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« Men in Trees Blog
Sweatering It Out
I blog to you from an Aer Lingus jet, high over the Atlantic Ocean on its journey from Dublin. I'm happy to report that Men in Trees is shown on not one, but two Irish television stations, a small step in our ultimate goal of Elmo world domination. Everyone in Ireland is loving the show, although those I spoke to are all related to me so it may be a rather unscientific focus group.
As the title of "Sweatering It Out" suggests, Marin is knitting a sweater for Jack to keep her occupied until his return from the Bering Sea. Anne Heche is such a dedicated actress that she actually learned how to knit for the show, and she is making a real sweater pattern in the scenes. (Obviously Marin has never heard the old wives' tale that you must never knit a sweater for your boyfriend.) Anne must have inspired the rest of us because now our cast and crew are all knitting a blanket together for charity. As soon as one of our assistant directors announces that we are ready to continue shooting a scene, the sound stage resounds with the cry of, "Just let me finish this row!" Not that it slows down production one bit, not at all. Please, Men in Trees bosses, don't take our knitting away like you took away our wireless Internet!
While she is waiting and weaving, Marin discovers that the age-old adage holds true: As soon as you are off the market, the suitors come running. Marin is getting some less-than-professional phone calls from sexy publisher Stuart Maxson (one of the Irish citizens we have on this show, including Colm Meany and myself. I'm sorry; I'm feeling a bit patriotic after a visit to my mother's homeland.) In true Stuart fashion, he offers to whisk Marin away on a romantic adventure in the middle of the country. Stuart isn't the only one falling under the spell of Marin's charms either. Patrick, still suffering from amnesia, also begins to develop a crush. I have to admit that, on behalf of Annie, I found this extremely disturbing, and when I read it I screamed and threw my script across the hair and makeup trailer. But as Emily, I think that it's one of the funniest scenes we've had on our show.
It's a wonder that Marin isn't tempted with all these offers. After all, she hasn't heard from Jack, even though he promised to call every other day. How is she to know that he is stranded out on a raft with Gary and Julia out on the Bering Sea? It's looking bleak for our whale watching crew, who discover that one of their rafts is leaking and supplies are quickly running out. The scenes in the life rafts are absolutely harrowing, and Kelli Williams and Santo Lombardo pull in some amazing performances. I must admit I was skeptical that I would be able to completely immerse myself in these scenes, because they were shot in an enormous water tank, and I had witnessed our boom operator, Marty, strip down to his underwear and swim laps in it. But even I was moved when I saw the amazing work helmed by our director, Dean "Deaner" White (you can't call him Deaner unless you are me or Sara Strange, long story.)
In addition to Annie and Patrick, Pastor Eric and Sara are going through some trials of their own, as Eric struggles to find his path after his decision to leave his church.
If you're dismayed that all of our Elmo couples seem to be in trouble, you shall be rewarded by the romance of newlyweds Jane and Plow Guy (even though we were robbed, in my opinion, of seeing their wedding.) I still haven't quite forgiven Jane for hijacking Annie's wedding, but I can't begrudge her happiness with her new husband. Sam wants to show off his new bride to all his friends, and what better opportunity than a Plow Expo? Plow Guy in his element should prove to be quite sexy. After all the machinery and romance, Sam and Jane still have to figure out how their new marriage is going to work from opposite ends of the country.
A real Vancouver landmark, The Chief, is featured prominently during this episode. The Chief is a famous rock face overlooking Squamish, our little town that plays the part of Elmo. If you look at it hard enough, you can see the profile of an Indian Chief. During this episode, Seana Kofoed and I climbed to the top while our crew was getting shots of the rock face. We were going to try taking our shirts off and wave them to see if we could surreptitiously get in the shot, but we decided to be modest in the presence of other hikers. The people on set must really identify us with our characters; because all day long our crew was telling Seana that she had to be careful on the hike and should really get a guide. While it is certainly a strenuous hike, the climb up to the Chief could not be more clearly marked and even has stairs! I guess up North we'll always seem like a couple of New York City girls.
I must wrap up, as a lovely Aer Lingus hostess has just brought me tea and a scone. How I shall miss the land of my people! OK, it's definitely time to wrap us as my prose becomes more and more florid. Enjoy tonight's episode while you can, because it ends with a rather harrowing ending.
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Dec 6, 2007 9:37 PM
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Hi Emily,
Thanks again for a great blog. I was getting nervous because it had been two weeks since your last one. I can't wait until tonight's show to see what happened to everyone. Your teasers have really peaked my interest.
BTW, I had visited Ireland a few years ago and really loved the country and the people. Dublin is a great city, so full of life. And you don't know what the color green is until you see the Irish countryside after a rainstorm.
Don't stop writing about the Show!
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Dec 7, 2007 2:40 PM
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Emily - your blog is truly wonderful. Your sense of humor is shared by me! I love the show and I love your blog!
THANK YOU!
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Dec 7, 2007 4:17 PM
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Hi Emily,
I finally saw the episode and thought it was a good one. Can't wait to see what happens next.
But I am not sure I like the way Annie and Patrick relationship is going. Please bring back the old Patrick! Maybe Annie can ask Chief Celia to zap Patrick with her Tazer to get him back to normal.
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Dec 11, 2007 12:15 PM
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Hi Emily! A comment all the way from Sweden! Love, LOVE the show, it brightens my whole week and many here agrees with me.
I have a question which I hope someone could answer. In the last episode when Annie walks in the bar just when Patrick kisses a very shocked Marin...You wore a brown purse or bag that I've been looking for! For a really..really long time. OH please let me know where it comes from!I haven't found a site, if Men in Trees has one, where I can check out your amazing wardrobe
Best Wishes! / Stockholm, Sweden.
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Dec 11, 2007 8:38 PM
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Dear Emily,
I was shocked when Gary's raft was untied and off he went .... This drama overshadowed the comedy in this episode but I feel it brought MIT to a new level. It's not just about quirky characters in unfamiliar situations delivering great one-liners. I am looking forward to the next episodes as Jack and friends need to deal with this horrific incident.
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Dec 13, 2007 3:02 PM
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Frustrated again with the reruns, moves and changes in MITs future. What is up with the terrible way this show is treated and why is it ignored by hollywood? It should've been nominated for a Golden Globe and MAtt Roush should've had it on his top ten list. Wake up world... this is the best show on TV!!!!!!!!!!
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Dec 16, 2007 7:41 PM
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Emily,
First, I saw in a previous blog you are a die-hard Bears fan, so I have to add this in:
I'm a MN native, and all I have to say is "GO VIKES!!!"
Thanks so much for blogging!
What I want to know is blogging something you enjoy now that you've been doing it for some time now? It's become something I really enjoy, but then again I've always enjoyed writing.
I have to admit that I wasn't going to watch MIT at first. My roommates at college have watched it from the beginning, and I had already proclaimed quite a few other TV Shows as favorites, and had told myself "I'm not going to get addicted to another show!" But as I sat trying to do homework, or avoiding it by browsing facebook, I caught myself watching bits and pieces of it here and there, and before long I was watching reruns I had taped for my roomies who had to miss some episodes. Even now I find myself watching MIT reruns often.
MIT is now truly my FAVORITE show. I can live without watching Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy now, but I can't live without my dose of MIT! I find it such a breath of fresh air from all the other shows I had watched.
The last thing I guess I have is GREAT job acting! You have played so many roles in your career, (loved your little stint on GG!) and you do such a great job of really making Annie who she is!
Give my best to the writers, because they have done a FANTASTIC job writing so far! and of course the rest of the cast AND crew who make the show what it is!!
Thanks for the blogs, and I hope you are enjoying writing them!
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Dec 18, 2007 11:54 PM
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I am so glad Men In Trees is back.
But who's grand idea was it to put Jack in a raft with a dieing man, and girl?
They are dumping water out of the other raft filled with blood. Sharks love blood. Can't we get back to what Men and Trees is all about? Fun, Family, and quirkiness. It's the best show on TV. What in the world, did the writers know they were going to strike, because some of the things going on are just not Men In Trees.
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Dec 26, 2007 3:31 PM
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I miss MIT. Thanks for the blogs, and looking forward to seeing what happens next. Please ABC, bring us new episodes soon.
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Jan 16, 2008 3:58 PM
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Dearest Emily,
Are they ever going to bring MIT back?
I have written ABC, my Husband has, but it doesn't seem they care.
This is the best show ever, and we are sick to death of what they are showing.
Please ABC Bring back Men In Trees!!!!
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Jan 16, 2008 9:20 PM
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This is my favorite show and I do not know why it is not on - it has plenty of episodes left. I miss it very much. There is so much bad TV on that it makes no sense why a great show like this is not on the air...I am tired of all the reality shows - Big Brother 9 - that show is so bad, biggest loser is getting depressing, I could name a few more...wife swaping - oh so bad - Please bring back Men in Trees.
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Feb 20, 2008 3:18 PM
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New Episodes start this Wednesday ,the 27th at 10pm!!
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Feb 26, 2008 1:57 AM
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Well, I was hoping to get a final good-bye blog now that the show has ended.
Color me sad.
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Jun 12, 2008 11:23 AM
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I am in a state of disbelief that ABC has cancelled this outstanding program!!!! Who on earth is making such a stupid decision? Where is the vision that programming directors need to have to foresee future hit shows? I hope another network will at least recognize the quality program that MIT is and pick it up before the cast members have all moved on to other projects.
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Jun 12, 2008 11:41 AM
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