenya Jones:         Aced Magazine. Hi guys. Thanks for talking to us.

Kenya Jones:       I just wanted to ask about this season. It seems like there are a lot of medical dramas now premiering that focus on nurses as opposed to doctors. And I wanted to know where you guys think you fall in the mix with these other shows and what makes your show stand out basically?

Michelle Trachtenberg:           Oh yes. You know, I think in terms of Mercy we’re really focusing on the lives of the three women. Of course it’s a medical drama and all the medical stuff is at the forefront but there’s also really great look inside of our personal lives. And at the end of the day, even though there is a medical background it’s really about the lives of three women.

And I feel that people respond to that a lot. You know, people like hospital dramas but people like the growth of people. And that’s what I think that’s what we bring to the medical field in the world of television.

Taylor Schilling:    Absolutely. Kind of what we about earlier it’s a show that’s set in a hospital but it’s really exactly what Michelle was saying that it’s really about these three women. So it’s set in a hospital but I think it’s really about watching these characters grow and develop.

Kenya Jones:         Right. I wanted to ask Taylor, I hope I’m correct in my research that you did one film with Meryl Streep and Aidan Quinn. And did you do another television show before this or is this the first thing you’ve done since that movie?

Taylor Schilling:    No this is the first thing. I did that movie on a summer break from college – between college and graduate school and so this is my job since then, yes.

Kenya Jones:         What is it like to be the star of the show and sort of take the helm of this drama series after only having done one film under your belt?

Taylor Schilling:    Well, you know, I think it’s a magnificent opportunity. And I’m surrounded by a really amazing cast and a really amazing crew. And a lot of people who are supporting me and, you know, giving me space to work and grow and learn on the job. And I think that it’s a really special project. I just enjoy going to work every day.

Coordinator:          Kenya Jones, Aced Magazine.

Kenya Jones:         Hey me again. Hopefully there’s no interruptions this time. I wanted to know if either one of you were on any social networking sites like Twitter or Facebook and do you think that it helps at all keep the focus on your different projects, you know, as far as getting the word out there, kind of like a blue grass kind of, straight to the people kind of thing?

Michelle Trachtenberg:           I would actually like to jump start this one. I am not on Facebook. I am not on Twitter. There is a million fakes and it super pisses me off as some of my friends start to believe them like “hey I’m following you on Twitter.” It’s like “dude I’m really not on Twitter.” I’m so not computer-advanced. I barely just got a laptop this year. I wouldn’t even know how to start.

I pretty much only know how to use my Blackberry and that’s a miracle within itself. So please feel free to broadcast that everywhere. Facebook and Twitter, it’s not me, it’s some crazy person. And don’t pay attention to them. There you go, that’s my campaign.

Kenya Jones:         Okay.

Taylor Schilling:    There you go. I’m actually not on either of those sites. I can’t really figure it out to be honest. So I don’t know maybe someday I’ll have someone give me a tutorial and sort of get into it. You know, more power to Facebook and Twitter. I just have not figured it out. I have not cracked the code yet.

Kenya Jones:         Do you know anybody who does use them that are like in the business?

Taylor Schilling:    The business? You mean like professionally?

Kenya Jones:         …that are also in the entertainment business, actors, that sort of thing, directors, whoever.

Taylor Schilling:    Yes, a lot of actors are on Facebook and things like that.

Michelle Trachtenberg:           My friends that are in the music business I think use it for to let them know about albums and that’s great but that’s about it. Like I said it’s a miracle I have a laptop. I know how to go onto urbanoutfitters.com and place my online shopping order.

Kenya Jones:         Okay thank you.

Taylor Schilling:    Yes, thank you.