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« Ausiello Report
Exclusive: Nip/Tuck's Dead Diva Speaks!
Courtesy FX Networks
WARNING: Stop reading if you haven't seen last night's Nip/Tuck!
Talk about going out with a bang. On last night's Nip/Tuck, Christian's unhinged, sex-addicted ex-lover Gina plummeted to her death while the two were mid-coitus on her apartment building's roof. Luckily, Jessalyn Gilsig is alive and well and ready to dish about her character's bizarre (even by Nip/Tuck's freakish standards) swan song.
What was your reaction when you found out how you were being killed off?
Jessalyn Gilsig: I thought it was so brilliant. And so sad. She finally expressed [her true feelings] to Christian and then she falls off the building. [Laughs]
What was it like shooting the scene?
Gilsig: We were in downtown L.A. and it was cold. The stunt girl did one take before me, and it looked so [funny] when she fell off the edge of the building that I burst into hysterics. I think I might've ruined the take. They set it up so perfectly; it was so unexpected. It was so bizarre.
Did series creator Ryan Murphy tell you why he killed Gina off?
Gilsig: He didn't, actually. In typical Ryan fashion he was like, "It's Nip/Tuck. You can come back as much dead as you can alive." I could always come back and haunt Christian.
Were you disappointed?
Gilsig: I was. I loved this character very much. She's been so good to me, and the show's been so good to me. It was always very exciting to read the scripts, because you never knew what was going to happen.
Anything stand out?
Gilsig: The scene where I had to wax Kimber. It was something I could never conceive of. Who would think of that? As a place to go to work and as a character to play, I'm really going to miss her. It was such an incredible job for me from the very beginning.
At least you got a memorable send-off.
Gilsig: I was so relieved. But I was like, "She better get a funeral, 'cause I don't want them over surgery, like, 'By the way, Gina's dead.'"
Switching topics, you recently ended an arc on Friday Night Lights. Any chance you'll go back?
Gilsig: Nobody said anything. They didn't kill me, so that's good. It's an incredible show to work on. I was actually shooting Nip/Tuck and Friday Night Lights simultaneously, which was challenging, if only because FNL shoots in Austin. Also, the two shows are so different in their production styles. Nip/Tuck is very stylized, and we rehearse a lot and work out our marks. There's a sense of control to it. And Friday Night Lights is the exact opposite. It's very loose. They're shooting with three handheld cameras at all times and you can walk wherever you want. It was really wild to do the two at the same time. I'm a big fan of Friday Night Lights, so I was really excited to work on it. I really love Connie and Kyle's performances. They're so underrated, especially when you're there and you see the emotional cartwheels that they do. It's the best representation of marriage I've ever seen on television; it's so authentic.
What are you up to now? Waiting for the strike to end?
Gilsig: Yeah. I just try to remind myself that this happened before [in 1988], and the industry does recover. I think it'll be different, but maybe we needed some change anyway. But it made me realize how vulnerable I am and how dependent I am on this industry. It's a real eye-opener.
OK, your turn, peanut gallery. Did Nip/Tuck err in offing Gina, or had she overstayed her welcome? And on a scale of 1-10 — 1 being lame, 10 being awesome — how would you rate her death scene? Me? I'd give it a 7.2.
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Jan 23, 2008 12:01 AM
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Expect for her odd role in Heroes i've always loved Jessalyn Gilsig (probably because i always wished i had a teacher like her in High School ala Boston Public) so i was actually very sad to see her go. She was one of my favorite characters but she was going downhill fast these last few episodes. It makes sense but i still dont like it. If its a given that she had to die, with 1 being killed by the Carver and 10 being uh ... not actually dying, i give it a 7.5
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Jan 23, 2008 12:37 AM
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9.5 for shock value, 6 for execution.
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Jan 23, 2008 3:50 AM
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Kind of late to stop reading. The spoiler is in the first sentence and I saw it whether I wanted to read it or not.
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Jan 23, 2008 8:39 AM
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As much as I love Gina and Jessalyn Gilsig, what a way to go! I definitely didn't see it coming. Her role on FNL was also fantastic, so hopefully she'll be back sometime.
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Jan 23, 2008 9:22 AM
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Nip/Tuck has jumped the shark so far that the shark is a little tiny speck in the distance waving and saying "Hey, you guys! Remember me?"
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Jan 23, 2008 9:59 AM
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I thought it was something.. Now if only Christian could do the same do that bitchy teenager that is slowly trying to kill Julia, all the world would be right in Nip/Tuck land.... Maybe Christian will get found out and we'll have a murder investigation...
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Jan 23, 2008 11:11 AM
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I think it's super that the powers that be did not let Gina die from AIDS. That would have been the "safe" route to take, and far less appealing.
That she died having sex is not shocking to me. She was a sexaholic, after all! It was a fitting way to die.
I do believe it was an accident.
The show gets better and better!
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Jan 23, 2008 12:06 PM
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I was hoping the character to die would be Julia, not my girl Gina. I loved her chemistry with Julian McMahon. Why Gina and not Kimber? Oh well I will still watch , although I did not agree with Gina's demise. Loved the shock value of it though!!
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Jan 23, 2008 12:24 PM
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Gina had overstayed her welcome, as much as I enjoyed her character on the show. The constant sparring between her and Christian was always fun to watch. However, to really believe she relocated from Miami to L.A. just to be the doctors' receptionist was kind of far fetched. The way in which she died was a complete surprise and unsettling, but that's what makes Nip/Tuck so awesome! It's over the top, but it's such a guilty pleasure to watch! I would rate her death scene as a 6. It was unexpected, but not very probable. I will miss Gina, even though I didn't think she really had a place in the show's current context anymore....
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Jan 23, 2008 1:09 PM
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At least an 8.0. As good as that lady on L.A. Law who stepped into an elevator and fell to her death. Unfortunately, I will miss Gina (or is it just that I'll miss Jessalyn?). She always livened things up.
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Jan 23, 2008 1:59 PM
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i don't think it was a mistake to kill her off but i will miss gina. i really enjoyed ms gilsig's performance---what a delicious character, sexy, fun, and tragic. i do not think christian deliberately pushed her, i think it was an accident. i'd rate the demise at an 8.0 the only reason i can't rate it a 10.0 is because i will miss her sooo.
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Jan 23, 2008 3:08 PM
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Gina! They killed off Gina!? I haven't watched the episode yet, but I can tell you that I am extremely upset with how this show is going. In my opinion Gina was one of the better characters, and this was a huge mistake. when they moved rthe boys to LA they had the ability to completely transform this show, and keep it going for years to come. What did they do instead? They decided to keep writing in the horrible characters (matt, annie, julia) and giving them the most ridiculous plotlines of all time. an 11-year-old wanting lypo? matt becoming a meth head? kimber going back to her porn ways? julia becoming a lez and deciding the only place to be a lez was LA? If iwas a writer/EP for this show, my first order of business would have been to kill off julia, matt, annie, kimber...they are becoming horribly annoying and irritating. Everytime julia opens her mouth to say something I want to put my fist through it. She's not even attractive in the least bit. Christian has plowed through many more finer asses than that anorexic bitch.
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Jan 23, 2008 3:09 PM
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I will miss Gina and Jessalyn Gilsig, who I absolutely love in everything she does. I also started liking her because of Boston Public and quit watching when she left the show. I was so happy that her FNL arc ending gave way to her return to Nip/Tuck. That way she was always on TV. But then Gina had to die. I personally was hoping the character who would die would be Kimber, who I hate. Gina was fun, crass, b****y, and a tramp. In other words, she will be missed.
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Jan 23, 2008 3:35 PM
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OMG, how could I not have realized that Jessalyn Gilsig was on Boston Public? I have been thinking for years that she looked familiar. haha. Anyway, her death was very true to the Nip/Tuck way. I was not expecting it to be Gina, though I don't think it was a bad move, per se. I like her well enough, but her relationship with the main cast was getting old. They really just couldn't reinvent her that well. Personally, I think Christian DID push her. He truly did hate her and I think he wanted her out of his life for good. We ARE talking Nip/Tuck!!
As others have expressed, I was crossing my fingers it would be Julia who got killed. God, I can't stand her character. She has to be the most annoying character EVER! And really...after Christian is through with her, hasn't she bedded everyone on the show worth bedding? Who's left? Matt? (Icky...but...) Um, Liz & Kimber? That is one character who just isn't interesting. Period. Need I go on? I used to hate Matt's character the first couple years but he's grown on me the past 2 seasons. I haven't loved what he's done, but he's at least been interesting.
I don't think the show's jumped the shark in any way. It's not my fave season so far...but it's true Nip/Tuck and is a show where anything can and usually does happen. If you don't like the plot line this week...stick around for next week!!
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Jan 23, 2008 6:40 PM
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