(Redirected from Weeds (television))
'''Weeds''' is an American
dark comedy television series. It was the highest rated series for
Showtime in 2005.
[1] The second season started broadcasting on
August 14, 2006,
[2] and its finale aired on
October 30,
2006. On
November 16,
2006, Showtime announced a third season consisting of 15 episodes which premiered on
August 13,
2007.
[3]
Plot synopsis
Season 1
The fictional affluent
Los Angeles, California suburb of Agrestic (an English word meaning "characteristic of the fields or country", but having a second meaning as "crude: lacking the qualities associated with sophistication") is home to Nancy Botwin (
Mary-Louise Parker), whose husband Judah (
Jeffrey Dean Morgan) has recently, and suddenly, died. Nancy begins dealing marijuana to locals in her suburban town in order to support her household while maintaining an upper-middle-class lifestyle. As depicted in the series, Agrestic has a
public school system, which Nancy's children Silas (
Hunter Parrish) and Shane (
Alexander Gould) both attend. Silas begins dating a deaf girl who lives in the area. Shane is a more troubled child, and has the nickname "Strange Botwin" at school. He has been known to act out and, for example, bit the foot of another child in martial arts class. Nancy befriends the manic, image-obsessed, manipulative and controlling Celia Hodes (
Elizabeth Perkins), president of the Agrestic
PTA, who has a number of domestic problems. She does not get along with her husband, and he is having an affair. She does not get along with her older daughter, Quinn (who is also Silas' girlfriend) either, and Celia sends her off to boarding school in Mexico in the premiere. Her younger daughter is overweight and possibly a lesbian, and Celia berates her cruelly about both issues. Toward the end of the season, Celia is diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer, and she has sex with Conrad. Heylia James (
Tonye Patano), assisted by her nephew Conrad (
Romany Malco), supplies Nancy with marijuana. Andy Botwin (
Justin Kirk), younger brother of Nancy's late husband, and the family's
black sheep, says he has moved into the Botwin household to help Nancy out, but seems to just be there to free-load. He decides to study to become a rabbi in order to avoid military service and being sent to Iraq. He introduced her to Conrad just in case she needed some marijuana for herself. Conrad in turn introduced her to Heylia as a supplier for Nancy's own Agrestic business.
Season 2
The second season, while still comedic, takes a darker turn as Nancy gets deeper into dangerous activity. She begins to grow her own plants against Heylia's advice, but with the assistance of Conrad. Several other Agrestic residents help Nancy also, including her brother-in-law, Andy, and the Town Councilman, Doug Wilson (
Kevin Nealon). Meanwhile, she also has a dangerous relationship with a
DEA agent, Peter Scottson, which contains twists and turns each episode. Nancy's sons become increasingly more aware of her drug dealings, and each forms his own way of dealing with that information. Having recovered from
breast cancer, Celia defeats Doug in an election. Unaware of her friends' activities, Celia tries to turn all of Agrestic into a
drug-free zone, and finds herself in unexpected circumstances. Andy, concerned about the possibility of being sent to
Iraq because of a long-forgotten
Army Reserve commitment, decides to take up
religion, after a fashion. The season concludes with a
cliffhanger, with several characters posed in a
Mexican standoff.
Season 3
The first episode of the third season aired on
August 13,
2007. On
July 22,
2007, the first and second episodes of season 3 were leaked on the internet. On
July 24,
2007, the third episode was leaked, and on
July 27,
2007, the fourth episode was leaked. The fourth episode was not a complete version; among other things, some dubbed lines were not complete (notably a voicemail message Nancy receives from U-Turn is spoken by a distinctly different actor, and in place of the end credits a card is inserted reading "End Titles".) Because of the DVD quality of leaked episodes, some have speculated that the episodes were leaked intentionally in order to garner interest in the show and to create an internet buzz. Weeds creator
Jenji Kohan has showed a positive interest in the ''Weeds'' episodes leaking online, saying that "Revenue aside, I don't expect to get rich on Weeds, I'm excited it's out there. Showtime is great, but it does have a limited audience." In 2006 before season 2 aired on Showtime, the first few episodes were also leaked online.
[4]
★
Showtime announced that actor
Matthew Modine will appear in 10 out of 15 episodes of season 3 as Sullivan, a real estate developer. Cameos will also be made by
Zooey Deschanel as Kat and
Carrie Fisher as Arlene, Celia's divorce attorney.
★ Showtime has also announced that actress
Mary-Kate Olsen will be appearing in 10 out of 15 episodes, marking her first major solo role separate from twin sister
Ashley Olsen. She will be playing a devout Christian girl named Tara who moves into the neighboring mega-church community of Majestic, and who will become a love interest of Silas Botwin.
[5]
Cast and crew
'Main Cast:'
★ As of season 3 onwards. Previously guest stars.
'Guest stars:'
★
Indigo as Vaneeta (19 episodes)
★
Renée Victor as Lupita (15 episodes)
★
Martin Donovan as Peter Scottson (14 episodes. Is billed as 'Special guest star' in every episode of season 2)
★
Shoshannah Stern as Megan (12 episodes)
★
Maulik Pancholy as Sanjay (11 episodes)
★
Eden Sher as Gretchen (8 episodes)
★
Rene Auberjonois as Mr. Albin (7 episodes)
★
Tressa DiFiglia as Maggie (6 episodes)
★
Page Kennedy as U-turn (6 episodes)
★
Meital Dohan as Yael Hoffman (6 episodes)
★
Tracii Show as Jada Henderson (6 episodes)
★
Vincent Laresca as Alejandro (4 episodes)
★
Zooey Deschanel as Kat (4 episodes. Is billed as 'Special guest star')
★
Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Judah Botwin (2 episdoes)
★
Justin Chatwin as Josh Wilson (
pilot episode only, then left the cast to film ''
War of the Worlds''
[6])
★
Haley Hudson as Quinn Hodes (
pilot episode only, in the show was sent to boarding school in Mexico, and is occasionally referenced)
★ Creator:
Jenji Kohan
★ Producer/Director:
Brian Dannelly
★ Producer/Director:
Craig Zisk
★ Director:
Christopher Misiano who also directed and produced many episodes of ''
The West Wing'', a series in which Mary Louise Parker had a recurring role as
Amy Gardner.
Awards and nominations
Awards won
Awards nominated
;
Golden Globe Awards
: Best TV Series-Comedy (2006, 2007)
: Best Performance by a TV Supporting Actress
Elizabeth Perkins (2006)
: Best Performance by a TV Actress in a Musical or Comedy
Mary-Louise Parker (2007)
: Best Performance by a TV Supporting Actress
Elizabeth Perkins (2007)
: Best Performance by a TV Supporting Actor
Justin Kirk (2007)
;
Screen Actors Guild
: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Mary-Louise Parker (2006, 2007)
: Ensemble In A Comedy Series (2007)
;
Satellite Awards
: Outstanding Actress in a Series-Comedy
Elizabeth Perkins (2005)
: Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-series, or TV Movie
Elizabeth Perkins(2006)
: Actress in a Series, Comedy or Musical
Mary-Louise Parker (2006)
;
Emmy Awards
: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Elizabeth Perkins (2006)
: Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
Craig Zisk, for the episode
Good Shit Lollipop (2006)
: Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series (2006)
: Outstanding Main Title Design (2006)
: Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series, for the episode
Good Shit Lollipop (2006)
: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Mary-Louise Parker (2007)
: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Elizabeth Perkins (2007)
: Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series (2007)
: Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series, for the episode
Mrs. Botwin's Neighborhood (2007)
: Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series, for the episode
Crush Girl Love Panic (2007)
Episodes
Main articles: List of Weeds episodes
DVD releases
| DVD Name | # of Ep | Release dates | Additional Information |
|---|
| Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 |
|---|
| Season One | 10 | July 11 2006 | September 3 2007 | July 18 2007 | After her husband's unexpected death and subsequent financial woes, suburban mom Nancy Botwin (Parker) embraces a new profession: the neighborhood pot dealer. As it seems like everyone secretly wants what she's selling -- even city councilman Doug Wilson (Nealon) -- Nancy is faced with keeping her family life in check and her enterprise a secret from her best friend/PTA president, Celia Hodes (Perkins). |
| Season Two | 12 | July 24 2007 | TBA | TBA | | |
The Region 1 Season One DVD is only available in 4:3 pan and scan format. The Region 2 and 4 releases are in anamorphic widescreen.
Season One was released on
Blu-ray on
May 29,
2007, and Season Two was released on
July 24,
2007. Both seasons include all episodes in 1080p widescreen with
Dolby Digital EX sound and either
DTS-HD (Season One) or
LPCM (Season Two), as well as extras exclusive to the Blu-ray release.
CD releases
Weeds: Music From the Original Series
★ Released September 13, 2005
★ 1.
Malvina Reynolds - "Little Boxes"
★ 2.
Nellie McKay - "David"
★ 3.
Peggy Lee - "A Doodlin' Song"
★ 4.
Sufjan Stevens - "All The Trees Of The Field Will Clap Their Hands"
★ 5.
Michael Franti & Spearhead - "Ganja Babe"
★ 6. All Too Much - "More Than A Friend"
★ 7.
Sons & Daughters - "Blood"
★ 8.
The New Pornographers - "The Laws Have Changed"
★ 9.
Joey Santiago - "Fake Purse"
★ 10.
NRBQ - "Wacky Tobacky"
★ 11. Marion Black - "Who Knows"
★ 12. Martin Creed - "I Can't Move"
★ 13.
The Mountain Goats - "Cotton"
★ 14.
Joey Santiago - "Birthday Video"
★ 15.
Flogging Molly - "If I Ever Leave This World Alive"
★ 16.
The Be Good Tanyas - "The Littlest Birds"
★ 17. Hill Of Beans - "Satan Lend Me A Dollar"
Weeds: Music From the Original Series, Volume 2
★ Released October 17, 2006
★ 1.
Elvis Costello - "Little Boxes"
★ 2.
Zeroleen - "All Good"
★ 3.
Of Montreal - "Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games"
★ 4.
Jenny Owen Youngs - "Fuck, Was I"
★ 5. Fern Jones - "Strange Things Are Happening"
★ 6. (The Real) Tuesday Weld - "Bathtime In Clerkenwell"
★ 7. Gwendolyn Sanford & Brandon Young Jay - "Shane Digs Gretchen"
★ 8. Rogue Wave - "Kicking The Heart Out"
★ 9.
Regina Spektor - "The Ghost Of Corporate Future"
★ 10. Dengue Fever - "One Thousand Tears Of A Tarantula"
★ 11. Aidan Hawken - "Neighborhood"
★ 12. Squirrel Nut Zippers - "It Ain't You"
★ 13. Gwendolyn Sanford & Brandon Young Jay - "From Agrestic to Las Vegas"
★ 14.
The 88 - "Not Enough"
★ 15.
Sufjan Stevens - "Holland"
★ 16. Gwendolyn Sanford & Brandon Young Jay - "Huskaroo TV Spot"
Miscellaneous
★ In season 1, the title song "
Little Boxes" is performed by its writer,
Malvina Reynolds.
★ In Seasons 2 and 3, the title song is performed by different artists in each episode with the exception of the season finale, which uses the original by Reynolds. The following is a listing of the episodes and performers:
On August 7, 2007, Simon Spotlight, a division of Simon and Schuster, published '''IN THE WEEDS: The Official Guide to the Showtime Series'' by Kera Bolonik', which features interviews with the show's creator, its writers and crew, and the entire cast. It also features detailed character and plot descriptions, recipes, and lots of trivia and behind-the-scenes information.
Trivia
★ Agrestic was inspired by the Los Angeles suburb of Valencia, whose reputation as an upper-middle class "perfect" community made it the perfect setting.
★ The mentioned competition between the communities of Agrestic and Magestic mirrors the feelings of the Santa Clarita Valley communities of Valencia, Stevenson Ranch, Saugus, etc.
★ Most of the show is filmed on location in and around the Santa Clarita Valley (
Valencia, California,
Stevenson Ranch, California,
Santa Clarita, California, and
Castaic, California).
★ In an Aug. 21, 2007 interview, series creator Jenji Kohan said the use of different singers for the theme music, "
Little Boxes," came about when, in the early days of the show, the producers were afraid they would not be able to use
Malvina Reynolds' original recording. They eventually received permission, but decided with the start of the second season to use some of the covers of the song that had been made. Since then, additional artists have been used, with some seeking it out.
★ In the second season, Nancy can be seen using a
Nokia E62 cell phone.
★ Due to
product placement deals, Nancy often carries an "
It's a Grind Coffee House" beverage. The "It's a Grind" in the opening credits is in Castaic, California (just north of Valencia in the Santa Clarita Valley).
★ At the 2006
Golden Globes, Mary-Louise Parker was nominated for , alongside the four lead actresses of the more popular network television show ''
Desperate Housewives''. ''Desperate Housewives'' actress
Teri Hatcher had won the award the year before, and even award presenter
Chris Rock could only joke at this predicament, saying, "You gotta feel sorry for Mary-Louise Parker."
[7] However, Parker beat all four ladies of ''Desperate Housewives'' to take home the award.
★ The book '' by author
Christopher Noxon has appeared several times on the show. Christopher Noxon is married to series creator Jenji Kohan. Noxon was also the music supervisor for season one and appeared in the
pilot episode as a bear hunter.
[8]
★ A scene in episode 10 of season 1 in which Nancy's younger son, Shane, is seen looking out onto the patio where his mother is seen surrounded by all of her business partners, and Lupita shuts the doors, is obviously a reference to ''The Godfather'', complete with trumpet heard in the background. Also, Peter brings Nancy a bag of
oranges in the 11th episode of the 2nd season. Oranges in ''The Godfather'' represent impending danger.
★ At one point, Peter gives Nancy his address. The address number is
420. Also, Nancy criticizes Doug and Andy when there is work to be done and it "is not even 4:20 yet".
★ The opening credits undergo some slight changes in season 3. The shot of the female runners at the end is replaced with children on swings, while Andy Milder and Allie Grant's names are also added. Also, Justin Kirk now receives the "with" credit.
★ In the show, Doug Wilson attended college at
Southern Methodist University.
References
1. http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/arizonaliving/articles/1101brotherhood1101.html
2. http://www.tv.com/weeds/show/28829/episode_listings.html?season=2
3. http://www.sho.com/site/announcements/050707weeds.do
4. Massive Leak of Pre-Air TV Shows: Piracy or Promotion?
5. http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN2424137220070524
6. http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271|96561|1|,00.html
7. http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jan-17-Tue-2006/news/5393895.html
8. http://www.rejuvenile.com/blog/item/rejuvenile_on_weeds/
External links
★
★
Official Website
★
Sky One Weeds Website (United Kingdom broadcaster)
★
Showcase Weeds Website (Canadian broadcaster)
★
Weeds on Myspace
★
Weeds on TV.com
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